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On the calendar today …
- HYBRID: Rivers Lab: Climatic & hydrogeomorphic controls on sediment characteristics in the southern Sierra Nevada from 1pm to 2pm. Join Riley, SYRCL’s AmeriCorps Restoration Coordinator, online or in the SYRCL conference room (313 Railroad Ave, Nevada City, CA) for the first Rivers Lab of 2025. Rivers Lab is a journal club for river geeks! Each month we will break down scientific articles relevant to watershed science and discuss the research, making it more approachable. This month’s paper is “Climatic & hydrogeomorphic controls on sediment characteristics in the southern Sierra Nevada”. Please read it in advance of the meeting. It is completely okay if you don’t understand some of this; it is quite a technical paper, and we will break it down in Rivers Lab! Focus most of your understanding on the introduction, results, and discussion. Click here for the link to the journal and registration information.
- WEBINAR: Frequently asked questions about wildfires at noon and 6:30pm. What’s going on with all the wildfires lately? Why do structures burn but trees next to them not? Are the Los Angeles wildfires the result of land mismanagement? How can we better protect communities? These are some of the many questions we will be answering, with opportunities for attendees to ask even more. Our Director of Conservation & Research, Bryant Baker, will walk through some of the basics about wildfire in our region, highlighting some of the latest science on the subject and showing maps and other visuals that can help explain the Los Angeles wildfires and more. Register for lunch session. Register for evening session.
In California water news today …
Two atmospheric river-charged storms to bring rain and snow to Northern California
“Fresh weather model data points to a wet weekend ahead for Northern California and the Bay Area. Forecasts are calling for significantly higher rainfall totals than previously predicted along with several feet of snow piling up in the Sierra by Sunday. There are also signs that another, stronger atmospheric river will hit the state early next week. Here’s what we know about the wet weather systems so far. Moderate rain will develop along the Northern California coast in the early morning hours Friday. By the afternoon, up to an inch or more of rain is forecast for places like Crescent City, Eureka and Mendocino. Light to moderate showers will extend into the Bay Area by Friday afternoon. These elements of the forecast haven’t changed. The shift lies in the position and strength of the atmospheric river beyond Friday and into the weekend. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read via MSN.
Strong Atmospheric River begins long-duration wet weather pattern starting Friday
“Weather conditions forecast for the Sacramento region Friday through Saturday are calling for periods of moderate rain in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Snow levels in the Sierra mountains will fluctuate as snow turns to rain. This will also mean big travel changes with possible chain controls and road closings. The Atmospheric River is showing signs of pulling in a significant amount of moisture poised to hit along and north of I-80 resulting in localized flooding. This storm cycle looks closely aligned with some of the earlier season storms that benefited the northern part of the state more than the south. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
What is the ‘Pineapple Express,’ and how is it connected to an atmospheric river?
“Weather systems that affect the West Coast of the United States often have their origins in the northern Pacific Ocean. This is because the jet stream usually flows in a general west-to-east fashion. Sometimes, however, this is not the case. When the jet stream dips far to the south in the central Pacific Ocean, abundant moisture from the tropics can be transported toward the West Coast. Oftentimes, the ripple in the jet stream occurs near Hawaii. Since pineapples are one thing that Hawaii is known for, this flow of moisture is referred to as “the Pineapple Express.” In fact, Hawaii is home to one of the world’s largest and most diverse pineapple collections, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. “The Pineapple Express is an atmospheric river which has its origin in the tropical Pacific,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Another casualty of a bone-dry winter: LA won’t take less water from Mono Lake
“Los Angeles will take most or all of its allotment of water from Mono Lake through March, disappointing local environmentalists and conservation experts after raising hopes that more water would be left in the iconic alpine lake. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power had indicated last spring that it might, in a rare move, substantially reduce the amount taken from Mono Lake. The Eastern Sierra lake has provided water to Los Angeles since 1941, when DWP began diverting its tributaries to city taps. Known for its unique tufa rock towers, migratory birds and stunning Sierra Nevada backdrop, the salty lake has been the focus of environmental battles for more than 80 years between the city, conservationists and the local Kutzadika’a tribe. Mono Lake’s surface levels have plunged over the decades because of the city’s aqueduct, hitting historic lows in the 1980s and increasing the lake’s salinity, which jeopardizes the tiny shrimp that are the major source of food for birds. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants
“Wildfire retardants, the hot-pink mix of water and chemicals sprayed from airplanes by the U.S Forest service to combat wildfires, are under scrutiny after a recent study found they’re a serious source of heavy metal pollution in the U.S. The research, conducted by a team from the University of Southern California and published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, found that between 2009 and 2021, wildfire retardant application in the U.S. released at least 380,000 kg (more than 400 tons) of at least four toxic metals into the environment. Toxic metals — like cadmium, chromium and vanadium — accumulate in ecosystems and organisms and are linked to organ damage, cancer and neurological disorders. “The heavy metals report from [the University of Southern California] has been a catalyst. It has created internal discussions about using these retardants,” Andy Stahl, the executive director of the nonprofit watchdog group Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE), who was not involved with the study, told EHN. … ” Read more from Environmental Health News.
