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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include 2024 Enforcement Program Highlights, and Consideration and potential adoption of a proposed Order in the Matter of Alleged Waste, Unreasonable Use, Unreasonable Method of Use, and Unreasonable Method of Diversion of Water by Douglas and Heidi Cole and Marble Mountain Ranch. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Financing Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Resilient Small, Rural, and Tribal Water Systems from 10am to 11am. The State Revolving Funds (SRFs) are key sources of grant-like funding for rural, small (serving ≤10,000 people), and tribal water providers to invest in climate resilient green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). Given capacity constraints and the complexity of the SRFs, these water providers often face challenges accessing these funds. To demystify how rural, small, and tribal water providers can leverage SRF dollars for GSI, WaterNow Alliance will host a 1-hour webinar highlighting GSI eligibility for SRFs and untangling the application process, featuring a demonstration of the GSI Impact Hub—a customizable tool to make the business case for GSI investments, and previewing technical assistance resources for hands-on support. Click here to register
- WEBINAR: Sacramento Regional Water Bank’s Fourth Stakeholder Forum beginning at 6pm. The Regional Water Authority (RWA) is hosting its fourth Stakeholder Forum for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank, a project using the Sacramento region’s natural infrastructure, our groundwater aquifer, as a reservoir for depositing water during wet times for withdrawal during dry times. During this event, we’ll be highlighting recent Sacramento Regional Water Bank activities and detailing what’s ahead for 2025. Click here to register. For more information about the Sacramento Regional Water Bank, visit sacwaterbank.com/
In California water news today …
Atmospheric river hitting West with rain, snow; yet another storm on the way
“The second of three atmospheric rivers is battering the West, bringing prolific mountain snows and soaking rains in the lower elevations and driving the risk of flooding and avalanches. Yet another in the recent series of storms will approach Northern California late in the week. More than 2 feet of snow has already fallen in the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and an additional 5 to 8 feet could fall in the highest summits. Snow could fall at rates near 2 inches per hour, which could render Interstate 80 near Truckee and Donner Pass in California impassible. “Travel will be very difficult to impossible,” the National Weather Service wrote. “Slick travel conditions are expected, with chain controls likely.” … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
Atmospheric rivers to deliver ‘one-two punch’ of strong Bay Area rain, Sierra snow
“After days of wet weather, two more atmospheric rivers are forecast to drop heavy rain on Northern California this week, increasing flood potential in the Bay Area starting Monday and blanketing the Sierra Nevada with several feet of snow. Meteorologists expect the first storm to deliver two rounds of rain starting Monday afternoon and potentially stalling over the Bay Area on Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch from 4 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Wednesday and a flood advisory is also in effect until 8:45 p.m. Monday for the area west of Santa Rosa. There’s a 15% chance that excessive rainfall could cause flash flooding in the North Bay and a 5% chance for the rest of the Bay Area. … ” Read more from KQED.
‘Pineapple Express’ storms take aim at L.A. But after the rain, Santa Ana winds loom
“Back-to-back atmospheric river storms are set to hit Los Angeles County this week — giving the region much-needed moisture ahead of another potential round of Santa Ana winds. Forecasters are optimistic the coming rain will be primarily beneficial, reinvigorating vegetation left vulnerable by a historically dry start to the water year without unleashing devastating mudslides in recently burned areas. The National Weather Service estimates there’s less than a 5% chance of significant debris flow in fire-scorched parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. That can still change, however, especially if the second storm strengthens or changes its path of approach later this week. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
- ‘A one-two punch’: Biggest snowstorms of the year coming to Lake Tahoe, from SF Gate
- See what’s behind Polar Express as it drenches California and Northwest, from USA Today
- Atmospheric river-fueled storm in California prompts flood and wind advisories in these regions, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Researchers launch weather balloons in North Bay to monitor atmospheric river storm
“A group of scientists from Southern California recently came to the Bay Area to send up a series of weather balloons to help them study the atmospheric river event dumping rain on Northern California. They’re with UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes. Adolfo Lopez and Subin Yoon’s mission in Bodega Bay is to collect weather data on the impressive atmospheric river storm. Every three hours, they’re blowing up these weather balloons and attaching GPS radiosondes, sending them straight into the storm. “They’ll give you kind of a picture of the atmosphere at the time, kind of taking a snapshot right at that time. And so we do it successively every three hours and we’re going to see the storm come through the area,” said Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes Field Operations Manager Yoon. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Jim Costa, Tulare County Farm Bureau react to unplanned water release
