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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Army Corps of Engineers Levee Inspection Results; Black Rascal Creek Flood Control Project; and the 2024 Inspection and Local Maintaining Agency Report of the Central Valley State-Federal Flood Protection System. Click here for the agenda.
- WEBINAR: Predictions of PFAS in groundwater at drinking water supply depths in the United States from 11am to 11:30am. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known colloquially as “forever chemicals,” have been associated with adverse human health effects and have contaminated drinking water supplies across the United States owing to their long-term and widespread use. People in the United States may unknowingly be drinking water that contains PFAS because of a lack of systematic analysis, particularly in domestic water supplies. We present an extreme gradient–boosting model for predicting the occurrence of PFAS in groundwater at the depths of drinking water supply for the conterminous United States. Our model results indicate that 71 million to 95 million people in the conterminous United States potentially rely on groundwater with detectable concentrations of PFAS for their drinking water supplies before any treatment. Click here to join the meeting.
Trump to tour LA fire damage …
Trump’s bound for LA — threatening to withhold fire aid and keeping Newsom out of the loop
“For days since President Donald Trump announced his intent to travel to Los Angeles to survey fire damage, a question has hung over his planned visit: Will Gov. Gavin Newsom be with him? Tension between the newly reinstalled Republican president and California’s Democratic governor — longtime political nemeses who nevertheless routinely worked together on disaster recovery during Trump’s first term — exploded alongside the fires that have burned through Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other swaths of the Los Angeles region over the past two weeks. The clash has appeared to put federal support for California at risk, even as Newsom publicly offered an olive branch to Trump. Furious over the early response to the disaster, Trump has repeatedly railed against the governor he dubbed “Newscum,” spread misinformation about the causes of the fire and suggested that California will not receive the typical federal aid for disaster recovery unless it changes its water policy. Or its forestry policy. Or its immigration sanctuary policy. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Trump targets California water policy as he prepares to tour LA fire damage
“As President Donald Trump prepares to tour wildfire damage in California, he’s zeroing in on one of his frequent targets for criticism: State water policy. Since the fires broke out Jan. 7, Trump has used social media and interviews to accuse the state of sending too much water to the Pacific Ocean instead of south toward Los Angeles and highlighted how some hydrants ran dry in the early hours of the firefight in Pacific Palisades. In the first hours of his second term, Trump called on federal officials to draft plans to route more water to the crop-rich Central Valley and densely populated cities in the southern part of the state. Two days later he threatened to withhold federal disaster aid unless California leaders change the state’s approach on water. Here’s a look at the facts behind Trump’s comments and what power the president has to influence California water … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Trump’s water war with California could benefit his LA golf course
“President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold wildfire relief aid to California unless the state distributes more water to the Los Angeles area. His golf course would benefit from that plan. The Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles is perched on the Pacific Ocean. It features sweeping water views, with 18 holes of bright green turf dotted by wind-swept natural brown landscaping. State water restrictions, fueled by historic drought and climate change, have hit Southern California golf courses significantly in recent years, driving up costs and causing clubs to rip out turf and let major parts of the course go brown. Golf courses in Southern California have had to cut their water usage almost in half since 2009, according to the Southern California Golf Association. … ” Read more from E&E News.