Metropolitan Water District votes to replace top manager after investigation into sexism allegations
“The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California voted to appoint a new top manager and offered a legal settlement to General Manager Adel Hagekhalil after a seven-month investigation into allegations of discrimination that exposed deep divisions within California’s largest urban water supplier. The new leader of the MWD will be Deven Upadhyay, who has been serving as interim general manager. Board members announced the decision after holding a third closed-door meeting to discuss the findings of investigations into allegations against Hagekhalil. The board told Hagekhalil he had until 4 p.m. to accept the offer, which would end his tenure as general manager. The findings of the completed investigations have not been made public. And details of the proposed settlement were not immediately disclosed. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Southern California’s largest water supplier fires general manager, from Politico
Take it from the cranes: The importance of wetlands in California
“Tall grasses sway as a sandhill crane glides just above the calm water. She lands, waits for a bit… Splash! The sandhill crane snatches a fish from the water! With the prey in her beak, she soars toward the cottonwood tree laced horizon where the rest of her siege gathers. These migratory birds are hunkered down in their California wintering grounds until spring. Greater sandhill cranes are one of the oldest species in California, at an estimated 2.5 million years old. Yet they face an uncertain future in our rapidly changing landscape. The sandhill crane is listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act, primarily because of the loss of suitable breeding habitat, and the continued loss of winter foraging areas. Wetlands are a key habitat and in a state with increasing droughts, more intense wildfires and shrinking freshwater supply should be a priority for humans, too. … ” Read more from Defenders of Wildlife.
Smelt test: Trump order overrides California’s fish-protecting rules to maximize water supply
“President Donald Trump is taking executive action to override California’s “actively harmful” state and local environmental policies in an effort to maximize water supply in the aftermath of January’s deadly wildfires. In an executive order issued Sunday, Trump called on federal agencies to overrule California regulations on endangered species to create more water availability, expedite the removal of debris in the areas affected by the fires, and conduct investigations into the city of Los Angeles’ use of federal grants. The president’s order overrides environmental regulations potentially limiting water availability in the area, such as the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which seeks to minimize water infrastructure to protect certain fish species, such as the Delta smelt. The order comes just weeks after Trump accused Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., of caring more about protecting an endangered fish species than the state’s residents amid the wildfires. … ” Read more from Fox News.