“Central Valley leaders are still wondering why the Trump Administration ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release water from two Tulare County dams without any prior notice. Representative Jim Costa and the executive director of the Tulare County Farm Bureau say this decision could be costly. “They literally had about an hour’s notice in front of when the Army Corps was initially set to maybe do these releases,” Tulare County Farm Bureau Executive Director Trista Stever Blattler said. The Trump Administration signed an executive order that would help fight Los Angeles wildfires. As part of that executive order, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were instructed to release 5,500 cubic feet of water per second from Lake Kaweah and 4,500 cubic feet of water per second from Lake Success. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
SEE ALSO:
- 2.2 billion gallons of water flowed out of California reservoirs because of Trump’s order to open dams, from CNN
- Trump gloats about California dam water release, critics call it wasteful and reckless, from KTVU
- The water unexpectedly released from dams on Trump’s order didn’t help farms or L.A, from the LA Times | Read via Yahoo News
- Commentary: Call First Next Time, from Don Wright at Water Wrights
- Column: Trump’s lies are dragging down democracy, journalism and the climate, from the LA Times
- Trump’s water orders welcomed by Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District, from the Tehachapi News
California Water Policy Questions Answered | To The Point Raw
UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences founding director Jeffrey Mount answers questions about California’s Water Policy.
Scientists use ancient weather-harnessing method to address growing crisis: ‘Small scales added up could mean something’
“Researchers in Northern California are tapping into the region’s fog to collect and store water for everyday use, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. It’s a cutting-edge twist on fog collection, an ancient technique that can address California’s water scarcity driven by climate-induced drought. Fog collectors are simple contraptions made of plastic mesh that intercept water droplets from mist. The practice was used more than 2,500 years ago when Indigenous people in the Canary Islands captured fog water by funneling it into underground cisterns. Now, the water collected could be used to irrigate farms and gardens, mitigating the effects of California’s dry spells and deluges. Although fog harvesting’s yields are modest, the potential is vast when scaled across communities. “I see that fog water could be used to supplement irrigation at relatively local and small scales — but all those local small scales added up could mean something,” Sarah Baguskas, a San Francisco State professor who tracks fog water collection across Northern California, told the San Francisco Chronicle. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
SEE ALSO: New research and art instillation demonstrates the viability of using fog as a water source, from UC Santa Cruz
Delta Stewardship Council creates ambiguity in the definition of a “covered action” under the Delta Reform Act
“On January 23, 2025, the Delta Stewardship Council (Council) adopted a 33-page decision (“Decision” or “D20242”) regarding the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Certification of Consistency (Certification) with the Delta Plan pertaining to a small subset of geotechnical activities that form part of the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). The DCP is a proposal by DWR to modify the State Water Project by constructing and operating large-scale water conveyance infrastructure in the Delta. The DCP includes the proposed construction and operation of two intake structures on the Sacramento River in the north Delta, a 45-mile-long underground conveyance tunnel through the Delta, and a new pumping plant that will lift the water into the existing Bethany Reservoir south of the Delta. … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn.
Sounds of hope in the High Sierra

“Like many other freshwater wildlife species, amphibians have faced steep declines throughout California. Climate-fueled disasters are only increasing the stress on these creatures. As we saw after the recent Palisades fire, species rescue is becoming increasingly necessary. Fortunately, a team of agencies and a local university were able to rescue hundreds of endangered Tidewater Goby from a Malibu lagoon to protect them from toxic debris flows generated from the fire. Emergency actions like this are truly important—but they should be an action of last resort. One of the best ways to improve a species’ chance of survival is, quite simply, to make sure that they don’t become too isolated. A recent study of the imperiled Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog is pointing a way forward—and offering hope for an iconic species that was once the most common amphibian in the High Sierra. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Bringing black abalone back from the brink
“On a cool October day, the wind whipped around Nathaniel Fletcher as he bear-crawled his way along a rocky reef in the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, a protected area on California’s central coast. He reached into cracks and peered into crevices with a flashlight, hoping to find an endangered marine snail whose shell recently has become California’s state seashell: the black abalone. Seven species of abalone were once abundant along the California coast. Now, climate change and overfishing have driven all seven to the edge of extinction. The black abalone’s road to recovery is particularly challenging: Unlike other abalone species, researchers have not yet been able to grow it in captivity. But new efforts may give this iconic gastropod a fighting chance. … ” Read more from High Country News.