FIRES, WATER, AND POLITICS
- ‘Chaos agent’ Trump revives California water wars as experts warn of turmoil, from The Guardian
- USDA secretary nominee says politics shouldn’t influence California wildfire response, from the Associated Press
- Trump Says California Failed to Send Water to L.A. to Fight Fires, but Experts Say He’s Wrong, from the New York Times
- How California’s Mismanagement of Fire and Water Makes Wildfires Worse, from the National Review
- Republican leaders want to put conditions on California wildfire aid. Is there precedent for that?, from PolitiFact
SoCal fires …
New fires erupt in Southern California
“President Trump is traveling to fire-ravaged California on Friday and will also pay a visit to western North Carolina, where widespread damage from Hurricane Helene remains. Firefighters have made progress in bringing the 10,400-acre Hughes Fire in the city of Castaic under control, containing it by 36% since it broke out on Wednesday about 40 miles north of Los Angeles. Over 50,000 people are under evacuation orders, and nearby roads have been shut down, according to The Associated Press. Multiple aircraft, engines and bulldozers have been dispatched to help battle the blaze. The cause of the Hughes Fire is still under investigation. … A shift in the weather pattern will cause humidity to rise and rain to return to Southern California over the weekend, helping firefighters battle the Hughes Fire and other blazes burning across the region. ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Hughes and Laguna fires spread on another day of fire danger in Los Angeles
“As crews continued to battle the Hughes Fire — a blaze north of Los Angeles that exploded in the course of a day to 10,000 acres — additional fires keep sparking across a region facing another day of dangerous fire conditions. In Ventura County, the Laguna Fire rapidly spread across 50 acres in the Oxnard plains before crews stopped the brush fire’s forward progress late Thursday morning. Another small brush fire, the Sepulveda Fire, sparked overnight along Interstate 405, a major freeway near densely populated neighborhoods, though crews quickly halted its growth. The fire department lifted evacuation warnings in the area around the Sepulveda Fire and said the blaze, which began in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles just after midnight local time, did not cause any structural damage or injuries. As of late Thursday afternoon, it was 60 percent contained and stood at 45 acres. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
With L.A. expecting rain, here’s how likely debris flows are near burn scars
“Rain is finally back in the Southern California forecast after an exceptionally dry start to the year. The precipitation is welcome news for firefighting efforts, but it also presents a risk to communities near freshly burned landscapes. Officials warn of potential thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. Isolated downpours could trigger mudflows in the Eaton and Palisades burn areas and threaten nearby communities of Altadena, Malibu and Pacific Palisades. “Residents living near the recent burn scars should make preparations to protect their homes, businesses, and properties due to the potential for flooding,” the National Weather Service said. “Be prepared to evacuate if local authorities tell you to go. The loss of life and property with flooding after fires could be equally devastating to the actual fire itself.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Water quality still undergoing daily tests in Pacific Palisades, Pasadena area for drinking safety
“Drinking water advisories remained in place as of Monday, Jan. 20, as another red flag wind alert returned and wildfires continued to burn in Los Angeles County. A spokesperson for the L.A. Department of Water and Power said water continues to be tested daily for safe drinking use and that the caution remains in the Pacific Palisades area. And Pasadena Water and Power officials on Monday extended the Do-Not-Drink-Water Notice due to facilities that were affected by the Eaton Fire. “A Do-Not-Drink notice remains in effect for Pacific Palisades Zip Code 90272, and adjacent communities in the LADWP service area immediately south of the 90272 zip code that are north of San Vicente Blvd.,” the website stated as of Jan. 20. … ” Read more from the Daily News.
From wildfires to erosion
“Small amounts of rain may be headed to greater Los Angeles this weekend, according to the latest weather forecasts. If precipitation comes it will be welcome relief for firefighters still battling low humidity and lingering hot spots. But the rain poses another challenge – erosion. Washing away the top layer of soil can move pollutants into the ocean, threaten water supplies and harm local ecosystems. The first significant rain of the wet season is called the “first flush.” It washes all the pollution that has accumulated on surfaces in urban areas during the dry season into storm drains and waterways, eventually making its way to the ocean. Following the unprecedented wildfires in Los Angeles, the first flush will be amplified – carrying not only higher levels of typical pollutants like oil and grease, trash, plastic, bacteria, and heavy metals, but also wildfire debris and other hazardous materials including ash, fire suppressant, household chemicals, car batteries, and more. … ” Read more from Heal the Bay.
