A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
Note to readers: Sign up for weekly email service and you will receive notification of this post on Friday mornings. Readers on daily email service can add weekly email service by updating their subscription preferences. Click here to sign up!
In California water news this week …
Storms boost reservoir releases with Sacramento-San Joaquin-Bay Delta pumps operating at full capacity
“The recent series of atmospheric rivers brought periods of heavy rain increasing runoff into Northern California rivers and reservoirs. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says it’s increasing water releases from some Central Valley Project reservoirs for flood control management. This will result in rises on some rivers. These coordinated management operations are done to maximize hydropower production from Central Valley Project facilities. In addition, the federal pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta are operating at maximum capacity and storing water in the San Luis Reservoir to support south-of-Delta delivery to farms, communities and wildlife refuges to use during the dry season when needed. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
State Water Project “flexes” operations to capture more storm water
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is taking advantage of February storms and increased flexibility in new operating permits for the State Water Project to move more stormwater now for use when dry conditions return. Starting late Monday, the State Water Project increased pumping levels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from 1,800 cubic feet per second to around 3,000 cubic feet per second in order to move additional storm runoff into storage at San Luis Reservoir. It’s anticipated that this action will capture an additional 16,000 acre-feet of storm water in the reservoir for use later this summer. The pumping increase is made possible in part by the “storm flex” provisions in the State Water Project’s 2024 federal and state endangered species act permits, which allow for additional diversion of water supply when certain ecological conditions are met during storms. It’s an example of how the new permits foster adaptive management based on real-time conditions to improve water supply availability for millions of Californians and agriculture while still protecting endangered fish species. … ” Read more from DWR News.
Trump’s emergency water order responsible for water dump from Tulare County lakes
“The sudden announcement Thursday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that Kaweah and Success lakes would immediately begin dumping water was in response to President Trump’s Jan. 24 executive order mandating that federal officials exert all efforts to get more water to fight southern California wildfires, the Army Corps confirmed Friday. “Consistent with the direction in the Executive Order on Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Success Lake to ensure California has water available to respond to the wildfires,” wrote Gene Pawlik, a supervising public affairs specialist in the Army Corps’ Washington, D.C. office. Indeed, President Trump boasted about the releases on his X page Friday posting a photo of a river and writing: “Photo of beautiful water flow that I just opened in California. Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago – There would have been no fire!” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Trump dumped these farmers’ water. They’d rather not talk about it.
“California farmers — some of President Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters in the deep blue state — are sticking with him, even after he wasted their water. At least publicly, the farmers and their Republican allies are brushing off the president’s abrupt move last week to dump more than 2 billion gallons of their irrigation water from reservoirs in the name of aiding Los Angeles wildfires — even though the fires were already contained and the water couldn’t have made it to Los Angeles anyway. Zack Stuller, a farmer with citrus and almond orchards he irrigates from the reservoirs and president of the Tulare County Farm Bureau in the state’s arid Central Valley, said the situation “definitely was a little nerve-wracking for a while.” But, he said, “I’m a farmer. I have a conservative mindset. I encourage the trigger-pulling attitude, like, ‘Hey, let’s just get stuff done.’” … ” Read more from Politico.
Governor Newsom issues executive order to help California capture and store more water from upcoming severe storms; Conservation groups respond
“In anticipation of a multi-day, significant atmospheric river in Northern California, Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order that would make it easier to divert and store excess water from incoming winter storms. The Governor signed the order after he received a briefing on the latest forecast for the storm. The executive order also directs the Department of Water Resources and other state agencies to take action to maximize diversion of those excess flows to boost the state’s water storage in Northern California, including storage in San Luis Reservoir south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. These actions will help California replenish above-ground and groundwater storage that remains depleted in many parts of the state following multi-year droughts. “It is more important than ever that we maximize every opportunity to recharge our groundwater supplies. As we anticipate rain and snow in Northern California, we are also preparing to use every last drop to boost our water supply for communities and farms throughout the state. By storing these stormwaters, we are creating a literal rainy day fund to help us recover from a multi-year drought and prepare for our hotter, drier future,” said Governor Newsom. … ” Read more from Governor Newsom.
