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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.
- MEETING: California Environmental Flows Workgroup from 10am to 12pm. Agenda items include a presentation on the development of a new California-wide historical flow dataset, and updates on the California Environmental Flows Framework. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Lunch and Learn Science: Water Quality and Harmful Algal Blooms from 11am to 12pm. Scientist Ari Chelsky of SFEI will talk about water quality and harmful algal blooms in and around far South Bay managed ponds. Scientific Question: What is the effect of Restoration Project pond management, and increased tidal prism from tidal marsh restoration, on water quality in the South Bay? Register here.
In California water news today …
Atmospheric river looms: Torrential rain, flooding and mudslides to unfold in California
“The biggest storm of the winter, packing a firehose of rain across much of California, will trigger flooding, mudslides and road closures that may put lives and property at risk during the latter part of this week. Feet of snow will also pile up over the high country of the Sierra Nevada, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. Rain and mountain snow are much needed in California. Storms were nearly absent prior to the last part of January back through the start of the rainy season in October, resulting in a drought in the region’s soil and vegetation. The conditions, combined with dry winds known as Sundowner and Santa Ana events earlier this winter, resulted in some of the worst wildfires in terms of speed, lives lost and damage the state has ever experienced. However, as is often the case in California, when rain falls, it does so with a vengeance. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
California rain to return with one of year’s strongest storms on the way
“After some days of sunshine, the rains could return Tuesday night. The week’s first storm will likely drop showers across the Bay Area before a second, much stronger atmospheric river hits late Wednesday through Friday. The atmospheric river is forecast to peak on Thursday, bringing high wind speeds and at least a couple of inches of rain to most areas. While heavy storms this winter have been concentrated in the North Bay, this one will also stretch farther south and reach most of the state. “This is going to be probably one of the strongest events that we’ve seen outside of the North Bay so far this year,” said Dalton Behringer, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “Heavy rain and gusty wind is the main story here.” … ” Read more from KQED.
‘Snow drought’ plagues mountains despite recent storms
“Hydrologists aren’t holding their breath for a normal snowpack this winter. The Nevada Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding regions are experiencing a snow drought in more than one way. “Too many blue-sky days in January followed by too much rain in early February raises concern about where this winter’s snowpack will end up on April 1,” their Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report says. April 1 marks the date when the snowpack typically reaches its peak and Feb. 1 represented a discouraging half way point. Projections currently show an estimated 30% chance of reaching a normal peak snowpack in the Tahoe basin by early April. “The bottom line is our mountains have been experiencing two kinds of ‘snow drought’ so far this winter,” the report says. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
How does that atmospheric river flow? Scientists in Yuba-Sutter modernize research to understand
“While most look for ways to avoid the steady rain falling from atmospheric rivers, some take advantage of the unwieldy weather patterns to improve forecasts and to help control, and ultimately modernize, the complex labyrinth of waterways hydrating California. Weather researchers with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and Yuba Water Agency workers during the recent storm launched a series of weather balloons carrying radiosondes, devices measuring atmospheric conditions and transmitting real-time data, as part of an ongoing effort to enhance forecasts. For folks in the Yuba-Sutter area, those efforts may also improve flood prevention, as the operators of the New Bullards Bar and Oroville dams gain more insight into how to run the dams walling the Yuba and Feather rivers, respectively. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
What data-driven science reveals about the twisted saga of Western water rights
“In the American West, water is a sacred and scarce resource plagued by pollution, shortages, and contentious fights over legal rights, often between Indigenous peoples and business groups. At Caltech, Laura Taylor, a postdoctoral instructor in the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, conducts data-driven research that combines satellite imagery with historical and economic analysis to point to policy solutions for fairer resource allocation and cleaner water. Through her work, Taylor has demonstrated that the processes tribes must go through to have their long-established legal rights to water quantified and enforced may actually be contributing to the degradation of this resource. Water shapes life, economy, and power, Taylor notes. But decades of overuse, drought, and inequitable allocation have made water a fiercely contested resource, particularly in the West. … ” Read more from Pasadena Now.