California may face ‘conditions’ to get federal wildfire aid
“President Trump has said that California will not receive federal aid for recovery from wildfires unless it changes its water policy and voter identification rules. “I just want voter ID as a start, and I want the water to be released,” Trump told reporters. “After that, I will be the greatest president that California has ever seen.” Would he really hold up aid with losses estimated at $40 billion? Reaction has been mixed on the Trump demand. Chair of the Kings County Board of Supervisors Doug Verboon says he backs the demand that includes eliminating FEMA which has proven to be “extremely slow to deliver aid in King County.” Bringing more water to Kings County would be beneficial, he says noting there is always politics involved over these disputes. He blames Gov. Gavin Newsom. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
Donald Trump’s California water order does more for farms than wildfires
“President Donald Trump’s obsession with California’s water comes from an often overlooked source — Golden State farmers. Typically Republican and clustered in the vast Central Valley, they’ve long fought Democrat-controlled Sacramento over California’s limited water supplies, saying state officials shortchange farms to protect fish. They power California’s $59 billion agriculture industry but command none of the national political clout given the big donors of Hollywood or Silicon Valley. But they appear to have Trump’s ear. And he’s using their long-standing water complaints to feed a narrative of failed Democratic rule. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
In commentary today …
President Trump versus the mismanagement of California
Opinion columnist Susan Shelley writes, “You have to say this for the Trump administration. It’s not boring. On Monday night at 11:12 p.m. Eastern Time, President Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social, “The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!” Two hours later, the California Department of Water Resources responded, “The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.” If it’s not clear that California was “entered” by the U.S. military on Monday night, it’s also not clear that state water supplies in Southern California remain “plentiful.” Maybe it’s true if you’re a cactus, but certainly not if you’re an LADWP customer living under “Save the Drop” conservation directives. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Are Trump’s lies about California calculated political genius? Or is he flying blind?
Opinion writer Tom Philp writes, “When President Donald Trump posted on social media Monday that the military had arrived in California and “turned on the water,” a wholly false statement in every way, it raised an obvious question: What is Trump doing? “I am as puzzled by this as anyone,” said Sacramento-based political consultant Matt Rexroad, who assisted Republican Steve Garvey in his unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate. “I have no idea.” It begins to make sense, however, if Trump has seized on California water as some kind of a challenge, a game if you will. But how does Trump ultimately seek to “win?”In real-world planning, game theory is a long-accepted tool for meticulously analyzing future scenarios to help make a reasoned decision. In political game theory, what comes out of a politician’s mouth can be a pre-calculated decision that has already anticipated the outcome. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
9th Circuit weighs kicking Klamath lawsuit to Oregon Supreme Court
Southern end of California’s Lost Coast to be opened to public
“A large swath of what had long been private land on Northern California’s Lost Coast is now slated for public access. The 5-square-mile parcel called Lost Coast Redwoods was acquired this month by the Bureau of Land Management, three years after Save the Redwoods League bought the land from the parent of timber company Soper Wheeler. In the BLM deal, the property, appraised at $56 million, was purchased with $44 million in federal and state grants. Stretching across 8 miles of ocean frontage, it was assembled from multiple land purchases by Save the Redwoods League dating back to 2008, said Sam Hodder, president of the league. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Clear Lake water quality report recommends rehabilitation strategy
“The water quality of Clear Lake — California’s largest natural freshwater lake — suffers from low-to-no-oxygen conditions that contribute to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and other issues, according to a report from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and the U.S. Geological Survey. Clear Lake has long suffered from environmental challenges associated with mercury contamination, high nutrient levels, low dissolved oxygen and HABs, which threaten aquatic and human health and the community’s cultural, recreational and economic activities. The report, submitted to the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, outlines the primary causes of deteriorating water conditions at the 63-square-mile lake. It also applies newly developed predictive tools to test restoration strategies and offers actionable recommendations. These include installing a hypolimnetic oxygenation system, a technology that has been used nationwide and in California to enhance oxygen levels at the lake bottom. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
‘We’re playing Russian roulette,’ Officials warn of flood risk in Chico due to sediment buildup
“Butte County officials are taking urgent action to address the risk of flooding in the Five Mile Basin through Bidwell Park and Chico. The increased flood risk was caused by a buildup of sediment in Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, and Sycamore Creek that’s gone largely unchecked. The problem has increased after the Camp and Park Fires. On Tuesday, the Butte County Board of Supervisors told the public works department to expedite the sediment removal plan by submitting environmental requests. At Tuesday night’s Chico City Council meeting, Butte County Public Works Director Joshua Pack updated council members on the county’s response. Most of the affected residential properties lie within Chico’s city limits. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Sacramento water treatment plant to get multi-million-dollar makeover
