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SoCal fires …
Beneficial rain on the way for Southern California
“The prevailing dry pattern and extreme fire conditions in place across Southern California is anticipated to evolve in a positive way throughout the upcoming week as a trough advances along the West coast. AccuWeather meteorologists say that upper-level energy swirling southward through Southern California will usher in beneficial moisture to the region. Rising dew points and measurable rainfall will expand across the parched valleys, while mountain snow can develop in the cooler spots above 3,000-4,000 feet in elevation. “Following the onset of drizzle Saturday afternoon, rain is expected to slowly increase in areal coverage and intensity through the remainder of the weekend as the onshore regime continues. We’re expecting rainfall totals on the order of 0.50-1.00 of an inch for most of the LA basin, around San Diego and near the surrounding coastal areas,” stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Jacob Hinson. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Southern California’s first rainfall of the year could help or hurt wildfire victims as fire spreads in San Diego area
“With parts of Los Angeles County still smoldering from wildfires and new blazes flaring up earlier this week, expected rainfall this weekend would seem like a welcome relief. But how the rain falls could make the difference between a disaster respite or a disaster repeat. Los Angeles County faces a high chance of widespread rain this weekend, with light intensities spread across many hours, the National Weather Service said. While isolated, heavy rainfall of up to 0.5 inches an hour is expected, forecasters say it will generally be beneficial for the region. But the ground in LA hasn’t seen a drop of rain this year. “It behaves more like cement; the ground can’t accept the water, so it all goes to runoff immediately,” said Ariel Cohen, the meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service office in Los Angeles. … ” Read more from CNN.
SEE ALSO: Worst of SoCal rainstorm set to hit Sunday and Monday. What you need to know, from the LA Times
Pasadena confirms safe drinking water quality for all PWP Water customers, lifts do-not-drink-water notice
“Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) in collaboration with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) today lifted the Do-Not-Drink-Water Notice for the remaining areas in its water service territory impacted by the Eaton Fire. PWP and the SWRCB confirmed safe drinking water quality for PWP’s entire water service area. PWP has its own water operations and construction crews, along with its own certified water quality lab, which enabled PWP to work around-the-clock to quickly bring Eaton Fire-impacted facilities back online and systematically perform extensive water quality testing to confirm safe drinking water quality. PWP is also working in close partnership with neighboring Kinneloa Irrigation District and other water agencies for continued safe and reliable water. PWP recognizes and appreciates the partnership and resilience of the community as we collectively recover from the devastating Eaton Fire. … ” Read more from the City of Pasadena.
Trump tours SoCal fires …
Trump and Newsom promise to work together for California, putting sparring aside
“After nearly two weeks of cross-country jousting, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California waited alone Friday at the bottom of the steps outside Air Force One to greet President Trump as he arrived in Los Angeles to tour wildfire damage. It wasn’t clear how the meeting would go. Mr. Trump often derides the governor as “Newscum.” And Mr. Newsom has accused Mr. Trump of orchestrating an assault on the 14th Amendment by signing an executive order to end birthright citizenship. But after Mr. Trump exited the plane and walked slowly down the steps, the two men greeted each other with a long warm handshake and shoulder clasps. Mr. Trump then brought Mr. Newsom with him to speak to waiting reporters. “I appreciate the governor coming out and meeting me,” Mr. Trump said, wearing a dark blazer and a “Make America Great Again” baseball hat. “Very much.” … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Trump, longtime California antagonist, praised state during LA fires visit
“President Donald Trump began his day of disaster tours with raging threats that sent California officials into a tailspin. He ended it with a hug and a promise to help the Golden State rebuild. Trump’s tarmac embrace with sometime nemesis Gavin Newsom set the tone for a sober, bipartisan briefing with local, state and federal officials where the president refrained from his sharp-edged digs and instead pledged to help lead in the recovery effort — including waiving federal permitting requirements. There was a brief, but testy exchange with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over letting residents back into their homes, but Trump repeatedly held back when conservative officials tried to egg him on over liberal policies they detest largely around the environment. … ” Read more from Politico.