Cal Fire’s predictions didn’t foresee the Altadena inferno. Now it’s changing its fire-hazard maps
“The Tunnel fire broke out in a wooded canyon just minutes away from UC Berkeley, where David Sapsis was working on his PhD in fire science. Five years into a drought, on a torrid October morning in 1991, with the wind whipping at over 60 mph, Sapsis knew it spelled trouble. An eyewitness watched as a single ember landed on a tree just outside the burn area, igniting it. Then, all hell broke loose. The fire killed 25 people and injured 150 more. It engulfed more than 3,800 structures throughout the hilly communities and raced toward Oakland. But then, the winds died down. Sapsis — who would spend much of the aftermath studying the forensics of the fire — was left with a terrifying thought that has stuck with him ever since. “That fire,” he said, “could have gone to Lake Merritt if the winds would have persisted.” Straight through Oakland. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In commentary today …
Why no water system is built with capacity for fires like Palisades and Eaton
Tom Majich, general manager of the Kinneloa Irrigation District, which is in the burn area of the 1993 Kinneloa fire and the 2025 Eaton fire, writes, “In the immediate aftermath of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, local water agencies have been questioned and criticized about why sufficient water resources may not have been available for the fire suppression effort. As the general manager of a public water agency, I’ve tried to succinctly explain the quandary facing water systems, especially those whose infrastructure has evolved over the past 130 years from irrigating citrus orchards to serving highly populated and dense residential communities. One metaphor has seemed to resonate. When I talk to people about the finite capacity of water systems, I ask them to imagine a small coffee shop that sells 200 to 300 cups of drip coffee on an average day and a few days a year might sell 400. That is how community water systems are designed to operate. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times.
Wildfire resilience and the important role of public water agencies
Scott Ratterman, president of the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, writes, “The recent wildfires that swept through the greater Los Angeles area have left an enduring impact on countless lives. With more than 10,000 homes tragically destroyed, entire communities are now facing profound loss and uncertainty. As members of the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to everyone affected by this devastating catastrophe. Having witnessed the far-reaching consequences of megafires in our own Sierra foothills, we understand the gravity of such events and their lasting effects. In our role as advocates for balanced water resource management, we are committed to learning from these tragedies to improve wildfire preparedness in our region, while acknowledging both the critical purpose and the limitations of public water systems in the face of such challenges. … ” Read more from the Mountain Democrat.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
The mighty Klamath coming back to life
“Like a cat with nine lives, the Klamath River is coming back to life. The four dams have been removed and fish are returning to their ancestral home in Southern Oregon, Siskiyou and Del Norte counties. The California Dept of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reports volitional Fish passage has been restored with the removal of Iron Gate, Copco 1 and Copco 2 and JC Boyle dams. Monitoring adult salmonoids and juvenile productivity will be ongoing with preliminary adult Chinook basin estimates available by February 15. Initial results are positive with documented spawning in multiple tributaries in California and Oregon upstream from the former dam sites. Results of juvenile monitoring will be available, this summer. Temperatures and flow dynamics to a dams out environment and are already showing signs of improved ecosystems function. … ” Read more from the Del Norte Triplicate.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
More than half a ton of litter removed from Donner Lake
“Clean Up the Lake has removed 1,526 lbs. of submerged litter from Donner Lake over the last few months. The dive team removed more than half a ton of the litter in 18 dives conducted over 11 days, according to a press release. The project pulled litter roughly the weight of a dumpster filled with a piano and a large vending machine from 35- to 55-foot depths in Donner Lake. This latest effort coupled with previous clean up efforts bring the total litter removed from Donner Lake to 14,558 lbs. … ” Read more from Tahoe Guide.