DWR takes action to support recovery and fire mitigation efforts in Los Angeles
“In response to recent wildfires that have posed a major threat to Southern California residents and its watersheds, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is working closely with the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), the California Conservation Corps (CCC), Los Angeles County, and other state, local, and federal partners to assist with fire and watershed mitigation work in local communities. After wildfires, rainfall in burn areas can significantly increase the risk of flash flooding, mudflows and debris flows to the communities and homes downslope. As the lead state agency for flood emergency response, DWR has taken steps to prepare for the possibility of flood impacts in burn scar areas. DWR already has 11 locations across the LA region with pre-positioned flood fight materials, including over 250,000 sandbags and other equipment. Additionally, DWR is working with CalOES to determine other locations to store flood fight materials as well as materials needed to protect local watersheds. … ” Read more from DWR.
Officials were warned of failing water system before Palisades fire. Fixes never happened
“Los Angeles County officials missed dozens of opportunities for water infrastructure improvements that experts say probably would have enabled firefighters to save more homes during the Palisades fire, public records show. As crews battled the blaze, attempting to extinguish flames that burned huge swaths of L.A. County and killed at least 11 people, some hydrants ran dry. The lack of water has come under scrutiny since the wildfire broke out Jan. 7, with officials scrambling to explain why the 117-million-gallon Santa Ynez Reservoir was left empty for maintenance. But thousands of pages of state, county and municipal records reviewed by The Times show the disaster was years in the making. Red tape, budget shortfalls and government inaction repeatedly stymied plans for water system improvements — including some that specifically cited the need to boost firefighting capacity. Many projects on a list of about three dozen “highest priority” upgrades compiled by county officials in 2013 have yet to break ground in communities devastated by the fires. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
California water agencies support wildfire response across Southern California
“The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has highlighted the efforts of its member agencies in Southern California during the region’s catastrophic wildfires. ACWA President Cathy Green issued a statement acknowledging the challenges faced by water agencies and their contributions to firefighting and public safety: “ACWA recognizes the immense challenges water agencies face in Southern California as they work tirelessly to provide assistance, manage resources, and help the firefighting efforts. “The dedication and resilience displayed by those agencies and their employees in such extreme circumstances is truly admirable.” According to ACWA, the increased frequency and intensity of climate-driven disasters, including wildfires, has placed immense pressure on water systems. California water agencies are implementing a range of strategies to meet these demands, including infrastructure improvements and community coordination to build resilience. … ” Read more from the Fire & Safety Journal.
Commentary: After the Los Angeles fires stop burning, another grave risk to lives and property looms
Jeffrey Mount, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center, and Brett Sanders, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, urban planning and public policy at UC Irvine write, “The unprecedented firestorm that has devastated so much of Southern California will eventually wind down, possibly with the help of much-needed rain. But emergency and public works personnel may not have much time to rest: Any rain that follows the fires will bring a heightened risk of mudslides and debris flows that will test the limits of the region’s infrastructure. Wildfires strip mountain slopes of vegetation while their extreme heat bakes surface soils. Even modest amounts of rainfall on such altered landscapes can trigger significant runoff that moves downhill quickly, eroding and gathering soil and debris into a fast-moving mixture. Depending on how much sediment, rock and wood is incorporated, these phenomena are known as mudslides or debris flows. They are extremely dangerous to both property and people, and the risk can persist for several years, until vegetation grows back and soils recover. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Commentary: Are wildfires caused by climate change or something else? The question is flawed