Trump discusses fire recovery efforts with local leaders in sometimes tense roundtable
“President Donald Trump visited Los Angeles Friday to survey the damage from the devastating Palisades Fire and pledged the full support of the federal government in rebuilding all areas affected by January’s historic fires. Trump was greeted at LAX by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the two putting a pause on their recent war of words to promise cooperation and collaboration in the rebuilding efforts. He then departed on Marine One to tour the Palisades Fire burn scar from above, commiserate with homeowners who lost everything and meet with firefighters who have been working around the clock for weeks battling the ongoing blaze. It was Trump’s first time seeing the devastation in person, having previously only seen the destruction on television. “I don’t think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is until you see it. I didn’t realize,” the president said during a roundtable discussion with state and local leaders. “It is devastation. It’s incredible. It’s really an incineration.” … ” Read more from KTLA.
In visit to Pacific Palisades, Trump praises firefighters and blames Democratic officials
“President Trump repeated falsehoods about California’s firefighting efforts on Friday and blamed Democratic officials for a wide variety of issues affecting the response to wildfires as he toured areas of Los Angeles damaged by the disaster. In a meeting with state leaders in Pacific Palisades, a community that was heavily damaged by fire, Mr. Trump opened his remarks in a local firehouse with praise of the firefighters he met during the tour. “Your fire department was so beautiful” and “in perfect physical shape,” he said. The commendations quickly turned to attacks against state officials. Mr. Trump blamed the local bureaucracy, Democratic politicians and a small species of protected fish known as the delta smelt for water supply issues that made it harder for firefighters to get the blazes under control. Water experts in California have said that many of those claims are wrong, and that problems fighting fires, which have raged for weeks, had other causes. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Trump surveys Pacific Palisades devastation: ‘It’s incredible. It’s really an incineration’
“In a somber scene lighted by an orange Los Angeles sunset, President Trump walked through the ruins of Pacific Palisades on Friday, shaking hands with firefighters and speaking to a handful of residents as he took in the devastation wrought by firestorms that swept through L.A. County this month. Leveled properties and charred trees were visible in the background as the president walked through a neighborhood of destroyed homes. Firefighters handed him a white fire helmet with No. 47 on the front and side. Trump said he was stunned by the devastation and vowed to partner with local officials to help victims. “We have to work together to get this really worked out,” Trump said during a meeting with Los Angeles officials. “I don’t think you can realize how … devastating it is until you see it. It’s incredible. It’s really an incineration.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In other California water news this weekend …
How to become your own “well whisperer,” plan for groundwater restrictions among water talks at World Ag Expo
“The Tulare County World Ag Expo, the largest agricultural show in the state, will offer a variety of water seminars this year showcasing the latest in irrigation system technology and even explaining how to become a “well whisperer.” This year’s event will run from Feb. 11-13 at the International Agri-Center, 2.6 million square feet of open air and indoor exhibits and demonstrations. The expo hosts an average of 100,000 attendees from more than 70 countries each year. With 1,200 vendors, the annual event includes a dizzying array of farm equipment, demonstrations and, of course, food. It runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, except the final day when it closes at 4 p.m. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
House passes forest management bill supported by Valley representatives
“The House of Representatives has passed the Fix Our Forests Act to provide for healthier forests and increased wildfire protection. All Central Valley representatives co-sponsored the bill – which was introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R–AR) and voted in support of it. The big picture: The Fix Our Forests Act passed through the House by a 279-141 vote on Thursday. Representatives Jim Costa (D–Fresno), Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield), Adam Gray (D–Merced), Josh Harder (D–Tracy), Tom McClintock (R–Elk Grove) and David Valadao (R–Hanford) all supported it. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Adventures in Bay-Delta Data: What lives in the mud
“The Environmental Monitoring Program has been collecting data on water quality, nutrients, zooplankton, phytoplankton, and benthic invertebrates for almost 50 years. Data from the benthic invertebrate sampling program has been key to documenting the invasion of the clam Potamocorbula amurensis and corresponding decrease in phytoplankton (Carlton et al. 1990; Kimmerer and Thompson 2014). However, the program catches a lot more than just clams. They bring up crustaceans, worms, amphipods, isopods, and lot of other critters you have probably never heard of. All of their data are published regularly on the Environmental Data Initiative website (Wells 2024), and there is a lot to be learned by looking through it.It’s not easy to look at what lives in mud that is 20 feet under water. EMP’s intrepid crew uses a ponar grab – a pair of metal “jaws” that can be held open until it hits a solid surface (like the river bottom). Then the weighted jaws snap shut, picking up a healthy helping of mud and associated critters (Figure 1). The survey crew then dumps the mud out into a mesh tray and slowly washes the mud away, leaving the critters. … ” Read more from the IEP.
