Promising to Prevent Floods at Treasure Island, Builders Downplay Risk of Sea Rise
The Precarious Future of Treasure Island: Rising Seas and Sinking Land
NASA Wants to Send Shapeshifting Robots to Saturn Moon
California Groundwater Law Means Big Changes Above Ground, Too
How a Silicon Valley City Cut Landmark Deals to Solve a Water Crisis
How Communities Are Turning Stormwater From a Liability to an Asset
On the Yuba River, Climate Change Means It’s Time for a Dam Makeover
California Limits Daily Personal Water Use to 55 Gallons – Kind Of
Dozens of Water Systems Consolidate in California’s Farming Heartland
Sponsored
window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={"attachmentsReducer":{"audio_0":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_0","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"}}},"audio_1":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_1","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"}}},"audio_2":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_2","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"}}},"audio_3":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_3","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"}}},"audio_4":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_4","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"}}},"placeholder":{"type":"attachments","id":"placeholder","imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-160x96.jpg","width":160,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-800x478.jpg","width":800,"height":478,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1020x610.jpg","width":1020,"height":610,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-lrg":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1920x1148.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1180x705.jpg","width":1180,"height":705,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-960x574.jpg","width":960,"height":574,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-240x143.jpg","width":240,"height":143,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-375x224.jpg","width":375,"height":224,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-520x311.jpg","width":520,"height":311,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1180x705.jpg","width":1180,"height":705,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1920x1148.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-e1514998105161.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148}}},"science_1982131":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1982131","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1982131","found":true},"title":"Treasure Island","publishDate":1680558446,"status":"inherit","parent":1982130,"modified":1680664071,"caption":"Developers have redesigned Treasure Island to withstand a rising San Francisco Bay, elevating land and setting aside space for ever-higher seawalls. Engineers say planned fortifications will hold — but with flood risk accelerating, no one knows for how long.","credit":"Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press","altTag":"An aerial view of treasure Island.","description":"Developers have redesigned Treasure Island to withstand a rising San Francisco Bay, elevating land and setting aside space for ever-higher sea walls. Engineers say planned fortifications will hold — but with flood risk accelerating, no one knows for how long. ","imgSizes":{"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_05-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_05-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_05-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_05-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"1536x1536":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_05-1536x1024.jpg","width":1536,"height":1024,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_05-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_05-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_05.jpg","width":1872,"height":1248}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"science_1956214":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1956214","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1956214","found":true},"title":"Treasure Island San Francisco","publishDate":1579921639,"status":"inherit","parent":1952317,"modified":1579921706,"caption":"Treasure Island and the Bay Bridge are seen in San Francisco, California on Oct. 9, 2015.","credit":"Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/Treasure-Island-San-Francisco-160x94.jpg","width":160,"height":94,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/Treasure-Island-San-Francisco-800x472.jpg","width":800,"height":472,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/Treasure-Island-San-Francisco-768x453.jpg","width":768,"height":453,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/Treasure-Island-San-Francisco-1020x602.jpg","width":1020,"height":602,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/Treasure-Island-San-Francisco-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/Treasure-Island-San-Francisco-1020x576.jpg","width":1020,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/Treasure-Island-San-Francisco.jpg","width":1020,"height":602}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"science_1948813":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1948813","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1948813","found":true},"title":"shapeshifterprototype-nasa-jpl-caltech-800x422","publishDate":1570639778,"status":"inherit","parent":1948555,"modified":1570639987,"caption":"A prototype of the Shapeshifter robot being tested at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.","credit":"NASA","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/shapeshifterprototype-nasa-jpl-caltech-800x422-1-160x84.jpg","width":160,"height":84,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/shapeshifterprototype-nasa-jpl-caltech-800x422-1-800x422.jpg","width":800,"height":422,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/shapeshifterprototype-nasa-jpl-caltech-800x422-1-768x405.jpg","width":768,"height":405,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/shapeshifterprototype-nasa-jpl-caltech-800x422-1-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/shapeshifterprototype-nasa-jpl-caltech-800x422-1.jpg","width":800,"height":422}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"science_1928703":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1928703","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1928703","found":true},"title":"054859.ME_.1028.fresno8","publishDate":1533567846,"status":"inherit","parent":1928700,"modified":1533567884,"caption":"New housing construction in California’s San Joaquin Valley poses a threat to some of the best groundwater recharge lands.","credit":"Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-240x160.jpg","width":240,"height":160,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-375x250.jpg","width":375,"height":250,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-520x346.jpg","width":520,"height":346,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/08/054859.ME_.1028.fresno8.jpg","width":800,"height":533}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"science_1927995":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1927995","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1927995","found":true},"title":"900_01_CA168231","publishDate":1532541921,"status":"inherit","parent":1927986,"modified":1532542690,"caption":"Many lots in East Palo Alto are undeveloped because the city didn’t have enough water to accept development proposals. This lot is zoned for office space and light industrial use. ","credit":"Sarah Craig","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"complete_open_graph":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-1200x800.jpg","width":1200,"height":800,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-1180x787.jpg","width":1180,"height":787,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-960x640.jpg","width":960,"height":640,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-240x160.jpg","width":240,"height":160,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-375x250.jpg","width":375,"height":250,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-520x347.jpg","width":520,"height":347,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-1180x787.jpg","width":1180,"height":787,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1.jpg","width":1800,"height":1200}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"science_1927455":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1927455","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1927455","found":true},"title":"900_01_CA168231","publishDate":1531723237,"status":"inherit","parent":1927453,"modified":1531723268,"caption":"Bioswales under construction. Elmer Avenue Neighborhood Retrofit Project brings together different organizations and neighborhood residents, and through a variety of sustainable methods, helps manage stormwater and reduce flooding and water pollution by retrofitting existing infrastructure such as sidewalks and storm drains. ","credit":"Citizen of the Planet/Education Images/UIG via Getty Images","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"complete_open_graph":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1200x800.jpg","width":1200,"height":800,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1180x787.jpg","width":1180,"height":787,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-960x640.jpg","width":960,"height":640,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-240x160.jpg","width":240,"height":160,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-375x250.jpg","width":375,"height":250,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-520x347.jpg","width":520,"height":347,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-1180x787.jpg","width":1180,"height":787,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/900_01_CA168231.jpg","width":1800,"height":1200}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"science_1927138":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1927138","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1927138","found":true},"title":"GWR_9012-21","publishDate":1531244722,"status":"inherit","parent":1927136,"modified":1532358838,"caption":"An aerial photo of the New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River in California. ","credit":"Yuba County Water Agency","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-160x113.jpg","width":160,"height":113,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-640x372.jpg","width":640,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-240x170.jpg","width":240,"height":170,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-375x265.jpg","width":375,"height":265,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-520x367.jpg","width":520,"height":367,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/07/GWR_9012-21.jpg","width":640,"height":452}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"science_1926125":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1926125","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1926125","found":true},"title":"201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2","publishDate":1529515367,"status":"inherit","parent":1926123,"modified":1529515386,"caption":"Todd Snider of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing installs an ultra-low-flow toilet at a home in Novato, California.","credit":"Justin Sullivan/Getty Images","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-160x111.jpg","width":160,"height":111,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-800x553.jpg","width":800,"height":553,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-768x531.jpg","width":768,"height":531,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-1020x705.jpg","width":1020,"height":705,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"complete_open_graph":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-1200x830.jpg","width":1200,"height":830,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-1180x816.jpg","width":1180,"height":816,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-960x664.jpg","width":960,"height":664,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-240x166.jpg","width":240,"height":166,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-375x259.jpg","width":375,"height":259,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-520x360.jpg","width":520,"height":360,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-1180x816.jpg","width":1180,"height":816,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/201462_467602553JS005_Plumber_Inst2.jpg","width":1280,"height":885}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"science_1925564":{"type":"attachments","id":"science_1925564","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"science","id":"1925564","found":true},"title":"EastPorterville11","publishDate":1528748504,"status":"inherit","parent":1925560,"modified":1528849011,"caption":"Leonicio Ramirez and Guillermina Avila were the first residents of East Porterville, Calif., to receive water through a new connection to the city of Porterville in August 2016. East Porterville in Tulare County suffered many failed water wells. The linking of the town to Porterville’s water system is an example of the sort of mergers that are under way in many other communities in California’s San Joaquin Valley.","credit":"Florence Low/California Department of Water Resources","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-160x120.jpg","width":160,"height":120,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-640x372.jpg","width":640,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-240x180.jpg","width":240,"height":180,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-375x281.jpg","width":375,"height":281,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-520x390.jpg","width":520,"height":390,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2018/06/EastPorterville11.jpg","width":640,"height":480}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false}},"audioPlayerReducer":{"postId":"stream_live"},"authorsReducer":{"byline_science_1982130":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_science_1982130","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_science_1982130","name":"Kristi Coale\u003cbr>San Francisco Public Press","isLoading":false},"byline_science_1928700":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_science_1928700","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_science_1928700","name":"Matt Weiser\u003cbr />Water Deeply","isLoading":false},"byline_science_1927986":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_science_1927986","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_science_1927986","name":"Tara Lohan\u003cbr />Water Deeply","isLoading":false},"byline_science_1927453":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_science_1927453","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_science_1927453","name":"Tara Lohan\u003cbr />Water Deeply","isLoading":false},"byline_science_1927136":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_science_1927136","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_science_1927136","name":"Matt Weiser\u003cbr />Water Deeply","isLoading":false},"byline_science_1926123":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_science_1926123","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_science_1926123","name":"Matt Weiser\u003cbr />Water Deeply","isLoading":false},"byline_science_1925560":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_science_1925560","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_science_1925560","name":"Matt Weiser\u003cbr />Water Deeply","isLoading":false},"ben-burress":{"type":"authors","id":"6180","meta":{"index":"authors_1591205172","id":"6180","found":true},"name":"Ben Burress","firstName":"Ben","lastName":"Burress","slug":"ben-burress","email":"bburress@chabotspace.org","display_author_email":false,"staff_mastheads":[],"title":null,"bio":"\u003cstrong>Benjamin Burress\u003c/strong> has been a staff astronomer at Chabot Space & Science Center since July 1999. He graduated from Sonoma State University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in physics (and minor in astronomy), after which he signed on for a two-year stint in the Peace Corps, where he taught physics and mathematics in the African nation of Cameroon. From 1989-96 he served on the crew of NASA’s Kuiper Airborne Observatory at Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. From 1996-99, he was Head Observer at the Naval Prototype Optical Interferometer program at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ.\r\n\r\nRead his \u003ca href=\"http://science.kqed.org/quest/author/ben-burress/\">previous contributions\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"http://science.kqed.org/quest/\">QUEST\u003c/a>, a project dedicated to exploring the Science of Sustainability.","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8263bffa345b7e4923a0b8b9f0f6a161?s=600&d=blank&r=g","twitter":null,"facebook":null,"instagram":null,"linkedin":null,"sites":[{"site":"science","roles":["editor"]},{"site":"quest","roles":["subscriber"]}],"headData":{"title":"Ben Burress | KQED","description":null,"ogImgSrc":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8263bffa345b7e4923a0b8b9f0f6a161?s=600&d=blank&r=g","twImgSrc":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8263bffa345b7e4923a0b8b9f0f6a161?s=600&d=blank&r=g"},"isLoading":false,"link":"/author/ben-burress"},"kevinstark":{"type":"authors","id":"11608","meta":{"index":"authors_1591205172","id":"11608","found":true},"name":"Kevin Stark","firstName":"Kevin","lastName":"Stark","slug":"kevinstark","email":"kstark@kqed.org","display_author_email":true,"staff_mastheads":["science"],"title":"Senior Editor","bio":"Kevin is a senior editor for KQED Science, managing the station's health and climate desks. His journalism career began in the Pacific Northwest, and he later became a lead reporter for the San Francisco Public Press. His work has appeared in Pacific Standard magazine, the Energy News Network, the Center for Investigative Reporting's Reveal and WBEZ in Chicago. Kevin joined KQED in 2019, and has covered issues related to energy, wildfire, climate change and the environment.","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f646bf546a63d638e04ff23b52b0e79?s=600&d=blank&r=g","twitter":"starkkev","facebook":null,"instagram":null,"linkedin":null,"sites":[{"site":"","roles":["editor"]},{"site":"news","roles":["editor"]},{"site":"science","roles":["administrator"]}],"headData":{"title":"Kevin Stark | KQED","description":"Senior Editor","ogImgSrc":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f646bf546a63d638e04ff23b52b0e79?s=600&d=blank&r=g","twImgSrc":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f646bf546a63d638e04ff23b52b0e79?s=600&d=blank&r=g"},"isLoading":false,"link":"/author/kevinstark"}},"breakingNewsReducer":{},"campaignFinanceReducer":{},"firebase":{"requesting":{},"requested":{},"timestamps":{},"data":{},"ordered":{},"auth":{"isLoaded":false,"isEmpty":true},"authError":null,"profile":{"isLoaded":false,"isEmpty":true},"listeners":{"byId":{},"allIds":[]},"isInitializing":false,"errors":[]},"navBarReducer":{"navBarId":"news","fullView":true,"showPlayer":false},"navMenuReducer":{"menus":[{"key":"menu1","items":[{"name":"News","link":"/","type":"title"},{"name":"Politics","link":"/politics"},{"name":"Science","link":"/science"},{"name":"Education","link":"/educationnews"},{"name":"Housing","link":"/housing"},{"name":"Immigration","link":"/immigration"},{"name":"Criminal Justice","link":"/criminaljustice"},{"name":"Silicon Valley","link":"/siliconvalley"},{"name":"Forum","link":"/forum"},{"name":"The California Report","link":"/californiareport"}]},{"key":"menu2","items":[{"name":"Arts & Culture","link":"/arts","type":"title"},{"name":"Critics’ Picks","link":"/thedolist"},{"name":"Cultural Commentary","link":"/artscommentary"},{"name":"Food & Drink","link":"/food"},{"name":"Bay Area Hip-Hop","link":"/bayareahiphop"},{"name":"Rebel Girls","link":"/rebelgirls"},{"name":"Arts Video","link":"/artsvideos"}]},{"key":"menu3","items":[{"name":"Podcasts","link":"/podcasts","type":"title"},{"name":"Bay Curious","link":"/podcasts/baycurious"},{"name":"Rightnowish","link":"/podcasts/rightnowish"},{"name":"The Bay","link":"/podcasts/thebay"},{"name":"On Our Watch","link":"/podcasts/onourwatch"},{"name":"Mindshift","link":"/podcasts/mindshift"},{"name":"Consider This","link":"/podcasts/considerthis"},{"name":"Political Breakdown","link":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown"}]},{"key":"menu4","items":[{"name":"Live Radio","link":"/radio","type":"title"},{"name":"TV","link":"/tv","type":"title"},{"name":"Events","link":"/events","type":"title"},{"name":"For Educators","link":"/education","type":"title"},{"name":"Support KQED","link":"/support","type":"title"},{"name":"About","link":"/about","type":"title"},{"name":"Help Center","link":"https://kqed-helpcenter.kqed.org/s","type":"title"}]}]},"pagesReducer":{},"postsReducer":{"stream_live":{"type":"live","id":"stream_live","audioUrl":"https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio","title":"Live Stream","excerpt":"Live Stream information currently unavailable.","link":"/radio","featImg":"","label":{"name":"KQED Live","link":"/"}},"stream_kqedNewscast":{"type":"posts","id":"stream_kqedNewscast","audioUrl":"https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1","title":"KQED Newscast","featImg":"","label":{"name":"88.5 FM","link":"/"}},"science_1982130":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1982130","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1982130","score":null,"sort":[1680699603000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"promising-to-prevent-floods-at-treasure-island-builders-downplay-risk-of-sea-rise","title":"Promising to Prevent Floods at Treasure Island, Builders Downplay Risk of Sea Rise","publishDate":1680699603,"format":"standard","headTitle":"Promising to Prevent Floods at Treasure Island, Builders Downplay Risk of Sea Rise | KQED","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was reported by the \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicpress.org/\">San Francisco Public Press\u003c/a>, an independent nonprofit newsroom focused on accountability journalism, in partnership with Inside Climate News.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sea level rise is forcing cities around San Francisco Bay to weigh demand for new housing against the need to protect communities from flooding. Builders say they can solve this dilemma with cutting-edge civil engineering. But no one knows whether their ambitious efforts will be enough to keep newly built waterfront real estate safe in coming decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, developers are busy building — and telling the public that they can mitigate this one effect of climate change, despite mounting evidence that it could be a bigger problem than previously believed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Treasure Island, a flat tract of 20th-century landfill with epic bay vistas, workers have poured the foundation for a 22-story tower, the first of six planned high-rise buildings, and broken ground on an affordable housing complex. Another, for families and unhoused veterans, is nearly complete. Townhomes, retail space and a waterfront transit hub are also in the pipeline. All told, the $6 billion development would be home to 20,000 people or more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Engineers for the public-private consortium transforming the island, Treasure Island Community Development, say they are pursuing aggressive sea rise adaptation strategies. Improvements include raising some of the land by several feet, preparing a buffer zone for future levees and pumps, and setting aside low-lying open space that could convert to floodable marshland as higher bay waters spill onshore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is not a cheap endeavor. The development group’s director, Bob Beck, did not return multiple emails and phone calls regarding costs for this work. A 2011 report by the city of San Francisco, which includes Treasure Island, estimated that “geotechnical stabilization” measures would cost $137 million. Storm drains, soil grading and landscape and open-space improvements would add about $120 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dilip Trivedi, the site’s project manager with international engineering firm Moffatt and Nichol, has been touting the consortium’s efforts for more than a decade. He said in a recent interview that the most built-up parts of the island should be safe from sea rise through at least 2070. Fifty years or so is a reasonable planning horizon for new developments, he added, and additional phased seawall construction can help future generations stay a step ahead of ever-higher tides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When you put together significant infrastructure, you don’t want to have to maintain it for about that time,” Trivedi said. “It is what we call project life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982132\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982132\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"Two construction workers seen on the job on residential tower. \" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">After years of planning, construction has started on residential towers with sweeping views of San Francisco and the Bay Area. At least 20,000 residents are expected to live on the island by 2035. \u003ccite>(Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Climate scientists, however, commonly try to predict sea rise out at least to the year 2100, a time when some current schoolchildren could be octogenarian residents of the island.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every contemporary climate model predicts that, even with deep carbon reductions starting this decade, several feet of sea rise are locked in. The debates for climate adaptation strategy are how many feet and how far down the road we should consider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With ever more sophisticated climate predictions, the outlook for sea level rise has continued to darken, indicating that current trends will likely accelerate through the end of the century. In one pessimistic scenario — which researchers say is among the possibilities in a “business as usual” global greenhouse gas emissions future — much of the island could find itself underwater frequently, and some of the most developed areas could occasionally be threatened with flooding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To home in on Treasure Island’s future, the San Francisco Public Press asked researchers at the United States Geological Survey’s Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, based in Santa Cruz, to create a highly localized model of sea rise conditions under various climate scenarios. They found that bay waters could surge higher than the developers have long been saying publicly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In that model, by 2100 there is a small but not insignificant chance of 4 feet, 11 inches of sea level rise — slightly more than what the island’s engineers have accounted for. Adding in the effects of tides, weather and other transient events, such as in the kind of extreme storm seen once in a century, that total could be 2 feet, 11 inches higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The resulting surge would, at least temporarily, send waves 1 foot, 2 inches higher than the lowest ground floors of some planned housing complexes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1982133\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/SeaLevelRiseSchematic700px.png\" alt=\"Facing Sea Level Rise at Treasure Island\" width=\"700\" height=\"691\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/SeaLevelRiseSchematic700px.png 700w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/SeaLevelRiseSchematic700px-160x158.png 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the project’s engineers never address this possibility in their public narratives, documents they have prepared show they have known about similar scenarios for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their own maps, which superimpose flood conditions on existing land elevations, line up fairly closely to the Geological Survey’s findings. Yet the engineers have chosen to downplay the likelihood of these outcomes as they pursued permits to build, arguing that novel construction technologies could make the development invulnerable to flooding under any reasonable course of events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a 2016 sea rise adaptation filing with a regional watershed agency, Moffatt and Nichol included six maps showing potential flood conditions in each construction phase, side by side with maps showing how the planned short- and long-term sea level rise protections would prevent inundation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One map shows 4 feet of sea rise. Before any land improvements, nearly the entire island would have been inundated — up to 8 feet in places — during flooding calculated by FEMA to have a 1% chance of occurring per year. Another part of that document showed a graph that indicated a 4-foot rise was possible by around 2093. The Geological Survey’s extreme scenario model for 2100 puts sea rise closer to 5 feet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Trivedi said that the raising of the land under many of the buildings, plus additional shoreline improvements, would protect key infrastructure. Beside that map, the engineers showed how the existing 3.5-mile perimeter wall could be raised by 1 to 3 feet, depending on location, which they said would keep much of the island dry, although a note appended to the diagram said: “Does not show intentional flooding from managed retreat on northern and eastern shorelines — TBD.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within the last year, regulators have started questioning whether the steps developers are taking are sufficient to guarantee that the island remains dry in the long term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a community that will be around a while,” said Ethan Lavine, chief of permits for shoreline development for the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. “At a certain point in time, they will need levee protection.” Lavine’s office is pressing Trivedi and his colleagues to use a more cautious view of climate change when assessing whether Treasure Island’s flood prevention techniques can handle what nature might throw at them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When evaluating permit applications, government agencies require developers to reference the “best available science” to assess threats from climate change. In October 2021, the engineers issued an update to the 2016 filing. In it, Trivedi compared his firm’s sea level rise expectations against studies by several scientific bodies, including California’s Ocean Protection Council and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His preferred predictions minimized the effect of the worst-case scenarios. The only needed change, he argued, would be to move up the time frame for planning adaptations by as much as five years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1982134\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/TreasureIslandSFCA750px.png\" alt=\"Fortifying Treasure Island\" width=\"750\" height=\"864\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/TreasureIslandSFCA750px.png 750w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/TreasureIslandSFCA750px-160x184.png 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet climate policy experts point out that with significant scientific papers being released each year, guidance for builders has become a moving target. Because they admit a great deal of uncertainty in their predictions, scientists always publish their results in charts that consider an array of environmental assumptions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That gives developers leeway to choose which predictions to focus on when describing the risks to their capital investments. Treasure Island could be the most expensive local project in the region’s history to take advantage of this ambiguity.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Projecting optimism\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>All of Trivedi’s recent public statements conclude that the likelihood of the gloomiest climate scenarios is remote, and that the level of risk to property and lives is insignificant given the proposed engineering fixes. But a close examination of the 2021 adaptation plan offers a few reasons for concern:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>It dismisses high-end forecasts, in which global warming accelerates due to uncontrolled carbon emissions.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>It selectively cites climate models that make planned infrastructure appear sufficient to virtually eliminate future flood risk.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>It focuses on relatively short time frames, such as 20 or 50 years, while offering little specificity about expected conditions at the end of the century, which falls within the lifetimes of some children alive today.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Trivedi said in an interview that for planning purposes, he is focused on one recent predicted milestone: 3 feet of sea rise by 2080. In that circumstance, the ground floors of most buildings, to be built upon a now-elevated development pad, would still have a buffer of nearly 4 feet above the average highest tide of today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also asserted that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific committee organized by the United Nations, recently reported sea rise could be less severe than previously forecasted, based on the track record of recent years. “What has been observed is that sea level rise is not tracking” to the most pessimistic scenarios, he said. But there are reasons to question his conclusion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The localized scenario for 2100 examined by the Geological Survey — the one resulting in water levels 1 foot, 2 inches above some developed areas — relies on a climate change prediction assessed to have a probability of 0.5%, that is, a 1-in-200 statistical chance of occurring. That prediction was published by the California Ocean Protection Council, a body of experts organized by the state government, in recent guidelines for community planning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trivedi said the international group’s current report indicates there’s “low confidence in that scenario happening.” When asked for a citation to back up this claim, Trivedi referenced a “localized model” of the findings from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and five other federal agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report.html\">report these agencies jointly issued in February 2022\u003c/a> in fact gave a more nuanced view. In a section titled “Future Mean Sea Level,” the authors did exclude one scenario used by the Ocean Protection Council that had been labeled “extreme” and not given a numerical probability. But that is not the scenario Trivedi said the group ruled out. This same report indicates that the West Coast is likely to see 4 to 8 inches of rise over 30 years, accelerating later in the century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regardless of the pace of the increase, Treasure Island developers say they have contingency plans relying on future residents or taxpayers to fund the construction of progressively higher walls around the urban zone — several feet every few decades. In its latest update, Moffatt and Nichol said sea level rise of 1 foot by 2043 would trigger the plan to elevate the perimeter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A strategy reliant on levees might seem risky in light of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when faulty engineering of levees led to catastrophic flooding of parts of New Orleans that sit below the level of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. In light of this recent history, Bay Area regulators are starting to ask whether the Treasure Island plan is entirely watertight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A March 2022 letter from the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the agency that issued the island’s 2016 permit for waterfront areas, called the update too optimistic and tolerant of long-term flooding potential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Public access along a shoreline and a big mixed-use development require using a medium-to-high-risk projection for sea level rise,” said the commission’s planning manager, Erik Buehmann.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Reengineering shaky ground\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On an island built by the government generations ago out of rocks, soil and dredged sand, preparing high-and-dry land would be difficult even if it were not in an earthquake and tsunami zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In numerous reports and public presentations, Trivedi has said construction workers have elevated land on the 100-acre development pad to 3 feet, 6 inches above the “base flood elevation” — a height calculated by Federal Emergency Management Agency representing a 1% chance of flooding each year. The homes, hotels and businesses there will be set back from the shoreline by 200 to 300 feet on most sides and as much as 1,000 feet from the northern shore because that area is more prone to flooding. Building is planned to roll out in phases through 2035.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Workers have spent years using cranes to repeatedly drop heavy weights to compact the soil. They have driven vibrating probes into the earth, filling the holes with concrete for stabilization. They then piled 1 million cubic yards of soil atop the compacted layer. These measures are intended to prevent the kind of ground liquefaction seen in the Marina District and elsewhere during the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Other geological improvements include inserting vertical wick drains, akin to long drinking straws, to help remove water from the soil as it compresses. These techniques have been used by civil engineers around the world for more than 30 years to develop areas without easy access to bedrock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982135\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982135\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A view of compacted yards of soil.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Developers have trucked in and compacted 1 million cubic yards of soil to raise the land underneath new buildings in one strategy to mitigate flood risk. \u003ccite>(Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Trivedi said these measures, together with a jagged, rocky seawall raised to allow for just over 1 foot of sea rise, would help take energy out of large waves, and the setback would use the landscape to dissipate any possible overtopping before it reaches valuable structures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, the engineers have recognized that much of the island — particularly the low-lying northern end — are indefensible. Areas that have flooded in the past will eventually be sacrificed to rising waters. That strategy has immediate, concrete consequences: Dozens of existing structures, including homes of about 3,000 people currently living there, are set to be demolished to create open space. Over time these areas could be turned into tidal marshland to protect the newly developed areas from storms.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Regulators balk at a sunny assessment\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the agency most empowered to weigh in on new waterfront building, is hamstrung by a legal mandate to regulate only what happens 100 feet inland, regardless of elevation — an artifact of legislation dating from before climate change was a dominant concern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 2016 permit the agency issued for improvements on Treasure Island’s margins, including a ferry terminal, required adaptation updates every five years. Moffatt and Nichol’s 2021 update concluded that the original adaptation plans needed few changes, except for possibly needing to accelerate, by five years, the planning process for building higher perimeter levees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regulators balked at the assessment. In a March 2022 letter, the commission advised Moffatt and Nichol to plan more conservatively. The agency demanded consideration of a 1-in-200 chance sea rise scenario, in which seas rise 6 feet, 11 inches by 2100. Adding in a 100-year storm surge, waves could plausibly overtop portions of the sea wall along the southeastern side by about 1 to 2 feet, and along the northern end by about 1 foot. That is an even worse outcome than that predicted by Geological Survey’s localized flooding model.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The commission said Moffatt and Nichol seemed too dismissive of chances that things could go wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The permittees decided to design the project considering very low risk of sea level rise related impacts” the letter said, noting also that engineers seemed too focused on the short time horizon of 2080.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trivedi counters that the Treasure Island development was never built upon projections of a certain sea level happening by a certain date, because seawalls can, for all practical purposes, be built arbitrarily high, on whatever schedule is needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We adopted an approach where we decided on an allowance we are building into the project,” he said in the interview. “As future projections come out, we will adjust the date of the adaptation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Commission staff met with planners from Moffatt and Nichol last summer to work out the requested additions to the 2021 adaptation strategy. Buehmann, who worked on the original permit, said follow-up discussions were to be expected because the Treasure Island permit was the first since the commission began requiring builders to submit sea rise assessments. “We didn’t expect it to be perfect the first time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whatever comes of this process which Trivedi referred to as merely “an internal thing” that was required for the filing — the adaptation plan is unlikely to change significantly, because the development pad is already in place and huge construction cranes are sprouting up on Treasure Island’s skyline. What is left in the playbook is raising future seawalls, ceding the northern open space and the installation of pumps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Government officials have long acknowledged the inevitability of Treasure Island’s relying on artificial barriers. In 2015, Brad McCrea, regulatory program director at the commission, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpublicpress.org/major-s-f-bayfront-developments-advance-despite-sea-rise-warnings/\">told the Public Press\u003c/a>: “At the end of the day, this will be a levee-protected community — there’s no getting around that.” Since then, agency staff have not changed their view.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Rapidly outdated climate science\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To determine how high to raise the building pad, Treasure Island builders consulted several climate studies published as early as 1987 and as recently as 2007. At that point, scientists were predicting that by 2100, oceans could rise as much as 4 feet, 7 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This forecast was echoed by a state panel of scientists and policy experts in 2009, when then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Treasure Island to announce its findings and call for better sea level rise mitigation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982136\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982136\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A view of the San Francisco skyline from Treasure Island.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When finished, Treasure Island could be a spectacular locale for commuters to San Francisco to settle. But residents will face similar flooding challenges to those in waterfront communities throughout the Bay Area. \u003ccite>(Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Moffatt and Nichol then relied on these studies to anticipate that the oceans would rise 3 feet by 2075. So the company proposed raising the development pad to 3 feet, 6 inches above the predicted levels for a once-in-a-hundred-year flood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moffatt and Nichol did not spell out a rationale for setting the height of the development pad, as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpublicpress.org/uncertain-about-rising-seas-developers-using-mid-range-estimate-to-build-up-island/\">Public Press reported in 2010\u003c/a>. The firm did argue that raising it higher could create other problems, such as jeopardizing the island’s stability under the weight of packed soil and adding expense. “At some point it doesn’t become cost-effective — it’s a matter of acceptable levels of risk over your planning horizon,” Trivedi said in an interview then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be sure, when Treasure Island plans were drawn up, scientific modeling showed wide uncertainty about how much global temperatures could increase. In 2009, scientists around the world were saying that oceans could rise anywhere from a minimum of 3 feet, 3 inches to a maximum of 4 feet, 11 inches by 2100. At that time, the effects of ice melt from land via glaciers, snowpacks and ice caps were little understood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, European and U.S. scientists using satellite imagery to measure the shape of Greenland’s ice sheets say melting is outstripping gains from snowfall. In \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01441-2\">a paper published last August\u003c/a>, they found that no matter how much countries curb emissions, seas will rise by a minimum of 11 inches from this effect alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Focusing locally\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Geological Survey developed the \u003ca href=\"https://ourcoastourfuture.org/science-and-modeling/\">Coastal Storm Modeling System\u003c/a> to help protect waterfront communities. It simulates \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40742-z#MOESM1\">the forces behind wave and wind data and translates them into local flood projections\u003c/a> that include tides, storm surges, waves and seasonal events such as El Niño.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Public Press requested that the agency simulate a small section of San Francisco Bay, in the vicinity of Treasure Island, relying on probability scenarios for global sea levels in 2100 developed by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.opc.ca.gov/opc-climate-change-program/sea-level-rise-2/\">California Ocean Protection Council\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.opc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/agenda_items/20180314/Item3_Exhibit-A_OPC_SLR_Guidance-rd3.pdf\">a 2018 guidance paper (PDF)\u003c/a>. This report offered up sea rise projections of likelihoods as high as 50% and as low as 0.5%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Ocean Protection Council’s examination of a wide array of probabilities heavily influenced the Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s critique of the Treasure Island adaptation update. The commission’s biggest concern was that change might happen faster than the engineers were anticipating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"fullscreen 'none'\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"https://coastal.climatecentral.org/embed/map/13/-122.3736/37.8082/?theme=water_level&map_type=water_level_above_mhhw&basemap=roadmap&contiguous=true&elevation_model=best_available&water_level=7.8&water_unit=ft\" width=\"100%\" height=\"450\" title=\"Climate Central | Land below 7.8 feet of water\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Explore sea level rise scenarios using \u003ca href=\"https://climatecentral.org/\">Climate Central\u003c/a>’s interactive tool. Here we show floodwaters at 7.8 feet above the present-day high tide line.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Trivedi said the Ocean Protection Council’s past predictions had already failed. “If you look at the year 2022 projections, follow the OPC formulas,” Trivedi said. “We should have seen about 8 inches of sea level rise since 2000. In reality, it has been about 2 inches or less.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most forecasts predict increased global temperatures due to persistent carbon pollution. But the emissions projections are still hotly contested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Ocean Protection Council examined two emissions scenarios. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200804085912.htm\">One assumed that\u003c/a> carbon dioxide output doubles through 2050. The other imagined more aggressive greenhouse gas reductions — 70% by 2050 and “net zero” emissions by 2080.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the purposes of seeing how bad things could plausibly get, the U.S. Geological Survey used a midlevel emissions scenario. This decision was based on detailed simulations into the next century of swell and waves along the Pacific Ocean. What the researchers found was that paradoxically, milder greenhouse gas levels generated worse storms for California’s coast than do extreme ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What’s really changed in the research community is that worst-case scenarios have become more common,” said Patrick Barnard, a research geologist with the agency. “The state is asking communities to prepare for these.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This approach helps waterfront areas learn to be more risk-averse to protect property and lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Avoiding mistakes of the past\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Foster City is paying a high price for waterfront sprawl. Like Treasure Island, the mid-Peninsula community 25 miles to the south was built entirely on landfill, not unusual in the Bay Area, where efforts to accommodate population growth stretching back to the Gold Rush consumed most of the wetlands and tidal marshes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Foster City did have worries about flooding decades ago. It is shot through with artificial waterways, including two sloughs, several small canals and an artificial lagoon. Barely above sea level before being developed, it would not exist if not for its levees and seawalls.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet, in 2014 FEMA informed Foster City officials that \u003ca href=\"https://fostercitylevee.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/coastal_flood_hazard_study.pdf\">new studies showed (PDF)\u003c/a> the levee system was neither strong nor tall enough to withstand a major storm and the large waves that would result. Update the seawalls and levees, or the entire city would be designated a floodplain, the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sixty years ago, developers there hauled in tons of sand to raise the land several feet to construct thousands of homes in what became a 33,000-resident community. That was a time when climate change was not a part of city planning vernacular. Today workers are busy widening and raising levees and adding interlocking steel plates as a bulwark against the storms federal regulators warned of, as well as rising seas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Treasure Island, which is slated to add 8,000 units of housing to accommodate more than 20,000 residents, is still more than a decade away from build-out. What the engineers put in place there in the next few years could avoid Foster City’s mistakes — or compound them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be sure, some cities are starting to alter blueprints on pace with the evolving science. In October, the Port of San Francisco announced it was collaborating with the Army Corps of Engineers \u003ca href=\"https://sfport.com/files/2022-10/10112022_item_11a_draft_waterfront_adaptation_strategies_final.pdf\">to study how to shore up the city’s seawall along its eastern waterfront (PDF)\u003c/a>, from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Hunters Point Shipyard, to combat both sea rise and earthquake risk. This area includes attractions like the Chase Center sports arena, a project green-lighted before a city-commissioned study surfaced that predicted flooding from sea level rise in the new Mission Bay neighborhood, as \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpublicpress.org/projects-sailed-through-despite-dire-flood-study/\">the Public Press reported in 2017\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Port officials now say they anticipate 7 feet of sea level rise by the end of the century. That is 2 feet, 5 inches higher than the level Treasure Island’s developers are planning for in their adaptation strategy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Port’s yearlong effort will consider elevating barriers along the Embarcadero, installing a system of locks at Mission Creek and buying back and cleaning up privately owned landfill areas around Islais Creek to return them to the tidal zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Not easy to abandon a home\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the grips of a housing affordability crisis, San Francisco needs new construction. But is a flood zone the wisest place to build? That could depend on how long we expect buildings to last.