Jordan Thomas, author of the forthcoming “When It All Burns,”a former wildland firefighter, and a doctoral candidate in anthropology at UC Santa Barbara, writes, “To be a first responder at this stage in the climate crisis is to face an escalation of violence. For many wildland firefighters, the unprecedented scenes from the last couple of weeks in Los Angeles — dozens dead, tens of thousands without homes, hundreds of thousands more displaced — will appear part of a familiar pattern. The national conversation, predictably, has followed a pattern as well: Republicans try to dismiss or play down the role of fossil-fuel-driven climate change, and everyone else has to decide whether to ignore them or argue. How we frame this pattern of violence matters because it directs the focus of our solutions and the fight for accountability. Scientists will spend the next months and years quantifying the exact degree to which this particular disaster can be attributed to climate change. This research is important, but don’t let it distract from the reality facing our state: 18 of the 20 largest wildfires in California’s history have burned since 2000. This wasn’t because of forest management or zoning policy, which have seen some improvements. What’s causing disastrous fires is our changing climate. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Column: Our biggest threat might not be earthquakes or fires, but human nature
Columnist Steve Lopez writes, “If you buy into stereotypes and myths, the climate in Southern California is splendid and the people are laid back. Lies. The conditions are harsh, with crazy winds and parched terrain cooking up one calamity after another, and anyone who isn’t on edge is either in denial, sedated or a renter. Until Jan. 7, when fires began to destroy thousands of buildings and claim at least 28 lives, my biggest fear about living in California was earthquakes, thanks to a 2017 trip to the San Andreas fault with Dr. Lucy Jones. I tagged along as Jones tried to convince two busloads of Southern California public officials that the Big One was coming, and they needed to update building codes and take other measures in anticipation of a historic catastrophe. Last week, I bought a motorized pump with a 50-foot hose so I can use swimming pool water in the defense of my house during a fire. I did it after meeting a cop in Altadena who took me into his backyard and showed me his pump, which he had used, as embers fell, to protect his own home and those of his neighbors. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In other California water news today …
The Delta Stewardship Council affirms that DWR’s planned geotechnical investigations are not within their jurisdiction and are not a Covered Action
“Today the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) affirmed that the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) planned geotechnical investigations are not a “Covered Action” under the Delta Reform Act. Therefore, the DSC dismissed all appeals on the grounds that it does not have jurisdiction over these planned geotechnical activities. In order to come to that conclusion, the DSC considered whether project proponents can consider portions of a project in the Delta Plan consistency process. In consideration of the scope of the 2024-2026 Proposed Geotechnical Activities, the DSC found that DWR was able to consider geotechnical activities independently from the Delta Conveyance Project. Although the 2024-2026 Proposed Geotechnical Activities are not a Covered Action, the activities are important. … ” Read more from DWR.
Geotechnical studies move forward on Delta tunnel
“The Delta Stewardship Council on Thursday determined it had no jurisdiction regarding the proposed geotechnical activities for the Delta Conveyance Project. The ruling allows data collection on the tunnel project to proceed. “The State Water Contractors applaud the Delta Stewardship Council’s decision to dismiss attempts to delay the Department of Water Resources from performing geotechnical activities critical to informing the engineering and design of the Delta Conveyance Project,” Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said in a statement. Supervisor Mitch Mashburn, who represents the county on Delta matters but is not a member of the council, could not be reached for comment. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
RELATED: Delta Stewardship Council set to dismiss appeal of Delta Conveyance Project geotechnical activities, from Maven’s Notebook
Advancing innovative groundwater research with Stanford scientists
“From rejuvenated rivers and reconnected floodplains to the return of native vegetation, habitat, and wildlife, the positive impacts of River Partners’ multi-benefit restoration can be seen throughout the state. But we’re also doing work where it can’t easily be seen—underground. Along with scientists from Stanford University, River Partners is getting a glimpse of the aquifer secrets beneath our feet—and beneath our restoration sites in the San Joaquin Valley. Using the towed time-domain electromagnetic (tTEM) imaging method, which is essentially a big MRI of the ground, the goal of our joint data gathering is to understand how water moves from the surface to below the ground to refill depleted aquifers and increase water supplies critical to California’s environment, communities, and economy. Along with the collaboration with scientists from Stanford, we are working with science partners from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and CSU Stanislaus looking to nature—and our rivers—to advance groundwater recharge across California. … ” Read more from River Partners.