Senator Anna M. Caballero introduces SB 72, California Water for All, to modernize water planning
“Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced) introduced SB 72, California Water for All, to modernize the California Water Plan to drought proof California and establish long-term water supply targets. This legislation addresses the state’s intensifying climate challenges and ensures high-quality water for urban, agricultural and environmental needs. “A reliable and sustainable water supply is critical to California’s economy and to the quality of life for all Californians. While intermittent storms can give California a reprieve; prolonged droughts, aging infrastructure, more frequent and severe wildfires, population and economic growth, antiquated state policies and climate change impacts present unique challenges that threaten the survival of entire communities and sectors of the economy. Despite decades of work to improve California’s water system, our infrastructure remains woefully inadequate to meet present and future needs. … ” Read more from Senator Caballero.
Podcasts …
WHAT MATTERS: California’s new water restrictions
California’s water rules are changing—permanently. Starting January 1, 2025, new regulations from the State Water Resources Control Board will require major water suppliers to cut water delivery significantly by 2040. This isn’t just about managing water during droughts anymore—this is about building drought resilience into everyday life. Water agencies across the state will now have to develop community-specific water budgets that account for residential, commercial, and landscape use. The measures include limiting outdoor watering, encouraging water-efficient appliances, and pushing Californians to rethink how we use every drop. And here’s the kicker: failure to comply could cost agencies up to $10,000 a day in fines. So what does this mean for all of us? Are these changes a burden—or an opportunity to innovate?
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: Common Sense and an Honest Effort
Although a lot of rain falls in Jacksonville, Florida, it just doesn’t fall where you want it. The topography is so flat that the only possible reservoir for storing all that rainfall is the underlying groundwater aquifers. The value of water is Jacksonville has changed in twenty years. To be sustainable, they are now charging conservation rates for water and people are responding. Today, consumptive water use has dropped 30% to 40%, clearly a success for a community of 850,000 people. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
WATERLOOP: The facts on fighting wildfires in LA and beyond
Amid the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires, confusion and misinformation have surrounded the role of water resources. This episode clarifies key inaccuracies, highlighting how municipal water systems are designed to support localized firefighting efforts rather than large-scale wildfires fueled by extreme weather conditions. Drawing on examples from Colorado and Arizona, they discuss the cascading impacts of wildfires, including how burned watersheds affect water quality and force expensive upgrades to treatment systems.
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: Is your water safe to drink after a wildfire?
With Los Angeles and the surrounding areas still ablaze, the media is capitalizing with headlines like Washington Post’s recent article, “L.A. fires may have brought cancer-causing chemicals into drinking water.” Causing further concern are the various public health water notices including Do Not Drink and Do Not Boil. Ultimately, people want to know, is their water safe to drink after a wildfire? What are local water systems doing to ensure the water is safe, and how are these efforts protecting public health?
GOLDEN STATE NATURALIST: Fire in built environments with Alexandra Syphard
Join me and Dr. Alexandra Syphard as we discuss what makes some neighborhoods more fire prone than others, the Santa Ana Winds, defensible space, the massive differences between fires in forested Northern California and shrubby Southern California, the pendulum swing of public opinion, ways that climate change does and doesn’t contribute to wildfires, the WUI, positive uses of abandoned Fry’s electronics buildings, waxy leaves, invasive plants, and so much more.