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnard, of the U.S. Geological Survey, has traveled to many communities, including Okracoke Island, part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, to assess how to protect people from storms. In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian shut the island down to visitors. For residents, it was hard to consider leaving a place they have inhabited for seven or eight generations. “You can’t detach people from their place, or their heart,” Barnard said. “They’ll stay until water is up to their nose.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before the developers moved in, Treasure Island had \u003ca href=\"https://censusreporter.org/profiles/15000US060750179031-bg-1-tract-17903-san-francisco-ca/\">roughly 3,000 residents, according to the 2020 Census\u003c/a>, many living in homes built for the U.S. Navy in the mid-20th century when it was a military base. Nearly half have a household income less than $50,000, and many do not speak English.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now these residents are on tenterhooks. Under an agreement with the developer, people who lived on Treasure Island before 2011 are guaranteed new affordable and rent-controlled units. But the wait times and other inconveniences have been tough. Everyone is living in a construction site with an unreliable electrical grid that browns and blacks out frequently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982137\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982137\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Two people run in a residential area with their dog.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Most of the existing low-lying homes on the island, built decades ago, will be razed to make room for new condos, as well as open space that developers say could be abandoned to bay waters as seas rise. \u003ccite>(Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The new units are supposed to be comparable to what they had, but longtime islander Christoph Opperman said they have been offered “interim” units that, for example, might not have enough space for a family, or lack laundry facilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re picking us off one neighborhood at a time by making us do two moves,” Opperman said. “We’re not entitled to just anything on the island, but we are entitled to fair treatment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Treasure Island’s planners are essentially acknowledging that they must sacrifice part of the island to the bay, even while pursuing a more built-up urban environment just several hundred feet away. This combination of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpublicpress.org/researchers-abandon-neighborhoods-avoid-flood-zone-to-limit-sea-level-rise/\">advance and retreat\u003c/a> is all part of the plan, the engineers say.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Asked whether he would move to Treasure Island, Trivedi did not hesitate to say yes, observing that no part of the Bay Area was completely free of danger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t see why not,” he said. “I mean, should people be moving to San Francisco, because of the seismic risk? Buildings are being designed to codes. And flooding is the same way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This reporting is supported by grants from the\u003ca href=\"https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/topics/business-and-sustainability\"> Solutions Journalism Network’s Business and Sustainability Initiative\u003c/a> and by the \u003ca href=\"http://fij.org/\">Fund for Investigative Journalism\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/\">Inside Climate News\u003c/a> is a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/newsletter/\">Sign up for the ICN newsletter here.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"One environmental model predicts that by 2100, stormwater could threaten a neighborhood now under construction. Protecting the community depends on extreme waterfront engineering decades into the future.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704846057,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":true,"iframeSrcs":["https://coastal.climatecentral.org/embed/map/13/-122.3736/37.8082/"],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":89,"wordCount":4767},"headData":{"title":"Promising to Prevent Floods at Treasure Island, Builders Downplay Risk of Sea Rise | KQED","description":"One environmental model predicts that by 2100, stormwater could threaten a neighborhood now under construction. Protecting the community depends on extreme waterfront engineering decades into the future.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Promising to Prevent Floods at Treasure Island, Builders Downplay Risk of Sea Rise","datePublished":"2023-04-05T13:00:03.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T00:20:57.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"source":"Inside Climate News","sticky":false,"nprByline":"Kristi Coale\u003cbr>San Francisco Public Press","excludeFromSiteSearch":"Include","showOnAuthorArchivePages":"No","articleAge":"0","path":"/science/1982130/promising-to-prevent-floods-at-treasure-island-builders-downplay-risk-of-sea-rise","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was reported by the \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicpress.org/\">San Francisco Public Press\u003c/a>, an independent nonprofit newsroom focused on accountability journalism, in partnership with Inside Climate News.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sea level rise is forcing cities around San Francisco Bay to weigh demand for new housing against the need to protect communities from flooding. Builders say they can solve this dilemma with cutting-edge civil engineering. But no one knows whether their ambitious efforts will be enough to keep newly built waterfront real estate safe in coming decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, developers are busy building — and telling the public that they can mitigate this one effect of climate change, despite mounting evidence that it could be a bigger problem than previously believed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Treasure Island, a flat tract of 20th-century landfill with epic bay vistas, workers have poured the foundation for a 22-story tower, the first of six planned high-rise buildings, and broken ground on an affordable housing complex. Another, for families and unhoused veterans, is nearly complete. Townhomes, retail space and a waterfront transit hub are also in the pipeline. All told, the $6 billion development would be home to 20,000 people or more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Engineers for the public-private consortium transforming the island, Treasure Island Community Development, say they are pursuing aggressive sea rise adaptation strategies. Improvements include raising some of the land by several feet, preparing a buffer zone for future levees and pumps, and setting aside low-lying open space that could convert to floodable marshland as higher bay waters spill onshore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is not a cheap endeavor. The development group’s director, Bob Beck, did not return multiple emails and phone calls regarding costs for this work. A 2011 report by the city of San Francisco, which includes Treasure Island, estimated that “geotechnical stabilization” measures would cost $137 million. Storm drains, soil grading and landscape and open-space improvements would add about $120 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dilip Trivedi, the site’s project manager with international engineering firm Moffatt and Nichol, has been touting the consortium’s efforts for more than a decade. He said in a recent interview that the most built-up parts of the island should be safe from sea rise through at least 2070. Fifty years or so is a reasonable planning horizon for new developments, he added, and additional phased seawall construction can help future generations stay a step ahead of ever-higher tides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When you put together significant infrastructure, you don’t want to have to maintain it for about that time,” Trivedi said. “It is what we call project life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982132\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982132\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"Two construction workers seen on the job on residential tower. \" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_03-1536x1025-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">After years of planning, construction has started on residential towers with sweeping views of San Francisco and the Bay Area. At least 20,000 residents are expected to live on the island by 2035. \u003ccite>(Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Climate scientists, however, commonly try to predict sea rise out at least to the year 2100, a time when some current schoolchildren could be octogenarian residents of the island.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every contemporary climate model predicts that, even with deep carbon reductions starting this decade, several feet of sea rise are locked in. The debates for climate adaptation strategy are how many feet and how far down the road we should consider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With ever more sophisticated climate predictions, the outlook for sea level rise has continued to darken, indicating that current trends will likely accelerate through the end of the century. In one pessimistic scenario — which researchers say is among the possibilities in a “business as usual” global greenhouse gas emissions future — much of the island could find itself underwater frequently, and some of the most developed areas could occasionally be threatened with flooding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To home in on Treasure Island’s future, the San Francisco Public Press asked researchers at the United States Geological Survey’s Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, based in Santa Cruz, to create a highly localized model of sea rise conditions under various climate scenarios. They found that bay waters could surge higher than the developers have long been saying publicly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In that model, by 2100 there is a small but not insignificant chance of 4 feet, 11 inches of sea level rise — slightly more than what the island’s engineers have accounted for. Adding in the effects of tides, weather and other transient events, such as in the kind of extreme storm seen once in a century, that total could be 2 feet, 11 inches higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The resulting surge would, at least temporarily, send waves 1 foot, 2 inches higher than the lowest ground floors of some planned housing complexes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1982133\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/SeaLevelRiseSchematic700px.png\" alt=\"Facing Sea Level Rise at Treasure Island\" width=\"700\" height=\"691\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/SeaLevelRiseSchematic700px.png 700w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/SeaLevelRiseSchematic700px-160x158.png 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the project’s engineers never address this possibility in their public narratives, documents they have prepared show they have known about similar scenarios for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their own maps, which superimpose flood conditions on existing land elevations, line up fairly closely to the Geological Survey’s findings. Yet the engineers have chosen to downplay the likelihood of these outcomes as they pursued permits to build, arguing that novel construction technologies could make the development invulnerable to flooding under any reasonable course of events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a 2016 sea rise adaptation filing with a regional watershed agency, Moffatt and Nichol included six maps showing potential flood conditions in each construction phase, side by side with maps showing how the planned short- and long-term sea level rise protections would prevent inundation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One map shows 4 feet of sea rise. Before any land improvements, nearly the entire island would have been inundated — up to 8 feet in places — during flooding calculated by FEMA to have a 1% chance of occurring per year. Another part of that document showed a graph that indicated a 4-foot rise was possible by around 2093. The Geological Survey’s extreme scenario model for 2100 puts sea rise closer to 5 feet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Trivedi said that the raising of the land under many of the buildings, plus additional shoreline improvements, would protect key infrastructure. Beside that map, the engineers showed how the existing 3.5-mile perimeter wall could be raised by 1 to 3 feet, depending on location, which they said would keep much of the island dry, although a note appended to the diagram said: “Does not show intentional flooding from managed retreat on northern and eastern shorelines — TBD.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within the last year, regulators have started questioning whether the steps developers are taking are sufficient to guarantee that the island remains dry in the long term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a community that will be around a while,” said Ethan Lavine, chief of permits for shoreline development for the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. “At a certain point in time, they will need levee protection.” Lavine’s office is pressing Trivedi and his colleagues to use a more cautious view of climate change when assessing whether Treasure Island’s flood prevention techniques can handle what nature might throw at them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When evaluating permit applications, government agencies require developers to reference the “best available science” to assess threats from climate change. In October 2021, the engineers issued an update to the 2016 filing. In it, Trivedi compared his firm’s sea level rise expectations against studies by several scientific bodies, including California’s Ocean Protection Council and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His preferred predictions minimized the effect of the worst-case scenarios. The only needed change, he argued, would be to move up the time frame for planning adaptations by as much as five years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1982134\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/TreasureIslandSFCA750px.png\" alt=\"Fortifying Treasure Island\" width=\"750\" height=\"864\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/TreasureIslandSFCA750px.png 750w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/TreasureIslandSFCA750px-160x184.png 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet climate policy experts point out that with significant scientific papers being released each year, guidance for builders has become a moving target. Because they admit a great deal of uncertainty in their predictions, scientists always publish their results in charts that consider an array of environmental assumptions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That gives developers leeway to choose which predictions to focus on when describing the risks to their capital investments. Treasure Island could be the most expensive local project in the region’s history to take advantage of this ambiguity.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Projecting optimism\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>All of Trivedi’s recent public statements conclude that the likelihood of the gloomiest climate scenarios is remote, and that the level of risk to property and lives is insignificant given the proposed engineering fixes. But a close examination of the 2021 adaptation plan offers a few reasons for concern:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>It dismisses high-end forecasts, in which global warming accelerates due to uncontrolled carbon emissions.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>It selectively cites climate models that make planned infrastructure appear sufficient to virtually eliminate future flood risk.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>It focuses on relatively short time frames, such as 20 or 50 years, while offering little specificity about expected conditions at the end of the century, which falls within the lifetimes of some children alive today.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Trivedi said in an interview that for planning purposes, he is focused on one recent predicted milestone: 3 feet of sea rise by 2080. In that circumstance, the ground floors of most buildings, to be built upon a now-elevated development pad, would still have a buffer of nearly 4 feet above the average highest tide of today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also asserted that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific committee organized by the United Nations, recently reported sea rise could be less severe than previously forecasted, based on the track record of recent years. “What has been observed is that sea level rise is not tracking” to the most pessimistic scenarios, he said. But there are reasons to question his conclusion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The localized scenario for 2100 examined by the Geological Survey — the one resulting in water levels 1 foot, 2 inches above some developed areas — relies on a climate change prediction assessed to have a probability of 0.5%, that is, a 1-in-200 statistical chance of occurring. That prediction was published by the California Ocean Protection Council, a body of experts organized by the state government, in recent guidelines for community planning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trivedi said the international group’s current report indicates there’s “low confidence in that scenario happening.” When asked for a citation to back up this claim, Trivedi referenced a “localized model” of the findings from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and five other federal agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report.html\">report these agencies jointly issued in February 2022\u003c/a> in fact gave a more nuanced view. In a section titled “Future Mean Sea Level,” the authors did exclude one scenario used by the Ocean Protection Council that had been labeled “extreme” and not given a numerical probability. But that is not the scenario Trivedi said the group ruled out. This same report indicates that the West Coast is likely to see 4 to 8 inches of rise over 30 years, accelerating later in the century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regardless of the pace of the increase, Treasure Island developers say they have contingency plans relying on future residents or taxpayers to fund the construction of progressively higher walls around the urban zone — several feet every few decades. In its latest update, Moffatt and Nichol said sea level rise of 1 foot by 2043 would trigger the plan to elevate the perimeter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A strategy reliant on levees might seem risky in light of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when faulty engineering of levees led to catastrophic flooding of parts of New Orleans that sit below the level of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. In light of this recent history, Bay Area regulators are starting to ask whether the Treasure Island plan is entirely watertight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A March 2022 letter from the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the agency that issued the island’s 2016 permit for waterfront areas, called the update too optimistic and tolerant of long-term flooding potential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Public access along a shoreline and a big mixed-use development require using a medium-to-high-risk projection for sea level rise,” said the commission’s planning manager, Erik Buehmann.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Reengineering shaky ground\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On an island built by the government generations ago out of rocks, soil and dredged sand, preparing high-and-dry land would be difficult even if it were not in an earthquake and tsunami zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In numerous reports and public presentations, Trivedi has said construction workers have elevated land on the 100-acre development pad to 3 feet, 6 inches above the “base flood elevation” — a height calculated by Federal Emergency Management Agency representing a 1% chance of flooding each year. The homes, hotels and businesses there will be set back from the shoreline by 200 to 300 feet on most sides and as much as 1,000 feet from the northern shore because that area is more prone to flooding. Building is planned to roll out in phases through 2035.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Workers have spent years using cranes to repeatedly drop heavy weights to compact the soil. They have driven vibrating probes into the earth, filling the holes with concrete for stabilization. They then piled 1 million cubic yards of soil atop the compacted layer. These measures are intended to prevent the kind of ground liquefaction seen in the Marina District and elsewhere during the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Other geological improvements include inserting vertical wick drains, akin to long drinking straws, to help remove water from the soil as it compresses. These techniques have been used by civil engineers around the world for more than 30 years to develop areas without easy access to bedrock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982135\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982135\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A view of compacted yards of soil.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_07-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Developers have trucked in and compacted 1 million cubic yards of soil to raise the land underneath new buildings in one strategy to mitigate flood risk. \u003ccite>(Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Trivedi said these measures, together with a jagged, rocky seawall raised to allow for just over 1 foot of sea rise, would help take energy out of large waves, and the setback would use the landscape to dissipate any possible overtopping before it reaches valuable structures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, the engineers have recognized that much of the island — particularly the low-lying northern end — are indefensible. Areas that have flooded in the past will eventually be sacrificed to rising waters. That strategy has immediate, concrete consequences: Dozens of existing structures, including homes of about 3,000 people currently living there, are set to be demolished to create open space. Over time these areas could be turned into tidal marshland to protect the newly developed areas from storms.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Regulators balk at a sunny assessment\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the agency most empowered to weigh in on new waterfront building, is hamstrung by a legal mandate to regulate only what happens 100 feet inland, regardless of elevation — an artifact of legislation dating from before climate change was a dominant concern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 2016 permit the agency issued for improvements on Treasure Island’s margins, including a ferry terminal, required adaptation updates every five years. Moffatt and Nichol’s 2021 update concluded that the original adaptation plans needed few changes, except for possibly needing to accelerate, by five years, the planning process for building higher perimeter levees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regulators balked at the assessment. In a March 2022 letter, the commission advised Moffatt and Nichol to plan more conservatively. The agency demanded consideration of a 1-in-200 chance sea rise scenario, in which seas rise 6 feet, 11 inches by 2100. Adding in a 100-year storm surge, waves could plausibly overtop portions of the sea wall along the southeastern side by about 1 to 2 feet, and along the northern end by about 1 foot. That is an even worse outcome than that predicted by Geological Survey’s localized flooding model.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The commission said Moffatt and Nichol seemed too dismissive of chances that things could go wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The permittees decided to design the project considering very low risk of sea level rise related impacts” the letter said, noting also that engineers seemed too focused on the short time horizon of 2080.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trivedi counters that the Treasure Island development was never built upon projections of a certain sea level happening by a certain date, because seawalls can, for all practical purposes, be built arbitrarily high, on whatever schedule is needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We adopted an approach where we decided on an allowance we are building into the project,” he said in the interview. “As future projections come out, we will adjust the date of the adaptation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Commission staff met with planners from Moffatt and Nichol last summer to work out the requested additions to the 2021 adaptation strategy. Buehmann, who worked on the original permit, said follow-up discussions were to be expected because the Treasure Island permit was the first since the commission began requiring builders to submit sea rise assessments. “We didn’t expect it to be perfect the first time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whatever comes of this process which Trivedi referred to as merely “an internal thing” that was required for the filing — the adaptation plan is unlikely to change significantly, because the development pad is already in place and huge construction cranes are sprouting up on Treasure Island’s skyline. What is left in the playbook is raising future seawalls, ceding the northern open space and the installation of pumps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Government officials have long acknowledged the inevitability of Treasure Island’s relying on artificial barriers. In 2015, Brad McCrea, regulatory program director at the commission, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpublicpress.org/major-s-f-bayfront-developments-advance-despite-sea-rise-warnings/\">told the Public Press\u003c/a>: “At the end of the day, this will be a levee-protected community — there’s no getting around that.” Since then, agency staff have not changed their view.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Rapidly outdated climate science\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To determine how high to raise the building pad, Treasure Island builders consulted several climate studies published as early as 1987 and as recently as 2007. At that point, scientists were predicting that by 2100, oceans could rise as much as 4 feet, 7 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This forecast was echoed by a state panel of scientists and policy experts in 2009, when then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Treasure Island to announce its findings and call for better sea level rise mitigation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982136\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982136\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A view of the San Francisco skyline from Treasure Island.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_09-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When finished, Treasure Island could be a spectacular locale for commuters to San Francisco to settle. But residents will face similar flooding challenges to those in waterfront communities throughout the Bay Area. \u003ccite>(Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Moffatt and Nichol then relied on these studies to anticipate that the oceans would rise 3 feet by 2075. So the company proposed raising the development pad to 3 feet, 6 inches above the predicted levels for a once-in-a-hundred-year flood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moffatt and Nichol did not spell out a rationale for setting the height of the development pad, as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpublicpress.org/uncertain-about-rising-seas-developers-using-mid-range-estimate-to-build-up-island/\">Public Press reported in 2010\u003c/a>. The firm did argue that raising it higher could create other problems, such as jeopardizing the island’s stability under the weight of packed soil and adding expense. “At some point it doesn’t become cost-effective — it’s a matter of acceptable levels of risk over your planning horizon,” Trivedi said in an interview then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be sure, when Treasure Island plans were drawn up, scientific modeling showed wide uncertainty about how much global temperatures could increase. In 2009, scientists around the world were saying that oceans could rise anywhere from a minimum of 3 feet, 3 inches to a maximum of 4 feet, 11 inches by 2100. At that time, the effects of ice melt from land via glaciers, snowpacks and ice caps were little understood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, European and U.S. scientists using satellite imagery to measure the shape of Greenland’s ice sheets say melting is outstripping gains from snowfall. In \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01441-2\">a paper published last August\u003c/a>, they found that no matter how much countries curb emissions, seas will rise by a minimum of 11 inches from this effect alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Focusing locally\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Geological Survey developed the \u003ca href=\"https://ourcoastourfuture.org/science-and-modeling/\">Coastal Storm Modeling System\u003c/a> to help protect waterfront communities. It simulates \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40742-z#MOESM1\">the forces behind wave and wind data and translates them into local flood projections\u003c/a> that include tides, storm surges, waves and seasonal events such as El Niño.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Public Press requested that the agency simulate a small section of San Francisco Bay, in the vicinity of Treasure Island, relying on probability scenarios for global sea levels in 2100 developed by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.opc.ca.gov/opc-climate-change-program/sea-level-rise-2/\">California Ocean Protection Council\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.opc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/agenda_items/20180314/Item3_Exhibit-A_OPC_SLR_Guidance-rd3.pdf\">a 2018 guidance paper (PDF)\u003c/a>. This report offered up sea rise projections of likelihoods as high as 50% and as low as 0.5%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Ocean Protection Council’s examination of a wide array of probabilities heavily influenced the Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s critique of the Treasure Island adaptation update. The commission’s biggest concern was that change might happen faster than the engineers were anticipating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"fullscreen 'none'\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"https://coastal.climatecentral.org/embed/map/13/-122.3736/37.8082/?theme=water_level&map_type=water_level_above_mhhw&basemap=roadmap&contiguous=true&elevation_model=best_available&water_level=7.8&water_unit=ft\" width=\"100%\" height=\"450\" title=\"Climate Central | Land below 7.8 feet of water\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Explore sea level rise scenarios using \u003ca href=\"https://climatecentral.org/\">Climate Central\u003c/a>’s interactive tool. Here we show floodwaters at 7.8 feet above the present-day high tide line.\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Trivedi said the Ocean Protection Council’s past predictions had already failed. “If you look at the year 2022 projections, follow the OPC formulas,” Trivedi said. “We should have seen about 8 inches of sea level rise since 2000. In reality, it has been about 2 inches or less.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most forecasts predict increased global temperatures due to persistent carbon pollution. But the emissions projections are still hotly contested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Ocean Protection Council examined two emissions scenarios. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200804085912.htm\">One assumed that\u003c/a> carbon dioxide output doubles through 2050. The other imagined more aggressive greenhouse gas reductions — 70% by 2050 and “net zero” emissions by 2080.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the purposes of seeing how bad things could plausibly get, the U.S. Geological Survey used a midlevel emissions scenario. This decision was based on detailed simulations into the next century of swell and waves along the Pacific Ocean. What the researchers found was that paradoxically, milder greenhouse gas levels generated worse storms for California’s coast than do extreme ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What’s really changed in the research community is that worst-case scenarios have become more common,” said Patrick Barnard, a research geologist with the agency. “The state is asking communities to prepare for these.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This approach helps waterfront areas learn to be more risk-averse to protect property and lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Avoiding mistakes of the past\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Foster City is paying a high price for waterfront sprawl. Like Treasure Island, the mid-Peninsula community 25 miles to the south was built entirely on landfill, not unusual in the Bay Area, where efforts to accommodate population growth stretching back to the Gold Rush consumed most of the wetlands and tidal marshes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Foster City did have worries about flooding decades ago. It is shot through with artificial waterways, including two sloughs, several small canals and an artificial lagoon. Barely above sea level before being developed, it would not exist if not for its levees and seawalls.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet, in 2014 FEMA informed Foster City officials that \u003ca href=\"https://fostercitylevee.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/coastal_flood_hazard_study.pdf\">new studies showed (PDF)\u003c/a> the levee system was neither strong nor tall enough to withstand a major storm and the large waves that would result. Update the seawalls and levees, or the entire city would be designated a floodplain, the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sixty years ago, developers there hauled in tons of sand to raise the land several feet to construct thousands of homes in what became a 33,000-resident community. That was a time when climate change was not a part of city planning vernacular. Today workers are busy widening and raising levees and adding interlocking steel plates as a bulwark against the storms federal regulators warned of, as well as rising seas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Treasure Island, which is slated to add 8,000 units of housing to accommodate more than 20,000 residents, is still more than a decade away from build-out. What the engineers put in place there in the next few years could avoid Foster City’s mistakes — or compound them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be sure, some cities are starting to alter blueprints on pace with the evolving science. In October, the Port of San Francisco announced it was collaborating with the Army Corps of Engineers \u003ca href=\"https://sfport.com/files/2022-10/10112022_item_11a_draft_waterfront_adaptation_strategies_final.pdf\">to study how to shore up the city’s seawall along its eastern waterfront (PDF)\u003c/a>, from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Hunters Point Shipyard, to combat both sea rise and earthquake risk. This area includes attractions like the Chase Center sports arena, a project green-lighted before a city-commissioned study surfaced that predicted flooding from sea level rise in the new Mission Bay neighborhood, as \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpublicpress.org/projects-sailed-through-despite-dire-flood-study/\">the Public Press reported in 2017\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Port officials now say they anticipate 7 feet of sea level rise by the end of the century. That is 2 feet, 5 inches higher than the level Treasure Island’s developers are planning for in their adaptation strategy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Port’s yearlong effort will consider elevating barriers along the Embarcadero, installing a system of locks at Mission Creek and buying back and cleaning up privately owned landfill areas around Islais Creek to return them to the tidal zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Not easy to abandon a home\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the grips of a housing affordability crisis, San Francisco needs new construction. But is a flood zone the wisest place to build? That could depend on how long we expect buildings to last.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnard, of the U.S. Geological Survey, has traveled to many communities, including Okracoke Island, part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, to assess how to protect people from storms. In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian shut the island down to visitors. For residents, it was hard to consider leaving a place they have inhabited for seven or eight generations. “You can’t detach people from their place, or their heart,” Barnard said. “They’ll stay until water is up to their nose.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before the developers moved in, Treasure Island had \u003ca href=\"https://censusreporter.org/profiles/15000US060750179031-bg-1-tract-17903-san-francisco-ca/\">roughly 3,000 residents, according to the 2020 Census\u003c/a>, many living in homes built for the U.S. Navy in the mid-20th century when it was a military base. Nearly half have a household income less than $50,000, and many do not speak English.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now these residents are on tenterhooks. Under an agreement with the developer, people who lived on Treasure Island before 2011 are guaranteed new affordable and rent-controlled units. But the wait times and other inconveniences have been tough. Everyone is living in a construction site with an unreliable electrical grid that browns and blacks out frequently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1982137\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1982137\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Two people run in a residential area with their dog.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/04/Treasure_Island_12-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Most of the existing low-lying homes on the island, built decades ago, will be razed to make room for new condos, as well as open space that developers say could be abandoned to bay waters as seas rise. \u003ccite>(Yesica Prado/San Francisco Public Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The new units are supposed to be comparable to what they had, but longtime islander Christoph Opperman said they have been offered “interim” units that, for example, might not have enough space for a family, or lack laundry facilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re picking us off one neighborhood at a time by making us do two moves,” Opperman said. “We’re not entitled to just anything on the island, but we are entitled to fair treatment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Treasure Island’s planners are essentially acknowledging that they must sacrifice part of the island to the bay, even while pursuing a more built-up urban environment just several hundred feet away. This combination of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfpublicpress.org/researchers-abandon-neighborhoods-avoid-flood-zone-to-limit-sea-level-rise/\">advance and retreat\u003c/a> is all part of the plan, the engineers say.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Asked whether he would move to Treasure Island, Trivedi did not hesitate to say yes, observing that no part of the Bay Area was completely free of danger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t see why not,” he said. “I mean, should people be moving to San Francisco, because of the seismic risk? Buildings are being designed to codes. And flooding is the same way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This reporting is supported by grants from the\u003ca href=\"https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/topics/business-and-sustainability\"> Solutions Journalism Network’s Business and Sustainability Initiative\u003c/a> and by the \u003ca href=\"http://fij.org/\">Fund for Investigative Journalism\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/\">Inside Climate News\u003c/a> is a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/newsletter/\">Sign up for the ICN newsletter here.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1982130/promising-to-prevent-floods-at-treasure-island-builders-downplay-risk-of-sea-rise","authors":["byline_science_1982130"],"categories":["science_31","science_35","science_40","science_4450"],"tags":["science_2455","science_194","science_460","science_206"],"featImg":"science_1982131","label":"source_science_1982130"},"science_1952317":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1952317","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1952317","score":null,"sort":[1576753200000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"rising-seas-and-sinking-land-the-precarious-future-of-treasure-island","title":"The Precarious Future of Treasure Island: Rising Seas and Sinking Land","publishDate":1576753200,"format":"standard","headTitle":"The Precarious Future of Treasure Island: Rising Seas and Sinking Land | KQED","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treasure Island is a man-made polygon of 400 acres \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11790693/magic-city-and-the-making-of-treasure-island\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">constructed by engineers\u003c/a> on a shallow reef in the middle of San Francisco Bay. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The low-lying island, as well as neighboring Yerba Buena island, are also the site of a multibillion-dollar neighborhood development. The project calls for 8,000 new homes and condos that could house more than 20,000 people, 500 new hotel rooms, and over 550,000 square feet of commercial space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But how will climate change affect these plans?\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1952319\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1952319\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40544_Shoal02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"410\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40544_Shoal02.jpg 720w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40544_Shoal02-160x91.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In the 1930s, federal engineers constructed Treasure Island with bay mud and sand. \u003ccite>(Treasure Island Development Authority)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rising Water, Sinking Land\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40742-z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">published\u003c/a> a comprehensive climate change study on the impact of rising sea levels, storms and erosion on the California coast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study found that the homes of hundreds of thousands of coastal residents and $150 billion worth of property in California are threatened by rising water levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Treasure Island is one of the most vulnerable locations in the entire state,” said Patrick Barnard, lead author of the study and a coastal geologist with USGS. “Not only because it sits right above sea level; [the island] is all fill. The ground itself is sinking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He says Treasure Island faces several threats:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1952334\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1102px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1952334\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1102\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF.png 1102w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF-160x94.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF-800x472.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF-768x453.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF-1020x602.png 1020w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1102px) 100vw, 1102px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Researchers at U.S. Geologic Survey developed a flood map to help planners understand the impact of rising sea levels. The image shows Treasure Island after 3.3 feet of sea level rise and a ‘hundred year’ storm. \u003ccite>(Our Coast Our Future)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The water in San Francisco Bay is rising.\u003c/strong> Average high tides could increase by about 3 feet by 2100 under mid-range sea level rise \u003ca href=\"http://data.pointblue.org/apps/ocof/cms/index.php?page=flood-map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">scenarios\u003c/a>, according to studies by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13389/sea-level-rise-for-the-coasts-of-california-oregon-and-washington\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Research Council\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/WG1AR5_Chapter13_FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Storm waves push water levels even higher.\u003c/strong> Severe weather with a 1% chance of occurring in any year, called a 100-year storm, can push tides an additional 3 feet higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Treasure Island’s own construction.\u003c/strong> Engineers built the island atop a bottom layer of mud. The weight of earth and buildings on this gooey muck compresses it like a sponge and over time causes the island to sink. Treasure Island is descending at about the same rate as the sea is rising, Barnard says. So, that equates to “about twice as much sea level rise as a static shoreline.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Building High\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2011 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a \u003ca href=\"https://sftreasureisland.org/FinalEIR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">plan\u003c/a> to re-engineer Treasure Island in order to stabilize the land and stop it from sinking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1952321\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 357px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1952321\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40545_Ibeam.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"357\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40545_Ibeam.jpg 357w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40545_Ibeam-160x242.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 357px) 100vw, 357px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The vibrating beam. \u003ccite>(Treasure Island Development Authority.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The first step: Using long straws, or what they call wick drains, engineers siphon off water from the mud as it compresses. When the water escapes from the straws onto the surface of the island, it evaporates. This speeds up the natural settlement of the land and prevent it from sinking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Step two: Towering cranes slam long, vibrating beams into the ground. The vibrations cause the land to settle quicker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Step three: Workers weigh the island down with mounds of earth. The weight compresses more water out of the bay mud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To mitigate flooding damage from rising waters, the plan calls for raising the grade of the island and setting buildings back from the shoreline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And, because the rise in the water level is projected to accelerate toward the end of the century, the plan asks Treasure Island residents to pay an annual fee toward future engineering work.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>“Build high. Monitor. Give yourself ample space and ample money to adapt as you go forward,” said Bob Beck, director of the \u003ca href=\"https://sftreasureisland.org/about-tida\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Treasure Island Development Authority\u003c/a>, summarizing the strategy.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>The development authority has finished several years of this geotechnical work. Developers began constructing condos on Yerba Buena Island this year, with more residential construction expected on Treasure Island in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Melting Ice Sheets\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in the years since the plan was approved, scientific studies show rising water levels have tracked at the upper bound of earlier projections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousbug]More troubling still, studies based on computer models, including one \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/nature17145\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">published\u003c/a> in \u003cem>Nature \u003c/em>in 2017, show that melting ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland could push the San Francisco Bay to a height more than double the latest calculation from the IPCC. The extreme estimates suggest that sea level could rise by as much as 10 feet, with storms roiling the water even higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Treasure Island case really reveals how vulnerable planning is to changes in the estimated magnitude of sea level rise,” said Kristina Hill, an environmental planner at UC Berkeley. “Seeing how much ice is melting in Greenland and Antarctica — [what was the] worst case turned out to be too low.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2017, California convened a group of climate scientists to review the new research. They warned in a \u003ca href=\"http://www.opc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/docs/rising-seas-in-california-an-update-on-sea-level-rise-science.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">report\u003c/a> that “Waiting for scientific certainty is neither a safe nor prudent option. … Consideration of high and even extreme sea levels in decisions with implications past 2050 is needed to safeguard the people and resources of coastal California.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beck acknowledges that the scientific projections are concerning, but he argues that Treasure Island has the space and the funding to adjust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The strategy to adapt to sea level rise is baked into the land use and the funding plan here,” Beck said. “We are well-positioned to adapt to even some of the worst-case scenarios.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"The future of Treasure Island will be shaped by climate change. ","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704847982,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":true,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":28,"wordCount":924},"headData":{"title":"The Precarious Future of Treasure Island: Rising Seas and Sinking Land | KQED","description":"The future of Treasure Island will be shaped by climate change. ","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"The Precarious Future of Treasure Island: Rising Seas and Sinking Land","datePublished":"2019-12-19T11:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T00:53:02.