Former owner of private island in Solano County arrested after decade-long legal fight
“Outside of the Solano County Courthouse on Wednesday, a decade-long legal fight over a private island in the Suisun Bay came to an end and its former owner was arrested. The court-mandated auction of Point Buckler’s 50 acres of marshland on the southern edge of Grizzly Bear ended a fight for ownership between state water agencies and the island’s former owner, billionaire John Sweeney. Sweeney, who attended the auction on the steps of the courthouse, told CBS13 the seizure and sale of the island — one that he bought in 2011 for $150,000 — was a “decade-long crusade” against him. “It sure doesn’t seem legal but taking people’s property in California is something that’s been done many times, and I guess today is another example of that,” said Sweeney, before the auction. … ” Read more from CBS News.
SEE ALSO: ‘New path forward’: Point Buckler Island sold to John Muir Land Trust for environmental restoration, press release from the State Water Resources Control Board
Macedo eyes shifting $1 billion from High-Speed Rail for water infrastructure, wildfire protection
“A new proposal would redirect $1 billion annually that is earmarked for High-Speed Rail to wildfire prevention and water infrastructure in California. The bill was introduced by Asm. Alexandra Macedo (R–Tulare). The big picture: Assembly Bill 267 would redirect $1 billion in annual state funding for the California High-Speed Rail Authority that comes from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. AB 267 would redirect 25% of annual proceeds from the fund that currently go to the High-Speed Rail Authority to the general fund to enhance funding for water infrastructure and wildfire protection. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
As L.A. burns, Calif. Dems vote down $1 billion to fund on-going wildfire prevention
“California Democrats voted against $1 billion in wildfire prevention funding for the entire state on Thursday. Republicans in the state legislature attempted to push the funding through a budget amendment that was only considering aid to Los Angeles after the recent wildfire destruction. The big picture: Assembly Republicans introduced an amendment to Assembly Bill 41X to provide $1 billion in wildfire prevention, which included money for forest management and fuel reduction. The rejected proposal would have amended the $2.5 billion in Los Angeles recovery support that Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
As Los Angeles area burns, House approves efforts aimed at curbing future fires
“As fires in the Los Angeles area continue to rage, California could see more activity aimed at reducing wildfire risks in the future under legislation passed with strong Democratic and Republican support in the House Thursday. By a 279 to 141 vote, lawmakers approved a bill that could lead to increased activities such as forest thinning. But the measure also raised concern among state environmental groups about potential adverse effects on ecosystems and vulnerable species. The Senate will now consider the bill. Sixty-four Democrats, including 24 from California, and 215 Republicans voted for the bill. Among those backing the legislation were Democratis Reps. Doris Matsui and Ami Bera of Sacramento, Adam Gray of Merced, Jim Costa of Fresno and Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara. The act would speed up environmental analyses and the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. It could “bring some relief to constituents scared that their town will be next,” said Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, the bill’s co-sponsor. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
SEE ALSO: What They Are Saying: The Fix Our Forests Act, from the House Committee on Natural Resources
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Yurok Tribe restores prairie and salmon-spawning stream
“This week, the Yurok Tribe started implementing a critical phase of an ongoing project to restore more than 60 acres of prairie habitat that once blanketed a ridge above Blue Creek. Staff from three of the Tribe’s natural resources departments are hand-sowing 900 pounds of native plant seed over Steven’s Prairie as part of an integrated effort to reestablish the grassland ecosystem and renew two-miles of salmon and steelhead habitat in Blue Creek, the most productive Klamath River tributary on the Yurok Reservation. “Our goal is to restore the meadows and prairies to increase plant diversity and abundance that will provide habitat and food for wildlife from insects to elk. Furthermore, many of the prairie plants are used by Yurok people for food, medicine, and utilitarian purposes. Where our wildlife thrives, we thrive, as members of the same ecological community,” says Tiana Williams-Claussen, the Yurok Wildlife Department Director. … ” Read more from the Yurok Tribe.
