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For those of us working in water, it’s time to say Happy New Year as October 1 marks the start of a new “water year.” With this October-to-September offset from the calendar year, total annual precipitation reflects both winter snow accumulation and summer rainfall—providing water managers a more complete view of regional hydrology and how much water will contribute to streamflow and groundwater recharge for the year.
This issue’s introduction is from Jim O’Toole, ESA’s Water Practice Leader, who has been leading environmental analysis of water and wastewater projects for over 25 years. Enjoy this water-focused edition of ESA Connects.
Leslie Moulton-Post
President/CEO
Climate Is Everything
Climate is driving the way we think about every aspect of water resource management. With increased variability driving greater extremes in both drought frequency and precipitation event intensity, water managers have to get better, stronger, and faster in how we plan for, manage, and respond to climate-driven changes in our environment.
With the current administration’s understanding that climate represents both an existential threat and a very specific threat to how we manage our water systems as well as the human and ecological systems that depend on them, the time for adaptation is now.
As you’ll see in the following suite of articles, ESA is working on the ground with our clients to implement drought-specific adaptation, re-think dam infrastructure, streamline regulatory processes for critical restoration efforts, increase transparency and user accessibility for groundwater data, and apply international lessons learned to coastal adaptation.
Stories from the field to your inbox.
A Team Effort—Monitoring the Endangered Owens Tui Chub
Fisheries and aquatic sciences play a big role in the water market, including habitat monitoring and population abundance assessments for endangered species. This video features our fisheries biologists doing just that for Owens tui chub -- a federally and state protected fish species that only lives within the Owens River watershed. Watch Now »
Working to Relieve the Impact of California's Drought
Drought is everywhere in the West, and our teams in California are working with water clients to work on emergency and long-term solutions to sustain access to this precious resource. Learn more »
Structured Decision Making for Better Environmental Management
Rigorous, transparent, and collective; three key words for the structured decision making process. ESA has a growing team of facilitators who have led clients through this inclusive and accessible process. Learn more »
Dynamic Water Management: Seeking Multi-Benefit Solutions for Dams
We are working with water managers who seek balanced, dynamic dam solutions that address specific issues and needs of their facility, its form and function, and its placement in the landscape. Learn more »
Saltwater Intrusion on Coastal Farmland Creates Opportunities for Wetland Restoration
As sea levels rise, farms along the shoreline may be at risk of saltwater intrusion. For the Blue Heron Slough, a more than 30-year restoration effort, the solution was to return the land to its natural, wetland state. Learn more »
GET Going: Making Groundwater Assessment More Accessible to Local Water Districts
ESA, in partnership with engineering firm Olsson, created a cloud-based solution for agencies to tap into groundwater flow data to better aid water management and water sustainability. Learn more »
Resilient Ready Tampa Bay Supports Innovative Green Infrastructure
What would happen if a team of designers explored creative solutions to flooding? Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council found out. Learn more »
Green Tape Gets a Snip: Statewide Restoration General Order
BIG NEWS: California’s Water Resources Control Board adopted the Statewide Restoration General Order and certified the program Environmental Impact Report! Find out what this means for restoration projects statewide, and read through our FAQs. Learn more »
Pure Water Soquel Embraces One Water Approach
Soquel Creek Water District's treatment, conveyance, and recharge facilities support advanced purification of treated municipal wastewater for groundwater basin replenishment. Learn more »
In Other News at ESA
Welcome New Principal Fisheries Biologist in the Northwest, Peter Stevens
ESA Technology Services Develops Statewide Platform for Water Districts and Stakeholder Use
Our Scientists Investigate Water Quality and Connection between Nutrient Loads in Aquatic Habitats and the Development of Harmful Algal Blooms
ESA's Southeast Team is Guiding Water Quality Monitoring Efforts Following Hurricane Ian
ESA is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore—for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years and 500+ people strong in offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.