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"source":"Bay Curious","sourceUrl":"https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/baycurious","audioUrl":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC6651807456.mp3","sticky":false,"audioTrackLength":679,"path":"/science/1952317/rising-seas-and-sinking-land-the-precarious-future-of-treasure-island","parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treasure Island is a man-made polygon of 400 acres \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11790693/magic-city-and-the-making-of-treasure-island\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">constructed by engineers\u003c/a> on a shallow reef in the middle of San Francisco Bay. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The low-lying island, as well as neighboring Yerba Buena island, are also the site of a multibillion-dollar neighborhood development. The project calls for 8,000 new homes and condos that could house more than 20,000 people, 500 new hotel rooms, and over 550,000 square feet of commercial space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But how will climate change affect these plans?\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1952319\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1952319\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40544_Shoal02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"410\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40544_Shoal02.jpg 720w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40544_Shoal02-160x91.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In the 1930s, federal engineers constructed Treasure Island with bay mud and sand. \u003ccite>(Treasure Island Development Authority)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rising Water, Sinking Land\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40742-z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">published\u003c/a> a comprehensive climate change study on the impact of rising sea levels, storms and erosion on the California coast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study found that the homes of hundreds of thousands of coastal residents and $150 billion worth of property in California are threatened by rising water levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Treasure Island is one of the most vulnerable locations in the entire state,” said Patrick Barnard, lead author of the study and a coastal geologist with USGS. “Not only because it sits right above sea level; [the island] is all fill. The ground itself is sinking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He says Treasure Island faces several threats:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1952334\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1102px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1952334\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1102\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF.png 1102w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF-160x94.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF-800x472.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF-768x453.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/TI_OCOF-1020x602.png 1020w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1102px) 100vw, 1102px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Researchers at U.S. Geologic Survey developed a flood map to help planners understand the impact of rising sea levels. The image shows Treasure Island after 3.3 feet of sea level rise and a ‘hundred year’ storm. \u003ccite>(Our Coast Our Future)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The water in San Francisco Bay is rising.\u003c/strong> Average high tides could increase by about 3 feet by 2100 under mid-range sea level rise \u003ca href=\"http://data.pointblue.org/apps/ocof/cms/index.php?page=flood-map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">scenarios\u003c/a>, according to studies by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13389/sea-level-rise-for-the-coasts-of-california-oregon-and-washington\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Research Council\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/WG1AR5_Chapter13_FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Storm waves push water levels even higher.\u003c/strong> Severe weather with a 1% chance of occurring in any year, called a 100-year storm, can push tides an additional 3 feet higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Treasure Island’s own construction.\u003c/strong> Engineers built the island atop a bottom layer of mud. The weight of earth and buildings on this gooey muck compresses it like a sponge and over time causes the island to sink. Treasure Island is descending at about the same rate as the sea is rising, Barnard says. So, that equates to “about twice as much sea level rise as a static shoreline.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Building High\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2011 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a \u003ca href=\"https://sftreasureisland.org/FinalEIR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">plan\u003c/a> to re-engineer Treasure Island in order to stabilize the land and stop it from sinking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1952321\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 357px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1952321\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40545_Ibeam.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"357\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40545_Ibeam.jpg 357w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/12/RS40545_Ibeam-160x242.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 357px) 100vw, 357px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The vibrating beam. \u003ccite>(Treasure Island Development Authority.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The first step: Using long straws, or what they call wick drains, engineers siphon off water from the mud as it compresses. When the water escapes from the straws onto the surface of the island, it evaporates. This speeds up the natural settlement of the land and prevent it from sinking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Step two: Towering cranes slam long, vibrating beams into the ground. The vibrations cause the land to settle quicker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Step three: Workers weigh the island down with mounds of earth. The weight compresses more water out of the bay mud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To mitigate flooding damage from rising waters, the plan calls for raising the grade of the island and setting buildings back from the shoreline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And, because the rise in the water level is projected to accelerate toward the end of the century, the plan asks Treasure Island residents to pay an annual fee toward future engineering work.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>“Build high. Monitor. Give yourself ample space and ample money to adapt as you go forward,” said Bob Beck, director of the \u003ca href=\"https://sftreasureisland.org/about-tida\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Treasure Island Development Authority\u003c/a>, summarizing the strategy.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>The development authority has finished several years of this geotechnical work. Developers began constructing condos on Yerba Buena Island this year, with more residential construction expected on Treasure Island in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Melting Ice Sheets\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in the years since the plan was approved, scientific studies show rising water levels have tracked at the upper bound of earlier projections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" />\n What do you wonder about the Bay Area, its culture or people that you want KQED to investigate?\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Ask Bay Curious.\u003c/a>\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>More troubling still, studies based on computer models, including one \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/nature17145\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">published\u003c/a> in \u003cem>Nature \u003c/em>in 2017, show that melting ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland could push the San Francisco Bay to a height more than double the latest calculation from the IPCC. The extreme estimates suggest that sea level could rise by as much as 10 feet, with storms roiling the water even higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Treasure Island case really reveals how vulnerable planning is to changes in the estimated magnitude of sea level rise,” said Kristina Hill, an environmental planner at UC Berkeley. “Seeing how much ice is melting in Greenland and Antarctica — [what was the] worst case turned out to be too low.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2017, California convened a group of climate scientists to review the new research. They warned in a \u003ca href=\"http://www.opc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/docs/rising-seas-in-california-an-update-on-sea-level-rise-science.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">report\u003c/a> that “Waiting for scientific certainty is neither a safe nor prudent option. … Consideration of high and even extreme sea levels in decisions with implications past 2050 is needed to safeguard the people and resources of coastal California.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beck acknowledges that the scientific projections are concerning, but he argues that Treasure Island has the space and the funding to adjust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The strategy to adapt to sea level rise is baked into the land use and the funding plan here,” Beck said. “We are well-positioned to adapt to even some of the worst-case scenarios.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"baycuriousquestion","attributes":{"named":{"label":""},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1952317/rising-seas-and-sinking-land-the-precarious-future-of-treasure-island","authors":["11608"],"categories":["science_33","science_89","science_38","science_40","science_3423","science_98"],"tags":["science_460","science_206"],"featImg":"science_1956214","label":"source_science_1952317"},"science_1948555":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1948555","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1948555","score":null,"sort":[1570640156000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"nasa-wants-to-send-shapeshifting-robots-to-saturn-moon","title":"NASA Wants to Send Shapeshifting Robots to Saturn Moon","publishDate":1570640156,"format":"standard","headTitle":"NASA Wants to Send Shapeshifting Robots to Saturn Moon | KQED","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>As they conceive a new generation of robotic “rovers,” NASA engineers are challenging themselves to think outside the box.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The contraptions they envision bear little resemblance to the car-like, six-wheeled cruisers we’ve followed during rolling adventures on Mars. Future space exploration robots may resemble “Transformers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because a robot operating semi-autonomously on very alien turf must be able to negotiate a broad range of terrains and environmental conditions, the likes of which may not exist on Earth. So, how to design – and prepare the rover – for situations engineers may not even anticipate?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Shapeshifter\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To handle one of the more distant and fascinating objects in our solar system – \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/saturn-moons/titan/overview/\">Saturn’s moon Titan\u003c/a> – NASA engineers have come up with \u003ca href=\"https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7505\">Shapeshifter\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Concept drawings and working models of this robot resemble farm equipment- some kind of rolling grain harvester or threshing machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it helps to see past Shapeshifter’s prototype and imagine how engineers might take apart its components and put them back together in different forms to suit different needs, like Lego toys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To demonstrate this concept, they built the Shapeshifter mockup from two separate and complementary assemblies: a pair of flight-capable drones housed within their own halves of a pipe-frame cylinder structure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Combined, the prototype can roll like a barrel to easily traverse stretches of flat or mounded terrain. Separately, one half can ascend skyward on propellers, using the other half as a launch pad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More advanced visions for the Shapeshifter stick with the paradigm of smaller robots working together – “co-bots” – that form different configurations, but involve greater numbers of base robot units.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1948600\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1948600\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2-800x451.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"451\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2-800x451.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2-768x433.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A more advanced concept of the multiple “co-bot” team whose elements can fly like drones, or assemble into configurations optimized for swimming through liquid or rolling or tumbling across a landscape. \u003ccite>(NASA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>These simplified future co-bots may combine into forms that can swim through a sea of liquid, fly together to lift and carry other equipment, such as a larger “mothership” lander, or roll around almost any terrain by reassembling into a sphere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bizarre Environments Call For Bizarre Robots\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2005, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft dropped the European “\u003ca href=\"https://sci.esa.int/web/cassini-huygens/-/55221-huygens-titan-science-highlights\">Huygens\u003c/a>” probe onto the surface of Saturn’s mysterious, cloud-shrouded moon Titan. With a simple plan to descend through the thick nitrogen atmosphere on a parachute and set down on any available surface, hopefully with enough battery power for a few minutes of picture-taking, Huygens offered a brief flash of insight into Titan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1948601\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NASA scored with that touchdown. Huygens, and further investigations by Cassini from space, demonstrated that Titan is a world like no other in the solar system, worthy of further exploration. Scientists also learned what a challenging physical environment Titan presents, and recognized the need for a new, super-flexible roving machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Earth’s quiescent airless moon, Titan has a thick, dynamic and extremely cold atmosphere. Unlike the dry desert plains and mountains of Mars, Titan has a liquid cycle, similar to Earth’s water cycle. Titan’s rain, rivers, \u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/space/scientists-find-new-surprises-about-titans-lakes\">lakes and seas\u003c/a>, however, are freezing cold liquid methane – a material that exists as a gas on Earth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1948620\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-800x720.jpg\" alt=\"Artist concept of the surface of Titan, its high and rugged mountains, surface liquid methane, atmosphere, and Saturn in the hazy sky above.\" width=\"800\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-800x720.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-160x144.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-768x691.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-1020x918.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-1200x1080.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Titan’s landscapes include vast plains of dunes, high and steep-walled mountains peppered with deep alpine lakes, complex networks of river-carved canyons, and several wide seas of liquid methane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some respects, Titan’s physical environment will make it easier for a co-botic transforming Shapeshifter craft to move about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Its surface gravity is about one-seventh that of Earth. Titan is also the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere – thicker than Earth’s – so engineers don’t have to reinvent the helicopter propeller to make their Titanian co-bots fly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Science Fiction Leading the Way?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Transformers” isn’t the only example of \u003ca href=\"https://www.hackster.io/news/superball-v2-is-a-huge-tensegrity-robot-that-can-absorb-substantial-impacts-956e025368b5\">unconventional robot designs\u003c/a> in the realm of science fiction that have played with ideas like shapeshifting and flexible configurations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The robots TARS and CASE in the movie “Interstellar” looked like awkward rectangular blocks of plastic or metal, but their designers gave them the ability to articulate smaller building-block components into different configurations to walk, run, climb, lift, and even pinwheel through a shallow extraterrestrial sea as the situation demanded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I won’t go into the liquid-metal polymorphing robot from “Terminator 2,” but who knows? Engineers are giving shape and motion to blobs of “ferrofluid” with magnetic fields, so it’s not inconceivable that they may one day deploy a fluid “Explorinator” morphing around the surfaces of distant worlds.\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"NASA is conceiving a new generation of robotic rovers that will change shape to travel in a range of alien environments. ","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704848242,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":26,"wordCount":805},"headData":{"title":"NASA Wants to Send Shapeshifting Robots to Saturn Moon | KQED","description":"NASA is conceiving a new generation of robotic rovers that will change shape to travel in a range of alien environments. ","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"NASA Wants to Send Shapeshifting Robots to Saturn Moon","datePublished":"2019-10-09T16:55:56.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T00:57:22.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"source":"Astronomy","sticky":false,"path":"/science/1948555/nasa-wants-to-send-shapeshifting-robots-to-saturn-moon","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As they conceive a new generation of robotic “rovers,” NASA engineers are challenging themselves to think outside the box.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The contraptions they envision bear little resemblance to the car-like, six-wheeled cruisers we’ve followed during rolling adventures on Mars. Future space exploration robots may resemble “Transformers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because a robot operating semi-autonomously on very alien turf must be able to negotiate a broad range of terrains and environmental conditions, the likes of which may not exist on Earth. So, how to design – and prepare the rover – for situations engineers may not even anticipate?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Shapeshifter\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To handle one of the more distant and fascinating objects in our solar system – \u003ca href=\"https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/saturn-moons/titan/overview/\">Saturn’s moon Titan\u003c/a> – NASA engineers have come up with \u003ca href=\"https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7505\">Shapeshifter\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Concept drawings and working models of this robot resemble farm equipment- some kind of rolling grain harvester or threshing machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it helps to see past Shapeshifter’s prototype and imagine how engineers might take apart its components and put them back together in different forms to suit different needs, like Lego toys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To demonstrate this concept, they built the Shapeshifter mockup from two separate and complementary assemblies: a pair of flight-capable drones housed within their own halves of a pipe-frame cylinder structure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Combined, the prototype can roll like a barrel to easily traverse stretches of flat or mounded terrain. Separately, one half can ascend skyward on propellers, using the other half as a launch pad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More advanced visions for the Shapeshifter stick with the paradigm of smaller robots working together – “co-bots” – that form different configurations, but involve greater numbers of base robot units.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1948600\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1948600\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2-800x451.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"451\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2-800x451.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2-768x433.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/futureshapeshifter-nasa2.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A more advanced concept of the multiple “co-bot” team whose elements can fly like drones, or assemble into configurations optimized for swimming through liquid or rolling or tumbling across a landscape. \u003ccite>(NASA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>These simplified future co-bots may combine into forms that can swim through a sea of liquid, fly together to lift and carry other equipment, such as a larger “mothership” lander, or roll around almost any terrain by reassembling into a sphere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bizarre Environments Call For Bizarre Robots\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2005, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft dropped the European “\u003ca href=\"https://sci.esa.int/web/cassini-huygens/-/55221-huygens-titan-science-highlights\">Huygens\u003c/a>” probe onto the surface of Saturn’s mysterious, cloud-shrouded moon Titan. With a simple plan to descend through the thick nitrogen atmosphere on a parachute and set down on any available surface, hopefully with enough battery power for a few minutes of picture-taking, Huygens offered a brief flash of insight into Titan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1948601\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/432541main_titan_huygens_big_full.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NASA scored with that touchdown. Huygens, and further investigations by Cassini from space, demonstrated that Titan is a world like no other in the solar system, worthy of further exploration. Scientists also learned what a challenging physical environment Titan presents, and recognized the need for a new, super-flexible roving machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Earth’s quiescent airless moon, Titan has a thick, dynamic and extremely cold atmosphere. Unlike the dry desert plains and mountains of Mars, Titan has a liquid cycle, similar to Earth’s water cycle. Titan’s rain, rivers, \u003ca href=\"https://earthsky.org/space/scientists-find-new-surprises-about-titans-lakes\">lakes and seas\u003c/a>, however, are freezing cold liquid methane – a material that exists as a gas on Earth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1948620\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-800x720.jpg\" alt=\"Artist concept of the surface of Titan, its high and rugged mountains, surface liquid methane, atmosphere, and Saturn in the hazy sky above.\" width=\"800\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-800x720.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-160x144.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-768x691.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-1020x918.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600-1200x1080.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/10/17704_Titan_Backdrop_1600.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Titan’s landscapes include vast plains of dunes, high and steep-walled mountains peppered with deep alpine lakes, complex networks of river-carved canyons, and several wide seas of liquid methane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some respects, Titan’s physical environment will make it easier for a co-botic transforming Shapeshifter craft to move about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Its surface gravity is about one-seventh that of Earth. Titan is also the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere – thicker than Earth’s – so engineers don’t have to reinvent the helicopter propeller to make their Titanian co-bots fly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Science Fiction Leading the Way?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Transformers” isn’t the only example of \u003ca href=\"https://www.hackster.io/news/superball-v2-is-a-huge-tensegrity-robot-that-can-absorb-substantial-impacts-956e025368b5\">unconventional robot designs\u003c/a> in the realm of science fiction that have played with ideas like shapeshifting and flexible configurations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The robots TARS and CASE in the movie “Interstellar” looked like awkward rectangular blocks of plastic or metal, but their designers gave them the ability to articulate smaller building-block components into different configurations to walk, run, climb, lift, and even pinwheel through a shallow extraterrestrial sea as the situation demanded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I won’t go into the liquid-metal polymorphing robot from “Terminator 2,” but who knows? Engineers are giving shape and motion to blobs of “ferrofluid” with magnetic fields, so it’s not inconceivable that they may one day deploy a fluid “Explorinator” morphing around the surfaces of distant worlds.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1948555/nasa-wants-to-send-shapeshifting-robots-to-saturn-moon","authors":["6180"],"categories":["science_28"],"tags":["science_498","science_460","science_499","science_5175","science_501","science_502"],"featImg":"science_1948813","label":"source_science_1948555"},"science_1928700":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1928700","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1928700","score":null,"sort":[1533567600000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"california-groundwater-law-means-big-changes-above-ground-too","title":"California Groundwater Law Means Big Changes Above Ground, Too","publishDate":1533567600,"format":"standard","headTitle":"California Groundwater Law Means Big Changes Above Ground, Too | KQED","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/SGMA-Groundwater-Management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sustainable Groundwater Management Act\u003c/a> (SGMA), adopted in 2014, will change more than groundwater. The requirement to end overdraft will also transform land use, a massive side effect yet to be widely recognized.[contextly_sidebar id=”QOi46UTw5U1BAOGXmVwGXKGO4eIf3nYb”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parts of California will literally look different once the law takes full effect. It could put some farmers out of business. It could change how others farm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some areas, farms will have to be fallowed to reduce groundwater demand. That idled farmland will have lots of important new uses. Some could become wildlife habitat or groundwater recharge basins. Others could be useful for solar energy development and other semi-industrial uses. Undoubtedly, some will become housing subdivisions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City and county government leaders are starting to realize there’s a lot at stake. The landscape itself will change as groundwater extraction changes. Without careful planning, property tax revenues that fund a wide variety of essential government services could be compromised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t believe it is a groundwater law. I believe it’s a land use law,” said Lorelei Oviatt, director of planning and natural resources in Kern County, the southernmost county in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley. “In my mind, SGMA has actually opened up doors for new technology – new ways of looking at how we use our land.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kern County was the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fresnobee.com/news/business/agriculture/article174175846.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">most productive\u003c/a> farming county in the state last year in the nation’s most productive farming region. The total value of its agricultural production was $7.2 billion in 2017. Lots of that success was built on groundwater overdraft – which must soon end.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Kern County isn’t alone. Many other California counties are in the same situation. All but three of the 14 groundwater basins in the San Joaquin Valley are ranked as critically overdrafted. Ten others, mostly along the Central Coast, are also critically overdrafted. Several dozen more throughout the state are ranked as high or medium priority, which also face deadlines to bring their aquifers into balance, meaning extraction and replenishment are equalized.[contextly_sidebar id=”h4pBKE0Rb4uVuMszqwXymlJQ2CvTD7WJ”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many other aquifers in the state are already in balance, and now their managers must figure out how to keep them that way – which means land use will become an issue for all aquifers in the state, said Ellen Hanak, director of the \u003ca href=\"http://www.ppic.org/water/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Water Policy Center\u003c/a> at the Public Policy Institute of California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everybody everywhere who is implementing SGMA is going to be thinking about how to protect areas that are good for recharge,” said Hanak. “People didn’t think about that in the past, and now they’re going to have to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, groundwater managers, for the first time, will be paying attention to where new housing is built, and there may be more resistance to sprawl-type suburban development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best groundwater recharge areas have certain soil types that are good at absorbing water. These areas have already been mapped by, among others, the \u003ca href=\"https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/sagbi/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">California \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/sagbi/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Soil Resource Lab\u003c/a> at the University of California, Davis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180806000546/BeeFloodedFieldKasler1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stormwater floods the 5-acre almond orchard of farmer Nick Blom in an experiment in 2016 to restore the drought-depleted aquifer in Modesto, Calif. (Paul Kitagaki, The Sacramento Bee)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Protecting recharge zones from urbanization will become a new focus of growth management, but it can’t be the only focus. In areas like the San Joaquin Valley, there is not a lot of surface water available for recharge because most of it is diverted from Northern California and already in high demand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That leaves storm runoff as the main recharge option, and many areas of the San Joaquin Valley are well suited to that: The valley was a giant floodplain, after all, before it was developed for farming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But storm runoff is not available in all years. In addition, as the PPIC notes in a \u003ca href=\"http://www.ppic.org/publication/replenishing-groundwater-in-the-san-joaquin-valley/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent report\u003c/a>, most available storm runoff occurs in the north part of the San Joaquin Valley, while the best recharge lands are in the south. Hence, new infrastructure will be needed to channel flood flows to basins where it can be recharged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At best, you can probably meet up to a quarter of the deficit with additional recharge,” Hanak said. “That means you’ve still got a big gap to fill. So there’s a growing recognition that this is going to mean some land coming out of production in the valley.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She estimates 10–12 percent of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley will have to be fallowed as a conservation measure to reduce demand on groundwater. That doesn’t sound like a lot. But it amounts to about 600,000 acres – roughly equal to seven cities the size of Fresno.[contextly_sidebar id=”HwgmZfMBhjUHq1pYaaNOEQxCVtqOSm7g”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How all that land gets reused is a huge issue for the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lot of good farmland is also suitable for groundwater recharge, and the two are not incompatible. University of California research found that 3.6 million acres of crops in the state may be \u003ca href=\"http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=18393\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">suitable for recharge\u003c/a>. At the right time and in the right quantities, shallow flooding works on crops as diverse as alfalfa, wine grapes and almonds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kara Heckert, state director of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.farmland.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">American Farmland Trust\u003c/a>, said it is important to make sure the most productive farmland is spared from fallowing. The nonprofit recently published a report that found 323,000 acres of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley could be lost to development by 2050 as suburban sprawl creeps out from cities like Lodi, Manteca, Hanford and Bakersfield. About half of that acreage is considered high-value farmland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The message is that cities, counties, farmers and groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) need to work together in new ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Land quality across the San Joaquin Valley should be a consideration used by [GSAs] when they are determining groundwater allocations within their districts,” said Heckert. “Ensuring the best agricultural land continues to receive adequate groundwater supply will help maintain California’s agricultural production and natural heritage.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hanak said governments could offer a variety of incentives to derive the most benefit from farmland retirement. Grants and tax breaks, for instance, could encourage fallowing in certain areas to create new wildlife refuge areas or to expand existing refuges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Less productive farmland near utility corridors could be rezoned for alternative energy development. This would encourage crop fallowing to cut groundwater use while also boosting property taxes collected on these lands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If farmland is simply fallowed and left bare, Oviatt said, local property taxes will suffer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180806000510/900_08_us_ca_81_2031.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A new water well being drilled in an almond orchard in Tulare County, Calif., in 2014. (Citizens of the Planet/Education Images/UIG via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It can’t just all become open space,” she said. “Open space doesn’t pay enough property taxes to keep our sheriff and our parks and libraries alive. As a land use planner, I believe it’s my responsibility to make sure this works for everyone.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oviatt noted that local governments face a conflict in planning their growth. State laws encourage them to both conserve water and build more homes to address the housing affordability crisis in California. Those goals are in conflict, especially in a region like the San Joaquin Valley, where many local communities rely on groundwater, and SGMA will make that groundwater harder to come by.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are not having a big enough dialogue about how the new water rules fit in with this whole idea of building more houses,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One strategy, she said, would be to require all new homes to include on-site gray-water recycling. Another is a water trading scheme for residential development. Kern County already does this in the Tehachapi area, a mountainous community east of Bakersfield that relies on sparse groundwater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A developer who wants to build a 50-home subdivision in Tehachapi can buy the water he needs from other unbuilt lots in the region, if he can find willing sellers. The process concentrates both the water use and the housing development. Something similar could work throughout the San Joaquin Valley to control where development occurs and where groundwater gets pumped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need more tools in this new water world we’re in,” Oviatt said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SGMA has been criticized for its distant deadlines, because hundreds of new wells are being drilled in the meantime, putting additional strain on groundwater. But it may turn out to be a good thing that this law creeps along like a wagon train. It will take years to manage all the land use changes that will accompany changes in groundwater use.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t think anybody is under the illusion that it’s all going to work perfectly,” said Hanak. “The good thing about this is, it’s not an overnight thing that’s going to happen. It’s something that people will have some time to plan for.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article originally appeared on \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://mail.kqed.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e4bb0e1a7d74f24ba4684ef2533053d&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.newsdeeply.com%2fwater\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Deeply\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you can find it \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/06/california-groundwater-law-means-big-changes-above-ground-too\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">here\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For important news about the California drought, you can \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://waterdeeply.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8b78e9a34ff7443ec1e8c62c6&id=2947becb78\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the Water Deeply email list.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"The state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is likely to result in fallowing thousands of acres of farmland. Local governments are just waking up to the big opportunities, and risks, in how that land gets reused.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704927609,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":35,"wordCount":1561},"headData":{"title":"California Groundwater Law Means Big Changes Above Ground, Too | KQED","description":"The state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is likely to result in fallowing thousands of acres of farmland. Local governments are just waking up to the big opportunities, and risks, in how that land gets reused.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"California Groundwater Law Means Big Changes Above Ground, Too","datePublished":"2018-08-06T15:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T23:00:09.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"source":"Water","sticky":false,"nprByline":"Matt Weiser\u003cbr />Water Deeply","path":"/science/1928700/california-groundwater-law-means-big-changes-above-ground-too","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/SGMA-Groundwater-Management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sustainable Groundwater Management Act\u003c/a> (SGMA), adopted in 2014, will change more than groundwater. The requirement to end overdraft will also transform land use, a massive side effect yet to be widely recognized.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parts of California will literally look different once the law takes full effect. It could put some farmers out of business. It could change how others farm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some areas, farms will have to be fallowed to reduce groundwater demand. That idled farmland will have lots of important new uses. Some could become wildlife habitat or groundwater recharge basins. Others could be useful for solar energy development and other semi-industrial uses. Undoubtedly, some will become housing subdivisions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City and county government leaders are starting to realize there’s a lot at stake. The landscape itself will change as groundwater extraction changes. Without careful planning, property tax revenues that fund a wide variety of essential government services could be compromised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t believe it is a groundwater law. I believe it’s a land use law,” said Lorelei Oviatt, director of planning and natural resources in Kern County, the southernmost county in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley. “In my mind, SGMA has actually opened up doors for new technology – new ways of looking at how we use our land.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kern County was the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fresnobee.com/news/business/agriculture/article174175846.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">most productive\u003c/a> farming county in the state last year in the nation’s most productive farming region. The total value of its agricultural production was $7.2 billion in 2017. Lots of that success was built on groundwater overdraft – which must soon end.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Kern County isn’t alone. Many other California counties are in the same situation. All but three of the 14 groundwater basins in the San Joaquin Valley are ranked as critically overdrafted. Ten others, mostly along the Central Coast, are also critically overdrafted. Several dozen more throughout the state are ranked as high or medium priority, which also face deadlines to bring their aquifers into balance, meaning extraction and replenishment are equalized.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many other aquifers in the state are already in balance, and now their managers must figure out how to keep them that way – which means land use will become an issue for all aquifers in the state, said Ellen Hanak, director of the \u003ca href=\"http://www.ppic.org/water/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Water Policy Center\u003c/a> at the Public Policy Institute of California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everybody everywhere who is implementing SGMA is going to be thinking about how to protect areas that are good for recharge,” said Hanak. “People didn’t think about that in the past, and now they’re going to have to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, groundwater managers, for the first time, will be paying attention to where new housing is built, and there may be more resistance to sprawl-type suburban development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best groundwater recharge areas have certain soil types that are good at absorbing water. These areas have already been mapped by, among others, the \u003ca href=\"https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/sagbi/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">California \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/sagbi/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Soil Resource Lab\u003c/a> at the University of California, Davis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180806000546/BeeFloodedFieldKasler1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stormwater floods the 5-acre almond orchard of farmer Nick Blom in an experiment in 2016 to restore the drought-depleted aquifer in Modesto, Calif. (Paul Kitagaki, The Sacramento Bee)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Protecting recharge zones from urbanization will become a new focus of growth management, but it can’t be the only focus. In areas like the San Joaquin Valley, there is not a lot of surface water available for recharge because most of it is diverted from Northern California and already in high demand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That leaves storm runoff as the main recharge option, and many areas of the San Joaquin Valley are well suited to that: The valley was a giant floodplain, after all, before it was developed for farming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But storm runoff is not available in all years. In addition, as the PPIC notes in a \u003ca href=\"http://www.ppic.org/publication/replenishing-groundwater-in-the-san-joaquin-valley/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent report\u003c/a>, most available storm runoff occurs in the north part of the San Joaquin Valley, while the best recharge lands are in the south. Hence, new infrastructure will be needed to channel flood flows to basins where it can be recharged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At best, you can probably meet up to a quarter of the deficit with additional recharge,” Hanak said. “That means you’ve still got a big gap to fill. So there’s a growing recognition that this is going to mean some land coming out of production in the valley.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She estimates 10–12 percent of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley will have to be fallowed as a conservation measure to reduce demand on groundwater. That doesn’t sound like a lot. But it amounts to about 600,000 acres – roughly equal to seven cities the size of Fresno.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How all that land gets reused is a huge issue for the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lot of good farmland is also suitable for groundwater recharge, and the two are not incompatible. University of California research found that 3.6 million acres of crops in the state may be \u003ca href=\"http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=18393\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">suitable for recharge\u003c/a>. At the right time and in the right quantities, shallow flooding works on crops as diverse as alfalfa, wine grapes and almonds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kara Heckert, state director of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.farmland.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">American Farmland Trust\u003c/a>, said it is important to make sure the most productive farmland is spared from fallowing. The nonprofit recently published a report that found 323,000 acres of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley could be lost to development by 2050 as suburban sprawl creeps out from cities like Lodi, Manteca, Hanford and Bakersfield. About half of that acreage is considered high-value farmland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The message is that cities, counties, farmers and groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) need to work together in new ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Land quality across the San Joaquin Valley should be a consideration used by [GSAs] when they are determining groundwater allocations within their districts,” said Heckert. “Ensuring the best agricultural land continues to receive adequate groundwater supply will help maintain California’s agricultural production and natural heritage.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hanak said governments could offer a variety of incentives to derive the most benefit from farmland retirement. Grants and tax breaks, for instance, could encourage fallowing in certain areas to create new wildlife refuge areas or to expand existing refuges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Less productive farmland near utility corridors could be rezoned for alternative energy development. This would encourage crop fallowing to cut groundwater use while also boosting property taxes collected on these lands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If farmland is simply fallowed and left bare, Oviatt said, local property taxes will suffer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180806000510/900_08_us_ca_81_2031.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A new water well being drilled in an almond orchard in Tulare County, Calif., in 2014. (Citizens of the Planet/Education Images/UIG via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It can’t just all become open space,” she said. “Open space doesn’t pay enough property taxes to keep our sheriff and our parks and libraries alive. As a land use planner, I believe it’s my responsibility to make sure this works for everyone.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oviatt noted that local governments face a conflict in planning their growth. State laws encourage them to both conserve water and build more homes to address the housing affordability crisis in California. Those goals are in conflict, especially in a region like the San Joaquin Valley, where many local communities rely on groundwater, and SGMA will make that groundwater harder to come by.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are not having a big enough dialogue about how the new water rules fit in with this whole idea of building more houses,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One strategy, she said, would be to require all new homes to include on-site gray-water recycling. Another is a water trading scheme for residential development. Kern County already does this in the Tehachapi area, a mountainous community east of Bakersfield that relies on sparse groundwater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A developer who wants to build a 50-home subdivision in Tehachapi can buy the water he needs from other unbuilt lots in the region, if he can find willing sellers. The process concentrates both the water use and the housing development. Something similar could work throughout the San Joaquin Valley to control where development occurs and where groundwater gets pumped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need more tools in this new water world we’re in,” Oviatt said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SGMA has been criticized for its distant deadlines, because hundreds of new wells are being drilled in the meantime, putting additional strain on groundwater. But it may turn out to be a good thing that this law creeps along like a wagon train. It will take years to manage all the land use changes that will accompany changes in groundwater use.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t think anybody is under the illusion that it’s all going to work perfectly,” said Hanak. “The good thing about this is, it’s not an overnight thing that’s going to happen. It’s something that people will have some time to plan for.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article originally appeared on \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://mail.kqed.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e4bb0e1a7d74f24ba4684ef2533053d&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.newsdeeply.com%2fwater\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Deeply\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you can find it \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/06/california-groundwater-law-means-big-changes-above-ground-too\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">here\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For important news about the California drought, you can \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://waterdeeply.