CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Boosting climate resilience in the Delta’s mountain headwaters

Robin Meadows February 3, 2026

Delta Conveyance Project

DWR: A look at Delta Conveyance Project operations

Department of Water Resources (DWR) February 3, 2026

Water supply augmentation

CIRCLE OF BLUE: Western U.S. cities open wallets in quest for water

Guest Contributor February 3, 2026

ARIZONA MIRROR: Arizona faces outsized burden if Colorado River states miss February deadline

Guest Contributor February 3, 2026

CAL MATTERS: Trump’s office called 7 governors to D.C. for Colorado River talks. Here’s what California said

Cal Matters January 31, 2026

NEVADA CURRENT: Colorado River governors express cautious optimism after ‘historic’ DC meeting

Nevada Current January 31, 2026

Policy and regulation

BAY DELTA PLAN: Water managers highlight early successes of Healthy Rivers and Landscapes projects at State Water Board hearings

Guest Contributor January 31, 2026

Policy and regulation

BAY DELTA PLAN: California Tribes and Fishermen Speak Out Against California Voluntary Water Agreements

Guest Contributor January 31, 2026

Current Conditions

COURTHOUSE NEWS: Dry weather delivers blow to California snowpack

Courthouse News Service January 31, 2026

Fish and wildlife

UC DAVIS: Tell me something good … about salmon

UC Davis January 31, 2026

Policy and regulation

EDWARD RING: California’s drought is over, but we still must invest in water supply projects

Edward Ring January 31, 2026

UC SAN DIEGO: Plastic pollution promotes hazardous water conditions, new study finds

Guest Contributor January 31, 2026

DWR: Dry January cuts into early-season snowpack gains: Statewide, the snowpack is 59%

Department of Water Resources (DWR) January 30, 2026

Water project operations

DWR: December storms, improved flexibility allow DWR to increase State Water Project allocation to 30%

Maven January 30, 2026

ARIZONA MIRROR: Colorado River states meet Friday in DC with federal deadline looming, litigation threat growing

Guest Contributor January 30, 2026

Latest news from around the web

DAILY DIGEST, 2/3: Boosting climate resilience in the Delta’s mountain headwaters; Solano agencies, others continue push for balanced Bay-Delta plan update; Central Valley ag confronts the weight of water policies; Arizona faces outsized burden if Colorado River states miss February deadline; and more …

February 3, 2026

IN THIS POST ...On the calendar today …In California water news today …Boosting climate resilience in the Delta’s mountain headwatersSolano...

DAILY DIGEST, 2/2: Snow drought in the West reaches record levels; Bay-Delta water plan divides tribes, farmers and regulators; Round Valley Indian Tribes respond to Trump administration’s attempt to thwart Eel River dam removal; The West’s water war arrives in Washington; and more …

February 2, 2026

DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: DWR increases State Water Project allocation to 30%; The Sierra snowpack is dropping fast, may not be as bad as it seems; Meghan Hertel appointed Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife; Colorado River states meet Friday in DC with federal deadline looming; and more …

January 30, 2026

DAILY DIGEST, 1/29: Heated debate over Delta water plan as environmentalists warn of ‘ecosystem collapse’; Tire manufacturers fight accusations that toxic runoff harms fish; Western states face ‘snow drought’ as snowpack hits record lows; California faces tough choices as federal water rules near expiration; and more …

January 29, 2026

ONLY ON MAVEN'S NOTEBOOK

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: A hard look at the 3,000-page Bay-Delta Plan

January 27, 2026

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: The Delta’s role in California’s carbon sequestration and climate goals

January 26, 2026

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Climate change, the Delta, and its watersheds: What we know, what we don’t, & what surprises might be out there

January 21, 2026

California water news

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Boosting climate resilience in the Delta’s mountain headwaters

February 3, 2026

by Robin Meadows Many of the great rivers that meet in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta begin high in the Sierra...

DWR: A look at Delta Conveyance Project operations

Department of Water Resources (DWR)

Delta Conveyance Project

February 3, 2026

From the Department of Water Resources: The Delta Conveyance Project will allow California to safely maximize water deliveries to recover water...

CIRCLE OF BLUE: Western U.S. cities open wallets in quest for water

Guest Contributor

Water supply augmentation

February 3, 2026

Supply declines, drought risk, population growth push cities to seek new water sources. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Little...

ARIZONA MIRROR: Arizona faces outsized burden if Colorado River states miss February deadline

Guest Contributor

February 3, 2026

Gila River Indian Community leader calls prospects “pretty dim” as Upper and Lower Basin states remain at impasse over mandatory...

CAL MATTERS: Trump’s office called 7 governors to D.C. for Colorado River talks. Here’s what California said

January 31, 2026

By Rachel Becker, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Top California officials traveled...