Potter Valley talks, Coyote Dam study, and PG&E updates at Mendocino County meeting
“Mendocino County Inland Water & Power Commission (MCIWPC) held its regular meeting on January 16, 2025, with a focus on real property negotiations concerning the Potter Valley Project. The first two hours of the meeting were held in closed session, leaving limited time for public agenda items. Despite the shortened timeframe, key discussions included PG&E’s anticipated release of the final draft Surrender Application, a public meeting announcement, and updates on the ongoing water storage studies in Potter Valley. Additionally, progress on the Eel-Russian Project Authority and the Coyote Dam study were briefly touched on, with some agenda items postponed until the next meeting. The first two hours of the MCIWPC meeting took place in closed session. The meeting agenda said the subject was “conference with real property negotiators,” including attorneys, about the price and terms of the Potter Valley Project. This was about the planned new seasonal diversion. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Leaders in Marysville strategize how to avoid dramatic price increase of water
“City leaders in Marysville scheduled a special meeting for Thursday afternoon at City Hall to strategize and address a “pressing issue” that could significantly increase residents’ water rates. At issue is a proposal from California Water Service, or Cal Water, to increase water rates by 33% over a three-year period, beginning in 2026. “The proposed 33% increase exacerbates existing disparities and places an undue burden on Marysville residents,” read a news release from the city of Marysville. The timing of that news release coincided with two public participation hearings held by the California Public Utilities Commission and Cal Water. … ” Read more from KCRA.
SEE ALSO: Talk of ‘severing relationship’ with California Water Company: Marysville’s mayor says residents overcharged, from the Appeal-Democrat
Paddling the Cosumnes River Preserve, a lush refuge in the Central Valley
“At midday, the surface of the Cosumnes River mirrors a bluebird sky. The oak forest hoods the water on either side. Though it’s quiet, life is in motion: a belted kingfisher flashes past in search of fish. A white-tailed kite surveys for prey from a lofty perch. On the river, the current is so gentle you can forget how far this water has come: all the way from the western Sierra foothills to here, the Cosumnes River Preserve, a hour and a half’s drive from Berkeley. From here, it meets the Mokelumne River, which flows into the Bay and then the Pacific Ocean. This current is like no other feeding the Bay, and unlike every other river in the Central Valley—not a single dam hems the Cosumnes’s passage. And because it straddles the border between estuary and upstream river systems, it becomes home to the diversity and abundance of both worlds. … ” Read more from Bay Nature.
BAY AREA
Bay Area braces for weekend cooldown and spotty rainfall
“The Bay Area is bracing for a cooler and potentially wetter weather setup this weekend. While the forecast has been uncertain in recent days, a clearer picture is emerging. So will it rain in the Bay Area this weekend? Here’s what we know. Beginning Friday, a ridge of high pressure anchored across the western United States will start to weaken, allowing colder air to flood into the region in two distinct waves. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey County Environmental Health to test water, debris at Vistra Energy fire site Friday
“The County of Monterey’s Environmental Health Bureau will be gathering samples to test from the Vistra energy battery facility on Friday. This will be the first time the Health Bureau has visited the site. Partnering with the county’s Department of Toxic Substances Control and California Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau will be testing water, debris and dust. samples will be collected within the facility and in areas nearby. Once the samples are collected, they will be tested for any chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid. The results will also be made available on the Ready Monterey County website. … ” Read more from KION.
Our water supply depends on fighting the lawsuit against SLO County
“I’m writing to alert residents of the South County to an issue that has the possibility to result in both higher water rates and reduced water supply. In August, four environmental groups sued San Luis Obispo County over its operation of the Lopez Dam claiming potential harm to steelhead and other protected species. In December, a U.S. District Court found in favor of the plaintiffs and decreed in a preliminary injunction that the county must dramatically increase releases of water down the Arroyo Grande Creek. These releases began Jan. 15. These are the issues: Downstream releases were increased by 50 percent to a level beyond the sustainable supply of the Lopez Lake watershed. Models have shown that, had the proposed release schedule been in effect, Lopez Lake would have been drained in 2016 and 2021-22. Currently, we are in the midst of a La Niña event with only about 5 inches of rain since last July. This judgment has put us on the path to draining Lopez Lake, the South County’s main water supply. … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
California school could finally provide clean drinking water after 70 years
“For the first time in over 70 years, an elementary school in Central California could have consumable water. Grayson Elementary School in Stanislaus County was built in 1952. The school has never had suitable drinking water. In November 2024, the district noticed corroded pipes after a pipe break inside the school. “Back in the fall, we set out to sort of solve this drinking water problem at Grayson Elementary,” said Dave Smith of the Patterson Joint Unified School District’s administrative services. … ” Read more from CBS News.