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8b78e9a34ff7443ec1e8c62c6&id=2947becb78\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the Water Deeply email list.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1928700/california-groundwater-law-means-big-changes-above-ground-too","authors":["byline_science_1928700"],"categories":["science_31","science_35","science_40","science_98"],"tags":["science_182","science_572","science_460","science_201"],"featImg":"science_1928703","label":"source_science_1928700"},"science_1927986":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1927986","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1927986","score":null,"sort":[1532552445000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"how-a-silicon-valley-city-cut-landmark-deals-to-solve-a-water-crisis","title":"How a Silicon Valley City Cut Landmark Deals to Solve a Water Crisis","publishDate":1532552445,"format":"standard","headTitle":"How a Silicon Valley City Cut Landmark Deals to Solve a Water Crisis | KQED","labelTerm":{"site":"science"},"content":"\u003cp>Silicon Valley logged seven straight years of economic growth – coming out of the Great Recession like a runner out of the blocks. And the numbers aren’t simply tallied in ledger books and spreadsheets – the growth is visible in the slow slog of daily traffic, in the weekend open houses crammed with would-be buyers eager for $2 million starter homes and in the forest of construction cranes on the suburban horizon.[contextly_sidebar id=”NbJ09yXjXiHjekfYKybcPudhUuS6oQot”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Silicon Valley has been bursting at the seams as developers try to keep pace. But there is one place in the last few years where you wouldn’t have heard the buzz of saws and the pounding of hammers – East Palo Alto, a small city of just 28,000 residents. The city is located roughly halfway between San Francisco and San Jose, at the southern edge of San Mateo County. It neighbors tony Palo Alto, home of Stanford University and Menlo Park, with Facebook’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.menlopark.org/995/Facebook-Campus-Expansion-Project\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ever-expanding campus\u003c/a> just next door. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.ft.com/content/82bc282e-8790-11e7-bf50-e1c239b45787\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Financial Times story\u003c/a> called the juxtaposition of Facebook and East Palo Alto “an ocean liner docked on the edge of an undeveloped country.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While East Palo Alto is far from undeveloped, the fruits of the technology boom have mostly bypassed the city, which has been a majority minority community since the 1970s. And just as things seemed to be improving economically, growth stalled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In July 2016, East Palo Alto issued a moratorium on development because the city couldn’t guarantee there would be enough water for new projects. This was when California was still in the midst of drought and abiding by mandatory conservation orders issued by Governor Jerry Brown. But East Palo Alto’s water shortage had nothing to do with the lack of rain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is plenty of water, it’s just not ours,” says Carlos Martinez, the city manager.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>East Palo Alto obtains all of its water from the San Francisco Regional Water System, run by the \u003ca href=\"http://sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=134\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Francisco Public Utilities Commission\u003c/a> (SFPUC). It’s the same system that funnels Yosemite snowmelt via Hetch Hetchy Reservoir through a network of pipes, pumps and tunnels to San Francisco residents and 1.7 million others in the Bay Area.[contextly_sidebar id=”X8eNL9QY3heGZZJB32GmPIlSYaoUNXa5″]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time, East Palo Alto’s water allocation wasn’t enough for the city to keep growing. The hold on development meant that several high-profile projects couldn’t get off the ground, resulting in lost revenue for the city, which already lagged its Silicon Valley neighbors in economic health. The water shortage also meant a halt to plans for building more desperately needed affordable housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so city officials began a multiyear journey to find new water sources – a process that would end with an unprecedented partnership involving neighboring cities, wealthy developers and affordable-housing advocates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Historical Roots of a Water Crisis\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whenever Ruben Abrica gets the chance to talk to young people about politics, he tells them that every vote counts – at least at the local level. And it’s not just a platitude. Abrica was part of a group of residents that fought for the incorporation of East Palo Alto – an effort that, after decades of work, finally succeeded in 1983 by a mere 15 votes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We knocked on every single house and apartment,” says Abrica, who is now doing his second tour as the city’s mayor and was one of the first city councillors elected after incorporation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vote, though controversial at the time, was monumental. East Palo Alto became the 20th and newest city in San Mateo County. Despite its municipal youthfulness, the community has a much longer history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previously, East Palo Alto was an unincorporated town, and one that, in the decades after World War II, became a haven for African-Americans looking to settle in the Bay Area who were excluded or displaced from other cities due to racially restrictive covenants, unsavory real estate practices or so-called “redevelopment” efforts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, East Palo Alto’s population went from 70 percent white in 1960 to 60 percent black a decade later. The shifting demographic had economic implications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“During this time of intensifying development in the region, East Palo Alto’s unincorporated status and racially diverse population effectively excluded it from the sources of development capital,” \u003ca href=\"https://arcade.stanford.edu/occasion/reading-whiskey-gulch-meanings-space-and-urban-redevelopment-east-palo-alto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">writes\u003c/a> Stanford University urban studies lecturer Michael B. Kahan in the humanities journal Arcade.[contextly_sidebar id=”cJhv8NxZPPGWyBG6Psfegpnyi0gzveoB”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While high-technology parks took off in other (majority white) Silicon Valley cities, East Palo Alto – at the mercy of the county – ended up with a lot of dirty development instead. This included the county dump, a hazardous waste disposal facility and other polluting industries. (Other areas of Silicon Valley also experienced an enduring legacy from several decades of high-tech manufacturing, which left Santa Clara County with the most Superfund sites in the nation.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What does it say to a community that the county designated them as a dump site or designated a toxic waste facility to be there?” asks Tameeka Bennett, who grew up in East Palo Alto and now is executive director of \u003ca href=\"http://youthunited.net/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Youth United for Community Action\u003c/a>, a nonprofit that helped shut down the toxic waste facility, Romic, after 43 years of operation. “It kind of says that you don’t care much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many residents saw incorporation as a way for the city to forge a better path and tap into the region’s growing prosperity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When East Palo Alto’s newly elected city government took over in the mid-80s it faced numerous challenges, but at the forefront were issues of affordable housing and tenant protections, says Abrica. And while East Palo Alto residents were worried about displacement and unscrupulous landlords, not to mention high crime rates, big decisions about water were taking place in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city’s entire water supply came from the SFPUC, which had been providing water not just to residents of San Francisco but also to roughly two dozen municipalities and water agencies in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These regional wholesale customers had come to be collectively represented by the Bay Area Water Users Association (later changed to the \u003ca href=\"http://bawsca.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency\u003c/a>). And in 1984 they renegotiated their contract with SFPUC.[contextly_sidebar id=”PN00Ik0EYYviKxs7J7uHfWQPspiWHX65″]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the terms of the 1984 agreement, which was later updated in 2009, wholesale customers would receive a collective minimum water supply of \u003ca href=\"https://sfwater.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=8632\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">184 million gallons a day\u003c/a>. Wholesale customers divvied that allotment into shares for each city or agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The calculation was initially based on past usage and previous contracts. As such, new and slowly developing East Palo Alto received a small allotment of just \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/documentcenter/view/37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">under 2 million gallons\u003c/a> a day. It proved too little to meet rising demand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2000 the “Whiskey Gulch” neighborhood – East Palo Alto’s prime retail district, which contained affordable housing, nonprofits and small businesses (some of those liquor stores and bars) – was razed for a massive new development, University Circle, aimed at bringing in more tax revenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 5472px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180723130240/wd_sv_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5472\" height=\"3648\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto, Calif., which was part of a redevelopment project. (Sarah Craig)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By 2006, \u003ca href=\"http://www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=430\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University Circle\u003c/a> would include 450,000 square feet of class-A office space, 15,000 square feet of retail space and a Four Seasons hotel. At the same time, East Palo Alto began to feel the squeeze on its water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Between 2001 and 2015, the city \u003ca href=\"http://www.cityofepa.org/DocumentCenter/View/3404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exceeded its supply\u003c/a> allocation four times. Finally, in 2016 East Palo Alto’s water situation reached a critical point. Several large development projects were lining up, and the city badly needed to build more affordable housing, but a water supply assessment showed that the city needed an additional 1.5 million gallons a day of supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We had to institute a [development] moratorium because we couldn’t approve projects – we simply couldn’t assure them that we could supply the water,” says city manager Martinez. Affordable housing had to wait, along with developers hoping to build a private school and new commercial properties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>East Palo Alto city manager Carlos Martinez shakes hands with a worker at the city’s newly updated Gloria Way well. (Sarah Craig)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Looking Inward\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When East Palo Alto was examining options to tackle its water problems, that included seeing what it could do within the borders of the 2.5 square-mile city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it turns out, there wasn’t much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gross per capita water consumption in East Palo Alto in 2015–16 was 58 gallons a day, one of the lowest in the region (and state). And residential per capita use was just 51.6 gallons a day – a stark contrast to the more than 218 gallons a day consumed by San Jose residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve been very good stewards,” says Mayor Abrica. “Generally, it’s wealthy communities which waste water, it’s not poor communities. People are mindful of how much they’re paying.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city doesn’t have big parks or golf courses that use lots of water, either. Potential gains made from conservation would be minimal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One resource East Palo Alto did have, though, is groundwater. At least some.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 5302px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180723130548/wd_sv_4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5302\" height=\"3535\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An electrical panel on the construction site of the Gloria Well in East Palo Alto. (Sarah Craig)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We commissioned a scientific study and looked at every inch of land in East Palo Alto that potentially had groundwater and lo and behold we found good water,” on a small slice of land the city owns in a Home Depot parking lot, says Abrica.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city has already started on the design of the well, which they call “Pad D,” and construction is likely to start sometime in 2019. The city also owns an existing well on Gloria Way in a residential neighborhood a few blocks from the town’s library and municipal offices.[contextly_sidebar id=”0n2b2RJnKQkj8sv7TZYC13uFtcmB7aer”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contamination problems with the well had rendered the water undrinkable for years, but the city got to work on building a new treatment system. The water from the wells, though, was expected to help shrink the water supply gap, or minimally provide a much-needed source of local backup, but it wouldn’t be enough to meet all the East Palo Alto’s needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Looking Outward\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most obvious place for East Palo Alto to look for more water was its provider, SFPUC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In May 2016, East Palo Alto requested that SFPUC consider increasing its allocation by 1.5 million gallons a day to close its projected shortfall. Others threw their weight behind the request, as well, including local business and community leaders like U.S.Rep. Jackie Speier, whose district includes East Palo Alto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I view the request of East Palo Alto as the latest chapter in a civil rights struggle that began decades ago when discrimination was lawful and widely practiced,” she wrote in a letter to the SFPUC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But East Palo Alto’s allocation was also enmeshed in a complicated and changing water supply picture across the region. SFPUC was engaged in a multiyear process to update its long-term water supply plan, known as the Water Management Action Plan, which would designate water allotments for 2019 to 2040.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In doing so it needed to examine both the needs of its dozens of wholesale customers and also the future water supply picture in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to East Palo Alto’s request for more water, the larger cities of San Jose and Santa Clara were also seeking to have their allocations increased and made permanent (they had been classified as temporary, interruptible customers whose supplies could be curtailed).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the biggest issue had to do with the big unknowns in SFPUC’s future water supply because the state was also engaged in a long process of updating a water plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that could involve curtailments to the SFPUC’s supply from the Tuolumne River.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Given all the balls in the air for SFPUC, East Palo Alto knew a quick decision on its fate from the commission wasn’t coming soon and so it began to look for other options.[contextly_sidebar id=”t0yf1BDSAN32Yv86b06UBJHesoiWA3Wb”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even though East Palo Alto was consuming all of its supply allocations, it knew that other cities in the region had more water than they regularly used. They just needed to find one or two municipalities willing to part with some of it – something that had never been done before in the region. In California, giving up water is pretty much unheard of – especially in the wake of a five-year drought.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>East Palo Alto is a small city of 28,000 residents in San Mateo County, California. (Sarah Craig)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Neighborly Help\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There was nothing to suggest that Mountain View’s monthly city council meeting in May 2017 would be historic – no big crowds, no fanfare. But item number 7.2 on the agenda, coming after information on street resurfacing, was an important order of business: a vote on whether to approve a permanent water rights transfer of 1 million gallons a day to the nearby city of East Palo Alto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is our opportunity,” East Palo Alto’s then-mayor Larry Moody said at the meeting. “If we are able to do this water transfer today we can become a community that’s … pursuing our hopes and dreams.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After exhausting other possibilities for securing more water, East Palo Alto officials focused their efforts on two cities, Mountain View and Palo Alto, which were open to talks about a potential water transfer.[contextly_sidebar id=”Kkx7R5UaX8IY3XFSH6NOtOrcJn1FQwW0″]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Mountain View, the water supply picture, even in the midst of drought, was good. The city, home to Google and other tech companies, has an allocation of 13.5million gallons a day, which they hadn’t come close to using in 30 years, according to Gregg Hosfeldt, assistant public works director for the city. During California’s recent drought, Mountain View residents cut consumption by 24 percent in two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city currently was using just over 7 million gallons a day. That’s good news on a conservation front, but bad news financially for Mountain View. It is one of four cities in the regional water system with contracts that stipulate that it must purchase a minimum amount of water each year from SFPUC. For Mountain View, its minimum is 8.9 million gallons a day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mountain View’s staff had calculated that the city was likely to pay $8.5 million over the next four years for water it wouldn’t use. So, they worked out a plan to transfer a water right of 1 million gallons a day to East Palo Alto for a one-time fee of $5 million, which would ease East Palo Alto’s water troubles and help take some of the sting out of paying for unused water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Knowing what East Palo Alto was facing and knowing what our situation is and knowing that no other agency was stepping up, we kind of made a leap of faith and started working with them to see how we could make this fly,” says Hosfeldt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mountain View then-mayor Ken Rosenberg closed out the city council meeting by saying, “Access to clean drinkable water is a human right and we’re doing human rights work on this vote.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With a whoop and some clapping from the small audience in attendance, the councillors voted 6-1 in favor of the water transfer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A month later East Palo Alto’s city council approved the transfer, which was subsequently greenlighted by the SFPUC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The deal was advantageous to all sides, but the fact that it was struck was still groundbreaking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Nobody sells water – you just don’t do that,” says Hosfeldt. And from a negotiating standpoint, there wasn’t a lot of precedent, either. “If you look historically, there is probably none of these deals to look at – we’re breaking new ground.”[contextly_sidebar id=”CxZkrLQTwQ5zF7q6LSK7xNrzovwISUe2″]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How East Palo Alto funded the project was a first, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city didn’t have $5 million in the bank, so it \u003ca href=\"http://www.cityofepa.org/DocumentCenter/View/3404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">got creative\u003c/a>. East Palo Alto kicked in $470,000 from its general fund. Another $1.53 million was split between three big developers – the Sobrato Organization, 2020 Bay Road and The Primary School (a project of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the philanthropic organization of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, pediatrician Priscilla Chan). The Sobrato Organization also agreed to loan the city $1 million and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative gifted an additional $2 million, $500,000 of which was to be used to create a permanent position for an affordable housing manager for the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Water and affordable housing in East Palo are intertwined.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time East Palo Alto was focused on more water to spur economic development, it was also trying to prevent that development from displacing the city’s residents – many of whom are low- and middle-income. East Palo Alto is one of the most affordable places (relatively speaking) left to live in Silicon Valley, but that’s changing quickly as the tech boom ripples through the region and is likely to accelerate with a stable supply of water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bennett of Youth United for Community Action called the development moratorium resulting from the city’s water shortage both a blessing and a curse. It prevented the construction of new affordable housing, “which has been a detriment to the community,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at the same time East Palo Alto is fighting “rapid gentrification,” she says, and the moratorium bought them some time. “It gave us a chance to do some visioning about what we want to see in East Palo Alto and to figure out some tools to get us to what we envision,” she adds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Decades ago East Palo Alto was a city known chiefly for its \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/02/how-east-palo-alto-shed-its-crime-rep-and-built-a-new-path-forward/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">high murder rate\u003c/a>, but community groups and elected officials have worked hard to fight corruption, lower crime rates and bring in more tax dollars through development. As Silicon Valley has become more expensive, East Palo Alto’s allure increased. Over the last five years, the median sales price of a two-bedroom home in East Palo Alto has increased 153 percent to $985,500, according to the real estate company Trulia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bennett wants to see the community grow, but not at the expense of those who already call it home. “We wanted to become a city because it was our sense of place, of where we could belong, and now people want to take that away from us,” she says. “That’s not that easily put into words – it’s the unseen part of gentrification.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right now East Palo Alto feels like a city on the cusp of something, and longtime residents want to make sure they have a say in what that something is.[contextly_sidebar id=”w5W2oJBzOUAXlD5N389Dg2qFA7PA4FYd”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are receiving all the negative impacts [of Silicon Valley’s growth] – a lack of housing, increased traffic – and yet we remain a community that has a lot of needs, more needs than anyone else,” says Martinez. “But we have less employees and less revenue to provide the services that the community needs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With more water, he hopes they can create more city revenue and more services and opportunities for residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>One Deal Away\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the Mountain View deal closed in the summer of 2017 and the city about two-thirds of the way to meeting its water supply needs, East Palo Alto then focused on securing one more deal – this time with neighboring Palo Alto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two cities decided to work on three collaborative projects, one of which was a water transfer agreement of half a million gallons a day from Palo Alto’s allocation with the regional water system, according to Ed Shikada, Palo Alto’s assistant city manager. The other two were a bridge project and traffic signal synchronization.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We thought it would be good to move the three [projects] together,” says Shikada. And because the water deal is part of multiple cooperative projects between the cities, Palo Alto did not seek payment for the water transfer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Recognizing that East Palo Alto does have economic development needs including low-income housing and educational facilities that have been held up on the basis of the water supply being unavailable, those are valuable community assets we’d like to support,” he says.[contextly_sidebar id=”k17jGGYdVZEgm9c1XkRrXsBedE9S0qlh”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Palo Alto’s City Council voted to approve the water transfer in May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This action by Palo Alto, combined with previous action in 2017 by the city of Mountain View, provides the water necessary for East Palo Alto to move forward with its sustainable growth plans envisioned in their General Plan to benefit its residents,” says Nicole Sandkulla, chief executive officer of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, of which all three cities are members.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For officials in East Palo Alto, a secure source of water means that they can focus more attention on other issues. The city has spent so much time thinking about its physical infrastructure, it’s time to focus on the human infrastructure and services for residents, says Abrica.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope we keep our spirit of trying to look after the most vulnerable people in housing, which is not an easy thing,” he says. “We would like for people to stay here if they want to and not be displaced, and we would like for the fruits of the development to make life good for all of the community.”\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"East Palo Alto feels like a city on the cusp of something, and longtime residents want to make sure they have a say. With more water, officials hope they can create more opportunities for residents.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704927654,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":84,"wordCount":3755},"headData":{"title":"How a Silicon Valley City Cut Landmark Deals to Solve a Water Crisis | KQED","description":"East Palo Alto feels like a city on the cusp of something, and longtime residents want to make sure they have a say. With more water, officials hope they can create more opportunities for residents.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"How a Silicon Valley City Cut Landmark Deals to Solve a Water Crisis","datePublished":"2018-07-25T21:00:45.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T23:00:54.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"sticky":false,"nprByline":"Tara Lohan\u003cbr />Water Deeply","path":"/science/1927986/how-a-silicon-valley-city-cut-landmark-deals-to-solve-a-water-crisis","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Silicon Valley logged seven straight years of economic growth – coming out of the Great Recession like a runner out of the blocks. And the numbers aren’t simply tallied in ledger books and spreadsheets – the growth is visible in the slow slog of daily traffic, in the weekend open houses crammed with would-be buyers eager for $2 million starter homes and in the forest of construction cranes on the suburban horizon.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Silicon Valley has been bursting at the seams as developers try to keep pace. But there is one place in the last few years where you wouldn’t have heard the buzz of saws and the pounding of hammers – East Palo Alto, a small city of just 28,000 residents. The city is located roughly halfway between San Francisco and San Jose, at the southern edge of San Mateo County. It neighbors tony Palo Alto, home of Stanford University and Menlo Park, with Facebook’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.menlopark.org/995/Facebook-Campus-Expansion-Project\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ever-expanding campus\u003c/a> just next door. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.ft.com/content/82bc282e-8790-11e7-bf50-e1c239b45787\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Financial Times story\u003c/a> called the juxtaposition of Facebook and East Palo Alto “an ocean liner docked on the edge of an undeveloped country.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While East Palo Alto is far from undeveloped, the fruits of the technology boom have mostly bypassed the city, which has been a majority minority community since the 1970s. And just as things seemed to be improving economically, growth stalled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In July 2016, East Palo Alto issued a moratorium on development because the city couldn’t guarantee there would be enough water for new projects. This was when California was still in the midst of drought and abiding by mandatory conservation orders issued by Governor Jerry Brown. But East Palo Alto’s water shortage had nothing to do with the lack of rain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is plenty of water, it’s just not ours,” says Carlos Martinez, the city manager.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>East Palo Alto obtains all of its water from the San Francisco Regional Water System, run by the \u003ca href=\"http://sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=134\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Francisco Public Utilities Commission\u003c/a> (SFPUC). It’s the same system that funnels Yosemite snowmelt via Hetch Hetchy Reservoir through a network of pipes, pumps and tunnels to San Francisco residents and 1.7 million others in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time, East Palo Alto’s water allocation wasn’t enough for the city to keep growing. The hold on development meant that several high-profile projects couldn’t get off the ground, resulting in lost revenue for the city, which already lagged its Silicon Valley neighbors in economic health. The water shortage also meant a halt to plans for building more desperately needed affordable housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so city officials began a multiyear journey to find new water sources – a process that would end with an unprecedented partnership involving neighboring cities, wealthy developers and affordable-housing advocates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Historical Roots of a Water Crisis\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whenever Ruben Abrica gets the chance to talk to young people about politics, he tells them that every vote counts – at least at the local level. And it’s not just a platitude. Abrica was part of a group of residents that fought for the incorporation of East Palo Alto – an effort that, after decades of work, finally succeeded in 1983 by a mere 15 votes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We knocked on every single house and apartment,” says Abrica, who is now doing his second tour as the city’s mayor and was one of the first city councillors elected after incorporation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vote, though controversial at the time, was monumental. East Palo Alto became the 20th and newest city in San Mateo County. Despite its municipal youthfulness, the community has a much longer history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previously, East Palo Alto was an unincorporated town, and one that, in the decades after World War II, became a haven for African-Americans looking to settle in the Bay Area who were excluded or displaced from other cities due to racially restrictive covenants, unsavory real estate practices or so-called “redevelopment” efforts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, East Palo Alto’s population went from 70 percent white in 1960 to 60 percent black a decade later. The shifting demographic had economic implications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“During this time of intensifying development in the region, East Palo Alto’s unincorporated status and racially diverse population effectively excluded it from the sources of development capital,” \u003ca href=\"https://arcade.stanford.edu/occasion/reading-whiskey-gulch-meanings-space-and-urban-redevelopment-east-palo-alto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">writes\u003c/a> Stanford University urban studies lecturer Michael B. Kahan in the humanities journal Arcade.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While high-technology parks took off in other (majority white) Silicon Valley cities, East Palo Alto – at the mercy of the county – ended up with a lot of dirty development instead. This included the county dump, a hazardous waste disposal facility and other polluting industries. (Other areas of Silicon Valley also experienced an enduring legacy from several decades of high-tech manufacturing, which left Santa Clara County with the most Superfund sites in the nation.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What does it say to a community that the county designated them as a dump site or designated a toxic waste facility to be there?” asks Tameeka Bennett, who grew up in East Palo Alto and now is executive director of \u003ca href=\"http://youthunited.net/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Youth United for Community Action\u003c/a>, a nonprofit that helped shut down the toxic waste facility, Romic, after 43 years of operation. “It kind of says that you don’t care much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many residents saw incorporation as a way for the city to forge a better path and tap into the region’s growing prosperity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When East Palo Alto’s newly elected city government took over in the mid-80s it faced numerous challenges, but at the forefront were issues of affordable housing and tenant protections, says Abrica. And while East Palo Alto residents were worried about displacement and unscrupulous landlords, not to mention high crime rates, big decisions about water were taking place in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city’s entire water supply came from the SFPUC, which had been providing water not just to residents of San Francisco but also to roughly two dozen municipalities and water agencies in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These regional wholesale customers had come to be collectively represented by the Bay Area Water Users Association (later changed to the \u003ca href=\"http://bawsca.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency\u003c/a>). And in 1984 they renegotiated their contract with SFPUC.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the terms of the 1984 agreement, which was later updated in 2009, wholesale customers would receive a collective minimum water supply of \u003ca href=\"https://sfwater.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=8632\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">184 million gallons a day\u003c/a>. Wholesale customers divvied that allotment into shares for each city or agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The calculation was initially based on past usage and previous contracts. As such, new and slowly developing East Palo Alto received a small allotment of just \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/documentcenter/view/37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">under 2 million gallons\u003c/a> a day. It proved too little to meet rising demand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2000 the “Whiskey Gulch” neighborhood – East Palo Alto’s prime retail district, which contained affordable housing, nonprofits and small businesses (some of those liquor stores and bars) – was razed for a massive new development, University Circle, aimed at bringing in more tax revenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 5472px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180723130240/wd_sv_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5472\" height=\"3648\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto, Calif., which was part of a redevelopment project. (Sarah Craig)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By 2006, \u003ca href=\"http://www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=430\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University Circle\u003c/a> would include 450,000 square feet of class-A office space, 15,000 square feet of retail space and a Four Seasons hotel. At the same time, East Palo Alto began to feel the squeeze on its water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Between 2001 and 2015, the city \u003ca href=\"http://www.cityofepa.org/DocumentCenter/View/3404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exceeded its supply\u003c/a> allocation four times. Finally, in 2016 East Palo Alto’s water situation reached a critical point. Several large development projects were lining up, and the city badly needed to build more affordable housing, but a water supply assessment showed that the city needed an additional 1.5 million gallons a day of supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We had to institute a [development] moratorium because we couldn’t approve projects – we simply couldn’t assure them that we could supply the water,” says city manager Martinez. Affordable housing had to wait, along with developers hoping to build a private school and new commercial properties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>East Palo Alto city manager Carlos Martinez shakes hands with a worker at the city’s newly updated Gloria Way well. (Sarah Craig)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Looking Inward\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When East Palo Alto was examining options to tackle its water problems, that included seeing what it could do within the borders of the 2.5 square-mile city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it turns out, there wasn’t much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gross per capita water consumption in East Palo Alto in 2015–16 was 58 gallons a day, one of the lowest in the region (and state). And residential per capita use was just 51.6 gallons a day – a stark contrast to the more than 218 gallons a day consumed by San Jose residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve been very good stewards,” says Mayor Abrica. “Generally, it’s wealthy communities which waste water, it’s not poor communities. People are mindful of how much they’re paying.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city doesn’t have big parks or golf courses that use lots of water, either. Potential gains made from conservation would be minimal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One resource East Palo Alto did have, though, is groundwater. At least some.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 5302px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180723130548/wd_sv_4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5302\" height=\"3535\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An electrical panel on the construction site of the Gloria Well in East Palo Alto. (Sarah Craig)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We commissioned a scientific study and looked at every inch of land in East Palo Alto that potentially had groundwater and lo and behold we found good water,” on a small slice of land the city owns in a Home Depot parking lot, says Abrica.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city has already started on the design of the well, which they call “Pad D,” and construction is likely to start sometime in 2019. The city also owns an existing well on Gloria Way in a residential neighborhood a few blocks from the town’s library and municipal offices.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contamination problems with the well had rendered the water undrinkable for years, but the city got to work on building a new treatment system. The water from the wells, though, was expected to help shrink the water supply gap, or minimally provide a much-needed source of local backup, but it wouldn’t be enough to meet all the East Palo Alto’s needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Looking Outward\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most obvious place for East Palo Alto to look for more water was its provider, SFPUC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In May 2016, East Palo Alto requested that SFPUC consider increasing its allocation by 1.5 million gallons a day to close its projected shortfall. Others threw their weight behind the request, as well, including local business and community leaders like U.S.Rep. Jackie Speier, whose district includes East Palo Alto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I view the request of East Palo Alto as the latest chapter in a civil rights struggle that began decades ago when discrimination was lawful and widely practiced,” she wrote in a letter to the SFPUC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But East Palo Alto’s allocation was also enmeshed in a complicated and changing water supply picture across the region. SFPUC was engaged in a multiyear process to update its long-term water supply plan, known as the Water Management Action Plan, which would designate water allotments for 2019 to 2040.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In doing so it needed to examine both the needs of its dozens of wholesale customers and also the future water supply picture in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to East Palo Alto’s request for more water, the larger cities of San Jose and Santa Clara were also seeking to have their allocations increased and made permanent (they had been classified as temporary, interruptible customers whose supplies could be curtailed).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the biggest issue had to do with the big unknowns in SFPUC’s future water supply because the state was also engaged in a long process of updating a water plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that could involve curtailments to the SFPUC’s supply from the Tuolumne River.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Given all the balls in the air for SFPUC, East Palo Alto knew a quick decision on its fate from the commission wasn’t coming soon and so it began to look for other options.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even though East Palo Alto was consuming all of its supply allocations, it knew that other cities in the region had more water than they regularly used. They just needed to find one or two municipalities willing to part with some of it – something that had never been done before in the region. In California, giving up water is pretty much unheard of – especially in the wake of a five-year drought.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>East Palo Alto is a small city of 28,000 residents in San Mateo County, California. (Sarah Craig)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Neighborly Help\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There was nothing to suggest that Mountain View’s monthly city council meeting in May 2017 would be historic – no big crowds, no fanfare. But item number 7.2 on the agenda, coming after information on street resurfacing, was an important order of business: a vote on whether to approve a permanent water rights transfer of 1 million gallons a day to the nearby city of East Palo Alto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is our opportunity,” East Palo Alto’s then-mayor Larry Moody said at the meeting. “If we are able to do this water transfer today we can become a community that’s … pursuing our hopes and dreams.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After exhausting other possibilities for securing more water, East Palo Alto officials focused their efforts on two cities, Mountain View and Palo Alto, which were open to talks about a potential water transfer.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Mountain View, the water supply picture, even in the midst of drought, was good. The city, home to Google and other tech companies, has an allocation of 13.5million gallons a day, which they hadn’t come close to using in 30 years, according to Gregg Hosfeldt, assistant public works director for the city. During California’s recent drought, Mountain View residents cut consumption by 24 percent in two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city currently was using just over 7 million gallons a day. That’s good news on a conservation front, but bad news financially for Mountain View. It is one of four cities in the regional water system with contracts that stipulate that it must purchase a minimum amount of water each year from SFPUC. For Mountain View, its minimum is 8.9 million gallons a day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mountain View’s staff had calculated that the city was likely to pay $8.5 million over the next four years for water it wouldn’t use. So, they worked out a plan to transfer a water right of 1 million gallons a day to East Palo Alto for a one-time fee of $5 million, which would ease East Palo Alto’s water troubles and help take some of the sting out of paying for unused water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Knowing what East Palo Alto was facing and knowing what our situation is and knowing that no other agency was stepping up, we kind of made a leap of faith and started working with them to see how we could make this fly,” says Hosfeldt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mountain View then-mayor Ken Rosenberg closed out the city council meeting by saying, “Access to clean drinkable water is a human right and we’re doing human rights work on this vote.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With a whoop and some clapping from the small audience in attendance, the councillors voted 6-1 in favor of the water transfer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A month later East Palo Alto’s city council approved the transfer, which was subsequently greenlighted by the SFPUC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The deal was advantageous to all sides, but the fact that it was struck was still groundbreaking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Nobody sells water – you just don’t do that,” says Hosfeldt. And from a negotiating standpoint, there wasn’t a lot of precedent, either. “If you look historically, there is probably none of these deals to look at – we’re breaking new ground.”\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How East Palo Alto funded the project was a first, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city didn’t have $5 million in the bank, so it \u003ca href=\"http://www.cityofepa.org/DocumentCenter/View/3404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">got creative\u003c/a>. East Palo Alto kicked in $470,000 from its general fund. Another $1.53 million was split between three big developers – the Sobrato Organization, 2020 Bay Road and The Primary School (a project of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the philanthropic organization of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, pediatrician Priscilla Chan). The Sobrato Organization also agreed to loan the city $1 million and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative gifted an additional $2 million, $500,000 of which was to be used to create a permanent position for an affordable housing manager for the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Water and affordable housing in East Palo are intertwined.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time East Palo Alto was focused on more water to spur economic development, it was also trying to prevent that development from displacing the city’s residents – many of whom are low- and middle-income. East Palo Alto is one of the most affordable places (relatively speaking) left to live in Silicon Valley, but that’s changing quickly as the tech boom ripples through the region and is likely to accelerate with a stable supply of water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bennett of Youth United for Community Action called the development moratorium resulting from the city’s water shortage both a blessing and a curse. It prevented the construction of new affordable housing, “which has been a detriment to the community,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at the same time East Palo Alto is fighting “rapid gentrification,” she says, and the moratorium bought them some time. “It gave us a chance to do some visioning about what we want to see in East Palo Alto and to figure out some tools to get us to what we envision,” she adds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Decades ago East Palo Alto was a city known chiefly for its \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/02/how-east-palo-alto-shed-its-crime-rep-and-built-a-new-path-forward/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">high murder rate\u003c/a>, but community groups and elected officials have worked hard to fight corruption, lower crime rates and bring in more tax dollars through development. As Silicon Valley has become more expensive, East Palo Alto’s allure increased. Over the last five years, the median sales price of a two-bedroom home in East Palo Alto has increased 153 percent to $985,500, according to the real estate company Trulia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bennett wants to see the community grow, but not at the expense of those who already call it home. “We wanted to become a city because it was our sense of place, of where we could belong, and now people want to take that away from us,” she says. “That’s not that easily put into words – it’s the unseen part of gentrification.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right now East Palo Alto feels like a city on the cusp of something, and longtime residents want to make sure they have a say in what that something is.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are receiving all the negative impacts [of Silicon Valley’s growth] – a lack of housing, increased traffic – and yet we remain a community that has a lot of needs, more needs than anyone else,” says Martinez. “But we have less employees and less revenue to provide the services that the community needs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With more water, he hopes they can create more city revenue and more services and opportunities for residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>One Deal Away\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the Mountain View deal closed in the summer of 2017 and the city about two-thirds of the way to meeting its water supply needs, East Palo Alto then focused on securing one more deal – this time with neighboring Palo Alto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two cities decided to work on three collaborative projects, one of which was a water transfer agreement of half a million gallons a day from Palo Alto’s allocation with the regional water system, according to Ed Shikada, Palo Alto’s assistant city manager. The other two were a bridge project and traffic signal synchronization.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We thought it would be good to move the three [projects] together,” says Shikada. And because the water deal is part of multiple cooperative projects between the cities, Palo Alto did not seek payment for the water transfer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Recognizing that East Palo Alto does have economic development needs including low-income housing and educational facilities that have been held up on the basis of the water supply being unavailable, those are valuable community assets we’d like to support,” he says.