WATER TALK: Wildfire and water infrastructure
A conversation with Drs. Greg Pierce (UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation) and Faith Kearns (ASU Water Innovation Initiative) about water infrastructure before, during, and following wildfires.
TALKING UNDER WATER: California wildfires, PFAS risk assessment, & EPA administrator hearing
In this episode of Talking Under Water the hosts discuss recent industry news including the nomination hearing for Lee Zeldin, whom President Trump is seeking to lead the U.S. EPA; the California wildfires, including the Palisades and Eaton fires along with others that began between January 22 and January 23; and the release of EPA’s risk assessment of PFAS in sewage sludge. This draft risk assessment, which is now available for public comment, hones in specifically on two PFAS chemicals: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS).
WATERLOOP: Observing patterns in sustainable solutions across the US
At the 2024 WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, waterloop founder Travis Loop shared key insights from his travels across the United States, documenting innovative water projects. He identified a number of commonalities that define sustainable solutions. A return to nature is a recurring theme, with projects like Louisiana’s $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion reconnecting the Mississippi River to its floodplains, restoring wetlands, and reducing erosion. Equally impactful are people-centered approaches, such as Milwaukee’s lead pipe replacement program, which prioritizes workforce diversity and uplifts local communities.
WATER SHELF: “Water Management” by Shimon Anisfled
Shimi Anisfeld kicks off Season 2 of the Water Shelf Podcast by introducing his fascinating book Water Management: Prioritizing Justicd and Sustainability – an impressively comprehensive and immensely readable university textbook on this important topic supplemented by a free companion website. Dr. Shimon Anisfled is Senior Lecturer II and Research Scientist in Water Resources and Environmental Chemistry at Yale University.
For your bookshelf …
NEW BOOK: Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource
In 2023, the Supreme Court made one of its most devastating rulings in environmental history. By narrowing the legal definition of ‘waters of the United States’ (WOTUS), the court opened the floodgates to unregulated pollution. But while tremendously consequential, the decision was also simply the latest in a long series of battles over WOTUS and which waters are protected by the federal Clean Water Act, enacted over president Nixon’s veto in 1972. In Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource (Publication Date: December 19, 2024), Royal C. Gardner, an internationally recognized expert in wetland law and policy, delivers an unprecedented exploration of WOTUS’ history and its importance for today’s efforts to protect a critical natural resource. The result is a fascinating look at the ongoing power struggle over water quality at all levels of government, from the president to Congress, federal agencies, courts, and states. … ” Continue reading this book announcement.
In regional water news this weekend …
BAY AREA
Marin water managers favor pipeline over reservoir expansion
“Marin Municipal Water District managers appear to be placing a controversial reservoir expansion proposal on the back burner. District staff said Tuesday that constructing a pipeline to convey water from Sonoma County would be the most efficient way to boost supply with minimal disturbances to the environment and residents. Staff said the plan to raise the Soulajule Reservoir in northwestern Marin would yield great water gains, and it offers the district flexibility and resilience. However, the loss of farmland and homes would be a big impact on the ranching community, staff said. The board took no vote Tuesday, but members tended to agree. “I wouldn’t take anything off, but in terms of focus in the short term, I believe that the conveyance has both regional and local impact, and I think there’s a lot that we can do there,” said board member Jed Smith. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Marin water officials assess preparedness amid LA fire crisis
“As the Southern California wildfire catastrophe continues to unfold, water officials in Marin County are evaluating the area’s level of disaster readiness. Ben Horenstein, general manager of the Marin Municipal Water District, said the unavailability of water during the Los Angeles crisis this month mirrors the Hawaii inferno that killed more than 100 people in 2023, the North Bay fires of 2017 and the Camp wildfire in Butte County that killed 85 people and destroyed 13,500 homes in 2018. “The water industry is not designing the system for urban wildfires coming in with all the hydrants being tapped and used and structures burned down and the pipes feeding them continuing to run,” Horenstein said during a recent meeting on fire preparedness. “The level of demand that occurs in these situations is simply inconsistent with the design of a municipal water system, and it’s a challenge.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Valley Water: Protecting our reservoirs from an invasive mollusk