EASTERN SIERRA
Tracking DWP’s water exports from the Mono Basin
“In this new year, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) continues to take water away from Mono Lake. Water exports are now far in excess of the 4,500 acre-feet commitment made by the Mayor and documented in DWP’s Mono Basin Annual Operations Plan. The impact of the Los Angeles fires on residents is huge, as is the challenge of wisely rebuilding. DWP leaders have been involved in the response around the clock; this Los Angeles Times article provides one profile. And questions about hydrants running dry have led to multiple investigations involving DWP. (Water distribution issues in the fire-affected area are not, however, linked to LA Aqueduct operations, or Mono Basin exports; Southern California overall has historically large amounts of water on hand, as this news article reviews in detail). The Committee looks forward to reengaging in conversations about Mono Lake and aqueduct operations in the coming weeks. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Map: Extreme drought expands in LA County after ‘abysmal’ start to water year
“Extreme drought expanded into parts of Los Angeles County as a dry start to the wet season continues in fire-prone Southern California, according to this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor report. Extreme drought, the second-most severe category in the weekly report, was limited to extreme southeast California last week, but parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties are under the category in the report released Thursday. About 11 percent of California is in extreme drought. Thirty-three percent of the state, including northern Los Angeles County, is in severe drought. … ” Read more from NBC 4.
Rancho Palos Verdes landslide is costing almost as much as all city operations
“Rancho Palos Verdes is on track to spend as much as it takes to run the entire city for the year on continued efforts to shore up landslide movement that has rendered dozens of homes uninhabitable. City leaders this week approved taking $2 million from other infrastructure projects and directing it toward operating and maintaining dewatering wells in the Portuguese Bend landslide area, as well as filling fissures in Altamira Canyon. That puts the total cost at $33 million, or close to the $39 million earmarked to run the whole city for a year, officials said. There has been some progress. The dewatering wells, which pump water from the ground, coupled with recent dry weather spells have led to land movement slowing down. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Along the Colorado River …
Commentary: Feds spent months on a mostly useless plan to save the Colorado River
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “Two years ago, when the feds released a draft plan to limp the Colorado River through 2026, everyone stopped to listen. They knew the two proposed alternatives would not be implemented as written — the feds even said as much during an elaborate news conference at Hoover Dam. But people took them seriously. Now, two years later, federal officials have released important details on how they might save the faltering river past 2026. And the reaction? It’s crickets. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Gov. Hobbs’ illegal water rule threatens housing in Arizona—Goldwater sues
“Arizona is facing a housing crisis, and now Governor Katie Hobbs is taking illegal actions that make the problem even worse, throwing up roadblocks to new home construction. Today, the Goldwater Institute sued the Hobbs administration on behalf of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona to halt one of the most significant bureaucratic overreaches in Arizona’s history. In certain parts of Maricopa County, builders must obtain a certificate showing a 100-year groundwater supply before they construct new housing—and home builders have historically met this requirement. But in November, the Arizona Department of Water Resources imposed a new policy, based on a flawed concept called “unmet demand,” that prevents new housing projects in large portions of the Valley, including Buckeye and Queen Creek. … ” Read more from the Goldwater Institute.
Arizona water agency lost half its funding. Now some lawmakers want to restore it
“Some Arizona lawmakers want to restore funding to the state agency in charge of finding new sources of water a year after it faced major cuts. Lawmakers and former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey initially allocated $1 billion dollars to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, or WIFA, in 2022. As part of the deal, they also expanded the once-obscure agency in order to secure new sources of water and conserve the state’s existing resources. But the Legislature and Gov. Katie Hobbs slashed nearly $500 million of that funding in recent years as a part of across-the-board cuts to deal with a massive budget deficit. Now, Rep. Gail Griffin (R-Hereford) wants lawmakers to restore that money. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
The Colorado River District was awarded up to $40 million to protect the Western Slope’s ‘top water priority.’ But will they get it under Trump?