Newsom issues order to ‘maximize’ water capture during storms. Critics say it sounds just like Trump
“Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order that he says is intended to “maximize” the capture of water during winter storms. Newsom issued the order Friday, saying it will make it easier to divert and store water as storms bring rain and snow in the coming days. “It is more important than ever that we maximize every opportunity to recharge our groundwater supplies,” Newsom said. “As we anticipate rain and snow in Northern California, we are also preparing to use every last drop to boost our water supply for communities and farms throughout the state.” Environmental and fishing groups, however, denounced Newsom’s order as being alarmingly similar to federal directives from President Trump, saying the governor’s approach threatens to harm vulnerable fish species and the deteriorating ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
- Gov. Newsom issues executive order maximizing water diversions & waiving critical protections, from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos
- Newsom signs order to help capture more water, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
DWR: Snowpack dips well below average in second snow survey of the season (one week ago)
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 22.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 8 inches, which is 46 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack is 65 percent of average for this date. On January 1, the statewide snowpack was 108 percent of average after a series of large storms in November and December boosted snow totals in the Northern Sierra, but significant regional differences kept the Central Sierra just below average and the Southern Sierra well below average. An excessively dry January has pushed the Northern Sierra back to near average, the Central Sierra to 58 percent of average, and has led the Southern Sierra Nevada to fall to under 50 percent of average. “Despite a good start to the snowpack in the Northern Sierra in November and December, we can look back as recently as 2013 and 2021 to show how quickly conditions can change for the drier,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “California missed out on critical snow-building storms in January which has pushed the state down below average for this time of year. While we are excited to see some storm activity in the coming days, sustained periods of no precipitation can dry the state out very quickly. For each day it’s not snowing or raining, we are not keeping up with what we need.” … ” Read more from DWR.
Multiple parties file motion to cancel or postpone upcoming hearing on DWR’s water right change petition for Delta Conveyance Project
“With the hearing on the water rights petition for the Delta Conveyance Project at the State Water Board set to begin on February 18, multiple parties have filed a motion with the State Water Board’s Administrative Hearings Office requesting cancellation of DWR’s water rights change petition for the Delta Conveyance Project due to incomplete information and procedural concerns. DWR has filed a petition to change the point of diversion for the Delta Conveyance Project to add new points of diversion to the water rights associated with the State Water Project. This process is required by the State Water Resources Control Board to ensure compliance with water rights regulations and to allow for public participation and transparency. The motion argues that DWR’s failure to provide ordered supplemental information justifies the cancellation of the change petition. Alternatively, they request that the hearing dates be vacated until DWR resolves its extension petition or provides necessary information. The motion is supported by multiple entities, including Delta water agencies and reclamation districts, and Sacramento, Solano, San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties. … ” Read more at Maven’s Notebook.
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.
New threat in the Delta: Golden mussels join the ranks of invasive species
“Golden mussels may be small, but their impact on aquatic ecosystems is anything but. These invasive species are infamous for their rapid reproduction and ability to spread, quickly infesting waterways across the globe. Native to China and Southeast Asia, they gradually expanded their range within Asia before reaching Argentina in 1991, likely hitching a ride in the ballast water of a commercial ship, and have now spread across five South American countries. Golden mussels were first detected in North America on October 17 near the Port of Stockton, likely introduced through ballast water from international cargo ships. This poses serious concerns not only for the fragile Delta ecosystem but also for waterways across California, the United States, and beyond. At the Delta Independent Science Board meeting on January 29, Dr. Thomas Jabusch, a senior environmental scientist supervisor with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, outlined the department’s ongoing efforts to combat this invasive newcomer. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
In commentary this week …
Trump wasted water? Newsom channeling Trump? Welcome to the mad, mad world of Californian water
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “There is a school of thought that the 2.2 billion gallons of water that President Trump ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to release last week that flowed from the Lake Kaweah and Lake Success reservoirs was wasted. There is another school that contends Gov. Gavin Newsom was caving into Trump’s misconceptions regarding how California manages its water by his own order to divert into storage excessive flows generated by the current atmospheric river events drenching Northern California. Sorry, but both views expressed and advanced in media coverage by various water interest spokespeople were a bit self-serving. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
President Trump wasted water meant to help California farmers in hot summer