“Each year, Sacramento needs about a million more gallons of water per day to meet growing demand. Soon, the city’s water treatment plants will have a tough time keeping up. A new multi-million dollar plan aims to modernize the system, ensuring Sacramento’s future is flush with water. “It’s not something everyone gets excited about but it’s really, really important,” said. The city unveiled a plan called Water+. It will double the daily capacity of the existing Sacramento River water treatment plant, just off Interstate 5 and Richards Boulevard. “It’s improving our water system to be more resilient and more able to adapt to some of the modern challenges that we experience,” said. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma County climate conference showcases tribal and county efforts to address water and wildfire issues
“Native American tribal leaders, county officials, environmentalists and state and local water resource officials on the North Coast opened a two-day “climate resilience” summit Wednesday at the Graton Resort and Casino. The conference, which focused on watershed and wildfire issues across the region, was organized by the North Coast Resource Partnership, a coalition of tribes and counties that helps coordinate the use and distribution of state water quality funds. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria hosted and sponsored the event, which drew more than 400 attendees to the casino’s event center near Rohnert Park. Greg Sarris, the tribe’s chairman, gave a keynote speech that briefly outlined how colonization of the North Coast and subsequent land uses have radically transformed and degraded the landscape and environment. Indigenous people, he said, had cultivated a “relationship” with their surroundings that included the use of prescribed or cultural burning on the landscape that helped reduce the risk of severe wildfire. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Healdsburg’s endangered water source may have a future yet
“For years, the possibility of PG&E officials tearing out the infrastructure they own that currently diverts water from the Eel River to the Russian River — which in turn fills the Lake Mendocino reservoir, Healdsburg’s main water source — has been looming over our community, along with the many other towns who get their water from the Russian. Not to mention the fish and other wildlife who need at least some water to keep flowing in the Russian River, in order to survive. (And river tubers like me!) Anyway, some tentative good news on that front: U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman, a Democrat representing the entire North Coast, says he just secured $15 million in federal money toward implementing what he’s calling “the two-basin solution.” Sounds like it would be a win for both civilization and the ecosystem. … ” Read more from the Healdsburg Tribune.
BAY AREA
Santa Clara County opts not to ban artificial turf on county-owned properties
“A nearly yearlong effort to ban artificial turf on Santa Clara County-owned properties has failed after the Board of Supervisors was unable to come to a consensus on the much debated topic. The natural grass versus artificial turf debate has become a dividing issue across the Bay Area in recent years — and Tuesday’s board meeting was no different as residents on both sides packed the downtown San Jose chambers. During the meeting, supervisors wrestled over whether they would exempt playing fields. Attempts to approve a total ban or a ban with an exception for athletic fields both failed to get a majority vote. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey County may get water, soil samples report by end of week
“The County of Monterey environmental health chief said that findings from soil and water testing done last Friday, as part of the ongoing assessment of damage caused by the Vistra Moss Landing battery fire of Jan. 16, are still being interpreted and are expected to be reported to the public “by the end of this week.” At Wednesday afternoon’s County of Monterey briefing, Ricardo Encarnacion, bureau chief and County of Monterey director of environmental health, said that the county and its partners, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Engineering Technical Support Center, among others, conducted soil and water testing last week. “Our partners at the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment are helping us interpret the screening findings,” said Encarnacion. “At this time, we’re still waiting for the interpretations that will help us, as a county, direct next steps.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
County board looks at well permitting
“On Tuesday, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors held a meeting where they discussed a well permitting process for those who have a difficult time acquiring a permit. The board looked at an item that introduced a well permitting process to those who are dependent on groundwater but not covered by a groundwater agency. Those who are on the valley floor are covered by Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, GSAs, which provide groundwater sustainability plans, GSPs, when it comes to following the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. But generally those in Tulare County who are located at an elevation of 800 feet or higher are not in a GSA, so they’re not covered by a GSP, which makes the well permitting process difficult as far groundwater impacts are concerned. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Second round of rain heading to L.A. What will it take to end fire season?