South Yuba River flows to increase with early spill of Lake Spaulding in Nevada County
“Flows along the South Yuba River are expected increase significantly with rain pushing an early spill for Lake Spaulding. The dam at Lake Spaulding in Nevada County is expected to start spilling as early as Feb. 4, according to PG&E. This comes after the weekend rain and amid more rain and snow in the forecast. … ” Read more from ABC 10.
SEE ALSO: High Elevation Rains to Cause Early Spill of Lake Spaulding, Flows on South Yuba River to Increase, from YubaNet
EBMUD closes boat access to Pardee, Camanche reservoirs over invasive golden mussels
“The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) announced Friday that boat access to two of its reservoirs in the Sierra Foothills has been closed amid concerns about an invasive mussel that was recently found in the Delta. Officials said the boat launches at Pardee Reservoir, the primary source of water for the district, will not open in February as previously scheduled. Meanwhile, the launches at the Camanche Reservoir, which have been closed since November, will stay closed until further notice. Recreation facilities at the reservoirs will remain open. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Flood control releases from Lake Oroville ongoing
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues federally required flood control releases from Lake Oroville to maintain flood protection for downstream communities. Flood releases using Oroville Dam’s main spillway began this morning at 10 a.m. with water also being released through the Hyatt Powerplant for energy production. Total Feather River flood control releases are currently at 35,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Between October and April, DWR is required to operate Lake Oroville for flood control under federal Water Control Manual Guidelines set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These federal regulations establish a set storage space that is reserved to capture inflows from rain and future snowmelt, while protecting downstream communities from damaging flood events through coordinated releases. To maintain this storage space, DWR has increased releases from Lake Oroville. … ” Read more from DWR.
SEE ALSO: California Department of Water Resources takes action to maintain safe water levels at Lake Oroville amid rising inflows, from Action News Now
Rising to the challenge: How 2024 storage at Folsom Reservoir sets the stage for 2025 and beyond
“As we step into 2025, the Sacramento region is starting the year on a positive note, thanks to the Bureau of Reclamation’s continued commitment to meeting a balanced planning minimum for Folsom Reservoir storage. This minimum, outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Water Forum, identifies a minimum storage level of 300,000 acre-feet by the end of December each year. In years with dry conditions, the minimum is 230,000 acre-feet. The MOU also outlines mechanisms for communication and information sharing between the Water Forum and Reclamation, as well as opportunities for regional actions to support Folsom storage levels. … ” Read more from the Water Forum.
BAY AREA
Martinez Refining Company has had several environmental issues over the years
“Officials at PBF Energy, the company that operates the Martinez Refining Company, determined that a hydrocarbon leak caused this weekend’s fire. Contra Costa County issued a level 3 community warning—its highest level possible. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, hydrocarbons are a naturally occurring blend of hydrogen and carbon and are used in refining crude oil. They can be dangerous when inhaled as fumes. The Martinez Refining Company has been the center of several investigations from county, state and federal agencies. … ” Read more from KCRA.