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Palo Alto’s City Council voted to approve the water transfer in May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This action by Palo Alto, combined with previous action in 2017 by the city of Mountain View, provides the water necessary for East Palo Alto to move forward with its sustainable growth plans envisioned in their General Plan to benefit its residents,” says Nicole Sandkulla, chief executive officer of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, of which all three cities are members.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For officials in East Palo Alto, a secure source of water means that they can focus more attention on other issues. The city has spent so much time thinking about its physical infrastructure, it’s time to focus on the human infrastructure and services for residents, says Abrica.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope we keep our spirit of trying to look after the most vulnerable people in housing, which is not an easy thing,” he says. “We would like for people to stay here if they want to and not be displaced, and we would like for the fruits of the development to make life good for all of the community.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1927986/how-a-silicon-valley-city-cut-landmark-deals-to-solve-a-water-crisis","authors":["byline_science_1927986"],"categories":["science_40","science_98"],"tags":["science_572","science_460","science_968","science_461","science_201"],"featImg":"science_1927995","label":"science"},"science_1927453":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1927453","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1927453","score":null,"sort":[1531767620000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"how-communities-are-turning-stormwater-from-a-liability-to-an-asset","title":"How Communities Are Turning Stormwater From a Liability to an Asset","publishDate":1531767620,"format":"standard","headTitle":"How Communities Are Turning Stormwater From a Liability to an Asset | KQED","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>Stormwater used to be viewed as a liability – it was shuttled into storm drains as fast as possible to prevent flooding – and then dumped into the ocean, rivers or streams. But increasingly, stormwater is now being viewed as an asset – a way to help augment water supplies and adapt to a changing climate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"http://pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pacific-Institute-Stormwater-Capture-in-California.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">new report\u003c/a> on stormwater capture issued by the \u003ca href=\"http://pacinst.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Pacific Institute\u003c/a> – the Oakland, California-based water think tank – looks at regulatory and funding challenges as well as creative solutions and collaborations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“While obstacles, such as lack of guidance on health and safety guidelines and inadequate funding remain, work at the state-level has supported a more holistic and integrated approach to stormwater management,” the report found.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://pacinst.org/about-us/staff-and-board/morgan-shiambuku/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Morgan Shimabuku\u003c/a>, a research associate at the Pacific Institute and coauthor of the report, spoke with Water Deeply about municipal stormwater leaders, overcoming barriers and how better use of stormwater can increase climate change resilience.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"auxiliary\">\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 300px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180712091819/ms1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"308\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Morgan Shimabuku, a research associate at the Pacific Institute, is a coauthor of a new report about how communities are better utilizing stormwater. (Courtesy of the Pacific Institute)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: Why have views about the potential of stormwater changed?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Morgan Shimabuku: What’s changed in a lot of ways are our needs as a society. We have more people, a greater demand on water resources and so we are looking more closely at the different options that are out there for new water supplies. And in addition, this isn’t something we talk about in the report, but you could definitely point to better technology for treating water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: What are some of the ways that people are now looking at using stormwater?\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cbr>\nShimabuku: One is to\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/12/06/pioneering-practice-could-help-california-reverse-groundwater-depletion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> recharge groundwater and recharge aquifers \u003c/a>that are used for drinking water and/or agricultural water. So, in Fresno, for example, the flood district there has designed a neighborhood-scale stormwater capture system where in 1-2 mile areas there will be drainage basins that capture stormwater. And that is routed to a place where that can recharge the aquifer. And in Fresno, the aquifer is used for drinking water and for agriculture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So that’s one way. In Santa Monica, they set a goal to \u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2017/12/13/santa-monica-prepares-to-eliminate-water-imports-drought-proof-supply\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">supply all of their water locally\u003c/a> by the year 2022. They have designed a lot of stormwater capture systems that capture and treat that water on site and use it close by for irrigation or toilet flushing or things like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: What are the barriers to scaling this up and having stormwater be a bigger part of the water supply picture?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shimabuku: Some of the main barriers that communities face across the state have to do with local policies, rules and regulations or with finding the funding to implement different projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For policies, it can be something simple. If a community has a groundwater aquifer they’d like to recharge but in their municipal code there are rules against constructing streets and parking lots that allow for routing that water into natural areas rather than into the sewer, then that can prevent localized recharge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, in Gonzales, California, they were able to update their municipal city code to state that they could make curbs have reduced height. So that around a parking lot, for example, where there are a bunch of curbs, the water flowing off the parking lot could run into the vegetated areas that were surrounding the parking lot rather than a storm drain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For funding, a lot of places that are looking at stormwater for a water supply may not have the funds to invest in designing a capture system that is able to provide enough water supply to make it worth it. So what we’ve seen is a lot of collaboration across different agencies that can bring in new funding partners.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"auxiliary\">\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 300px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180712090818/900_01_CA168251.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"308\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Recently constructed curb cut or storm drain next to newly planted tree. Elmer Avenue Neighborhood Retrofit Project (Citizen of the Planet/Education Images/UIG via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Another good example of that is in San Mateo County they have a City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County, which is responsible for a host of different local programs related to transportation and pollution. Because they are responsible for both those areas, they came up with this neat way to fund stormwater green infrastructure devices, which are nature-based engineering solutions that often can capture and allow stormwater to go into the groundwater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They were able to fund these things through an annual vehicle registration fee because that also could apply to their traffic responsibility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: What else is needed at the state level to help scale this?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shimabuku: In California there has been a pretty good push in the policy arena to support stormwater capture for water supply and ensure that local communities that are pursuing that path, that they are supported by state-level policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lot of the more recent funding is through Proposition 1 from 2014 or through Proposition 84 from 2006. Those both had stormwater-specific grant funds that discussed the multiple benefits of capturing stormwater – reducing pollution, reducing potential flooding impacts and water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But we also saw that the state could really help local communities in their effort to capture stormwater by offering more guidelines or model ordinances on things like health and safety codes for stormwater reuse. As with Gonzales, we could use more model ordinances that help communities update their municipal codes that allow them to better capture stormwater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We also think that the state needs to reduce funding barriers and find more funding for stormwater capture specifically because it is such a great local option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I think we also need more research to better quantify the monetary benefits of all the different aspects of stormwater capture including flooding, water quality and water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: What about the water rights aspect if you’re capturing water that would otherwise be flowing downstream to someone else?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shimabuku: It’s not as much of an issue if you’re a community right on the ocean, because there aren’t downstream users that are being impacted. However, for those communities that are not right on the ocean, there are processes that they will likely need to go through to be permitted to capture that stormwater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: How does stormwater fit into the larger picture of climate resilience?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shimabuku: Stormwater is an abundant supply in California and it should be captured, treated and used. And by using it, communities can address the three issues of pollution, flooding and water supply, if not other issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the other great opportunities with stormwater capture is that it really hopes to address what climate scientists are predicting for the future, and possibly our current climate is showing us here in California, and that is periods of high rainfall events and then longer periods of drought. By capturing stormwater we can both help to reduce flooding impacts of heavy rainfall periods as well as improve local water supplies. It really is a great solution for a community to become more resilient to climate change.\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"A new report from the Pacific Institute outlines creative collaborations and policy changes needed to better scale stormwater solutions, explains research associate Morgan Shimabuku.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704927691,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":28,"wordCount":1205},"headData":{"title":"How Communities Are Turning Stormwater From a Liability to an Asset | KQED","description":"A new report from the Pacific Institute outlines creative collaborations and policy changes needed to better scale stormwater solutions, explains research associate Morgan Shimabuku.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"How Communities Are Turning Stormwater From a Liability to an Asset","datePublished":"2018-07-16T19:00:20.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T23:01:31.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"source":"Environment","sticky":false,"nprByline":"Tara Lohan\u003cbr />Water Deeply","path":"/science/1927453/how-communities-are-turning-stormwater-from-a-liability-to-an-asset","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Stormwater used to be viewed as a liability – it was shuttled into storm drains as fast as possible to prevent flooding – and then dumped into the ocean, rivers or streams. But increasingly, stormwater is now being viewed as an asset – a way to help augment water supplies and adapt to a changing climate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"http://pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Pacific-Institute-Stormwater-Capture-in-California.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">new report\u003c/a> on stormwater capture issued by the \u003ca href=\"http://pacinst.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Pacific Institute\u003c/a> – the Oakland, California-based water think tank – looks at regulatory and funding challenges as well as creative solutions and collaborations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“While obstacles, such as lack of guidance on health and safety guidelines and inadequate funding remain, work at the state-level has supported a more holistic and integrated approach to stormwater management,” the report found.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://pacinst.org/about-us/staff-and-board/morgan-shiambuku/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Morgan Shimabuku\u003c/a>, a research associate at the Pacific Institute and coauthor of the report, spoke with Water Deeply about municipal stormwater leaders, overcoming barriers and how better use of stormwater can increase climate change resilience.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"auxiliary\">\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 300px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180712091819/ms1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"308\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Morgan Shimabuku, a research associate at the Pacific Institute, is a coauthor of a new report about how communities are better utilizing stormwater. (Courtesy of the Pacific Institute)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: Why have views about the potential of stormwater changed?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Morgan Shimabuku: What’s changed in a lot of ways are our needs as a society. We have more people, a greater demand on water resources and so we are looking more closely at the different options that are out there for new water supplies. And in addition, this isn’t something we talk about in the report, but you could definitely point to better technology for treating water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: What are some of the ways that people are now looking at using stormwater?\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cbr>\nShimabuku: One is to\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/12/06/pioneering-practice-could-help-california-reverse-groundwater-depletion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> recharge groundwater and recharge aquifers \u003c/a>that are used for drinking water and/or agricultural water. So, in Fresno, for example, the flood district there has designed a neighborhood-scale stormwater capture system where in 1-2 mile areas there will be drainage basins that capture stormwater. And that is routed to a place where that can recharge the aquifer. And in Fresno, the aquifer is used for drinking water and for agriculture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So that’s one way. In Santa Monica, they set a goal to \u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2017/12/13/santa-monica-prepares-to-eliminate-water-imports-drought-proof-supply\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">supply all of their water locally\u003c/a> by the year 2022. They have designed a lot of stormwater capture systems that capture and treat that water on site and use it close by for irrigation or toilet flushing or things like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: What are the barriers to scaling this up and having stormwater be a bigger part of the water supply picture?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shimabuku: Some of the main barriers that communities face across the state have to do with local policies, rules and regulations or with finding the funding to implement different projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For policies, it can be something simple. If a community has a groundwater aquifer they’d like to recharge but in their municipal code there are rules against constructing streets and parking lots that allow for routing that water into natural areas rather than into the sewer, then that can prevent localized recharge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, in Gonzales, California, they were able to update their municipal city code to state that they could make curbs have reduced height. So that around a parking lot, for example, where there are a bunch of curbs, the water flowing off the parking lot could run into the vegetated areas that were surrounding the parking lot rather than a storm drain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For funding, a lot of places that are looking at stormwater for a water supply may not have the funds to invest in designing a capture system that is able to provide enough water supply to make it worth it. So what we’ve seen is a lot of collaboration across different agencies that can bring in new funding partners.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"auxiliary\">\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 300px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180712090818/900_01_CA168251.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"308\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Recently constructed curb cut or storm drain next to newly planted tree. Elmer Avenue Neighborhood Retrofit Project (Citizen of the Planet/Education Images/UIG via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Another good example of that is in San Mateo County they have a City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County, which is responsible for a host of different local programs related to transportation and pollution. Because they are responsible for both those areas, they came up with this neat way to fund stormwater green infrastructure devices, which are nature-based engineering solutions that often can capture and allow stormwater to go into the groundwater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They were able to fund these things through an annual vehicle registration fee because that also could apply to their traffic responsibility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: What else is needed at the state level to help scale this?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shimabuku: In California there has been a pretty good push in the policy arena to support stormwater capture for water supply and ensure that local communities that are pursuing that path, that they are supported by state-level policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lot of the more recent funding is through Proposition 1 from 2014 or through Proposition 84 from 2006. Those both had stormwater-specific grant funds that discussed the multiple benefits of capturing stormwater – reducing pollution, reducing potential flooding impacts and water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But we also saw that the state could really help local communities in their effort to capture stormwater by offering more guidelines or model ordinances on things like health and safety codes for stormwater reuse. As with Gonzales, we could use more model ordinances that help communities update their municipal codes that allow them to better capture stormwater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We also think that the state needs to reduce funding barriers and find more funding for stormwater capture specifically because it is such a great local option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I think we also need more research to better quantify the monetary benefits of all the different aspects of stormwater capture including flooding, water quality and water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: What about the water rights aspect if you’re capturing water that would otherwise be flowing downstream to someone else?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shimabuku: It’s not as much of an issue if you’re a community right on the ocean, because there aren’t downstream users that are being impacted. However, for those communities that are not right on the ocean, there are processes that they will likely need to go through to be permitted to capture that stormwater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Water Deeply: How does stormwater fit into the larger picture of climate resilience?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shimabuku: Stormwater is an abundant supply in California and it should be captured, treated and used. And by using it, communities can address the three issues of pollution, flooding and water supply, if not other issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the other great opportunities with stormwater capture is that it really hopes to address what climate scientists are predicting for the future, and possibly our current climate is showing us here in California, and that is periods of high rainfall events and then longer periods of drought. By capturing stormwater we can both help to reduce flooding impacts of heavy rainfall periods as well as improve local water supplies. It really is a great solution for a community to become more resilient to climate change.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1927453/how-communities-are-turning-stormwater-from-a-liability-to-an-asset","authors":["byline_science_1927453"],"categories":["science_35","science_98"],"tags":["science_460","science_192","science_201"],"featImg":"science_1927455","label":"source_science_1927453"},"science_1927136":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1927136","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1927136","score":null,"sort":[1531256402000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"on-the-yuba-river-climate-change-means-its-time-for-a-dam-makeover","title":"On the Yuba River, Climate Change Means It’s Time for a Dam Makeover","publishDate":1531256402,"format":"standard","headTitle":"On the Yuba River, Climate Change Means It’s Time for a Dam Makeover | KQED","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"start\">Among the California rivers, \u003c/span>the Yuba is one of the most dramatic. Draining the Sierra Nevada just north of Lake Tahoe, it is steep and flashy – one of the most flood-prone rivers in the state.[contextly_sidebar id=”5W6DMWRFLlQdVnTSwRb7AsRbiAPhj5RN”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Yuba River floods have killed people – notably in 1955, 1986 and 1997 – and climate change is making such floods more likely. As the atmosphere warms, more winter precipitation falls as rain rather than snow. This boosts the amount of runoff coursing downhill in any given storm.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The \u003ca href=\"http://www.ycwa.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">Yuba County Water Agency\u003c/span>\u003c/a> has been working for years to strengthen levees along the river to handle additional runoff, together with the cities of Marysville and Yuba City downstream. Now the water agency plans something more ambitious: a major modification of New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River, its primary water storage reservoir, to handle bigger and wetter storms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">It plans to build a \u003cspan class=\"s2\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.ycwa.com/new/ss-design/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">second spillway\u003c/a>\u003c/span> at the dam to boost its water-release capacity, at an estimated cost of $160 million. The larger spillway will allow dam operators to release water sooner and faster to prepare for approaching storms.[contextly_sidebar id=”hb3pfTlPCWoT3gwTBUnvLuxoHxdF2wnt”]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">State and federal agencies have undertaken such complex projects, notably at nearby Folsom Dam on the American River, a billion-dollar project recently completed by the \u003cspan class=\"caps\">U.S.\u003c/span> Army Corps of Engineers. But the New Bullards Bar project is a rare example of a local water agency undertaking costly dam modifications in response to changing hydrology.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“If you can evacuate water faster from the reservoir when there’s channel capacity, then you have more space in the reservoir for those peak flows,” said Curt Aikens, general manager of the Yuba County Water Agency. “Definitely, this will help to the extent climate change produces bigger storm events and bigger peak flows.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_133332\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_133332\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 680px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-133332 size-full\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180709140936/6513098583_d0d1bbb0bd_b2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"625\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Curt Aikens, center, general manager of the Yuba County Water Agency, stands at the base of New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River during a tour in December 2011. He’s flanked by Col. Mike Wehr and Col. Bill Leady of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (Photo by Michael J. Nevins, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">A new spillway would boost the reservoir’s flood-control capacity when warm, wet storms are predicted. Also, the additional operating flexibility it offers could boost water storage at certain times of year, a major benefit to the agency’s agricultural water customers and hydroelectric power generation.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">New Bullards Bar Dam, completed in 1970, is one of the most spectacular impoundments in the state. A graceful concrete-arch dam, it soars 645ft high over the North Yuba River, providing a storage capacity of about 1 million acre-feet.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The existing spillway at the dam has a relatively small release capacity of 19,000 cubic feet per second. Also, it is relatively high on the dam’s face – just 16ft below the typical full-reservoir water surface elevation. This means it can’t release water until the reservoir is nearly full, which limits options when responding to an approaching storm.[contextly_sidebar id=”U3zattDGIuNzrM3ORAOBp4mFJ3wUh65Q”]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“With the current spillway, we can’t make big releases because we’re just waiting to fill up the reservoir to the point where you can release lots of water. That’s the point of this new spillway,” Aikens said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The project involves tunneling through the mountainside on the dam’s right abutment. The tunnel would be 38ft wide and 28ft high, with operable gates and a concrete chute directing water into the Yuba River below the dam.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_133327\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_133327\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1002px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-133327 size-full\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180709135001/NBB-YCWA-Plan1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1002\" height=\"556\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Yuba County Water Agency proposes to build a new, larger spillway at New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River. The new spillway would involve tunneling through the mountainside next to the existing spillway. (Photo credit: Image courtesy Yuba County Water Agency)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>It will have a release capacity of 45,000 cubic feet per second – more than double the existing spillway. And it will be 31.5ft lower than the existing spillway gates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">As a result, when a big storm is forecast, dam operators can release water a lot sooner to free up empty space in the reservoir. This means the potential impact of downstream flooding is reduced, because the peak flow can be spread out over a longer period of time. Aikens said the new spillway could reduce the flood peak on the Yuba River downstream at Marysville as much as 2ft, significantly reducing stress on the city’s levees.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The agency also looked at raising the dam 10ft as an alternative. But that was rejected because it would cost a lot more, cause more environmental impacts and would not improve operational flexibility. The new spillway’s estimated cost of $160 million is about 46 percent less than raising the dam.[contextly_sidebar id=”YkK7kjn0na5tyJzaMLxW5AZV7pgprb4e”]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The \u003ca href=\"https://yubariver.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">South Yuba River Citizens League\u003c/span>\u003c/a>, an environmental group that has fought for decades to improve flows and habitat in the river, supports the concept of a new spillway, said Rachel Hutchinson, the group’s river science director.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">She said the project is especially welcome after the disaster at Oroville Dam in 2017. Both spillways at Oroville, operated by the California Department of Water Resources, were severely damaged during heavy storm runoff, forcing thousands of downstream residents to evacuate amid fears the dam itself might collapse.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">That disaster also churned up gobs of sediment and debris that clogged the riverbed and the Feather River salmon hatchery.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“I think having a little more safety surrounding our dams would help to protect the resources that we have in the river, instead of allowing them to be another victim in a potential dam crisis,” Hutchinson said. “The human population and safety of the dams, of course, is paramount. But when a dam fails, the environment also loses.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">A larger spillway would also provide a new kind of drought protection.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Normal operations require dam operators to keep lots of empty space in reservoirs during winter to be ready for floodwaters. The greater release capacity of a new spillway could allow the agency to keep the reservoir full more often, providing an important hedge against dry winters.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Recent storm patterns in California, for instance, have produced wet conditions in December sufficient to fill many reservoirs. But operators were required to release water to be sure there was room for floodwaters later in winter. But then January and February turned out dry, leaving reservoirs only partially filled by the time winter ended.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">To take advantage of this winter flexibility, Yuba County Water Agency also plans to adopt a new strategy called forecast-informed reservoir operations. This would change flood-control rules at the dam, allowing the reservoir to be kept nearly full in winter if weather forecasts indicate no storms are approaching.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">If forecasts show a storm is targeting the Yuba watershed, the agency could still create enough flood-control capacity by dumping water quickly with the new, larger spillway.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“Being able to manage the flood pool at New Bullards Bar is going to be more complicated in the future,” Hutchinson said. “With more of our precipitation falling as rain rather than snow, it’s going to fill more early and they’re going to want to hold onto that water. This should give them more flexibility with how they store water.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"fin\">\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Aikens said the agency plans to develop the new operating rules while the second spillway is under construction, so both are completed at the same time. Construction is expected to start in 2022, with completion three years later.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article originally appeared on \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2018/07/09/nasas-dawn-goes-in-for-a-closer-look-at-the-birth-of-the-solar-system/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Deeply\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you can find it \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/07/10/on-the-yuba-river-climate-change-means-its-time-for-a-dam-makeover\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">here\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For important news about the California drought, you can \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://waterdeeply.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8b78e9a34ff7443ec1e8c62c6&id=2947becb78\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the Water Deeply email list.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Climate change brings new flood risks and new challenges for water storage managers. In California, one local water agency is taking on the big task of modifying its primary storage reservoir to be ready for these changes.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704927710,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":27,"wordCount":1368},"headData":{"title":"On the Yuba River, Climate Change Means It’s Time for a Dam Makeover | KQED","description":"Climate change brings new flood risks and new challenges for water storage managers. In California, one local water agency is taking on the big task of modifying its primary storage reservoir to be ready for these changes.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"On the Yuba River, Climate Change Means It’s Time for a Dam Makeover","datePublished":"2018-07-10T21:00:02.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T23:01:50.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"source":"Water","sticky":false,"nprByline":"Matt Weiser\u003cbr />Water Deeply","path":"/science/1927136/on-the-yuba-river-climate-change-means-its-time-for-a-dam-makeover","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"start\">Among the California rivers, \u003c/span>the Yuba is one of the most dramatic. Draining the Sierra Nevada just north of Lake Tahoe, it is steep and flashy – one of the most flood-prone rivers in the state.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Yuba River floods have killed people – notably in 1955, 1986 and 1997 – and climate change is making such floods more likely. As the atmosphere warms, more winter precipitation falls as rain rather than snow. This boosts the amount of runoff coursing downhill in any given storm.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The \u003ca href=\"http://www.ycwa.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">Yuba County Water Agency\u003c/span>\u003c/a> has been working for years to strengthen levees along the river to handle additional runoff, together with the cities of Marysville and Yuba City downstream. Now the water agency plans something more ambitious: a major modification of New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River, its primary water storage reservoir, to handle bigger and wetter storms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">It plans to build a \u003cspan class=\"s2\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.ycwa.com/new/ss-design/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">second spillway\u003c/a>\u003c/span> at the dam to boost its water-release capacity, at an estimated cost of $160 million. The larger spillway will allow dam operators to release water sooner and faster to prepare for approaching storms.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">State and federal agencies have undertaken such complex projects, notably at nearby Folsom Dam on the American River, a billion-dollar project recently completed by the \u003cspan class=\"caps\">U.S.\u003c/span> Army Corps of Engineers. But the New Bullards Bar project is a rare example of a local water agency undertaking costly dam modifications in response to changing hydrology.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“If you can evacuate water faster from the reservoir when there’s channel capacity, then you have more space in the reservoir for those peak flows,” said Curt Aikens, general manager of the Yuba County Water Agency. “Definitely, this will help to the extent climate change produces bigger storm events and bigger peak flows.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_133332\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_133332\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 680px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-133332 size-full\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180709140936/6513098583_d0d1bbb0bd_b2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"625\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Curt Aikens, center, general manager of the Yuba County Water Agency, stands at the base of New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River during a tour in December 2011. He’s flanked by Col. Mike Wehr and Col. Bill Leady of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (Photo by Michael J. Nevins, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">A new spillway would boost the reservoir’s flood-control capacity when warm, wet storms are predicted. Also, the additional operating flexibility it offers could boost water storage at certain times of year, a major benefit to the agency’s agricultural water customers and hydroelectric power generation.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">New Bullards Bar Dam, completed in 1970, is one of the most spectacular impoundments in the state. A graceful concrete-arch dam, it soars 645ft high over the North Yuba River, providing a storage capacity of about 1 million acre-feet.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The existing spillway at the dam has a relatively small release capacity of 19,000 cubic feet per second. Also, it is relatively high on the dam’s face – just 16ft below the typical full-reservoir water surface elevation. This means it can’t release water until the reservoir is nearly full, which limits options when responding to an approaching storm.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“With the current spillway, we can’t make big releases because we’re just waiting to fill up the reservoir to the point where you can release lots of water. That’s the point of this new spillway,” Aikens said.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The project involves tunneling through the mountainside on the dam’s right abutment. The tunnel would be 38ft wide and 28ft high, with operable gates and a concrete chute directing water into the Yuba River below the dam.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_133327\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_133327\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1002px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-133327 size-full\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180709135001/NBB-YCWA-Plan1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1002\" height=\"556\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Yuba County Water Agency proposes to build a new, larger spillway at New Bullards Bar Dam on the North Yuba River. The new spillway would involve tunneling through the mountainside next to the existing spillway. (Photo credit: Image courtesy Yuba County Water Agency)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>It will have a release capacity of 45,000 cubic feet per second – more than double the existing spillway. And it will be 31.5ft lower than the existing spillway gates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">As a result, when a big storm is forecast, dam operators can release water a lot sooner to free up empty space in the reservoir. This means the potential impact of downstream flooding is reduced, because the peak flow can be spread out over a longer period of time. Aikens said the new spillway could reduce the flood peak on the Yuba River downstream at Marysville as much as 2ft, significantly reducing stress on the city’s levees.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The agency also looked at raising the dam 10ft as an alternative. But that was rejected because it would cost a lot more, cause more environmental impacts and would not improve operational flexibility. The new spillway’s estimated cost of $160 million is about 46 percent less than raising the dam.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The \u003ca href=\"https://yubariver.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">South Yuba River Citizens League\u003c/span>\u003c/a>, an environmental group that has fought for decades to improve flows and habitat in the river, supports the concept of a new spillway, said Rachel Hutchinson, the group’s river science director.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">She said the project is especially welcome after the disaster at Oroville Dam in 2017. Both spillways at Oroville, operated by the California Department of Water Resources, were severely damaged during heavy storm runoff, forcing thousands of downstream residents to evacuate amid fears the dam itself might collapse.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">That disaster also churned up gobs of sediment and debris that clogged the riverbed and the Feather River salmon hatchery.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“I think having a little more safety surrounding our dams would help to protect the resources that we have in the river, instead of allowing them to be another victim in a potential dam crisis,” Hutchinson said. “The human population and safety of the dams, of course, is paramount. But when a dam fails, the environment also loses.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">A larger spillway would also provide a new kind of drought protection.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Normal operations require dam operators to keep lots of empty space in reservoirs during winter to be ready for floodwaters. The greater release capacity of a new spillway could allow the agency to keep the reservoir full more often, providing an important hedge against dry winters.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Recent storm patterns in California, for instance, have produced wet conditions in December sufficient to fill many reservoirs. But operators were required to release water to be sure there was room for floodwaters later in winter. But then January and February turned out dry, leaving reservoirs only partially filled by the time winter ended.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">To take advantage of this winter flexibility, Yuba County Water Agency also plans to adopt a new strategy called forecast-informed reservoir operations. This would change flood-control rules at the dam, allowing the reservoir to be kept nearly full in winter if weather forecasts indicate no storms are approaching.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">If forecasts show a storm is targeting the Yuba watershed, the agency could still create enough flood-control capacity by dumping water quickly with the new, larger spillway.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“Being able to manage the flood pool at New Bullards Bar is going to be more complicated in the future,” Hutchinson said. “With more of our precipitation falling as rain rather than snow, it’s going to fill more early and they’re going to want to hold onto that water. This should give them more flexibility with how they store water.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"fin\">\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Aikens said the agency plans to develop the new operating rules while the second spillway is under construction, so both are completed at the same time. Construction is expected to start in 2022, with completion three years later.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article originally appeared on \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2018/07/09/nasas-dawn-goes-in-for-a-closer-look-at-the-birth-of-the-solar-system/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Deeply\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you can find it \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/07/10/on-the-yuba-river-climate-change-means-its-time-for-a-dam-makeover\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">here\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For important news about the California drought, you can \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://waterdeeply.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8b78e9a34ff7443ec1e8c62c6&id=2947becb78\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the Water Deeply email list.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1927136/on-the-yuba-river-climate-change-means-its-time-for-a-dam-makeover","authors":["byline_science_1927136"],"categories":["science_31","science_89","science_35","science_40","science_2873","science_98"],"tags":["science_194","science_572","science_460","science_201"],"featImg":"science_1927138","label":"source_science_1927136"},"science_1926123":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1926123","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1926123","score":null,"sort":[1529528429000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"california-limits-daily-personal-water-use-to-55-gallons-kind-of","title":"California Limits Daily Personal Water Use to 55 Gallons – Kind Of","publishDate":1529528429,"format":"standard","headTitle":"California Limits Daily Personal Water Use to 55 Gallons – Kind Of | KQED","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>California has always been America’s leader on environmental policy, and water is no exception. So it was hardly surprising when the state made headlines across the nation in early June with a new policy on residential water use: Californians will be limited to 55 gallons per person per day for their indoor water needs.[contextly_sidebar id=”4LIGCSZt3yBkPhP2SQCUqODKQ2LzbkBs”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rule is apparently the first of its kind in the nation. But lost in the excitement is the fact that water agencies have no way to measure how much water their customers use indoors. Homes have only one water meter, and it provides no information about where water is used or for what purpose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In reality, it turns out, the 55-gallon limit is not a limit at all. It is merely an aspirational target meant to motivate customers to conserve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The statewide indoor water use standard is not enforceable on individual water users,” said Dave Bolland, director of state regulatory relations at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.acwa.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Association of California Water Agencies\u003c/a>. “There is no provision [in the law] that requires individual households to meet a specific water use target.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2018/05/31/governor-brown-signs-legislation-establishing-statewide-water-efficiency-goals/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pair of new laws\u003c/a> that enacted the 55-gallon target, Assembly Bill 1668 and Senate Bill 606, set it as a goal that water utilities must meet by averaging across all their customers. Water agencies must create a “water budget,” aggregated across their entire service area, that includes indoor water consumption, water applied for landscape irrigation, commercial and industrial use and water lost due to system leakage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The overarching goal is to create a culture of permanent water conservation, and to sustain the progress made by emergency measures during California’s five-year drought.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even in the new aggregated water budgets, utilities have no way to know for sure how much total water is being used indoors by their customers. They’ll be guessing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And water agencies are not required to ensure indoor water use hits the 55-gallon target, even as a system-wide average. Utilities only face a threat of fines by the state if they fail to live within their total water budget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 3000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180620080323/846443671.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2032\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rachel Garza, a water conservation technician with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, inspects a sprinkler system during a water conservation audit in Walnut Creek, California, in 2015. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It will be up to the local urban water suppliers to determine how to meet these aggregate water budgets,” Bolland said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if the 55-gallon limit is not really a limit, and nobody even knows if it’s being met, what good is it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Environmental groups supported the 55-gallon target as a public education tool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think the reason the number is important is because it does provide a barometer against which to measure water usage,” said Sara Aminzadeh, executive director of the \u003ca href=\"https://cacoastkeeper.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California Coastkeeper Alliance\u003c/a>. “There’s a public awareness benefit. But I still would say the legislation is somewhat of a missed opportunity to make some deeper water conservation and efficiency gains.”[contextly_sidebar id=”vcGILrPzwoiA8mYpItstPFrvxkXsjhuk”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One reason, she said, is that 55 gallons is probably too generous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During California’s recent five-year drought, a number of cities reduced total residential water consumption well below 55 gallons per person per day. And that included landscape irrigation. Examples include San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Granted, these are coastal cities with mild climates, well-established water conservation campaigns and receptive citizens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But per person indoor water use, by itself, probably doesn’t vary much across the state. Everyone needs more or less the same amount of water for bathing, cooking and cleaning. This is especially true with the broad adoption of water-efficient appliances and fixtures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What does vary a lot is outdoor water use, because it depends on individual landscaping choices and local microclimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We feel that [55 gallons] is a standard that 90 percent of water suppliers are likely already meeting,” Aminzadeh said. “I don’t want to diminish the benefit of this legislation. It’s great to see permanent water conservation legislation. But at the same time, I’m looking at a climate emergency around water scarcity issues, and really asking: Did we go far enough, and could we go further?”[contextly_sidebar id=”kIKyNbo8lCGrAw9uTQzhVUC5hHkzSFuE”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new legislation does require the target to be ratcheted downward, to 52.5 gallons in 2025, then 50 gallons in 2030. It also requires the state’s Department of Water Resources and Water Resources Control Board to analyze progress on indoor water conservation, and report back to the legislature in 2021 with any recommendations to shrink the standard. So, if progress indicates the target should be lower, there’s a process to make it happen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another issue overlooked in the excitement about the 55-gallon target is the fact that water budgets create a new record-keeping headache for water utilities. This is one reason the Association of California Water Agencies and a number of individual water utilities opposed the legislation. They support continued conservation progress, Bolland said, but they don’t want the state telling them how to conserve water, because every region has unique conservation priorities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sdcwa.