“Some of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River may finally belong to water users on the Western Slope if the Trump administration doesn’t stall the funding first. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded up to $40 million on Friday to the Colorado River District, which advocates on behalf of Western Slope water users, to put towards purchasing two water rights from Xcel Energy. The state’s largest utility uses that water to generate electricity at its aging Shoshone facility, nestled in Glenwood Canyon on the Colorado River. “Securing the Shoshone water rights has been a priority of West Slope water entities and local governments for over 80 years,” said Kathy Chandler-Henry, the board president of the Colorado River District, in a statement. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
Replacing grass can help save water, but just how much?
“Way before spring, when the trees are leafless skeletons and the grass is dry and beige, the people in charge of helping plants blossom at the University of Northern Colorado were hard at work. Chris Bowers, the school’s energy and sustainability manager walked through the churned-up dirt of a construction site near the campus commons building. Sparse and brown on a chilly January day, he laid out a vision for the space’s future in warmer months. “There will be people hanging out and studying and eating lunch and using a space that was not used at all before,” Bowers said. … ” Read more from KUNC.
In national water news today …
Amid series of rapid-fire policy reversals, Trump quietly withdraws proposed limits on PFAS
“Amid a flurry of actions curtailing Biden’s environmental policies, the administration of newly inaugurated President Donald Trump this week withdrew a plan to set limits on toxic PFAS chemicals in industrial wastewater. The draft rule, which the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent to the White House for review in June, was seen as a precedent-setting move by reducing allowable discharges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemicals that have been linked to an array of health problems. “It is abundantly clear that this action was taken to benefit the chemical industry – and every American will suffer for it,” said Kyla Bennett, director of science policy at the watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. “PFAS contamination is already a national health crisis, and this will force states to try and fill the regulatory void left by EPA’s failure. “ The decision to withdraw the draft rule came as Trump issued an executive order to freeze any new federal regulations pending review. … ” Read more from The New Lede.
Conservation won big under Biden. Environmentalists and Tribal leaders fear trump will undo those gains
“From the red-rock country and canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau to the Joshua trees of the Mojave Desert, some of the West’s most iconic and wild places are now stitched together in the largest corridor of protected lands in the continental U.S. after former President Joe Biden created two new national monuments in California in his last week in office. Biden’s creation of 10 new national monuments and protections of 674 million acres of U.S. lands and waters make conservation one of his most significant legacies. But with his time in office over and President Donald Trump’s administration taking over, protections for the roughly 600-mile corridor he established on Jan. 14 could soon cease to exist, and a score of other conservation and public lands measures announced by the White House over the past four years face dismantling. Some are already being rolled back. Environmentalists, tribes and local leaders are preparing for the possibility that some national monuments they advocated for that became dividing lines between Democrats and Republicans will soon be on the chopping block, particularly three found in the new corridor across Utah and Arizona: Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon national monuments. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Trump resurrects ‘God Squad’ to bend the ESA
“The Trump administration is putting its faith in an empowered “God Squad” that might help energy projects maneuver around Endangered Species Act obstacles. In verse meant to be far-reaching, President Donald Trump’s new executive order designating an “energy emergency” strengthens what the landmark environmental law formally calls the “Endangered Species Act Committee.” Popularly known as the God Squad, given the committee’s authority to pass a judgment on a species’ fate, it has rarely been summoned since Congress authorized it in 1978 amendments to the ESA. “The God Squad hasn’t met in forever,” said Patrick Donnelly, the Center for Biological Diversity’s Great Basin director. “It has kind of been irrelevant.”That now changes with Trump’s executive order, although the real-world consequences remain open to question. … ” Read more from E&E News.