Columnist Tad Weber writes, “Fruit and nut crops grown in Tulare County in 2023 were worth more than $4 billion in gross revenues. The single-largest commodity produced in the county that year was milk, with dairies earning more than $2 billion in sales. Adding up the more than 150 different agricultural products from that year, Tulare County farmers posted nearly $8 billion in total production values. Yet there is one priceless commodity those farmers and livestock producers could not go without: Water. So it is shocking that President Trump just ordered more than 2 billion gallons of water to be released from two lakes in Tulare County, ostensibly to help Los Angeles fight its wildfires, in the middle of winter when farmers’ water needs are low. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
Commentary: California’s smart and vocal farmers are silent about Trump as he wasted their water
Opinion columnist Tom Philp writes, “Agriculture is a form of legalized gambling here in California, our land is prone to deluge or drought. Our farmers, relentlessly adapting, are as innovative as any set of suits in Silicon Valley, learning new ways to grow more food with less water. As sure as the sun, our farmers have always shared their views of California politics as they relentlessly pursue the water necessary to grow much of the nation’s fruits and vegetables. Yet now, an eerie silence has begun descending over California farming. A candidate many of them undoubtedly supported for president, Donald Trump, has shockingly wasted some of their water in a downright dangerous stunt unlike anything in memory. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
California’s mismanagement of fire and water
Edward Ring, cofounder of the California Policy Center, writes, “The more we learn about the Los Angeles-area wildfires, the more caution is called for when assigning blame. When the Santa Ana winds periodically sweep down from California’s eastern deserts and rip through the mountains surrounding the Los Angeles Basin at up to 100 MPH, sparks don’t go up, they go sideways, and turn entire canyons into blast furnaces. Any criticism of the response to these fires, or of the inadequate preparation for these fires, has to recognize that sometimes even if authorities do everything they possibly can, it will not be enough. In the face of low-probability/high-consequence forces of nature, humans can only do so much. On the other hand, the biggest ideas California’s politicians have come up with so far in response to worsening fires are symbolic. … ” Read more from the California Policy Center.
A disinformation deluge on California policies
“Trump’s longtime strategy of ‘flooding the zone” — aka overwhelming opponents with a flurry of announcements and superficial initiatives — took a literal turn last week, when his administration ordered the release of a significant amount of water from two dams in the Central Valley to try to score political points. As the New York Times reported, the water dump won’t do anything to serve the supposed policy objectives — to help Southern California firefighters and Central Valley farmers. It’s actually more likely to hurt farmers later in spring and summer months when irrigation is more critical. Instead, Trump’s emergency order unleashing 2 billion gallons over three days with little warning first sent local water officials scrambling to prevent rivers from flooding and then scratching their heads about the point of filling rivers, streams and diversion canals that are separated from Los Angeles by mountain ranges and some 150 miles. … ” Read more from Legal Planet.
Newsom must bring balance back into California’s environmental policy
Edwin A. Lombard III, the executive director of Californians for Smarter Sustainability, writes, ““You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” Although penned by a poet, it may be more apropos for politics — it was famously co-opted by Abraham Lincoln, after all. In 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom would be well served to take a page from Lincoln’s book when it comes to his own sustainability policies in California. With less than two years left in his administration, Newsom is in a difficult position as he tries to solve existing challenges while carving out a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship and signature accomplishments. Yet despite his self-proclaimed commitment to the environment, the governor has drawn some criticism from climate groups that oppose several of his much-needed water infrastructure projects. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego.
DAN WALTERS: Colorado River poses another California water conflict that Trump will affect
“President Donald Trump’s intrusion into California’s long-running conflict over water management – essentially favoring farmers over wildlife habitat – has drawn massive media and political attention. Trump ordered federal water managers to release more water for farmers but the increased flows have so far been largely symbolic because farmers use little water during the winter but need more during the growing season. Trump’s action has been denounced by environmental groups which have long sought to enhance river flows for salmon and other species, with tacit support from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. However, Newsom directed state water managers to maximize retention of runoff from recent rains to raise water levels in reservoirs, an action that some environmentalists criticized as emulating Trump. These events represent a continuation not only of California’s internal conflicts over water but pick up where Trump left off during his first stint in the White House. … ” Read more from Dan Walters at Cal Matters.
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.
‘Forest management’ misdirection worsens community wildfire threats
“After the devastation of Los Angeles communities in recent wildfires, our national wildfire policies must focus on saving lives and neighborhoods from future fires, and rebuilding in a fire-safe way that prevents it from happening again. This is not just about Los Angeles, or California. It is about vulnerable communities across the nation, from the arid regions of the western U.S. to parts of Florida, Appalachia, the New Jersey Pine Barrens and many at-risk communities in between. The problem is that, as a society, we cannot seem to have that essential conversation. There is a sort of cultural anomaly, like a spell, that inexorably steers the discussion and the funding for wildfire policies toward “forest management.” This misdirection is putting lives and communities at risk. … ” Read more from The Hill.