“Another rain event is heading to fire-weary Los Angeles next week, and although this precipitation will provide a helpful dampening of dry brush, forecasters say it is unlikely to be heavy enough to put an end to what is expected to be the most destructive fire season in the county’s modern history. The National Weather Service is forecasting a minor to moderate rain event in Los Angeles and Ventura counties next week from Tuesday through Thursday, with a quarter of an inch to an inch of rain expected. Rainfall amounts are predicted to be higher in the mountains and the hills, potentially accumulating from 1 to 2 inches, said weather service meteorologist Lisa Phillips. The upcoming low pressure system follows last weekend’s stormy weather, which brought rainfall totals of half an inch to an inch across the county. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
The L.A. wildfires left neighborhoods choking in ash and toxic air. Residents demand answers
“Nearly two weeks after the Eaton fire forced Claire Robinson to flee her Altadena home, she returned, donning a white hazmat suit, a respirator and goggles. The brick chimneys were among the few recognizable features of the quaint three-bedroom 1940 house neighboring Farnsworth Park. Nearly everything else was reduced to ashes. … “The screws were the only thing that didn’t vaporize,” Robinson said after she scoured through the debris. “Everything else is in the air. “How do we live in this highly toxic environment and make sure that people aren’t being sent back to their homes prematurely?” she said. “Families are just being told, ‘You’re clear to go in.’ They’re calling us and saying, ‘Is it safe?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know.’” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
The environmental damage following the Palisades Fire could be disastrous
“Despite the fact that the Palisades Fire is all but over, the damage is still very much being assessed and in addition to countless homes, businesses and vehicles being destroyed, there are a great many repercussions that we still must face. Unquestionably, the most significant of these, is the damage to the surrounding environment. According to CalFire, the Palisades Fire alone grew to be the 10th-deadliest and third-most destructive wildfire in US history, with 11 deaths, over 6,500 structures destroyed and more than 23,000 acres scorched. When it became clear that the unusually strong Santa Ana winds were fuelling a raging inferno, fire departments from all over the region quickly reacted and two CL-415 “Super Scooper” firefighting planes provided as much air support as was possible, dropping 1,620 gallons of sea water on each pass. … ” Read more from the Santa Monica Daily Press.
Understanding water safety notices: What returning residents need to know after wildfires
“As more and more residents impacted by Los Angeles County’s recent wildfires are being allowed back to their homes, many have questions about the various water safety notices that have been issued. What do they mean exactly, and how long will they last? ABC7 spoke to a disaster management doctor about the steps residents can take to make sure their water is safe. As people return to what’s left of their homes, the cleanup efforts continue. CHLA’S Dr. Bradley Goldberg is providing medical care to first responders stationed on Zuma Beach. “I’m a disaster physician. So, I respond to help state agencies,” he said. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
L.A. fires wreaked havoc on the land. Scientists are racing to learn what they’ve done to the sea
“The Reuben Lasker was about four miles off the coast of Manhattan Beach when ash began to rain upon the sea — first in delicate flurries, then in noxious clouds. The fisheries research vessel had set sail days earlier for a coastal survey. It was supposed to be a routine voyage, the kind that the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program embarks upon four times a year as part of the world’s longest-running marine ecosystem monitoring effort. But when the Palisades and Eaton fires broke out, scientists aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship inadvertently became the first investigators on the scene of a brewing disaster that could upend life underwater.The smoke that has choked Los Angeles, the debris piled up along decimated streets, the charred and toxic remnants of thousands of destroyed homes, businesses, cars and electronics — nearly all of it, eventually, will come to rest in the ocean. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Ash to action: Heal the Bay’s post-fire water quality investigation
“Our fire response has just begun. Over the past six days, the Heal the Bay Science and Policy Team has been testing water in and out of the burn zones along Santa Monica Bay impacted by the Palisades Fire. The Palisade Fire has increased sedimentation and introduced harmful pollutants into our coastal waters, and Heal the Bay is dedicated to understanding the impacts, which is why we are testing for key pollutants that may be transported into Santa Monica Bay due to runoff from the Palisade Fire. Not only are we testing for bacteria and turbidity (which we can process in-house), but we are also collecting samples to test for Heavy metals, Mercury, PAHs/PCBs, Benzene, and PFOS/PFOA (two types of PFAS). We collected samples before and after the rain event on January 26, 2025, which will provide a comparative analysis of initial pollutant levels and stormwater runoff effects. … ” Read more from Heal the Bay.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