“The golden mussel, an invasive mollusk from China and Southeast Asia, has recently been found in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, marking the first occurrence in North America. The presence of golden mussels does not pose a public health and safety risk. But similar to quagga and zebra mussels, they are a significant threat to California’s native species, ecosystems, and water infrastructure by clogging water intakes and pipes. These mussels travel between counties and states by attaching to watercraft and gear, which are then transported great distances by car, truck, or trailer. The adults and juvenile mussels will attach to any watercraft stored in contaminated water, and their microscopic young can survive the journey between waterbodies if there is standing water throughout the trip. In response, Valley Water is partnering with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Water Resources, and local stakeholders to assess the infestation and prevent its spread. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
Progress expected on Pleasanton’s search for new water wells
“The search for clean water wells in Pleasanton is in full swing, with significant progress expected to be made by this summer, according to city officials. The city this month began drilling at Del Prado Park, the first of several sites being explored to find safe, potable water underground. During a Pleasanton City Council meeting on Tuesday, officials said that workers are wrapping up drilling at Del Prado and will soon be moving on to drill at the Tennis and Community Park, and then Hansen Park. Mayor Jack Balch called a discussion of the city’s water system Tuesday a “sobering” moment, as officials discussed the health and effectiveness of Pleasanton’s water system. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
What South Bay cities are most at risk for natural disasters?
“As more than 15,000 homes burned across the greater Los Angeles area the last two weeks, the all-too-familiar fear of whether a similar urban firestorm could blaze through the South Bay was at the forefront of many residents’ minds.Four-and-a-half-years ago, the SCU Lightning Complex fire burned nearly 400,000 acres along Santa Clara County’s border and through five neighboring counties. In 2017, roughly 14,000 San Jose residents fled from their home as Coyote Creek spilled over, causing roughly $100 million in damage. Blistering heat waves and powerful atmospheric rivers that topple trees onto homes and cars and cause landslides in the hills have also become annual occurrences.But how much risk does each of Santa Clara County’s 15 cities, with their varying terrains, have of being affected by wildfires, floods or even a tsunami? A county hazard mitigation report that analyzes different disaster threats and how they could affect residents and infrastructure sheds some light. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
Rethinking flood insurance: Monterey County considering new approach
“During this winter of extremes in California, with tragic wildfires raging in the south and most of the season’s rain falling in the north, the insurance market has fallen only deeper into crisis. But one flood insurance product for local governments recently launched in the state models a different approach designed for such erratic climate patterns. The County of Monterey, which spent upward of $100 million to recover from flooding during the prior two winters, is among governments statewide looking closely at the new flood insurance option. Monterey County had applied for relief from FEMA after atmospheric rivers saturated the region, but it still awaits some of the federal reimbursement. By contrast, the new insurance product, which uses a structure dubbed “parametric,” vows to immediately deliver smaller payouts for a flexible range of emergency costs. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald. | Read via MSN News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
San Joaquin River turning red
“The river along Lathrop will soon sports a different color. But the pink or reddish tint in the water will only be temporary. Rhodamine is a family of fluorescent dyes that are used as tracers and probes in biological and environmental applications. Next week – Monday and Tuesday – the City of Lathrop will be conducting a dye tracer study as part of its ongoing Effluent Dispersion Study, in an effort to improve environmental understanding of the local waterways. The use of rhodamine will be introduced to the San Joaquin River. “(Rhodamine) is an FDA approved, water-soluble due commonly used to track water flow,” said the City of Lathrop Friday via social media. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Well permitting for non-GSA areas before Tulare County board
“The Tulare County Board of Supervisors will look at options that will hopefully help those who are dependent on groundwater but not covered by a groundwater agency when it comes to acquiring a permit for a well. In addition the board will receive a presentation on a solar project northwest of Terra Bella. Both items are scheduled matters on the agenda for the board which will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The board will look at a number of options when it comes to the well permitting process. County staff is looking for the board at Tuesday’s meeting to provide guidance on what direction it should take as far as the well permitting process is concerned. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Lindsay council to deal with more water issues
“The Lindsay City Council is set to approve two matters in an effort to improve water reliability for its community. As part of its consent calendar the council will consider the two matters at its next meeting. The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The council is set to approve a resolution in which the city will sale surplus water to those in the East Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency. The council will also consider approving a letter stating the city’s concern that not using groundwater recharge water for extraction is a requirement for receiving a grant when it comes to the conservation of land and water. Each year the city of Lindsay receives a water allocation from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Historically the city hasn’t used its full allotment of water. In the past the city has had an average surplus between 800 and 1,000 acre-feet although the surplus depends on such factors as the amount of precipitation and demand. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
