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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Sites Reservoir Project water rights hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending petition for Sites Reservoir Project water rights. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@swrcbadministrativehearing728/featured. Click here for the hearing notice.
- WEBINAR: Microplastics Pollution from Watersheds to Coastal Marine Systems in Southern California from 12pm to 1pm. Presenter(s): Andrew Gray, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside. Sponsor(s): NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) Science Seminar Series, and NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. Register for the seminar at: https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/nos_science_seminar_feb_10/event/registration.html
In California water news today …
Atmospheric river to unleash deluge of rainfall across California this week
“Following a brief lull in the stormy pattern, California residents are on track to be doused by another atmospheric river, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. Through early this week, the drier stretch will persist across much of the West coast; however, the next big weather-maker will arrive by late Tuesday night into Wednesday for places along the Central and Southern California coastline. “California will be impacted by yet another atmospheric river this rainy season, delivering moisture to areas that have seen little of it this year,” noted AccuWeather Meteorologist Jacob Hinson. Hinson added that since Oct. 1 of last year, places like Fresno, California, have only recorded about 56% of their historical average rainfall. Locations farther south like Los Angeles are facing lower statistics, with only 20-30% of their typical rainfall recorded during that time frame. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Atmospheric river takes aim at Bay Area with ‘impactful rain,’ possible snow
“Another atmospheric river is preparing to take aim at the Bay Area and Central California, bringing “impactful rain,” flash flooding and potentially even a light dusting of snow to this week’s forecast as temperatures plummet.Chilly mornings and cooler days will set the tone for the first half of the week, Karleisa Rogacheski, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, told SFGATE Sunday. Overnight temperatures are expected to fall into the 30s across most of the region, though some valleys in the North and East Bay could drop to the upper 20s. A frost advisory will go into effect from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday, encompassing the San Francisco Bay shoreline, parts of Monterey Bay, the Marin and western Sonoma County hills and the Santa Cruz Mountains. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Powerful winter storm to slam California with heavy rain, winds and snow. Here’s what to expect, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Atmospheric rivers bring busy times to UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab
“Located at Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada,the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, or CSSL, has been a leading research field station in snow physics, meteorology, climatology and hydrology for more than 75 years. The lab has built an extensive repository of information, regularly conducting manual observations in the field and collecting automated measurements on a wide range of weather, hydrological and climatological data, according to Andrew Schwartz, director of CSSL. “The first thing that’s very special there, is that there’s a person on site for every storm to take manual snow depth and water volume measurements every time there’s precipitation, and that’s been happening since the 40s,” said Marianne Cowherd, PhD candidate in the Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management. “It’s one of the longest records of snowfall amounts every single day that exists, especially in the United States, and so having a long record like that is really great for understanding how weather works in that area, and also tracking climate change.” … ” Read more from the Daily Californian.
How’s California’s water year developing? – early February 2025
Dr. Jay Lund writes, “The first four months of California’s water year, which started in October 2024, have been wildly variable over the months and in different parts of the state. Every year, we never know what to expect of California’s wet season until it ends, usually in late March or early April. This year is no exception. Precipitation in most of California is almost uncorrelated from year to year (even with El Niño), so last year’s rain, snow, and streamflow doesn’t help much in predicting this year or next year’s water availability. More aggravating, there is also very little precipitation correlation from month to month during the wet season, so what we know about this year’s water availability is largely how much precipitation we have gotten so far and how much is storage in the reservoirs and groundwater. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
New farmer-focused survey reveals barriers to sustainable groundwater
“Ten years after the historic passing of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the results of a new survey conducted by a cross-campus collaboration fostered by CSU-WATER (Water Advocacy Toward Education and Research) reveals patterns in how much San Joaquin Valley farmers know about the act and obstacles they face in implementing it. As the groundwater conversations move to fee structures, demand reduction and land repurposing strategies, CSU-WATER’s survey reveals challenges that remain in outreach and trust-building relationships. The project was spearheaded by co-principal investigator Dr. Anita Chaudhry, a water economist at California State University, Chico. Chaudhry launched the survey in October 2023 spanning five counties: Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern. Data was collected over six months throughout 12 subbasins. The survey yielded 279 completed responses, all from farmers or farm managers. … ” Read more from Fresno State.
Agencies to consider species and habitat protection rules
“Actions are being taken on several proposed species listings and habitat designations under the U.S. and state Endangered Species Acts that could affect California farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced several proposed actions to list certain species as threatened or endangered, or designate critical habitat. The agency is tasked with protecting species that have experienced dramatic population declines or face imminent risk due to habitat loss, invasive species or environmental degradation. After the service releases a proposed decision to list a species, it has one year to make a final determination. During that time, public comments have the potential to sway proposed listing decisions, said Kari Fisher, California Farm Bureau senior director and counsel of legal advocacy. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
A California battery plant burned. Residents have gotten sick, and anxious.