NEVADA CURRENT: Colorado River governors express cautious optimism after ‘historic’ DC meeting

January 31, 2026

by Caitlin Sievers, Nevada Current With the deadline to reach a water usage agreement looming, leaders from the seven Colorado...

BAY DELTA PLAN: Water managers highlight early successes of Healthy Rivers and Landscapes projects at State Water Board hearings

Guest Contributor

Policy and regulation

January 31, 2026

58 habitat projects and statewide collaboration demonstrate growing momentum as the Bay-Delta Press release from the Northern California Water Association...

BAY DELTA PLAN: California Tribes and Fishermen Speak Out Against California Voluntary Water Agreements

Guest Contributor

Policy and regulation

January 31, 2026

Press release from Save Our Salmon Today, Tribal members, fishing families, youth, and community allies are hosting a rally and...

COURTHOUSE NEWS: Dry weather delivers blow to California snowpack

Courthouse News Service

Current Conditions

January 31, 2026

The state Department of Water Resources said rain is unlikely over the next two weeks. By Alan Riquelmy, Courthouse News...

UC DAVIS: Tell me something good … about salmon

Fish and wildlife

January 31, 2026

15 years of floodplain fatties paves way for promising new chapter By Kat Kerlin, UC Davis Almost exactly 15 years...

EDWARD RING: California’s drought is over, but we still must invest in water supply projects

Policy and regulation

January 31, 2026

Commentary by Edward Ring, Director of Water and Energy Policy at the California Policy Center For the last 25 years,...

UC SAN DIEGO: Plastic pollution promotes hazardous water conditions, new study finds

Guest Contributor

January 31, 2026

Tests in aquatic ecosystem ponds revealed that bio-based plastics have a substantially smaller environmental footprint By Mario Aguilera, UC San...

Delta

RESTORE THE DELTA: New report reveals AI data center boom threatens Delta communities and ecosystems

Restore the Delta

Planning and management

January 16, 2026

Press release from Restore the Delta As artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure rapidly expands, a new white paper released today by Restore the...

USGS: A model to predict sediment bulk density for the San Francisco Estuary

Planning and management

January 13, 2026

DELTA LEAD SCIENTIST: The role of wetland restoration in reviving Delta food webs

January 5, 2026

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: The biggest threat to the Delta you’ve (probably) never heard of

Notebook News and Features Water quality

December 9, 2025

Groundwater News

EOS: Report: 13 Great Lakes’ worth of water underlies the contiguous United States

American Geophysical Union

Groundwater News

January 26, 2026

Combining direct measurements with artificial intelligence methods, a new map estimates groundwater depth across the contiguous United States at a...

SJV WATER: Pumping allocation described as “necessary evil” approved by Kings County groundwater agency

Groundwater News

January 23, 2026

SGMA IMPLEMENTATION: DWR finalizes Best Management Practices to help address subsidence and protect California’s water infrastructure

Groundwater News

January 22, 2026

CSULB: Researchers trace climate threat rising beneath California

Groundwater News

January 22, 2026

Ecosystems

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Boosting climate resilience in the Delta’s mountain headwaters

February 3, 2026

by Robin Meadows Many of the great rivers that meet in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta begin high in the Sierra...

AG ALERT: Invasive mussels spread, could clog irrigation systems

January 28, 2026

USGS: Biophysical controls on sediment erodibility in San Francisco Bay

January 26, 2026

DWR: How collaborative efforts are reviving a vital ecosystem in the Delta

January 15, 2026

Colorado River

ARIZONA MIRROR: Arizona faces outsized burden if Colorado River states miss February deadline

Guest Contributor

February 3, 2026

Gila River Indian Community leader calls prospects “pretty dim” as Upper and Lower Basin states remain at impasse over mandatory...

CAL MATTERS: Trump’s office called 7 governors to D.C. for Colorado River talks. Here’s what California said

January 31, 2026

NEVADA CURRENT: Colorado River governors express cautious optimism after ‘historic’ DC meeting

January 31, 2026

ARIZONA MIRROR: Colorado River states meet Friday in DC with federal deadline looming, litigation threat growing

January 30, 2026

Announcements

NOW AVAILABLE: Answers to Tulare Lake Subbasin Frequently Asked Questions Now Available

State Water Board

January 9, 2026

Information for Tulare Lake groundwater extractors regarding metering, groundwater extraction reporting, fees, and subbasin status is now available in Frequently Asked Question...

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: 2025-26 San Francisco Bay Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now OPEN

US Environmental Protection Agency

January 9, 2026

From the US EPA Region 9: The SF Bay Program is funding from Congress to protect and restore San Francisco...

OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT: 2025-2030 Nonpoint Source Program Implementation Plan

State Water Board

January 5, 2026

From the State Water Resources Control Board: A Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment on the Draft 2025-2030 Nonpoint Source...