The deleterious dust of the Salton Sea
“California’s Salton Sea is impressive—it’s the largest lake by surface area in the Golden State and a haven for migratory birds. But its waters also contain high levels of agricultural runoff. As the lake evaporates, those pollutants are becoming increasingly concentrated, and the Salton Sea’s shrinking shorelines are leaving behind a perimeter of dry, toxic dust. Researchers recently mined hospitalization records and showed that people are more likely to experience respiratory distress when particulate matter blows from over the Salton Sea. These findings could inform efforts to limit the health impacts of Salton Sea–derived particulates, according to the team. Located roughly 260 kilometers (160 miles) southeast of Los Angeles, the Salton Sea is a vast inland lake. But it’s shrinking: Water levels have fallen by more than 3 meters (9 feet) over the past 25 years. That’s because the rate of water flowing into the lake—mainly due to agricultural runoff from farms in the surrounding Coachella and Imperial Valleys—is far lower than the rate of evaporation. As the Salton Sea shrinks, wide swaths of dusty, dry lake bed known as playa are continuously being exposed. At the same time, the lake’s waters are becoming more saline and rich in agriculturally important compounds such as nitrogen and phosphorus, conditions that can promote algal blooms. … ” Read more from EOS.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado law protects state streams, lakes and wetlands, no matter who is in the White House, lawmakers say
“Faced with uncertainty due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision and a Trump administration decree, Colorado is steering its own course when it comes to regulating and protecting the state’s waters and wetlands. In a 2023 decision the Supreme Court sharply limited protections under the Clean Water Act. Colorado, however, enacted its own, more comprehensive statute in 2024. House Bill 1379, requires state permits for any dredging or filling of wetlands, streams and rivers on state or private land. The federal government – through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – retains the power to issue permits on federal land in Colorado and to oversee certain water projects. And on Jan. 25 in an executive order President Donald Trump called for emergency permitting powers under the act for energy facilities, which could affect Army Corps permits. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Senate confirms Zeldin to lead Environmental Protection Agency as Trump vows to cut climate rules
“The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday confirmed Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a key role to help President Donald Trump fulfill his pledge to roll back major environmental regulations, including those aimed at slowing climate change and encouraging use of electric vehicles. The vote was 56-42 in Zeldin’s favor. Three Democrats — Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania — supported Zeldin, along with all 53 Republicans. Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from New York, is a longtime Trump ally and served on Trump’s defense team during his first impeachment. He voted against certifying Trump’s 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Reset or purge? Trump EPA dismisses agency science advisers
“All members of the Environmental Protection Agency’s boards of outside advisers on science and clean air were dismissed in a letter emailed late Tuesday, an unusual step the Trump administration said was aimed at depoliticizing the panels. Panel members expressed disappointment and confusion at the assertion in the letter signed by James Payne, a career EPA attorney Trump installed as acting administrator. Critics charged the Trump administration with politicizing the process by eliminating the current independent advisers and clearing the way for them to be replaced with hand-picked appointees. “This is not about good governance, this is about rigging the system for polluters; corruption at the expense of the American people,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Committee on Environment and Public Works. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
A toxic chemical might be lurking in your drinking water
“Among all the contaminants in drinking water, nitrates are one of the most pervasive. They leach from chemical fertilizers and animal manure to pollute groundwater, rivers, and streams. Doctors have long known that in infants, nitrates can lead to blue baby syndrome—a potentially fatal blood condition that starves the body of oxygen. But now scientists and health advocates are worried that nitrates could also cause cancer. They suggest it could be behind hundreds of cases in farming states across the United States. … ” Read more from Sierra Magazine.