“The vast farmlands just off the coast of California’s Monterey Bay are usually quiet during the winter, when there are no crops to pick. This winter, a different kind of stillness has taken hold. First, fears of immigration raids paralyzed the immigrant communities that make up the agricultural work force. And now, anxiety has spread over what some in the region believe is a sprawling and silent environmental disaster. Last month, a battery-storage plant went up in flames and burned for days, prompting the evacuation of more than 1,000 residents and shutting down local schools. The plant, located in Moss Landing, an unincorporated community in Monterey County, is the largest facility in the world that uses lithium-ion batteries to store energy. Residents have reported feeling ill, and many of them worry that the fire polluted the air, soil and water with toxins. “Now you don’t see anybody walking outside because it’s terrifying, everything that’s going on,” said Esmeralda Ortiz, who had to evacuate from her home in Moss Landing after the plant began burning on Jan. 16. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
SEE ALSO:
- After the Moss Landing battery fire, should California limit where battery storage plants can be built?, from the Monterey Herald
- A battery fire deposits heavy metals into Elkhorn Slough, from Bay Nature
What the war on nutria says about Mike Johnson’s challenges running the House
“With about six weeks to go before the government shuts down, House Republicans are still bickering over how best to spend taxpayer dollars. But representatives were able to come together on one thing: finding money for the war on nutria. The U.S. House voted 361-56 late Tuesday night to continue the $60 million Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act until 2030. It’s a bipartisan cause that is bigger than just Louisiana. California nutria recently have migrated into food-producing areas along the San Joaquin River. “We’re in a war with giant swamp rats, and our farms, levees and waterways will pay the price if we lose,” said Rep. Josh Harder, D-California and chief sponsor of the bill. But Louisiana is still central to the debate. … ” Read more from NOLA.
Column: California farmers bought Trump’s election pitch. Now they may pay the price
Columnist George Skelton writes, “Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson put it well: “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” That was more than half a century ago in his bestselling book “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” But his words ring true today for California’s farmers, especially those in the Central Valley, who bought President Trump’s election pitch. And now they’re on a ride to who knows where. The only crop the legendary Thompson — ”national affairs editor” of Rolling Stone magazine — really cared about, I suspect, was weed. But if he were still among us, it would be fun to read his take on Trump’s strong support among California agriculture interests and how he’s treating them in return. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Farming and ranching through wildfire: Producers’ critical role in fire risk management and emergency response
“Wildfires increasingly threaten California’s agricultural sector, posing serious risks to farming, ranching, and food systems. We conducted a survey of 505 California farmers and ranchers affected by wildfires between 2017 and 2023. Main findings show that wildfires’ impacts on producers are extensive and range from mild to catastrophic, with both short and long-term repercussions, regardless of their exposure level. Producers play a central role in community emergency wildfire risk response and management by reducing fuel loads, creating defensible space, and leveraging their fire management expertise for themselves and their neighbors. … ” Read more from California Agriculture.
Cal Fire’s updated fire-hazard maps will double the area of locally managed land that must comply with safety codes
“The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will begin rolling out a long-awaited update to its fire hazard severity zones Monday, which is set to more than double the number of acres in local fire jurisdictions that must comply with stricter fire safety building codes. Previously, the state mapped and applied fire safety regulations only to local areas with the highest possible fire hazards, deemed “very high.” But in 2021, the state Legislature ordered Cal Fire to expand the mapping to include “high” hazard zones so the Legislature could apply fire-safety building regulations to the new “high” zones as well. The new maps are expected to expand the roughly 800,000 acres currently in local fire jurisdictions zoned as “very high” by an additional 247,000 acres. Some 1.16 million acres will be categorized into the new “high” zones, according to a press release from the governor’s office. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Assembly member Chris Rogers introduces bill to restore and protect Klamath River fisheries
“Today, Assembly member Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) introduced his first bill as a member of the California State Assembly. AB 263 is an important measure to protect salmon populations in the Klamath River watershed and provide local agricultural operations with more certainty on river flows. This measure was introduced in partnership with the Karuk and Yurok Tribes, as well as the California Coastkeeper Alliance. “I’m proud to stand with the fishermen and Tribes of the North Coast to protect California’s fisheries,” said Assembly member Rogers. “We have made tremendous strides to restore the salmon runs in the Klamath River but more must be done further upstream to ensure salmon populations can grow and flourish. This legislation will protect some of the most critical salmon habitat in California and will complement the restoration efforts associated with Klamath dam removal.” … ” Read more from the Del Norte Triplicate.