Dear Uncle Sam: Before blaming California, you might want to check whose land the L.A. fires burned
Columnist Joe Mathews writes, “Shut up, Uncle Sam. Or put up. Yes, I’m talking to you, my federal government. I don’t care if you don’t like my tone. Because, while falsely blaming California and its politicians for devastating fires, you never acknowledge your own culpability: You are the arsonist, and not just politically. Because half of California is yours. In fact, about 46% of the land in this state belongs to the federal government. Just 3% is managed by the state. The flames that leveled Pacific Palisades and Malibu are believed to have started in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (italics mine), managed by the National Park Service. (That’s you!) … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle.
In regional water news this week …
PG&E moves to dismantle Potter Valley Project predicting ‘adverse impacts’ to the Russian River
“On January 31, 2025, PG&E released its Final Draft Application for Surrender of License for the Potter Valley Project (PVP), a hydroelectric facility that has historically diverted water from the Eel River to the Russian River watershed. The 2,086-page document outlines PG&E’s plans for decommissioning the century-old project and details the expected effects on Russian River water users, including agricultural, municipal, and recreational interests in Mendocino, Sonoma, and northern Marin counties. This summary highlights key takeaways relevant to the Russian River community. … ” Read more from MendoFever.
Transfers, groundwater overuse, voluntary agreements, and lots of $$$: Aqualliance and allies sue Glenn Colusa Irrigation District
“AquAlliance, Central Delta Water Agency, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, and the California Water Impact Network filed a challenge to the final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Water Reduction Program Agreement Between the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation, Individual Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Sacramento Superior Court on January 28, 2025. The lawsuit alleges violations of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) with Glenn Colusa Irrigation District’s approval of the FEIR, such as the FEIR failed to disclose the alarming subsidence trends in the Colusa Subbasin where much of the Project’s activities will occur; the Project description only provided a general description of the proposed drought resiliency projects, including the proposed conjunctive use program to artificially recharge surface and groundwater supplies, and never identified where each project will be implemented or what the scale of these projects will be. … ” Continue reading from AquAlliance.
C&H ordered to stop dumping raw sugar into Carquinez Strait
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered C&H Sugar to cease dumping raw sugar into the Carquinez Strait — an act that agency officials say violates the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act, enacted in 1948, regulates discharges of pollutants into U.S. waters. EPA officials said last month that on at least three occasions, raw sugar was discharged into the strait from ships delivering sugar to the C&H refinery in Crockett. Sugary wastewater can deplete dissolved oxygen when dumped into water, which could endanger fish and other sea life, officials said. The EPA said the refinery also failed to maintain a proper wastewater system and fully implement its stormwater pollution prevention plan, in addition to violating its discharge limits. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Santa Clara County accuses companies of causing ‘environmental and human health crisis’ via ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
“One toxic compound killed all the monkeys 3M’s scientists fed it to, and another entered the bodies of pregnant women workers at DuPont and was passed along to their babies. The two companies kept selling products containing these compounds, members of a chemical family known as PFAS, and allegedly covered up the dangerous effects. Now the toxins, known as “forever chemicals” for their persistence in the environment, are contaminating Santa Clara County’s drinking water and groundwater, threatening residents’ health and fish and wildlife in the San Francisco Bay, a lawsuit filed last week by Santa Clara County against the pair of chemical giants and other companies claimed. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
San Luis Obispo County supervisors clash over creating agency to charge water fees in Paso Robles basin
“The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors took a step toward creating an agency that could charge fees for pumping water from the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin at Tuesday’s board meeting — but few in attendance were supportive of the decision. If created, the Joint Powers Authority would have the power to levy those fees, which would fund programs designed to balance the basin along with administrative tasks like monitoring wells and writing annual reports. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune. | Read via AOL News.
Stanislaus County approves new road to bypass proposed reservoir. Court decision reversed
“Stanislaus County supervisors approved a new route Tuesday for Del Puerto Canyon Road to make way for a reservoir west of Patterson. The proposed reservoir, just west of Interstate 5, would inundate a section of the road that winds through Del Puerto Canyon. Supervisors approved a 3.9-mile alternative route starting at Del Puerto Canyon Road, about half a mile from the intersection of Sperry Road and Interstate 5. From there, the new road will cross over foothill terrain to reconnect with Del Puerto Canyon Road near the 5-mile mark in the canyon. According to a study that analyzed 10 possible routes, the new road will traverse through a valley for 1.25 miles and cross a bridge before reaching the canyon near the mouth of the reservoir. A preliminary estimate for the road’s cost is $110 million, which is the responsibility of the reservoir project…. ” Read more from the Modesto Bee. | Read via AOL News.