How drought has hurt Southern California, and what it means for the future
“Two quick observations about droughts in Southern California: They are common and can be two-faced. First, Southern Californians know droughts. We went through a prolonged drought from 2012 to 2016, and before that there were the droughts of 2007-09, 1987-92 and 1976-77. And later we saw two rainy seasons from October to May of 2022-2023 and again in 2023-2024 which left SoCal saturated with above-average amounts of rainfall. This local climate pattern is frequently referred to as a wet-dry cycle by meteorologists. “It has been really dry since April/May of 2024. Since that time, there hasn’t been a lot of rain in Southern California. This could be the beginning of another drought,” cautiously summarized Brandon Goshi, water resource group manager for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
After 7-month investigation, California water agency set to decide fate of top manager
“The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is considering the findings of a seven-month investigation into accusations against General Manager Adel Hagekhalil — a process that has revealed competing claims of discrimination and exposed deep divisions among leaders of the state’s largest urban water supplier. The board met twice in closed session this week to consider the findings of five completed investigations, which have not been made public. Board members then voted to continue Hagekhalil’s leave of absence until their next meeting Wednesday. Hagekhalil was placed on leave in June in response to allegations by the agency’s chief financial officer, Katano Kasaine, who accused him of sexism and alleged he had harassed, demeaned and sidelined her and created a hostile work environment. Hagekhalil has denied the accusations, insisting he did nothing wrong. During a public portion of Tuesday’s MWD meeting, Hagekhalil told board members he was pleased with the results of the investigations, which he said exonerated him, and that he was eager and prepared to return to his job. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Hold the salt — Inland Empire agency gets $100 million for groundwater desalination
“There’s absolutely no cheating on this no-sodium diet. In a tan-colored building nestled among homes in Menifee, a process called reverse osmosis removes salt from brackish groundwater to make it drinkable. The three groundwater desalters at the Eastern Municipal Water District’s desalination complex run around the clock to produce 13 million gallons a day of potable water — enough for 30,000 households. Desalination is how the district — a public agency serving almost 1 million people in western Riverside and northern San Diego counties — gets 10% of its water. That effort will get a boost from $100 million in federal funding received earlier this month. … ” Read more from MSN News.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Judge clears way for massive lithium project near Salton Sea over environmental concerns
“A California judge has denied environmentalists’ claims that the Hells Kitchen lithium extraction project approved by Imperial County officials was not adequately studied for water supply or air pollution issues, and did not consult properly with area tribes. Commercially processed lithium is a key component of electric vehicles, smart phones and myriad other products, and the north end of the county sits atop a huge underground reserve of the whitish substance and other minerals. Comite Civico del Valle and Earthworks filed suit in 2024, alleging county planners and consultants had not adequately considered the potential environmental impacts of a nearly $2 billion project dubbed Hells Kitchen, the first of several related projects which Controlled Thermal Resources aims to develop along the fast-drying southern edge of the Salton Sea, between Calipatria and Niland. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
SAN DIEGO
What has and hasn’t happened in the year since San Diego’s devastating floods
“Jessica Calix has tried to make the 33-foot travel trailer she and her son Chago share at a north San Diego RV Park feel like their old rental home in Southcrest. She’s set up benches and toys outside for Chago and his friends to play with, strung lights over the trailer the way she used to over her front door, and hung up a smiling sun ornament that looks like the one they lost in the flooding that devastated parts of southeastern San Diego on Jan. 22. But lately Chago has been asking Calix a question that breaks her heart, one that she doesn’t know the answer to: Will we ever live in an apartment again? Calix and Chago are among approximately 5,000 San Diego-area residents impacted by the historic downpour last January that led to dramatic flooding in parts of the city and county, with particularly severe damage in Southcrest and Shelltown. The mother and son were among hundreds of people who suffered severe property damage and displacement. Five people died. While some flood survivors have been able to return home, many others are still struggling to recover, rebuild their homes or find new places to live. Some survivors, particularly renters like Calix, have been forced to restart life elsewhere, with little hope of returning to their old communities. … ” Read more from the Pulitzer Center.