Work advances on major wetland restoration project in Klamath Basin
“Ducks Unlimited, in partnership with the Klamath Tribes and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is pleased to announce a historic breach at the Agency Barnes restoration project in Chiloquin, Oregon. The breach reconnected nearly 14,000 acres of wetlands with Upper Klamath Lake and will revitalize culturally important habitats for endangered fish. On December 20, BCI Contracting, Inc. breached the levee surrounding the project site, allowing water to flow past the dikes for the first time in over 60 years and restoring the connection between wetlands and Upper Klamath Lake. “This breach is tremendously important for fish, wildlife, and people. DU is proud to have helped make this day a reality for the Klamath Basin,” said Jeff McCreary, director of operations in DU’s Western Region. “Reconnecting and restoring wetlands is key to the watershed’s health and a brighter future for the Basin.” … ” Read more from Ducks Unlimited.
Yurok tribe employs innovative approach to ecosystem restoration
“The Yurok Tribe has begun implementing a critical phase to restore more than 60 acres of Prairie habitat, above Blue Creek. Staff from three of the Tribe’s natural resources departments are hand sowing 900 pounds of native plant seed over Steven’s Prairie as part of an integrated effort to reestablish the grassland ecosystem and renew two miles of salmon and Steelhead habitat in Blue Creek, the most productive Klamath River tributary on the Yurok Reservation. “Our goal is to restore the meadows to increase plant diversity and abundance that will provide habitat and food for wildlife from insects to Elk. Furthermore, many of the Prairie plants are used by Yurok people for good, medicine and utilitarian purposes. Where our wildlife thrives, we thrive, as members of the ecological community,” says Tara Williams Claussen, the Yurok Wildlife Department Director. … ” Continue reading at the Del Norte Triplicate.
NAPA/SONOMA
More rain in forecast prompts concerns in North Bay for landslides, flooding along Russian River
“In the North Bay, residents living near the Russian River are cleaning up and drying out after last week’s intense storms, which brought flooding and evacuations. With more rain on the way, first responders have new concerns about additional flooding and landslides. There’s was a big cleanup happening Sunday inside a Guerneville RV park, where flooding prompted evacuations last week. “Most of this was underwater, or pretty close to it,” said Angel Barger. … ” Read more from ABC Bay Area.
BAY AREA
Water use, water rates, and what is “fair”
“There was an interesting exchange during a water planning meeting in Palo Alto last year. The Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) was talking with staff about options for managing water in dry years. Staff was recommending that we conserve water. Conservation is less expensive than finding additional water supply and it benefits the environment. One of the staff members added that it was also the right thing to do because “In Palo Alto, the per capita water use is higher, on average, than … “. She was going to say “in neighboring cities”, referring to Palo Alto’s per capita use of 71 gallons per day compared with the Bay Area average of 55. But UAC Commissioner Greg Scharff interrupted before she could finish her statement. He seemed a bit exasperated by the lecture, which he had heard before. “You keep saying that. It’s true! But [do] you want to tell people that because their lots are bigger than in neighboring cities, they should let their landscaping die? … … ” Read more from Palo Alto Online.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Golden Hills GM shares water system information, encourages fuel reduction
“Last month’s firestorms in Southern California not only killed at least 27 people and destroyed thousands of homes and other structures, they brought attention to the role of water systems in firefighting. Chris Carlson, general manager of Golden Hills Community Services District, took time at the district board’s Jan. 16 meeting to address a question many people asked about the fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. “How do firefighters run out of water?” Carlson asked. “That’s everyone’s question.” … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Wildfires and wildlife: relocating coastal rainbow trout to the Arroyo Seco stream
“Human interaction has negatively impacted the hundreds of streams that run through Southern California. Man-made river and stream diversions, channeling, and damming have changed the physical and chemical characteristics of these waterways. In addition to physical impairments, climate change is increasingly impacting the ecosystems of streams. To evaluate and mitigate these negative impacts, local groups are monitoring the riparian habitats of these streams and are conducting water surveys that document rainbow trout populations and evaluate water quality. One such group, the Arroyo Seco Foundation (ASF), is leading this effort with rainbow trout monitoring in the mountains of Pasadena, California, with financial support from the California Wildlife Conservation Board, Accelerate Resilience LA, and the Rose Foundation. The anadromous steelhead trout historically migrated from the ocean to the mountains and spawned rainbow trout, which in turn would migrate back to the ocean. However, human activities and natural events have threatened the species and their migration, prompting the need for intervention. … ” Read more from Environmental Monitor.