Boeing Company loses Santa Susana lawsuit; New monitoring detects toxic discharges into Los Angeles River
“The Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), situated in the hills between Simi Valley and Los Angeles, was used for decades to test rocket engines and for nuclear experimentation. Accidents, spills, fires, leaks, and open-air burn pits resulted in the soil and groundwater being heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals, radioactive waste, and heavy metals, including lead and mercury. The legacy of contamination continues to pose environmental and public health concerns for the surrounding communities, where over 700,000 people live within ten miles of the site. Dangerous contamination from the SSFL flows into local streams and creeks during heavy rains, ending up in the Los Angeles River (LA River) and Calleguas Creek Watershed, where water is used for various beneficial purposes such as ecological habitat purposes, drinking water, agriculture, and recreation. … ” Read more from LA Waterkeeper.
Researchers tested sandboxes and street dust for lead after the Eaton Fire. Here’s what they found
“Late last month, before the rains arrived, USC professor Seth John traveled through foothill neighborhoods devastated by the Eaton Fire, gathering street dust to test for lead. Another USC professor, Sam Silva, visited public parks and preschools, sampling sandboxes he and his friend’s kids played in. Concerns have arisen following the deadly fire after thousands of older buildings, where lead paint is often present, burned, raising questions about how far ash, laden with toxic heavy metals, has spread across the region. John and his graduate students tested 19 samples gathered every half mile or so, from La Cañada Flintridge to Monrovia. Some from right in front of burned homes and others from neighborhoods where homes were spared, but blanketed in wildfire ash. The result? They found a lot of variability between the sites. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Endangered Southern California steelhead trout rescued from fire-impacted Topanga Creek
“As part of statewide efforts to help Californians and wildlife recover from the Southern California fires, on Jan. 23 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and its partners rescued 271 endangered Southern California steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from Topanga Creek, the last known population of this species in the Santa Monica Mountains. These fish survived in the chilly waters of Topanga Creek as the Palisades Fire swept through Topanga Canyon, but rain brought the threat of localized extinction. Storm events in late January and future storms falling over the burn scar can carry ash, sediment and debris into the creek that would suffocate and wipe out the population. Fisheries biologists estimate the remaining population to be as few as 400 – 500 trout. “The fires in Southern California have been incredibly devastating,” said CDFW Chief Deputy Director Valerie Termini. “CDFW stands with the victims who have lost their homes, and we’re here to help everyone recover. Part of that effort is to bring back habitats and wildlife. Our role is going to be for the long term — helping people and wildlife recover. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Protesters voice concerns as EPA prepares Palisades fire clean-up site
“Across the street from Topanga Beach the scorched remains of signs indicate the burned ground once home to the Topanga Motel and the Reel Inn restaurant. Nearby, Environmental Protection Agency contractors have begun preparing the land to be used as a staging site for hazardous waste removed from the debris left in the wake of the Palisades fire. Over a dozen concerned protesters, mostly Topanga residents, gathered on Friday, Jan. 31, to express their opposition to the hazardous waste removal site being established on the land of the former Topanga Motel location, which is owned by the California State Parks system. “It’s our beach, keep it clean,” they chanted, many holding brightly colored signs referencing water safety, a main concern for many protesters given the site’s proximity to the ocean. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Inside the LA fire cleanup’s rush to remove tons of toxic rubble
“Removing toxic waste from the foothills and coastal canyons where more than 16,000 homes and businesses burned down in the Los Angeles wildfires was always going to be an unprecedented challenge in a densely-populated, traffic-choked metropolis. And then the Trump administration ordered the job to be completed in just 30 days. Federal officials revealed the deadline on Jan. 29, days after President Donald Trump met with survivors of the Pacific Palisades fire. The US Environmental Protection Agency said that it’s been “tasked” with finishing the household hazardous materials cleanup within a month. But the vast scale of the damage is testing the government’s well-honed wildfire playbook and signals the growing challenge of responding to ever-more frequent and destructive climate disasters. It took the EPA more than three months to remove hazardous debris from 1,448 residential and commercial properties incinerated in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire in Hawaii. LA has nearly 10 times the number of destroyed buildings and at least five times as many potentially explosive electric vehicles abandoned in fire zones that must be disarmed. … ” Read more from Bloomberg.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
DWR: Public comment period opens for periodic evaluations and amendments/revisions of groundwater sustainability plans
NOTICE: Delta Conveyance Project public hearing begins Feb 18