Along the Colorado River …
Mountain snow, valley rain finally coming to the southwestern US
“A storm set on soaking much of Southern California later this weekend will swing inland and bring the first decent rain and mountain snow to parts of the Southwest in weeks, if not months, before the end of January, AccuWeather meteorologists say. Las Vegas has not had more than a few drops of rain since July 13, with the city currently experiencing its second-longest dry spell in history. At 194 days, as of Friday, it is second only to a stretch of 240 dry days set in 2020. Records date back to 1948. “Las Vegas is likely to have more rain from this storm than any storm since March,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick said. The mid-March storm brought about 0.75 of an inch of rain to McCarran International Airport. The southern Nevada desert city’s historical average annual rainfall is 4.21 inches. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
The state of water solutions: ASU water summit explores management strategies, innovative approaches for local challenges
“Water solutions and management must be efficient, affordable, forward-looking and leverage on innovation in order to support human progress and keep society running. This is according to Estelle Brachlianoff, who came all the way from France to appear as the keynote speaker at “Water Solutions Summit: From Global Insights to Local Action,” held Jan. 23 at Arizona State University. “When you talk about climate change and the consequences of that, you directly hit upon the question of water,” said Brachlianoff, the CEO of Veolia. Headquartered in St. Maurice, France, Veolia offers water and environmental services to 45 countries totaling approximately 200 million people., a transnational service and utility company. “Because climate change is about too much water, too little water, not at the right time and not the right quality. It’s all interconnected.” … ” Read more from Arizona State University.
Forest thinning aims to curb catastrophic wildfires in Arizona. It also could stretch water supplies
“When lightning ignited chaparral and ponderosa pine litter to form the West Fire one night in late August, U.S. Forest Service fire managers knew they had some room to let it run. Flames would creep along the brush and undergrowth some 13 miles northeast of Payson, burning around natural firebreaks in the rocks just below the rim. Once the fire crested the rim, having covered some 15,000 acres, it would die against a broader firebreak that Salt River Project contractors had chewed out of the dense ponderosa forest with the intention of saving critical Arizona watersheds from just such a fire. It would not climb into the ponderosa canopy and rage for miles from pine to pine. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
In national water news this weekend …
EPA withdraws plan to regulate harmful ‘PFAS’ chemicals in drinking water
“Just days into President Donald Trump’s second term, the federal government has made major changes to environmental regulations. A significant change is the regulation of toxins in drinking water or so-called “forever chemicals” that can build up in the environment and our bodies. These chemicals are found in the drinking water consumed by most people in Arizona. This week, the Trump administration withdrew a pending plan to limit the amount of PFAS chemicals the industry can release into the environment. “If you’re wondering right now, have I picked those PFAS? The answer is yes, definitely,” explained Dr. Rhett Larson, a water law professor at Arizona State University. While there is still very little known about the chemicals, he says there’s strong evidence that exposure to PFAS can cause cancer. … ” Read more from AZ Family.