CENTRAL COAST
San Luis Obispo County fights order to release more water from Lopez Lake
“San Luis Obispo County is fighting a judge’s order to release more water from Lopez Lake, citing concerns that the plan would jeopardize the county’s drinking water supply. In December, U.S. District Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett ordered the county to release more water from Lopez Dam to support steelhead trout migration through Arroyo Grande Creek. This plan must ensure that there is enough water in the creek to support steelhead trout traveling from the ocean to spawning habitat in the Arroyo Grande Creek Watershed, the judge said. The trout are designated as a threatened species by the Endangered Species Act. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Flood watch on tap for Stockton, with another atmospheric river storm to come
“More rain is on the way to greater Stockton — and this round could bring heavy showers with a flood watch. After the first in a series of atmospheric river storms delivered a weekend punch of precipitation, a new round is rolling in Monday night and lasting into Wednesday, the National Weather Service office in Sacramento said. The latest forecast predicts the bulk of the rain beginning after 7 tonight. A full day of chilly rain will be on tap Tuesday, with a high temperature of 56 and wind gusts up to 26 mph, the NWS reported. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
Along the Colorado River …
An ‘atmospheric river’ of rain is set to hit California, but it won’t make it to Arizona
“While the West Coast will feel the soggy effects of an atmospheric river this week, the system won’t bring any moisture into drought-stricken Arizona. Parts of California and the Pacific Northwest could get up to a foot of rain by Wednesday, ending weeks of dry weather. Northern and central California will receive the most rain, with some areas accumulating a month’s worth of rain in just a few days. But the atmospheric river will be limited to the West Coast, as much of Arizona will experience above-normal temperatures and continue its dry trend through this week. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Salt River Project reservoirs remain mostly full as Arizona drought conditions worsen
“Arizona’s drought conditions are becoming worse after an extremely dry summer, fall and winter. But Salt River Project reports its reservoirs remain at sustainable levels. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about 64% of Arizona is now experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions. Three months ago, just 27% of the state’s drought was considered severe and no part of the state was in an extreme drought. SRP’s seven reservoirs along the Salt and Verde Rivers supply about half of the Valley’s water. And SRP senior hydrologist Stephen Flora said right now is usually the season when those reservoirs would be gaining water, but not this year. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Podcast: How cloud seeding could make it rain (and snow) in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin
“Manipulating the clouds to make it rain or snow sounds like the stuff of science fiction. But the technology behind cloud seeding is nothing new: It dates back to the 1940s. That science got a new look recently when lawmakers ordered the Government Accountability Office to re-examine the possibilities of cloud seeding as water becomes a more precious resource in the U.S. The newly published report calls cloud seeding promising, but also says more research is needed. That got Alex Hager – KUNC’s in-house water reporter — thinking about how cloud seeding might affect what’s probably the biggest water story in the nation: the drought-stricken Colorado River. Alex wrote about it recently, and joined In The NoCo’s Erin O’Toole to talk about what he learned.” Listen at KUNC.
Cancer-causing ‘forever chemicals’ linger in Nevada water, throughout West
“Many water managers have long been stumped on how to best control pesky, cancer-causing “forever chemicals” popping up in samples throughout the country. In a first-of-its-kind water quality snapshot for all of the American West’s waterways, a team of researchers found out just how widespread the problem is. The peer-reviewed study evaluated levels of PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — compounds found everywhere in the 21st century, from food packaging to cosmetics. Waterways from as far northwest as Washington state and as far southeast as New Mexico have at least some concentrations of PFAS chemicals of concern. Colorado River sampling was comparatively lower than most, as were the results from the Truckee River, Reno’s main water source. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
In national water news today …
Federal water funds appear unfrozen following Trump memorandum
“Funding for water infrastructure programs including for grants and loans like the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and WIFIA appear to not be affected after the Trump administration last week revoked a memorandum that paused a number of federal spending programs. As part of a memorandum issued by the administration, federal agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were directed to pause distribution of all financial assistance and any pending notices of funding availability. The memorandum was apparently part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal spending programs and agencies, as well as review energy-related spending. The memorandum called for a review by the Office of Management and Budget. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
As global plastic production grows, so does the concentration of microplastics in our brains
“Finding microplastics in human body parts is not new: Scientists have uncovered the minuscule waste products in human blood, lungs, brains, hearts and testicles. But a new study, published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, shows a lockstep relationship between the amount of plastic found in tissues harvested from human cadavers and the amount being produced by the plastic industry. As global plastic production has ramped up in the last 20 years, so too has the concentration of these shredded, fossil fuel-derived polymers in human tissue samples. The findings are “pretty striking,” said Phil Landrigan, director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College, who was not affiliated with the research. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Study finds microplastic contamination in 99% of seafood samples
“Microplastics contamination is widespread in seafood sampled in a recent study, adding to growing evidence of the dangerous substances’ ubiquity in the nation’s food system, and a growing threat to human health. The peer-reviewed study detected microplastics in 99%, or 180 out of 182, samples of seafood either bought at the store or obtained from a fishing boat in Oregon. The highest levels were found in shrimp. Researchers also determined the most common type of microplastic were fibers from clothing or textiles, which represented over 80% of the substance they detected. The findings highlight a serious problem with plastic use at its current scale, said Elise Granek, a Portland State University microplastics researcher and study co-author. … ” Read more from The Guardian.