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Diego County Water Authority\u003c/a>, which opposed the legislation, one priority is economic growth. Dana Friehauf, the utility’s water resources manager, said her agency was concerned draconian conservation rules handed down by the state could discourage commercial and industrial businesses from locating in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said the aggregated water budgets, rather than a strict indoor or commercial requirement, give water agencies the flexibility they need to comply. But it still won’t be easy, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We wanted to make sure whatever this objective is, it doesn’t harm the continued economic growth within our region,” she said. “It’s up to the water agency to decide how they want to achieve the savings. They could decide they want to achieve all the savings outdoors. It just depends.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article originally appeared on \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://mail.kqed.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e4bb0e1a7d74f24ba4684ef2533053d&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.newsdeeply.com%2fwater\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Deeply\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you can find it \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/06/20/california-limits-daily-personal-water-use-to-55-gallons-kind-of\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">here\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For important news about the California drought, you can \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://waterdeeply.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8b78e9a34ff7443ec1e8c62c6&id=2947becb78\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the Water Deeply email list.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"The state’s new per capita limit on indoor water use is groundbreaking, but there is no practical way to enforce it. Rather, it is intended to inspire more conservation and guide larger efforts by water utilities.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704927782,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":25,"wordCount":1063},"headData":{"title":"California Limits Daily Personal Water Use to 55 Gallons – Kind Of | KQED","description":"The state’s new per capita limit on indoor water use is groundbreaking, but there is no practical way to enforce it. Rather, it is intended to inspire more conservation and guide larger efforts by water utilities.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"California Limits Daily Personal Water Use to 55 Gallons – Kind Of","datePublished":"2018-06-20T21:00:29.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T23:03:02.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"source":"Water","sticky":false,"nprByline":"Matt Weiser\u003cbr />Water Deeply","path":"/science/1926123/california-limits-daily-personal-water-use-to-55-gallons-kind-of","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California has always been America’s leader on environmental policy, and water is no exception. So it was hardly surprising when the state made headlines across the nation in early June with a new policy on residential water use: Californians will be limited to 55 gallons per person per day for their indoor water needs.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rule is apparently the first of its kind in the nation. But lost in the excitement is the fact that water agencies have no way to measure how much water their customers use indoors. Homes have only one water meter, and it provides no information about where water is used or for what purpose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In reality, it turns out, the 55-gallon limit is not a limit at all. It is merely an aspirational target meant to motivate customers to conserve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The statewide indoor water use standard is not enforceable on individual water users,” said Dave Bolland, director of state regulatory relations at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.acwa.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Association of California Water Agencies\u003c/a>. “There is no provision [in the law] that requires individual households to meet a specific water use target.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2018/05/31/governor-brown-signs-legislation-establishing-statewide-water-efficiency-goals/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pair of new laws\u003c/a> that enacted the 55-gallon target, Assembly Bill 1668 and Senate Bill 606, set it as a goal that water utilities must meet by averaging across all their customers. Water agencies must create a “water budget,” aggregated across their entire service area, that includes indoor water consumption, water applied for landscape irrigation, commercial and industrial use and water lost due to system leakage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The overarching goal is to create a culture of permanent water conservation, and to sustain the progress made by emergency measures during California’s five-year drought.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even in the new aggregated water budgets, utilities have no way to know for sure how much total water is being used indoors by their customers. They’ll be guessing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And water agencies are not required to ensure indoor water use hits the 55-gallon target, even as a system-wide average. Utilities only face a threat of fines by the state if they fail to live within their total water budget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 3000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"extendsBeyondTextColumn\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180620080323/846443671.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2032\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rachel Garza, a water conservation technician with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, inspects a sprinkler system during a water conservation audit in Walnut Creek, California, in 2015. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It will be up to the local urban water suppliers to determine how to meet these aggregate water budgets,” Bolland said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if the 55-gallon limit is not really a limit, and nobody even knows if it’s being met, what good is it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Environmental groups supported the 55-gallon target as a public education tool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think the reason the number is important is because it does provide a barometer against which to measure water usage,” said Sara Aminzadeh, executive director of the \u003ca href=\"https://cacoastkeeper.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California Coastkeeper Alliance\u003c/a>. “There’s a public awareness benefit. But I still would say the legislation is somewhat of a missed opportunity to make some deeper water conservation and efficiency gains.”\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One reason, she said, is that 55 gallons is probably too generous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During California’s recent five-year drought, a number of cities reduced total residential water consumption well below 55 gallons per person per day. And that included landscape irrigation. Examples include San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Granted, these are coastal cities with mild climates, well-established water conservation campaigns and receptive citizens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But per person indoor water use, by itself, probably doesn’t vary much across the state. Everyone needs more or less the same amount of water for bathing, cooking and cleaning. This is especially true with the broad adoption of water-efficient appliances and fixtures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What does vary a lot is outdoor water use, because it depends on individual landscaping choices and local microclimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We feel that [55 gallons] is a standard that 90 percent of water suppliers are likely already meeting,” Aminzadeh said. “I don’t want to diminish the benefit of this legislation. It’s great to see permanent water conservation legislation. But at the same time, I’m looking at a climate emergency around water scarcity issues, and really asking: Did we go far enough, and could we go further?”\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new legislation does require the target to be ratcheted downward, to 52.5 gallons in 2025, then 50 gallons in 2030. It also requires the state’s Department of Water Resources and Water Resources Control Board to analyze progress on indoor water conservation, and report back to the legislature in 2021 with any recommendations to shrink the standard. So, if progress indicates the target should be lower, there’s a process to make it happen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another issue overlooked in the excitement about the 55-gallon target is the fact that water budgets create a new record-keeping headache for water utilities. This is one reason the Association of California Water Agencies and a number of individual water utilities opposed the legislation. They support continued conservation progress, Bolland said, but they don’t want the state telling them how to conserve water, because every region has unique conservation priorities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sdcwa.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Diego County Water Authority\u003c/a>, which opposed the legislation, one priority is economic growth. Dana Friehauf, the utility’s water resources manager, said her agency was concerned draconian conservation rules handed down by the state could discourage commercial and industrial businesses from locating in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said the aggregated water budgets, rather than a strict indoor or commercial requirement, give water agencies the flexibility they need to comply. But it still won’t be easy, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We wanted to make sure whatever this objective is, it doesn’t harm the continued economic growth within our region,” she said. “It’s up to the water agency to decide how they want to achieve the savings. They could decide they want to achieve all the savings outdoors. It just depends.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article originally appeared on \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://mail.kqed.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e4bb0e1a7d74f24ba4684ef2533053d&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.newsdeeply.com%2fwater\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Deeply\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you can find it \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/06/20/california-limits-daily-personal-water-use-to-55-gallons-kind-of\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">here\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For important news about the California drought, you can \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://waterdeeply.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8b78e9a34ff7443ec1e8c62c6&id=2947becb78\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the Water Deeply email list.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1926123/california-limits-daily-personal-water-use-to-55-gallons-kind-of","authors":["byline_science_1926123"],"categories":["science_31","science_89","science_35","science_40","science_98"],"tags":["science_572","science_460","science_192","science_201","science_876"],"featImg":"science_1926125","label":"source_science_1926123"},"science_1925560":{"type":"posts","id":"science_1925560","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"science","id":"1925560","score":null,"sort":[1528750853000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"dozens-of-water-systems-consolidate-in-californias-farming-heartland","title":"Dozens of Water Systems Consolidate in California’s Farming Heartland","publishDate":1528750853,"format":"standard","headTitle":"Dozens of Water Systems Consolidate in California’s Farming Heartland | KQED","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive farming regions in the nation, an estimated 150,000 people are stuck living with contaminated drinking water. When they open a tap to fill a cooking pot or take a shower, the water that gushes out is contaminated with nitrates, hexavalent chromium, arsenic and other nasties from polluted wells.[contextly_sidebar id=”BXxHEiwGfcQkkmUN7w7VU8pQHE73VUWT”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The good news: Help is available to many of these small community water systems, provided they can merge with a neighboring utility that has clean water.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Estimating how many such mergers are under way is difficult, because they are at different stages and some may not have reached the attention of state regulators yet. A \u003ca class=\"preview-link\" href=\"http://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/content/adopting-county-policies-which-limit-public-water-system-sprawl-and-promote-small-system-con\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">University of California, Los Angeles study\u003c/span>\u003c/a> released last year estimated 32 mergers are in progress. Camille Pannu, director of the Water Justice Center at the University of California, Davis, said there are probably more than 50 mergers in the works in the San Joaquin Valley alone. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whatever the number, the process can be expensive and laborious, despite state laws meant to ease the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“It’s definitely a multiyear – often many-year – process,” said Nell Green Nylen, a senior research fellow at the Wheeler Water Institute at \u003cspan class=\"caps\">U.C.\u003c/span> Davis. “A big part of it is funding. And there can be a number of different agencies at different levels that need to be involved.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Green Nylen is coauthor of a \u003ca class=\"preview-link\" href=\"https://www.law.berkeley.edu/research/clee/research/wheeler/learning-from-consolidations/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">new report\u003c/span>\u003c/a> summarizing the challenges of water system consolidation. They range from financing problems to a lack of basic data needed to understand the water-quality problems that need solving.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">There are legal and bureaucratic challenges, as well. For instance, in the unincorporated town of Tooleville in Tulare County, groundwater wells are contaminated by hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6 (the chemical made famous by the 2000 film “Erin Brockovich”). The town of fewer than 400 people has been trying to merge its tiny mutual water company with the municipal water system in the neighboring city of Exeter, which has more than 10,000 residents.[contextly_sidebar id=”5x6EMoTNwScXLen0hWQSc4sC4m8oo3uH”]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“We can’t cook with the water. We can’t drink it,” said Maria Olivera, a board member of the Tooleville water system and a resident of the town since 1974. “We really need help. Everybody is hoping it will be solved.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">An agreement for the merger finally appears close at hand. But now a financing problem has emerged. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The state’s water-quality standard for hexavalent chromium was struck down by a May 2017 court ruling. The lawsuit was filed by the California Manufacturers and Technology Association and the Solano County Taxpayers Association. The court agreed with the plaintiffs that the state failed to investigate whether compliance with the standard is economically feasible.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">As a result, the State Water Resources Control Board was forced to withdraw its water-quality standard for hexavalent chromium while it works on revisions. With no standard in place, water systems trying to solve hexavalent chromium problems are not eligible for state grant funding. Which means Tooleville must seek another source of money to pay for the construction to connect with Exeter’s system.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">In the meantime, the \u003c/span>state is providing Tooleville with bottled water for drinking and cooking. The tainted well water is still used for cleaning, irrigating and everything else that people need water for. But recently the pump burned out at one of the town’s two wells. If the same should happen at Tooleville’s other well, the town’s water emergency will worsen considerably.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“We don’t have any money to buy a pump and then to hire a person to manage it, and then to pay the electricity bill for the water pumps,” Olivera said. “We are in a big problem right now because there’s no money.”[contextly_sidebar id=”xHtF69SRn5Ztvx5jGx3yCqAMHCppO19V”]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">A state law passed in 2015, \u003ca class=\"preview-link\" href=\"https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/programs/compliance/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">Senate Bill 88\u003c/span>\u003c/a>, authorized the State Water Resources Control Board to require water system consolidations to fix water quality or reliability problems. Since the law passed, the water board has notified 25 water agencies they must consolidate – all in the San Joaquin Valley.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Fortunately, the construction required to physically connect one water agency with another may be fairly easy in many cases. A \u003cspan class=\"caps\">U.C.\u003c/span> Davis \u003ca class=\"preview-link\" href=\"https://regionalchange.ucdavis.edu/publication/water-justice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">study\u003c/span>\u003c/a> released in February found that 66 percent of disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley are within 500ft of another water utility that meets drinking water standards. For the rest, the distance is 3 or more miles, which could make a connection too expensive.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_132038\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-132038\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180607135056/EastPorterville21.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1027\" height=\"574\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-caption-text\">Peter Aranzazu, left, and Benny Zurita install new water lines in East Porterville, Calif., so homes can connect to a new water supply provided by the city of Porterville. East Porterville lived with groundwater problems for years until the connection was finally made in 2016. (Florence Low, California Department of Water Resources)\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Not all water system mergers involve full consolidation. Sometimes, water agencies might want to work together without merging completely. Neighboring water agencies might want to build an intertie, for example, in order to share water resources. But Green Nylen said state assistance programs tend to be available only for full mergers – another weakness in the regulatory process.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">One possibility of a partial merger is unfolding in Sacramento County, where the San Juan Water District and Sacramento Suburban Water District have talked for several years about combining resources.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">San Juan is primarily a surface-water agency, with water rights in the American River. Sacramento Suburban primarily relies on groundwater. Combined, the agencies serve around 340,000 people.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">If the two could agree to work together and build the necessary plumbing connections, San Juan could use Sacramento Suburban’s groundwater during drought years when American River water might be in short supply. Then, in wet years, it could use American River water to recharge Sacramento Suburban’s aquifers.[contextly_sidebar id=”dzHxoRfmqkHnJJ7XbCTWkFBX7rliqlAf”]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“On the face of it, it would seem to give us more opportunity to optimize use of our water supply,” said Paul Helliker, general manager of San Juan Water District. “This is particularly important as we look at what the future holds with climate change and changing regulatory requirements.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">In 2015, board members of the two agencies held a joint meeting to discuss moving ahead with some kind of cooperating agreement. It could range from a full merger to simply collaborating on joint projects. San Juan’s board of directors voted unanimously in favor of proceeding with further negotiations. But the Sacramento Suburban board voted 3-2 against it.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The two agencies recently restarted discussions, Helliker said. Each board has formed a two-member subcommittee for more joint meetings to discuss what form of cooperation to pursue.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">In any merger, some of the trickiest issues do not involve money or laws at all, Green Nylen said. Rather, the sticky issues are about who will be in charge, which employees will be retained and deciding whose operating rules are best.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Also, ratepayers often have a variety of concerns. They may fear losing control of “their” water supply. And they may worry about rate increases under a newly consolidated water utility.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"fin\">\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“The current round of consolidations has focused on systems where water treatment is just not affordable or financially sustainable unless systems merge,” said Pannu at \u003cspan class=\"caps\">U.C.\u003c/span> Davis. “My understanding is that the state is triaging cases based on the public health impact.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article originally appeared on \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/06/11/dozens-of-water-systems-consolidate-in-californias-farming-heartland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Deeply\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you can find it \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://mail.kqed.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e4bb0e1a7d74f24ba4684ef2533053d&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.newsdeeply.com%2fwater%2farticles%2f2016%2f07%2f07%2fnine-experts-to-watch-on-california-water-policy\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">here\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For important news about the California drought, you can \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://waterdeeply.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8b78e9a34ff7443ec1e8c62c6&id=2947becb78\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the Water Deeply email list.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Many small community water systems in California’s San Joaquin Valley suffer from polluted wells and financial challenges. To fix these problems, some are moving to connect with a neighboring water system. It’s not an easy process.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1704927823,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":28,"wordCount":1308},"headData":{"title":"Dozens of Water Systems Consolidate in California’s Farming Heartland | KQED","description":"Many small community water systems in California’s San Joaquin Valley suffer from polluted wells and financial challenges. To fix these problems, some are moving to connect with a neighboring water system. It’s not an easy process.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Dozens of Water Systems Consolidate in California’s Farming Heartland","datePublished":"2018-06-11T21:00:53.000Z","dateModified":"2024-01-10T23:03:43.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"source":"Water","sticky":false,"nprByline":"Matt Weiser\u003cbr />Water Deeply","path":"/science/1925560/dozens-of-water-systems-consolidate-in-californias-farming-heartland","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive farming regions in the nation, an estimated 150,000 people are stuck living with contaminated drinking water. When they open a tap to fill a cooking pot or take a shower, the water that gushes out is contaminated with nitrates, hexavalent chromium, arsenic and other nasties from polluted wells.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The good news: Help is available to many of these small community water systems, provided they can merge with a neighboring utility that has clean water.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Estimating how many such mergers are under way is difficult, because they are at different stages and some may not have reached the attention of state regulators yet. A \u003ca class=\"preview-link\" href=\"http://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/content/adopting-county-policies-which-limit-public-water-system-sprawl-and-promote-small-system-con\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">University of California, Los Angeles study\u003c/span>\u003c/a> released last year estimated 32 mergers are in progress. Camille Pannu, director of the Water Justice Center at the University of California, Davis, said there are probably more than 50 mergers in the works in the San Joaquin Valley alone. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whatever the number, the process can be expensive and laborious, despite state laws meant to ease the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“It’s definitely a multiyear – often many-year – process,” said Nell Green Nylen, a senior research fellow at the Wheeler Water Institute at \u003cspan class=\"caps\">U.C.\u003c/span> Davis. “A big part of it is funding. And there can be a number of different agencies at different levels that need to be involved.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Green Nylen is coauthor of a \u003ca class=\"preview-link\" href=\"https://www.law.berkeley.edu/research/clee/research/wheeler/learning-from-consolidations/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">new report\u003c/span>\u003c/a> summarizing the challenges of water system consolidation. They range from financing problems to a lack of basic data needed to understand the water-quality problems that need solving.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">There are legal and bureaucratic challenges, as well. For instance, in the unincorporated town of Tooleville in Tulare County, groundwater wells are contaminated by hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6 (the chemical made famous by the 2000 film “Erin Brockovich”). The town of fewer than 400 people has been trying to merge its tiny mutual water company with the municipal water system in the neighboring city of Exeter, which has more than 10,000 residents.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“We can’t cook with the water. We can’t drink it,” said Maria Olivera, a board member of the Tooleville water system and a resident of the town since 1974. “We really need help. Everybody is hoping it will be solved.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">An agreement for the merger finally appears close at hand. But now a financing problem has emerged. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The state’s water-quality standard for hexavalent chromium was struck down by a May 2017 court ruling. The lawsuit was filed by the California Manufacturers and Technology Association and the Solano County Taxpayers Association. The court agreed with the plaintiffs that the state failed to investigate whether compliance with the standard is economically feasible.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">As a result, the State Water Resources Control Board was forced to withdraw its water-quality standard for hexavalent chromium while it works on revisions. With no standard in place, water systems trying to solve hexavalent chromium problems are not eligible for state grant funding. Which means Tooleville must seek another source of money to pay for the construction to connect with Exeter’s system.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">In the meantime, the \u003c/span>state is providing Tooleville with bottled water for drinking and cooking. The tainted well water is still used for cleaning, irrigating and everything else that people need water for. But recently the pump burned out at one of the town’s two wells. If the same should happen at Tooleville’s other well, the town’s water emergency will worsen considerably.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“We don’t have any money to buy a pump and then to hire a person to manage it, and then to pay the electricity bill for the water pumps,” Olivera said. “We are in a big problem right now because there’s no money.”\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">A state law passed in 2015, \u003ca class=\"preview-link\" href=\"https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/programs/compliance/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">Senate Bill 88\u003c/span>\u003c/a>, authorized the State Water Resources Control Board to require water system consolidations to fix water quality or reliability problems. Since the law passed, the water board has notified 25 water agencies they must consolidate – all in the San Joaquin Valley.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Fortunately, the construction required to physically connect one water agency with another may be fairly easy in many cases. A \u003cspan class=\"caps\">U.C.\u003c/span> Davis \u003ca class=\"preview-link\" href=\"https://regionalchange.ucdavis.edu/publication/water-justice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cspan class=\"s2\">study\u003c/span>\u003c/a> released in February found that 66 percent of disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley are within 500ft of another water utility that meets drinking water standards. For the rest, the distance is 3 or more miles, which could make a connection too expensive.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_132038\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-132038\" src=\"https://newsdeeply.imgix.net/20180607135056/EastPorterville21.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1027\" height=\"574\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-caption-text\">Peter Aranzazu, left, and Benny Zurita install new water lines in East Porterville, Calif., so homes can connect to a new water supply provided by the city of Porterville. East Porterville lived with groundwater problems for years until the connection was finally made in 2016. (Florence Low, California Department of Water Resources)\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Not all water system mergers involve full consolidation. Sometimes, water agencies might want to work together without merging completely. Neighboring water agencies might want to build an intertie, for example, in order to share water resources. But Green Nylen said state assistance programs tend to be available only for full mergers – another weakness in the regulatory process.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">One possibility of a partial merger is unfolding in Sacramento County, where the San Juan Water District and Sacramento Suburban Water District have talked for several years about combining resources.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">San Juan is primarily a surface-water agency, with water rights in the American River. Sacramento Suburban primarily relies on groundwater. Combined, the agencies serve around 340,000 people.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">If the two could agree to work together and build the necessary plumbing connections, San Juan could use Sacramento Suburban’s groundwater during drought years when American River water might be in short supply. Then, in wet years, it could use American River water to recharge Sacramento Suburban’s aquifers.\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“On the face of it, it would seem to give us more opportunity to optimize use of our water supply,” said Paul Helliker, general manager of San Juan Water District. “This is particularly important as we look at what the future holds with climate change and changing regulatory requirements.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">In 2015, board members of the two agencies held a joint meeting to discuss moving ahead with some kind of cooperating agreement. It could range from a full merger to simply collaborating on joint projects. San Juan’s board of directors voted unanimously in favor of proceeding with further negotiations. But the Sacramento Suburban board voted 3-2 against it.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">The two agencies recently restarted discussions, Helliker said. Each board has formed a two-member subcommittee for more joint meetings to discuss what form of cooperation to pursue.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">In any merger, some of the trickiest issues do not involve money or laws at all, Green Nylen said. Rather, the sticky issues are about who will be in charge, which employees will be retained and deciding whose operating rules are best.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"s1\">Also, ratepayers often have a variety of concerns. They may fear losing control of “their” water supply. And they may worry about rate increases under a newly consolidated water utility.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"fin\">\u003cspan class=\"s1\">“The current round of consolidations has focused on systems where water treatment is just not affordable or financially sustainable unless systems merge,” said Pannu at \u003cspan class=\"caps\">U.C.\u003c/span> Davis. “My understanding is that the state is triaging cases based on the public health impact.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article originally appeared on \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/06/11/dozens-of-water-systems-consolidate-in-californias-farming-heartland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Deeply\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and you can find it \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://mail.kqed.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e4bb0e1a7d74f24ba4684ef2533053d&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.newsdeeply.com%2fwater%2farticles%2f2016%2f07%2f07%2fnine-experts-to-watch-on-california-water-policy\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">here\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For important news about the California drought, you can \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"http://waterdeeply.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8b78e9a34ff7443ec1e8c62c6&id=2947becb78\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the Water Deeply email list.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/science/1925560/dozens-of-water-systems-consolidate-in-californias-farming-heartland","authors":["byline_science_1925560"],"categories":["science_31","science_89","science_35","science_40","science_98"],"tags":["science_205","science_572","science_460","science_1452","science_201"],"featImg":"science_1925564","label":"source_science_1925560"}},"programsReducer":{"possible":{"id":"possible","title":"Possible","info":"Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.","airtime":"SUN 2pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.possible.fm/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Possible"},"link":"/radio/program/possible","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"}},"1a":{"id":"1a","title":"1A","info":"1A is home to the national conversation. 1A brings on great guests and frames the best debate in ways that make you think, share and engage.","airtime":"MON-THU 11pm-12am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/1a.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://the1a.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/1a","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=1188724250&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/1A-p947376/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510316/podcast.xml"}},"all-things-considered":{"id":"all-things-considered","title":"All Things Considered","info":"Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.","airtime":"MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/all-things-considered"},"american-suburb-podcast":{"id":"american-suburb-podcast","title":"American Suburb: The Podcast","tagline":"The flip side of gentrification, told through one town","info":"Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/news/series/american-suburb-podcast","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"13"},"link":"/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"}},"baycurious":{"id":"baycurious","title":"Bay Curious","tagline":"Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time","info":"KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"\"KQED Bay Curious","officialWebsiteLink":"/news/series/baycurious","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"4"},"link":"/podcasts/baycurious","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9jYXRlZ29yeS9iYXktY3VyaW91cy1wb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdA","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"}},"bbc-world-service":{"id":"bbc-world-service","title":"BBC World Service","info":"The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.","airtime":"MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service","meta":{"site":"news","source":"BBC World Service"},"link":"/radio/program/bbc-world-service","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/","rss":"https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"}},"code-switch-life-kit":{"id":"code-switch-life-kit","title":"Code Switch / Life Kit","info":"\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />","airtime":"SUN 9pm-10pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"}},"commonwealth-club":{"id":"commonwealth-club","title":"Commonwealth Club of California Podcast","info":"The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.","airtime":"THU 10pm, FRI 1am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Commonwealth Club of California"},"link":"/radio/program/commonwealth-club","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"}},"considerthis":{"id":"considerthis","title":"Consider This","tagline":"Make sense of the day","info":"Make sense of the day. Every weekday afternoon, Consider This helps you consider the major stories of the day in less than 15 minutes, featuring the reporting and storytelling resources of NPR. Plus, KQED’s Bianca Taylor brings you the local KQED news you need to know.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Consider-This-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"Consider This from NPR and KQED","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/considerthis","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"7"},"link":"/podcasts/considerthis","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1503226625?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/coronavirusdaily","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM1NS9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z6JdCS2d0eFEpXHKI6WqH"}},"forum":{"id":"forum","title":"Forum","tagline":"The conversation starts here","info":"KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.","airtime":"MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal","officialWebsiteLink":"/forum","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"8"},"link":"/forum","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"}},"freakonomics-radio":{"id":"freakonomics-radio","title":"Freakonomics Radio","info":"Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png","officialWebsiteLink":"http://freakonomics.com/","airtime":"SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/freakonomics-radio","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"}},"fresh-air":{"id":"fresh-air","title":"Fresh Air","info":"Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.","airtime":"MON-FRI 7pm-8pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/fresh-air","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"}},"here-and-now":{"id":"here-and-now","title":"Here & Now","info":"A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.","airtime":"MON-THU 11am-12pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/here-and-now","subsdcribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"}},"how-i-built-this":{"id":"how-i-built-this","title":"How I Built This with Guy Raz","info":"Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this","airtime":"SUN 7:30pm-8pm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/how-i-built-this","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"}},"inside-europe":{"id":"inside-europe","title":"Inside Europe","info":"Inside Europe, a one-hour weekly news magazine hosted by Helen Seeney and Keith Walker, explores the topical issues shaping the continent. No other part of the globe has experienced such dynamic political and social change in recent years.","airtime":"SAT 3am-4am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Inside-Europe-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Deutsche Welle"},"link":"/radio/program/inside-europe","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-europe/id80106806?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Inside-Europe-p731/","rss":"https://partner.dw.com/xml/podcast_inside-europe"}},"latino-usa":{"id":"latino-usa","title":"Latino USA","airtime":"MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm","info":"Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://latinousa.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/latino-usa","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"}},"live-from-here-highlights":{"id":"live-from-here-highlights","title":"Live from Here Highlights","info":"Chris Thile steps to the mic as the host of Live from Here (formerly A Prairie Home Companion), a live public radio variety show. Download Chris’s Song of the Week plus other highlights from the broadcast. Produced by American Public Media.","airtime":"SAT 6pm-8pm, SUN 11am-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Live-From-Here-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.livefromhere.org/","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"american public media"},"link":"/radio/program/live-from-here-highlights","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1167173941","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Live-from-Here-Highlights-p921744/","rss":"https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/a-prairie-home-companion-highlights/rss/rss"}},"marketplace":{"id":"marketplace","title":"Marketplace","info":"Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.","airtime":"MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.marketplace.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"American Public Media"},"link":"/radio/program/marketplace","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/","rss":"https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"}},"mindshift":{"id":"mindshift","title":"MindShift","tagline":"A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids","info":"The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn","officialWebsiteLink":"/mindshift/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"2"},"link":"/podcasts/mindshift","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"}},"morning-edition":{"id":"morning-edition","title":"Morning Edition","info":"\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.","airtime":"MON-FRI 3am-9am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/morning-edition"},"onourwatch":{"id":"onourwatch","title":"On Our Watch","tagline":"Police secrets, unsealed","info":"For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"On Our Watch from NPR and KQED","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/onourwatch","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"1"},"link":"/podcasts/onourwatch","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw","npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"}},"on-the-media":{"id":"on-the-media","title":"On The Media","info":"Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us","airtime":"SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"wnyc"},"link":"/radio/program/on-the-media","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/","rss":"http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"}},"our-body-politic":{"id":"our-body-politic","title":"Our Body Politic","info":"Presented by KQED, KCRW and KPCC, and created and hosted by award-winning journalist Farai Chideya, Our Body Politic is unapologetically centered on reporting on not just how women of color experience the major political events of today, but how they’re impacting those very issues.","airtime":"SAT 6pm-7pm, SUN 1am-2am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Our-Body-Politic-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://our-body-politic.simplecast.com/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kcrw"},"link":"/radio/program/our-body-politic","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-body-politic/id1533069868","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9feGFQaHMxcw","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/4ApAiLT1kV153TttWAmqmc","rss":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/_xaPhs1s","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/Our-Body-Politic-p1369211/"}},"pbs-newshour":{"id":"pbs-newshour","title":"PBS NewsHour","info":"Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.","airtime":"MON-FRI 3pm-4pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"pbs"},"link":"/radio/program/pbs-newshour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/","rss":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"}},"perspectives":{"id":"perspectives","title":"Perspectives","tagline":"KQED's series of of daily listener commentaries since 1991","info":"KQED's series of of daily listener commentaries since 1991.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Perspectives-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/perspectives/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"15"},"link":"/perspectives","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"}},"planet-money":{"id":"planet-money","title":"Planet Money","info":"The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.","airtime":"SUN 3pm-4pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/sections/money/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/planet-money","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"}},"politicalbreakdown":{"id":"politicalbreakdown","title":"Political Breakdown","tagline":"Politics from a personal perspective","info":"Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.","airtime":"THU 6:30pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Political Breakdown","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"11"},"link":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5Nzk2MzI2MTEx","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"}},"pri-the-world":{"id":"pri-the-world","title":"PRI's The World: Latest Edition","info":"Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.","airtime":"MON-FRI 2pm-3pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world","meta":{"site":"news","source":"PRI"},"link":"/radio/program/pri-the-world","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/","rss":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"}},"radiolab":{"id":"radiolab","title":"Radiolab","info":"A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.","airtime":"SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/radiolab","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/","rss":"https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"}},"reveal":{"id":"reveal","title":"Reveal","info":"Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.","airtime":"SAT 4pm-5pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/reveal","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/","rss":"http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"}},"says-you":{"id":"says-you","title":"Says You!","info":"Public radio's game show of bluff and bluster, words and whimsy. The warmest, wittiest cocktail party - it's spirited and civil, brainy and boisterous, peppered with musical interludes. Fast paced and playful, it's the most fun you can have with language without getting your mouth washed out with soap. Our motto: It's not important to know the answers, it's important to like the answers!","airtime":"SUN 4pm-5pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Says-You-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.saysyouradio.com/","meta":{"site":"comedy","source":"Pipit and Finch"},"link":"/radio/program/says-you","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/says-you!/id1050199826","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Says-You-p480/","rss":"https://saysyou.libsyn.com/rss"}},"science-friday":{"id":"science-friday","title":"Science Friday","info":"Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.","airtime":"FRI 11am-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/science-friday","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/","rss":"http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"}},"science-podcast":{"id":"science-podcast","title":"KQED Science News","tagline":"From the lab, to your ears","info":"KQED Science explores science and environment news, trends, and events from the Bay Area and beyond.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-News-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/category/science-podcast/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"kqed","order":"17"},"link":"/science/category/science-podcast","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqed-science-news/id214663465","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2Jsb2dzLmtxZWQub3JnL3NjaWVuY2UvZmVlZC8","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed-science-news","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/category/science-podcast/feed/podcast"}},"selected-shorts":{"id":"selected-shorts","title":"Selected Shorts","info":"Spellbinding short stories by established and emerging writers take on a new life when they are performed by stars of the stage and screen.","airtime":"SAT 8pm-9pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Selected-Shorts-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pri.org/programs/selected-shorts","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"pri"},"link":"/radio/program/selected-shorts","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=253191824&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Selected-Shorts-p31792/","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/selectedshorts"}},"snap-judgment":{"id":"snap-judgment","title":"Snap Judgment","info":"Snap Judgment (Storytelling, with a BEAT) mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic, kick-ass radio. Snap’s raw, musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. WNYC studios is the producer of leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, Note To Self, Here’s The Thing With Alec Baldwin, and more.","airtime":"SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/snapJudgement.