Could balloon-like water tanks help fight L.A.’s fires? A new concept is touted as a solution
“An engineer who lost his home in the Palisades fire says a new system of low-cost inflatable reservoirs could ensure more water is available to fight fires. The balloon-like plastic tanks, called Water Trees, were developed by a company as an energy solution. Now the engineer and his colleagues are proposing to install the onion-shaped reservoirs across Southern California as a solution to reduce fire risks. … ” Read the full story at the LA Times.
The water crisis behind LA’s fire disaster: a legacy of outdated infrastructure
“A firefighter filling a trash can with pool water during the devastating 2025 Los Angeles fires tells a story more complex than mere water shortage. The crisis exposed how aging infrastructure, designed for a different era, has left one of America’s most fire-prone cities vulnerable to modern mega-fires. Within 15 hours of the Palisades fire’s start, three million-gallon tankers meant to supply fire hydrants ran dry, but the problem wasn’t lack of water. The State Water Project held record reserves, but the city’s pump-and-storage system, designed to fight fires at several homes simultaneously, proved woefully inadequate for a blaze that would consume hundreds of structures within hours. The crisis revealed a startling reality: 24% of hydrants within the Palisades fire perimeter were outdated “red-top” models from the 1940s, featuring single 2.5-inch outlets that the American Water Works Association no longer considers suitable for normal fire protection. Modern hydrants offer larger 4-inch outlets and multiple connection points, providing greater water volume and operational flexibility that firefighters prefer over high pressure when battling blazes. … ” Read more from the Santa Monica Mirror.
EPA adds Eaton fire cleanup site at Farnsworth Park
“The Environmental Protection Agency is establishing a second staging site for household hazardous material from the Eaton fire at Charles S. Farnsworth Park in Altadena, the agency announced on Friday, Feb. 7. The first staging site at Lario Park garnered backflash from residents of Irwindale, Azusa, Duarte and other nearby areas, as did the staging sites established for Palisades fire debris at Will Rogers State Beach’s parking lot and near Topanga Creek. Residents in both areas expressed concerns about environmental impacts. The Topanga and Will Rogers sites drew criticism for their proximity to the ocean and other waterways, while those living near Lario Park questioned why a site closer to the burn area in Altadena was not selected. Concerns about subcontractors hired to work at the sites with histories of hazardous waste violations added to officials’ and residents’ unease. EPA officials have stressed that more space is needed to complete the first phase of debris cleanup in 30 days, the timeline the agency has been given. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
SAN DIEGO
Oceanside allocates $17 million for new park and flood control
“Almost $17 million allocated last week will advance two, long-awaited Oceanside projects — a new community park at El Corazon and additional flood control measures on the San Luis Rey River. … Half of the surplus, or $8.25 million, will be used to build what’s known as Park Site 1 in the city’s sprawling El Corazon property east of El Camino Real and just north of Oceanside Boulevard. Park Site 1 is about 17 acres near the entrance to the Frontwave Arena, where the city plans to build community ballfields, picnic areas, restrooms, parking and more. Soil remediation is needed first because the El Corazon property is a former open-pit sand mine. That work will start later this year and should be finished in time to start the park’s construction by the end of 2026, Corbin said. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In national water news today …
The silent threat beneath our feet: How deregulation fuels the spread of forever chemicals
“The water flowing from taps in Wilmington, North Carolina, looked clean, tasted normal, and gave no indication that it carried an invisible threat. For decades the Cape Fear River had provided drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents in the region. But in 2017 tests revealed what many had feared: high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals linked to cancer, immune dysfunction, and reproductive issues, coursing through their water supply. The contamination had been traced to Chemours, a spinoff of DuPont, which had been releasing PFAS chemicals from its Fayetteville Works plant for years. The discovery sent shockwaves through the community, triggering lawsuits, emergency water-treatment plans, and a reckoning over how corporations and government regulators had failed to protect public health. But even as residents fought to hold polluters accountable, the company responsible for much of the contamination was tightening its grip on the agencies meant to regulate it. … ” Read more from The Revelator.
USDA freezes farmer funding for some programs, conservation contracts
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture has frozen some funding for farmers as it goes through a sweeping review, despite assurances from the Trump administration that programs helping farmers would not be affected in the government overhaul. The impact has been immediate and wide-ranging, from cash assistance for ranchers to fix cattle watering systems to help for corn growers wanting to plant cover crops that curb wind erosion. Some of the money that has been frozen is tied to environmental conservation programs that were funded by former President Joe Biden’s signature climate law, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which included about $19.5 billion for farm programs over 10 years. The White House said its January 27 proposal to freeze federal loans and grants would not affect programs for farmers. The administration rescinded its proposal and it has been temporarily blocked in court. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. … ” Read more from Reuters.