ANNOUNCEMENT: DRIP Collaborative seeks to fill membership vacancies

Department of Water Resources (DWR)

December 3, 2025

From the Department of Water Resources: On behalf of the Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners (DRIP) Collaborative, the Department of...

PUBLIC HEARING Regarding the Appeals Filed for the Delta Conveyance Project Certification of Consistency with the Delta Plan

Delta Stewardship Council

ANNOUNCEMENTS Delta Conveyance Project

November 28, 2025

From the Delta Stewardship Council: The Delta Stewardship Council will conduct a public hearing on February 26 and 27, 2026,...

YOUR INPUT WANTED: Recharge Incentives Survey Re-Opened Until December 5th

Guest Contributor

November 25, 2025

From Sustainable Conservation: Recently we asked you to spend a little time responding to our survey on groundwater recharge incentives....

YOUR INPUT WANTED: Winter-run Chinook Salmon Annual Loss Independent Peer Review

Delta Stewardship Council

Science Announcement

November 25, 2025

From the Delta Science Program: At the request of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources,...

YOUR INPUT WANTED: Draft 2026 Delta Science Plan

Delta Stewardship Council

Science Announcement

November 20, 2025

From the Delta Science Program: The Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Science Program is developing the third iteration of the Delta...

CA WATER COMMISSION: Water Storage Investment Program Notice of Proposed Emergency Regulation

CA Water Commission

November 8, 2025

From the California Water Commission: At its meeting on November 19, 2025, the California Water Commission (Commission) will consider modifying...

NOTICE: Draft 2025 UWMP Guidebook Release Public Meeting and Public Comment Period

Department of Water Resources (DWR)

November 5, 2025

From the Department of Water Resources: Please use the link below to register for the upcoming meeting on the Public Review...

Reports

Delta science Reports

NOW AVAILABLE: Now Available: FY 2023-2024 Delta Crosscut Budget Report

Delta Stewardship Council December 12, 2025

Reports Water project operations

REPORT: NASEM reviews science behind Central Valley Project and State Water Project operations

Maven December 11, 2025

Reports Water project operations

REPORT: New DWR conveyance study finds groundwater stabilization key to protecting San Joaquin Valley water supplies

Department of Water Resources (DWR) November 25, 2025

Reports Water project operations

UC DAVIS: How California’s state and federal water projects can better protect fish

UC Davis November 15, 2025

Reports Water project operations

NEW REPORT: Review of the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project

Guest Contributor November 10, 2025

Groundwater News Reports

DWR: New reports show progress in community actions to make groundwater sustainability a reality in California

Department of Water Resources (DWR) October 21, 2025

Climate change Reports

REPORT: From drought to deluge: WMO report highlights increasingly erratic water cycle

Utah Dispatch October 3, 2025

Planning and management Reports

UCLA: Student research drives water resilience and equitable solutions in post-fire Los Angeles

UCLA August 28, 2025

Groundwater News Reports

PRESS RELEASE: DWR Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions Update highlights key trends for Water Year 2024

Department of Water Resources (DWR) June 24, 2025

Planning and management Reports

NEW REPORT: ASM and AGU offer critical strategies to protect public health and safe drinking water amid climate change

American Geophysical Union June 12, 2025

Podcasts and webinars

Author Podcasts WATER SHELF

WATER SHELF PODCAST: “Body in a Barrel” by Aaron Mead

Justin Scott-Coe January 11, 2026

Fish and wildlife Science Podcasts

DELTA DISPATCH: How To Have Our Fish, and Eat Them, Too

Estuary News Group November 22, 2025

Author Podcasts WATER SHELF

WATER SHELF PODCAST: “Living with Water Scarcity” by David Zetland

Justin Scott-Coe August 31, 2025

Author Podcasts WATER SHELF

WATER SHELF PODCAST: “Replumbing the City” by Sayd Randle

Justin Scott-Coe July 11, 2025

Podcasts and webinars Science Podcasts

PODCAST: Destination: Delta

Estuary News Group June 2, 2025

Ecosystems Science Podcasts

DELTA DISPATCH: Restoration, reciprocity

Estuary News Group April 26, 2025

Science Podcasts

DELTA DISPATCH: From Snowpack To Spigot

Estuary News Group April 26, 2025

Author Podcasts WATER SHELF

WATER SHELF PODCAST: “Too Good to Be True” by Paul Brown

Justin Scott-Coe April 18, 2025

Fish and wildlife Science Podcasts

SCIENCE IN SHORT: Longfin smelt, the little fish that gets around

Ashleigh Papp March 5, 2025

Author Podcasts WATER SHELF

WATER SHELF PODCAST: “Water: A Biography” by Giulio Boccaletti

Justin Scott-Coe February 17, 2025