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://snapjudgment.org","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/snap-judgment","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=283657561&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Snap-Judgment-p243817/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/snapjudgment-wnyc"}},"soldout":{"id":"soldout","title":"SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America","tagline":"A new future for housing","info":"Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/soldout","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":3},"link":"/podcasts/soldout","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america","tunein":"https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vc29sZG91dA"}},"ted-radio-hour":{"id":"ted-radio-hour","title":"TED Radio Hour","info":"The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.","airtime":"SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/ted-radio-hour","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"}},"tech-nation":{"id":"tech-nation","title":"Tech Nation Radio Podcast","info":"Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.","airtime":"FRI 10pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://technation.podomatic.com/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"Tech Nation Media"},"link":"/radio/program/tech-nation","subscribe":{"rss":"https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"}},"thebay":{"id":"thebay","title":"The Bay","tagline":"Local news to keep you rooted","info":"Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"\"KQED The Bay","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/thebay","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"6"},"link":"/podcasts/thebay","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM4MjU5Nzg2MzI3","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"}},"californiareport":{"id":"californiareport","title":"The California Report","tagline":"California, day by day","info":"KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The California Report","officialWebsiteLink":"/californiareport","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"9"},"link":"/californiareport","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1MDAyODE4NTgz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"}},"californiareportmagazine":{"id":"californiareportmagazine","title":"The California Report Magazine","tagline":"Your state, your stories","info":"Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.","airtime":"FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/californiareportmagazine","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"10"},"link":"/californiareportmagazine","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"}},"theleap":{"id":"theleap","title":"The Leap","tagline":"What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?","info":"Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The Leap","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/theleap","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"14"},"link":"/podcasts/theleap","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM0NTcwODQ2MjY2","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"}},"masters-of-scale":{"id":"masters-of-scale","title":"Masters of Scale","info":"Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.","airtime":"Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://mastersofscale.com/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"WaitWhat"},"link":"/radio/program/masters-of-scale","subscribe":{"apple":"http://mastersofscale.app.link/","rss":"https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"}},"the-moth-radio-hour":{"id":"the-moth-radio-hour","title":"The Moth Radio Hour","info":"Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.","airtime":"SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://themoth.org/","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"prx"},"link":"/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/","rss":"http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"}},"the-new-yorker-radio-hour":{"id":"the-new-yorker-radio-hour","title":"The New Yorker Radio Hour","info":"The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.","airtime":"SAT 10am-11am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"}},"the-takeaway":{"id":"the-takeaway","title":"The Takeaway","info":"The Takeaway is produced in partnership with its national audience. It delivers perspective and analysis to help us better understand the day’s news. Be a part of the American conversation on-air and online.","airtime":"MON-THU 12pm-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Takeaway-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/takeaway","meta":{"site":"news","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/the-takeaway","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-takeaway/id363143310?mt=2","tuneIn":"http://tunein.com/radio/The-Takeaway-p150731/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/takeawaypodcast"}},"this-american-life":{"id":"this-american-life","title":"This American Life","info":"This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.","airtime":"SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.thisamericanlife.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"wbez"},"link":"/radio/program/this-american-life","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","rss":"https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"}},"truthbetold":{"id":"truthbetold","title":"Truth Be Told","tagline":"Advice by and for people of color","info":"We’re the friend you call after a long day, the one who gets it. Through wisdom from some of the greatest thinkers of our time, host Tonya Mosley explores what it means to grow and thrive as a Black person in America, while discovering new ways of being that serve as a portal to more love, more healing, and more joy.","airtime":"","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Truth-Be-Told-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Truth Be Told with Tonya Mosley","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.kqed.ord/podcasts/truthbetold","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr","order":"12"},"link":"/podcasts/truthbetold","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-be-told/id1462216572","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9jYXRlZ29yeS90cnV0aC1iZS10b2xkLXBvZGNhc3QvZmVlZA","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/719210818/truth-be-told","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=398170&refid=stpr","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/587DhwTBxke6uvfwDfaV5N"}},"wait-wait-dont-tell-me":{"id":"wait-wait-dont-tell-me","title":"Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!","info":"Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.","airtime":"SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"}},"washington-week":{"id":"washington-week","title":"Washington Week","info":"For 50 years, Washington Week has been the most intelligent and up to date conversation about the most important news stories of the week. Washington Week is the longest-running news and public affairs program on PBS and features journalists -- not pundits -- lending insight and perspective to the week's important news stories.","airtime":"SAT 1:30am-2am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/washington-week.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"pbs"},"link":"/radio/program/washington-week","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/washington-week-audio-pbs/id83324702?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Current-Affairs/Washington-Week-p693/","rss":"http://feeds.pbs.org/pbs/weta/washingtonweek-audio"}},"weekend-edition-saturday":{"id":"weekend-edition-saturday","title":"Weekend Edition Saturday","info":"Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.","airtime":"SAT 5am-10am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"},"weekend-edition-sunday":{"id":"weekend-edition-sunday","title":"Weekend Edition Sunday","info":"Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.","airtime":"SUN 5am-10am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"},"world-affairs":{"id":"world-affairs","title":"World Affairs","info":"The world as we knew it is undergoing a rapid transformation…so what's next? Welcome to WorldAffairs, your guide to a changing world. We give you the context you need to navigate across borders and ideologies. Through sound-rich stories and in-depth interviews, we break down what it means to be a global citizen on a hot, crowded planet. Our hosts, Ray Suarez, Teresa Cotsirilos and Philip Yun help you make sense of an uncertain world, one story at a time.","airtime":"MON 10pm, TUE 1am, SAT 3am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/World-Affairs-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg ","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.worldaffairs.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"World Affairs"},"link":"/radio/program/world-affairs","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/world-affairs/id101215657?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/WorldAffairs-p1665/","rss":"https://worldaffairs.libsyn.com/rss"}},"on-shifting-ground":{"id":"on-shifting-ground","title":"On Shifting Ground with Ray Suarez","info":"Geopolitical turmoil. A warming planet. Authoritarians on the rise. We live in a chaotic world that’s rapidly shifting around us. “On Shifting Ground with Ray Suarez” explores international fault lines and how they impact us all. Each week, NPR veteran Ray Suarez hosts conversations with journalists, leaders and policy experts to help us read between the headlines – and give us hope for human resilience.","airtime":"MON 10pm, TUE 1am, SAT 3am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2022/12/onshiftingground-600x600-1.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://worldaffairs.org/radio-podcast/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"On Shifting Ground"},"link":"/radio/program/on-shifting-ground","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/on-shifting-ground/id101215657","rss":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/36668/rss"}},"hidden-brain":{"id":"hidden-brain","title":"Hidden Brain","info":"Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain","airtime":"SUN 7pm-8pm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"NPR"},"link":"/radio/program/hidden-brain","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"}},"city-arts":{"id":"city-arts","title":"City Arts & Lectures","info":"A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.cityarts.net/","airtime":"SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am","meta":{"site":"news","source":"City Arts & Lectures"},"link":"https://www.cityarts.net","subscribe":{"tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/","rss":"https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"}},"white-lies":{"id":"white-lies","title":"White Lies","info":"In 1965, Rev. James Reeb was murdered in Selma, Alabama. Three men were tried and acquitted, but no one was ever held to account. Fifty years later, two journalists from Alabama return to the city where it happened, expose the lies that kept the murder from being solved and uncover a story about guilt and memory that says as much about America today as it does about the past.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/White-Lies-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510343/white-lies","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/white-lies","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/whitelies","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1462650519?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM0My9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/12yZ2j8vxqhc0QZyRES3ft?si=LfWYEK6URA63hueKVxRLAw","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510343/podcast.xml"}},"rightnowish":{"id":"rightnowish","title":"Rightnowish","tagline":"Art is where you find it","info":"Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/rightnowish","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"kqed","order":"5"},"link":"/podcasts/rightnowish","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"}},"jerrybrown":{"id":"jerrybrown","title":"The Political Mind of Jerry Brown","tagline":"Lessons from a lifetime in politics","info":"The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/jerrybrown","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"16"},"link":"/podcasts/jerrybrown","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/","tuneIn":"http://tun.in/pjGcK","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9zZXJpZXMvamVycnlicm93bi9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qv"}},"the-splendid-table":{"id":"the-splendid-table","title":"The Splendid Table","info":"\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.splendidtable.org/","airtime":"SUN 10-11 pm","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/the-splendid-table"}},"racesReducer":{"5921":{"id":"5921","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 7","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":158422,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.97,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Doris Matsui","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":89456,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tom Silva","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":48920,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Mandel","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":20046,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-09T01:00:38.194Z"},"5922":{"id":"5922","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 8","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Rudy Recile","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John Garamendi","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5924":{"id":"5924","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 10","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":185034,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.07,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark DeSaulnier","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":121265,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katherine Piccinini","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34883,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nolan Chen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":19459,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Sweeney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":7606,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mohamed Elsherbini","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1821,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-09T01:02:32.415Z"},"5926":{"id":"5926","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":153801,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.88,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lateefah Simon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":85905,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jennifer Tran","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":22964,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tony Daysog","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":17197,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stephen Slauson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9699,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Glenn Kaplan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":6785,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4243,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Abdur Sikder","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2847,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ned Nuerge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2532,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Andre Todd","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1629,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-16T00:22:36.062Z"},"5928":{"id":"5928","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 14","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":125831,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.14,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Eric Swalwell","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":83989,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Vin Kruttiventi","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":22106,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Alison Hayden","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11928,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Luis Reynoso","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":7808,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:51:36.366Z"},"5930":{"id":"5930","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 16","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":182135,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.91,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","timeUpdated":"3:04 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sam Liccardo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":38489,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Evan Low","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":30249,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Simitian","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":30249,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Peter Ohtaki","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":23275,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Peter Dixon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14673,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Rishi Kumar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":12377,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Karl Ryan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11557,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Julie Lythcott-Haims","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11383,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ahmed Mostafa","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":5811,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Greg Tanaka","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2421,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joby Bernstein","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1651,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:32:05.002Z"},"5931":{"id":"5931","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 17","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":117534,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.92,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ro Khanna","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":73941,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Anita Chen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":31539,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Ritesh Tandon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":5728,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mario Ramirez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4491,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Dehn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":1835,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-08T01:50:53.956Z"},"5932":{"id":"5932","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 18","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":96302,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.93,"eevp":98.83,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Zoe Lofgren","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":49323,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Peter Hernandez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":31622,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Charlene Nijmeh","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":10614,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Lawrence Milan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2712,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Luele Kifle","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2031,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:26:02.706Z"},"5963":{"id":"5963","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":139085,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.62,"eevp":98.6,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Greer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":38079,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Chris Rogers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":27126,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rusty Hicks","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25615,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ariel Kelley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19483,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Frankie Myers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":17694,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ted Williams","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":9550,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Cynthia Click","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1538,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-22T21:38:36.711Z"},"5972":{"id":"5972","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":99775,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lori Wilson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":50085,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Dave Ennis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":26074,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Wanda Wallis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14638,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jeffrey Flack","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":8978,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-08T02:01:24.524Z"},"5973":{"id":"5973","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":143532,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:38 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Damon Connolly","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":111275,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andy Podshadley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":17240,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Eryn Cervantes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15017,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-21T00:25:32.262Z"},"5975":{"id":"5975","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 14","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":106997,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.06,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Buffy Wicks","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":78678,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Margot Smith","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":18251,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Utkarsh Jain","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":10068,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-15T01:30:34.539Z"},"5976":{"id":"5976","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":97144,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.98,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sonia Ledo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":30946,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Anamarie Farias","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":29512,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Monica Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":24775,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Karen Mitchoff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11911,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T00:19:38.858Z"},"5977":{"id":"5977","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 16","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joseph Rubay","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rebecca Bauer-Kahan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5978":{"id":"5978","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 17","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":111003,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"8:25 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Matt Haney","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":90915,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Manuel Noris-Barrera","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":13843,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Otto Duke","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":6245,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:36:19.697Z"},"5979":{"id":"5979","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 18","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":86008,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.1,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mia Bonta","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":73040,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andre Sandford","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"AIP","voteCount":4575,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mindy Pechenuk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4389,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Cheyenne Kenney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4004,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T08:03:23.729Z"},"5980":{"id":"5980","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 19","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":113959,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.8,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Catherine Stefani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":64960,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":33035,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nadia Flamenco","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":8335,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Arjun Sodhani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":7629,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-11T23:50:23.109Z"},"5981":{"id":"5981","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 20","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:36 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Liz Ortega","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5982":{"id":"5982","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 21","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark Gilham","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Diane Papan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5984":{"id":"5984","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 23","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":116963,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.91,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Marc Berman","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":67106,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Lydia Kou","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":23699,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Gus Mattammal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":13277,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Allan Marson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":12881,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T01:13:06.280Z"},"5987":{"id":"5987","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 26","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":72753,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Patrick Ahrens","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25036,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tara Sreekrishnan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19600,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Sophie Song","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15954,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Omar Din","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":8772,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Bob Goodwyn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":2170,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ashish Garg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1221,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T21:06:29.070Z"},"5989":{"id":"5989","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 28","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Gail Pellerin","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Liz Lawler","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6010":{"id":"6010","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 49","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:36 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Fong","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Long Liu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6018":{"id":"6018","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":229348,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.05,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:38 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jared Huffman","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":169005,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Chris Coulombe","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":37372,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tief Gibbs","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":18437,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jolian Kangas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":3166,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Brisendine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1368,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:46:10.103Z"},"6020":{"id":"6020","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":187640,"precinctsReportPercentage":96.32,"eevp":96.36,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Thompson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":118147,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John Munn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":56232,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andrew Engdahl","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11202,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Niket Patwardhan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":2059,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-07T00:30:57.980Z"},"6025":{"id":"6025","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 9","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":121271,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.17,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Josh Harder","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":60396,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Kevin Lincoln","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":36346,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John McBride","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15525,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Khalid Jafri","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9004,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:49:44.113Z"},"6031":{"id":"6031","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Anna Kramer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Kevin Mullin","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6035":{"id":"6035","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 19","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":203670,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.11,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jimmy Panetta","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":132540,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jason Anderson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":58120,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Sean Dougherty","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Grn","voteCount":13010,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-07T00:23:46.779Z"},"6066":{"id":"6066","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 3","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jamie Gallagher","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Aaron Draper","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6067":{"id":"6067","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 4","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Cecilia Aguiar-Curry","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6087":{"id":"6087","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 24","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":66643,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Alex Lee","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":45544,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bob Brunton","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14951,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marti Souza","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":6148,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T23:23:49.770Z"},"6088":{"id":"6088","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 25","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":69560,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.31,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ash Kalra","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":35821,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Ted Stroll","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":18255,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Lan Ngo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":15484,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T02:40:57.200Z"},"6092":{"id":"6092","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 29","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Robert Rivas","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"J.W. Paine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6223":{"id":"6223","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 46","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:16 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lou Correa","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Pan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6530":{"id":"6530","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 3","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":222193,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Thom Bogue","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":61776,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Christopher Cabaldon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":59041,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rozzana Verder-Aliga","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":45546,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jackie Elward","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":41127,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jimih Jones","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14703,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-15T01:24:31.539Z"},"6531":{"id":"6531","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":171623,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.09,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jim Shoemaker","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":74935,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jerry McNerney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":57040,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Carlos Villapudua","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":39648,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T20:07:46.382Z"},"6532":{"id":"6532","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 7","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":192446,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.72,"eevp":98.78,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jesse Arreguín","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":61837,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jovanka Beckles","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":34025,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Dan Kalb","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":28842,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Kathryn Lybarger","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":28041,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sandre Swanson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":22862,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jeanne Solnordal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":16839,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-16T00:58:11.533Z"},"6533":{"id":"6533","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 9","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Tim Grayson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marisol Rubio","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6534":{"id":"6534","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":228260,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.09,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Scott Wiener","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":166592,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Yvette Corkrean","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34438,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Cynthia Cravens","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":18513,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jing Xiong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":8717,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T02:01:51.597Z"},"6535":{"id":"6535","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 13","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":227191,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.88,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Josh Becker","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":167127,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Alexander Glew","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":42788,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Christina Laskowski","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":17276,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T01:56:24.964Z"},"6536":{"id":"6536","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":180231,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.81,"eevp":98.95,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Dave Cortese","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":124440,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Robert Howell","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34173,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tony Loaiza","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":21618,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T01:15:45.365Z"},"6548":{"id":"6548","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 39","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:55 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Akilah Weber","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bob Divine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6611":{"id":"6611","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":188732,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.89,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"8:25 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Nancy Pelosi","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":138285,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bruce Lou","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":16285,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marjorie Mikels","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":9363,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Bianca Von Krieg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":7634,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Zeng","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":6607,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Boyce","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4325,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Larry Nichelson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3482,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eve Del Castello","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2751,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:31:55.445Z"},"8589":{"id":"8589","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. Senate, Class I","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":7276537,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Adam Schiff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2299507,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Steve Garvey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2292414,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katie Porter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1115606,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Barbara Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":714408,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Early","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":240723,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"James Bradley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":98180,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Christina Pascucci","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":61755,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sharleta Bassett","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":54422,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sarah Liew","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":38483,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Laura Garza ","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":34320,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jonathan Reiss","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34283,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sepi Gilani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":34056,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Gail Lightfoot","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":33046,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Denice Gary-Pandol","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":25494,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"James Macauley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":23168,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Harmesh Kumar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21522,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"David Peterson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21076,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Douglas Pierce","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19371,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Major Singh","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":16965,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"John Rose","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14577,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Perry Pound","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14134,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Raji Rab","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":13558,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mark Ruzon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":13429,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Forrest Jones","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"AIP","voteCount":13027,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stefan Simchowitz","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":12717,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Martin Veprauskas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9714,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Don Grundmann","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":6582,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T05:01:46.589Z"},"8686":{"id":"8686","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"President,","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":3589127,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:48 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joe Biden","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":3200188,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marianne Williamson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":145690,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Dean Phillips","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":99981,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Armando Perez-Serrato","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":42925,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Gabriel Cornejo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":41261,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"President Boddie","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25373,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stephen Lyons","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21008,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eban Cambridge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":12701,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:12:27.559Z"},"8688":{"id":"8688","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"President,","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":2466569,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Donald Trump","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":1953947,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nikki Haley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":430792,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ron DeSantis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":35581,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Chris Christie","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":20164,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Vivek Ramaswamy","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11069,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Rachel Swift","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4231,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"David Stuckenberg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3895,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ryan Binkley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3563,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Asa Hutchinson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3327,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:13:19.766Z"},"81993":{"id":"81993","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. Senate, Class I Unexpired Term","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":7358837,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Steve Garvey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2444940,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Adam Schiff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2155146,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katie Porter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1269194,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Barbara Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":863278,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Early","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":448788,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Christina Pascucci","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":109421,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sepi Gilani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":68070,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:31:08.186Z"},"82014":{"id":"82014","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"Proposition, 1 - Behavioral Health Services Program","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":7221972,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":null,"voteCount":3624998,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":null,"voteCount":3596974,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-21T00:11:06.265Z"},"timeLoaded":"April 19, 2024 2:27 PM","nationalRacesLoaded":true,"localRacesLoaded":true,"overrides":[{"id":"5921","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 7","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5922","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 8","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5924","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 10","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5926","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 12","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/congress-12th-district"},{"id":"5928","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 14","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5930","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 16","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/congress-16th-district"},{"id":"5931","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 17","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5932","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 18","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5963","raceName":"State Assembly, District 2","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5972","raceName":"State Assembly, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5973","raceName":"State Assembly, District 12","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5975","raceName":"State Assembly, District 14","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5976","raceName":"State Assembly, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta/state-assembly"},{"id":"5977","raceName":"State Assembly, District 16","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5978","raceName":"State Assembly, District 17","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5979","raceName":"State Assembly, District 18","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5980","raceName":"State Assembly, District 19","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5981","raceName":"State Assembly, District 20","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5982","raceName":"State Assembly, District 21","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5984","raceName":"State Assembly, District 23","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-assembly-23rd-district"},{"id":"5987","raceName":"State Assembly, District 26","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/state-assembly-26th-district"},{"id":"5989","raceName":"State Assembly, District 28","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6010","raceName":"State Assembly, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6018","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 2","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6020","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6025","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 9","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6031","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6035","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 19","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6067","raceName":"State Assembly, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6087","raceName":"State Assembly, District 24","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6088","raceName":"State Assembly, District 25","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6092","raceName":"State Assembly, District 29","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6223","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6530","raceName":"State Senate, District 3","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-senate-3rd-district"},{"id":"6531","raceName":"State Senate, District 5","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6532","raceName":"State Senate, District 7","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-senate-7th-district"},{"id":"6533","raceName":"State Senate, District 9","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6534","raceName":"State Senate, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6535","raceName":"State Senate, District 13","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6536","raceName":"State Senate, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6611","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"8589","raceName":"U.S. Senate (Full Term)","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/senator"},{"id":"8686","raceName":"California Democratic Presidential Primary","raceDescription":"Candidates are competing for 496 delegates.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/president/democrat"},{"id":"8688","raceName":"California Republican Presidential Primary","raceDescription":"Candidates are competing for 169 delegates.","raceReadTheStory":"https://kqed.org/elections/results/president/republican"},{"id":"81993","raceName":"U.S. Senate (Partial/Unexpired Term)","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election."},{"id":"82014","raceName":"Proposition 1","raceDescription":"Bond and mental health reforms. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/proposition-1"}],"AlamedaJudge5":{"id":"AlamedaJudge5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":200601,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Terry Wiley","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":200601}]},"AlamedaJudge12":{"id":"AlamedaJudge12","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":240853,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark Fickes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":133009},{"candidateName":"Michael P. Johnson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":107844}]},"AlamedaBoard2":{"id":"AlamedaBoard2","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":33580,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"John Lewis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6943},{"candidateName":"Angela Normand","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":26637}]},"AlamedaBoard5":{"id":"AlamedaBoard5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":26072,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Guadalupe \"Lupe\" Angulo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7521},{"candidateName":"Janevette Cole","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13338},{"candidateName":"Joe Orlando Ramos","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5213}]},"AlamedaBoard6":{"id":"AlamedaBoard6","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 6","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":30864,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"John Guerrero","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9989},{"candidateName":"Eileen McDonald","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20875}]},"AlamedaSup1":{"id":"AlamedaSup1","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":41038,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Haubert","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":41038}]},"AlamedaSup2":{"id":"AlamedaSup2","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":31034,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Elisa Márquez","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":31034}]},"AlamedaSup4":{"id":"AlamedaSup4","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":57007,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jennifer Esteen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22400},{"candidateName":"Nate Miley","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":34607}]},"AlamedaSup5":{"id":"AlamedaSup5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":81059,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ben Bartlett","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13518},{"candidateName":"Nikki Fortunato Bas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":27597},{"candidateName":"John J. Bauters","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":16783},{"candidateName":"Ken Berrick","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7520},{"candidateName":"Omar Farmer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1240},{"candidateName":"Gregory Hodge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3419},{"candidateName":"Chris Moore","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7428},{"candidateName":"Gerald Pechenuk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":305},{"candidateName":"Lorrel Plimier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3249}]},"AlamedaBoard7":{"id":"AlamedaBoard7","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Flood Control & Water Conservation District Director, Zone 7, Full Term","raceDescription":"Top three candidates win seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top3","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":134340,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Alan Burnham","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":15723},{"candidateName":"Sandy Figuers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22454},{"candidateName":"Laurene K. Green","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":30343},{"candidateName":"Kathy Narum","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23833},{"candidateName":"Seema Badar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7468},{"candidateName":"Catherine Brown","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":34519}]},"AlamedaAuditor":{"id":"AlamedaAuditor","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Oakland Auditor","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":59227,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Houston","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":59227}]},"AlamedaMeasureA":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Alameda County. Civil service. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":282335,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":167903},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":114432}]},"AlamedaMeasureB":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Alameda County. Recall rules. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/measure-b","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":282683,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":182200},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":100483}]},"AlamedaMeasureD":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Oakland. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":79797,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":59852},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":19945}]},"AlamedaMeasureE":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Alameda Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":22692,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":17280},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5412}]},"AlamedaMeasureF":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureF","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure F","raceDescription":"Piedmont. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":4855,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3673},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1182}]},"AlamedaMeasureG":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Albany Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":5898,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4651},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1247}]},"AlamedaMeasureH":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Berkeley Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":33331,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":29418},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3913}]},"AlamedaMeasureI":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureI","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure I","raceDescription":"Hayward Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":21929,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14151},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7778}]},"AlamedaMeasureJ":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureJ","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure J","raceDescription":"San Leandro Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":12338,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7784},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4554}]},"CCD2":{"id":"CCD2","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":45776,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Candace Andersen","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":45776}]},"CCD3":{"id":"CCD3","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":25120,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Diane Burgis","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":25120}]},"CCD5":{"id":"CCD5","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":37045,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Barbanica","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14338},{"candidateName":"Jelani Killings","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5683},{"candidateName":"Shanelle Scales-Preston","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":12993},{"candidateName":"Iztaccuauhtli Hector Gonzalez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4031}]},"CCMeasureA":{"id":"CCMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Martinez. Appoint City Clerk. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":11513,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7554},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3959}]},"CCMeasureB":{"id":"CCMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Antioch Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":17971,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10397},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7574}]},"CCMeasureC":{"id":"CCMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Martinez Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":9230,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6917},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2313}]},"CCMeasureD":{"id":"CCMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Moraga School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":6007,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4052},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1955}]},"MarinD2":{"id":"MarinD2","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/supervisor-2nd-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":18466,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Brian Colbert","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7971},{"candidateName":"Heather McPhail Sridharan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4851},{"candidateName":"Ryan O'Neil","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2647},{"candidateName":"Gabe Paulson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2997}]},"MarinD3":{"id":"MarinD3","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":13274,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Stephanie Moulton-Peters","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13274}]},"MarinD4":{"id":"MarinD4","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":12986,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Dennis Rodoni","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10086},{"candidateName":"Francis Drouillard","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2900}]},"MarinLarkspurCC":{"id":"MarinLarkspurCC","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Larkspur City Council (Short Term)","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":4176,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Stephanie Andre","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2514},{"candidateName":"Claire Paquette","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1008},{"candidateName":"Lana Scott","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":654}]},"MarinRossCouncil":{"id":"MarinRossCouncil","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Ross Town Council","raceDescription":"Top three candidates win seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top3","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1740,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Charles William \"Bill\" Kircher, Jr.","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":536},{"candidateName":"Mathew Salter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":502},{"candidateName":"Shadi Aboukhater","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":187},{"candidateName":"Teri Dowling","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":515}]},"MarinMeasureA":{"id":"MarinMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Tamalpais Union High School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":45345,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":24376},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20969}]},"MarinMeasureB":{"id":"MarinMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Petaluma Joint Union High School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":132,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":62},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":70}]},"MarinMeasureC":{"id":"MarinMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Belvedere. Appropriation limit. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":870,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":679},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":191}]},"MarinMeasureD":{"id":"MarinMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Larkspur. Rent stabilization. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/measure-d","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":4955,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2573},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2382}]},"MarinMeasureE":{"id":"MarinMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Ross. Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/measure-e","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":874,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":683},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":191}]},"MarinMeasureF":{"id":"MarinMeasureF","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure F","raceDescription":"San Anselmo. Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":5193,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3083},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2110}]},"MarinMeasureG":{"id":"MarinMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Bel Marin Keys Community Services District. Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":830,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":661},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":169}]},"MarinMeasureH":{"id":"MarinMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Marinwood Community Services District. Appropriations limit, fire protection. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1738,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1369},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":369}]},"MarinMeasureI":{"id":"MarinMeasureI","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure I","raceDescription":"Marinwood Community Services District. Appropriations limit, parks. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1735,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1336},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":399}]},"NapaD2":{"id":"NapaD2","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":8351,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Liz Alessio","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6340},{"candidateName":"Doris Gentry","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2011}]},"NapaD4":{"id":"NapaD4","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/napa/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":7306,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Amber Manfree","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3913},{"candidateName":"Pete Mott","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3393}]},"NapaD5":{"id":"NapaD5","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/napa/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":5356,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mariam Aboudamous","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2379},{"candidateName":"Belia Ramos","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2977}]},"NapaMeasureD":{"id":"NapaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Howell Mountain Elementary School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":741,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":367},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":374}]},"NapaMeasureU":{"id":"NapaMeasureU","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure U","raceDescription":"Lake Berryessa Resort Improvement District. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":86,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":63},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23}]},"NapaMeasureU1":{"id":"NapaMeasureU1","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure U","raceDescription":"Yountville. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":925,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":793},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":132}]},"SFJudge1":{"id":"SFJudge1","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Seat 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/superior-court-seat-1","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":202960,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Begert","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":124943},{"candidateName":"Chip Zecher","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":78017}]},"SFJudge13":{"id":"SFJudge13","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Seat 13","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/superior-court-seat-13","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":202386,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jean Myungjin Roland","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":90012},{"candidateName":"Patrick S. Thompson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":112374}]},"SFPropA":{"id":"SFPropA","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition A","raceDescription":"Housing bond. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-a","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":225187,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":158497},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":66690}]},"SFPropB":{"id":"SFPropB","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition B","raceDescription":"Police staffing. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222954,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":61580},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":161374}]},"SFPropC":{"id":"SFPropC","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition C","raceDescription":"Transfer tax exemption. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":220349,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":116311},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":104038}]},"SFPropD":{"id":"SFPropD","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition D","raceDescription":"Ethics laws. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222615,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":198584},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":24031}]},"SFPropE":{"id":"SFPropE","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition E","raceDescription":"Police policies. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-e","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222817,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":120529},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":102288}]},"SFPropF":{"id":"SFPropF","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition F","raceDescription":"Drug screening. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-f","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":224004,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":130214},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":93790}]},"SFPropG":{"id":"SFPropG","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition G","raceDescription":"Eighth-grade algebra. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222704,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":182066},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":40638}]},"SMJudge4":{"id":"SMJudge4","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":108919,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sarah Burdick","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":108919}]},"SMD1":{"id":"SMD1","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanmateo/supervisor-1st-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":29650,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jackie Speier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20353},{"candidateName":"Ann Schneider","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9297}]},"SMD4":{"id":"SMD4","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanmateo/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":22725,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Antonio Lopez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5730},{"candidateName":"Lisa Gauthier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10358},{"candidateName":"Celeste Brevard","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1268},{"candidateName":"Paul Bocanegra","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1909},{"candidateName":"Maggie Cornejo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3460}]},"SMD5":{"id":"SMD5","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":19937,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Canepa","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":19937}]},"SMMeasureB":{"id":"SMMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"County Service Area #1 (Highlands). Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":1549,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1360},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":189}]},"SMMeasureC":{"id":"SMMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Jefferson Elementary School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":12234,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8543},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3691}]},"SMMeasureE":{"id":"SMMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Woodside Elementary School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":1392,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":910},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":482}]},"SMMeasureG":{"id":"SMMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Pacifica School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":11548,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7067},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4481}]},"SMMeasureH":{"id":"SMMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"San Carlos School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":9938,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6283},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3655}]},"SCJudge5":{"id":"SCJudge5","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":301953,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jay Boyarsky","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":142549},{"candidateName":"Nicole M. Ford","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":52147},{"candidateName":"Johnene Linda Stebbins","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":107257}]},"SCD2":{"id":"SCD2","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/supervisor-2nd-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":44059,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Corina Herrera-Loera","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10519},{"candidateName":"Jennifer Margaret Celaya","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2394},{"candidateName":"Madison Nguyen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":12794},{"candidateName":"Betty Duong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14031},{"candidateName":"Nelson McElmurry","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4321}]},"SCD3":{"id":"SCD3","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":42549,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Otto Lee","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":42549}]},"SCD5":{"id":"SCD5","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":88712,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Margaret Abe-Koga","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":37172},{"candidateName":"Sally J. Lieber","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":21962},{"candidateName":"Barry Chang","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6164},{"candidateName":"Peter C. Fung","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":17892},{"candidateName":"Sandy Sans","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5522}]},"SCSJMayor":{"id":"SCSJMayor","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José Mayor","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":167064,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Matt Mahan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":144701},{"candidateName":"Tyrone Wade","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22363}]},"SCSJD2":{"id":"SCSJD2","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14131,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joe Lopez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4950},{"candidateName":"Pamela Campos","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3436},{"candidateName":"Vanessa Sandoval","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2719},{"candidateName":"Babu Prasad","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3026}]},"SCSJD4":{"id":"SCSJD4","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14322,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Kansen Chu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5931},{"candidateName":"David Cohen","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8391}]},"SCSJD6":{"id":"SCSJD6","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 6","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":25108,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Cohen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9875},{"candidateName":"Alex Shoor","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3850},{"candidateName":"Angelo \"A.J.\" Pasciuti","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2688},{"candidateName":"Michael Mulcahy","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8695}]},"SCSJD8":{"id":"SCSJD8","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 8","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":21462,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Tam Truong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6982},{"candidateName":"Domingo Candelas","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8466},{"candidateName":"Sukhdev Singh Bainiwal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5513},{"candidateName":"Surinder Kaur Dhaliwal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":501}]},"SCSJD10":{"id":"SCSJD10","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 10","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":22799,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"George Casey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8805},{"candidateName":"Arjun Batra","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8354},{"candidateName":"Lenka Wright","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5640}]},"SCMeasureA":{"id":"SCMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Santa Clara. Appointed city clerk. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":20315,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6580},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13735}]},"SCMeasureB":{"id":"SCMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Santa Clara. Appointed police chief. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":20567,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5680},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14887}]},"SCMeasureC":{"id":"SCMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Sunnyvale School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14656,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10261},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4395}]},"SolanoD15":{"id":"SolanoD15","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Department 15","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":81709,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Thompson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":36844},{"candidateName":"Bryan J. Kim","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":44865}]},"SolanoD1":{"id":"SolanoD1","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/supervisor-1st-district","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":13786,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6401},{"candidateName":"Cassandra James","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7385}]},"SolanoD2":{"id":"SolanoD2","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":19903,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Monica Brown","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10951},{"candidateName":"Nora Dizon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3135},{"candidateName":"Rochelle Sherlock","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5817}]},"SolanoD5":{"id":"SolanoD5","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":17888,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mitch Mashburn","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":11210},{"candidateName":"Chadwick J. Ledoux","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6678}]},"SolanoEducation":{"id":"SolanoEducation","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Sacramento County Board of Education","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":3650,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Heather Davis","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2960},{"candidateName":"Shazleen Khan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":690}]},"SolanoMeasureA":{"id":"SolanoMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Benicia. Hotel tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/measure-a","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10136,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7869},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2267}]},"SolanoMeasureB":{"id":"SolanoMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Benicia. Sales tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/measure-b","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10164,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7335},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2829}]},"SolanoMeasureC":{"id":"SolanoMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Benicia Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10112,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6316},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3796}]},"SolanoMeasureN":{"id":"SolanoMeasureN","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure N","raceDescription":"Davis Joint Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":15,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10}]},"SonomaJudge3":{"id":"SonomaJudge3","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":115405,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Kristine M. Burk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":79498},{"candidateName":"Beki Berrey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":35907}]},"SonomaJudge4":{"id":"SonomaJudge4","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":86789,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Paul J. Lozada","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":86789}]},"SonomaJudge6":{"id":"SonomaJudge6","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 6","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":117990,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Omar Figueroa","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":42236},{"candidateName":"Kenneth English","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":75754}]},"SonomaD1":{"id":"SonomaD1","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":30348,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Rebecca Hermosillo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23958},{"candidateName":"Jonathan Mathieu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6390}]},"SonomaD3":{"id":"SonomaD3","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sonoma/supervisor-3rd-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":16312,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Chris Coursey","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":11346},{"candidateName":"Omar Medina","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4966}]},"SonomaD5":{"id":"SonomaD5","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":23356,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lynda Hopkins","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23356}]},"SonomaMeasureA":{"id":"SonomaMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":13756,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10320},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3436}]},"SonomaMeasureB":{"id":"SonomaMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Petaluma Joint Union High School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":24877,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":15795},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9082}]},"SonomaMeasureC":{"id":"SonomaMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Fort Ross School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":286,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":159},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":127}]},"SonomaMeasureD":{"id":"SonomaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Harmony Union School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":1925,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1089},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":836}]},"SonomaMeasureE":{"id":"SonomaMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Petaluma City (Elementary) School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":11133,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7622},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3511}]},"SonomaMeasureG":{"id":"SonomaMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Rincon Valley Union School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":14577,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8668},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5909}]},"SonomaMeasureH":{"id":"SonomaMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Sonoma County. Sales tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sonoma/measure-h","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":145261,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":89646},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":55615}]}},"radioSchedulesReducer":{},"listsReducer":{"posts/science?tag=engineering-2":{"isFetching":false,"latestQuery":{"from":0,"postsToRender":9},"tag":null,"vitalsOnly":true,"totalRequested":9,"isLoading":false,"isLoadingMore":true,"total":20,"items":["science_1982130","science_1952317","science_1948555","science_1928700","science_1927986","science_1927453","science_1927136","science_1926123","science_1925560"]}},"recallGuideReducer":{"intros":{},"policy":{},"candidates":{}},"savedPostsReducer":{},"pfsSessionReducer":{},"siteSettingsReducer":{},"subscriptionsReducer":{},"termsReducer":{"about":{"name":"About","type":"terms","id":"about","slug":"about","link":"/about","taxonomy":"site"},"arts":{"name":"Arts & Culture","grouping":["arts","pop","trulyca"],"description":"KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.","type":"terms","id":"arts","slug":"arts","link":"/arts","taxonomy":"site"},"artschool":{"name":"Art School","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"artschool","slug":"artschool","link":"/artschool","taxonomy":"site"},"bayareabites":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"bayareabites","slug":"bayareabites","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"bayareahiphop":{"name":"Bay Area Hiphop","type":"terms","id":"bayareahiphop","slug":"bayareahiphop","link":"/bayareahiphop","taxonomy":"site"},"campaign21":{"name":"Campaign 21","type":"terms","id":"campaign21","slug":"campaign21","link":"/campaign21","taxonomy":"site"},"checkplease":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"checkplease","slug":"checkplease","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"education":{"name":"Education","grouping":["education"],"type":"terms","id":"education","slug":"education","link":"/education","taxonomy":"site"},"elections":{"name":"Elections","type":"terms","id":"elections","slug":"elections","link":"/elections","taxonomy":"site"},"events":{"name":"Events","type":"terms","id":"events","slug":"events","link":"/events","taxonomy":"site"},"event":{"name":"Event","alias":"events","type":"terms","id":"event","slug":"event","link":"/event","taxonomy":"site"},"filmschoolshorts":{"name":"Film School Shorts","type":"terms","id":"filmschoolshorts","slug":"filmschoolshorts","link":"/filmschoolshorts","taxonomy":"site"},"food":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"type":"terms","id":"food","slug":"food","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"forum":{"name":"Forum","relatedContentQuery":"posts/forum?","parent":"news","type":"terms","id":"forum","slug":"forum","link":"/forum","taxonomy":"site"},"futureofyou":{"name":"Future of You","grouping":["science","futureofyou"],"parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"futureofyou","slug":"futureofyou","link":"/futureofyou","taxonomy":"site"},"jpepinheart":{"name":"KQED food","relatedContentQuery":"trending/food,bayareabites,checkplease","parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"jpepinheart","slug":"jpepinheart","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"liveblog":{"name":"Live Blog","type":"terms","id":"liveblog","slug":"liveblog","link":"/liveblog","taxonomy":"site"},"livetv":{"name":"Live TV","parent":"tv","type":"terms","id":"livetv","slug":"livetv","link":"/livetv","taxonomy":"site"},"lowdown":{"name":"The Lowdown","relatedContentQuery":"posts/lowdown?","parent":"news","type":"terms","id":"lowdown","slug":"lowdown","link":"/lowdown","taxonomy":"site"},"mindshift":{"name":"Mindshift","parent":"news","description":"MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.","type":"terms","id":"mindshift","slug":"mindshift","link":"/mindshift","taxonomy":"site"},"news":{"name":"News","grouping":["news","forum"],"type":"terms","id":"news","slug":"news","link":"/news","taxonomy":"site"},"perspectives":{"name":"Perspectives","parent":"radio","type":"terms","id":"perspectives","slug":"perspectives","link":"/perspectives","taxonomy":"site"},"podcasts":{"name":"Podcasts","type":"terms","id":"podcasts","slug":"podcasts","link":"/podcasts","taxonomy":"site"},"pop":{"name":"Pop","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"pop","slug":"pop","link":"/pop","taxonomy":"site"},"pressroom":{"name":"Pressroom","type":"terms","id":"pressroom","slug":"pressroom","link":"/pressroom","taxonomy":"site"},"quest":{"name":"Quest","parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"quest","slug":"quest","link":"/quest","taxonomy":"site"},"radio":{"name":"Radio","grouping":["forum","perspectives"],"description":"Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.","type":"terms","id":"radio","slug":"radio","link":"/radio","taxonomy":"site"},"root":{"name":"KQED","image":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png","imageWidth":1200,"imageHeight":630,"headData":{"title":"KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California","description":"KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."},"type":"terms","id":"root","slug":"root","link":"/root","taxonomy":"site"},"science":{"name":"Science","grouping":["science","futureofyou"],"description":"KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.","type":"terms","id":"science","slug":"science","link":"/science","taxonomy":"site"},"stateofhealth":{"name":"State of Health","parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"stateofhealth","slug":"stateofhealth","link":"/stateofhealth","taxonomy":"site"},"support":{"name":"Support","type":"terms","id":"support","slug":"support","link":"/support","taxonomy":"site"},"thedolist":{"name":"The Do List","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"thedolist","slug":"thedolist","link":"/thedolist","taxonomy":"site"},"trulyca":{"name":"Truly CA","grouping":["arts","pop","trulyca"],"parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"trulyca","slug":"trulyca","link":"/trulyca","taxonomy":"site"},"tv":{"name":"TV","type":"terms","id":"tv","slug":"tv","link":"/tv","taxonomy":"site"},"voterguide":{"name":"Voter Guide","parent":"elections","alias":"elections","type":"terms","id":"voterguide","slug":"voterguide","link":"/voterguide","taxonomy":"site"},"science_460":{"type":"terms","id":"science_460","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"460","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"engineering","slug":"engineering-2","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"engineering Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null,"imageData":{"ogImageSize":{"file":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png","width":1200,"height":630},"twImageSize":{"file":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"},"twitterCard":"summary_large_image"}},"ttid":466,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/engineering-2"},"source_science_1982130":{"type":"terms","id":"source_science_1982130","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Inside Climate News","isLoading":false},"source_science_1952317":{"type":"terms","id":"source_science_1952317","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Bay Curious","link":"https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/baycurious","isLoading":false},"source_science_1948555":{"type":"terms","id":"source_science_1948555","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Astronomy","isLoading":false},"source_science_1928700":{"type":"terms","id":"source_science_1928700","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Water","isLoading":false},"source_science_1927453":{"type":"terms","id":"source_science_1927453","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Environment","isLoading":false},"source_science_1927136":{"type":"terms","id":"source_science_1927136","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Water","isLoading":false},"source_science_1926123":{"type":"terms","id":"source_science_1926123","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Water","isLoading":false},"source_science_1925560":{"type":"terms","id":"source_science_1925560","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Water","isLoading":false},"science_31":{"type":"terms","id":"science_31","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"31","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Climate","slug":"climate","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Climate Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":33,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/climate"},"science_35":{"type":"terms","id":"science_35","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"35","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Environment","slug":"environment","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Environment Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":37,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/environment"},"science_40":{"type":"terms","id":"science_40","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"40","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"News","slug":"news","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"News Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":42,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/news"},"science_4450":{"type":"terms","id":"science_4450","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"4450","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Science","slug":"science","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Science Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":4450,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/science"},"science_2455":{"type":"terms","id":"science_2455","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"2455","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"California climate","slug":"california-climate","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"California climate Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":2467,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/california-climate"},"science_194":{"type":"terms","id":"science_194","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"194","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"climate change","slug":"climate-change","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"climate change Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":198,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/climate-change"},"science_206":{"type":"terms","id":"science_206","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"206","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"sea level rise","slug":"sea-level-rise","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"sea level rise Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":210,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/sea-level-rise"},"science_33":{"type":"terms","id":"science_33","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"33","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Energy","slug":"energy","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Energy Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":35,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/energy"},"science_89":{"type":"terms","id":"science_89","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"89","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Engineering","slug":"engineering","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Engineering Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":92,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/engineering"},"science_38":{"type":"terms","id":"science_38","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"38","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Geology","slug":"geology","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Geology Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":40,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/geology"},"science_3423":{"type":"terms","id":"science_3423","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"3423","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Science Podcast","slug":"science-podcast","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Bay Area Science: Stories & Insights with KQED's Science Podcasts","description":"Our captivating podcasts take you on a journey through the Bay Area's vibrant scientific landscape. Discover groundbreaking research & hear expert insights.","ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null,"socialTitle":"Bay Area Science: Stories & Insights with KQED's Science Podcasts"},"ttid":3423,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/science-podcast"},"science_98":{"type":"terms","id":"science_98","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"98","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Water","slug":"water","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Water Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":102,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/water"},"science_28":{"type":"terms","id":"science_28","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"28","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Astronomy","slug":"astronomy","taxonomy":"category","description":"Explore the universe with KQED Science! Dive into the latest astronomy news, discover celestial events, and unravel the mysteries of outer space.","featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Astronomy Articles | KQED Science","description":"Explore the universe with KQED Science! Dive into the latest astronomy news, discover celestial events, and unravel the mysteries of outer space.","ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":30,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/astronomy"},"science_498":{"type":"terms","id":"science_498","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"498","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"cassini","slug":"cassini","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"cassini Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":504,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/cassini"},"science_499":{"type":"terms","id":"science_499","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"499","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"huygens","slug":"huygens","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"huygens Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":505,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/huygens"},"science_5175":{"type":"terms","id":"science_5175","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"5175","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"NASA","slug":"nasa","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"NASA Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":5175,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/nasa"},"science_501":{"type":"terms","id":"science_501","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"501","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"saturn","slug":"saturn","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"saturn Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":507,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/saturn"},"science_502":{"type":"terms","id":"science_502","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"502","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"titan","slug":"titan","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"titan Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":508,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/titan"},"science_182":{"type":"terms","id":"science_182","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"182","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"climate","slug":"climate-2","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"climate Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":186,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/climate-2"},"science_572":{"type":"terms","id":"science_572","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"572","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"drought","slug":"drought","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"drought Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":578,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/drought"},"science_201":{"type":"terms","id":"science_201","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"201","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"water","slug":"water-2","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"water Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":205,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/water-2"},"science_968":{"type":"terms","id":"science_968","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"968","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"silicon valley","slug":"silicon-valley","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"silicon valley Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":975,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/silicon-valley"},"science_461":{"type":"terms","id":"science_461","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"461","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"technology","slug":"technology","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"technology Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":467,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/technology"},"science_192":{"type":"terms","id":"science_192","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"192","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"environment","slug":"environment-2","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"environment Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":196,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/environment-2"},"science_2873":{"type":"terms","id":"science_2873","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"2873","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Oceans","slug":"oceans","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Oceans Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":2873,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/category/oceans"},"science_876":{"type":"terms","id":"science_876","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"876","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"water conservation","slug":"water-conservation","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"water conservation Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":882,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/water-conservation"},"science_205":{"type":"terms","id":"science_205","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"205","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"conservation","slug":"conservation","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"conservation Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":209,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/conservation"},"science_1452":{"type":"terms","id":"science_1452","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"science","id":"1452","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"farming","slug":"farming","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"farming Archives | KQED Science","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":1461,"isLoading":false,"link":"/science/tag/farming"}},"userAgentReducer":{"userAgent":"Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)","isBot":true},"userPermissionsReducer":{"wpLoggedIn":false},"localStorageReducer":{},"browserHistoryReducer":[],"eventsReducer":{},"fssReducer":{},"tvDailyScheduleReducer":{},"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer":{},"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer":{},"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer":{},"userAccountReducer":{"routeTo":"","showDeleteConfirmModal":false,"user":{"userId":"","isFound":false,"firstName":"","lastName":"","phoneNumber":"","email":"","articles":[]}},"youthMediaReducer":{},"checkPleaseReducer":{"filterData":{},"restaurantData":[]},"reframeReducer":{"attendee":null},"location":{"pathname":"/science/tag/engineering-2","previousPathname":"/"}}