Environmental groups sue Trump administration over white sturgeon
“Four Bay Area environmental groups sued the Trump administration on Monday, alleging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Secretary of the U.S, Department of the Interior failed to deliver a legally required initial determination as to whether San Francisco Bay’s population of white sturgeon should be listed as a threatened species. San Francisco Baykeeper, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Restore the Delta, and Friends of the River joined forces to file legal action against the new administration regarding the Endangered Species Act. The groups said the suit will be an early indicator of how this administration will act — or fail to act — to protect the bay’s fish and wildlife. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Coalition sues Trump administration to list white sturgeon under Endangered Species Act, from SF Baykeeper
Trump’s executive order on California water (and webinar on 2/12/25)
“On January 24, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14181 (“EO 14181”), entitled “Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas.” While alluding to assisting Americans in disaster areas generally, EO 14181 largely focuses on significantly changing water management policies in California. The first three sections of the executive order are the ones primarily focused on California water. … ” Read more from Nossaman.
SEE ALSO: ‘Ridiculous blunder’: Trump wades into California’s water wars – and strikes some of his strongest supporters, from The Guardian
Podcast: Funding at stake for the tiny fish at center of California’s water wars
“President Donald Trump is cutting funding for a lab that studies a small fish known as the Delta Smelt. The tiny fish are an indicator species, meaning they help reveal the health of the ecosystems where they live. But the fish have also become a symbol of the tension between environmental groups and many politicians. Today we’re talking with John Buse from the Center for Biological Diversity about the future of the fish.” Read more from KVPR.
NASA-led study pinpoints areas sinking, rising along California coast
“Tracking and predicting sea level rise involves more than measuring the height of our oceans: Land along coastlines also inches up and down in elevation. Using California as a case study, a NASA-led team has shown how seemingly modest vertical land motion could significantly impact local sea levels in coming decades. By 2050, sea levels in California are expected to increase between 6 and 14.5 inches (15 and 37 centimeters) higher than year 2000 levels. Melting glaciers and ice sheets, as well as warming ocean water, are primarily driving the rise. As coastal communities develop adaptation strategies, they can also benefit from a better understanding of the land’s role, the team said. The findings are being used in updated guidance for the state. “In many parts of the world, like the reclaimed ground beneath San Francisco, the land is moving down faster than the sea itself is going up,” said lead author Marin Govorcin, a remote sensing scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. … ” Read more from NASA.
How Prop 4 will impact California’s climate and natural resources investments
“In November, voters passed Proposition 4, a general obligation bond that will yield $10 billion for a variety of climate resilience, water, and natural resource management programs—the largest climate and water bond to date. Proposition 4 is the first successful ballot measure in 10 years to fund such programs. … California typically funds water and climate projects with general obligation bonds passed by a simple majority vote. These bonds enable the state to borrow funds and pay them back over many years using General Fund dollars. Although general obligation bonds have been the norm for funding water and climate projects in California, the Newsom administration departed from this model in 2021 and 2022 thanks to the state’s extraordinary budget surplus. The state allotted the historic sum of $16.3 billion to water and climate projects directly through the state General Fund. However, in the last two years, decreased tax revenues necessitated cuts to the state budget, and water and climate funding was reduced to $12.9 billion. Proposition 4 will more than make up for these cuts and infuse a significant amount of funding to water and climate projects that are currently supported by the General Fund, totaling more than $21 billion for all climate and water program areas. Coastal resilience, flood planning, and extreme heat in particular will see the largest boosts compared to their current budget. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
5 lovely reasons why we “heart estuaries”
“NOAA protects and restores habitat to sustain fisheries, recover protected species, and maintain resilient coastal ecosystems and communities. Estuaries—where salty seawater mixes with fresh water draining from the land—are one of many coastal habitats we work in with our partners. Estuaries provide homes for fish and wildlife, support economies, fight climate change, and more. … ” Read more from NOAA.
More than 2 million acres of local land in California designated as ‘high’ or ‘very high’ fire danger areas
“Reflecting intensifying wildfires and updated science, new state maps designate more than 2.3 million acres of local land in California as facing “high” or “very high” danger of wildfires. In the wake of devastating fires in Los Angeles County, the Fire Marshal’s office is gradually releasing updated maps for local jurisdictions after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order last week. The previous statewide maps were released from 2007 through 2011. In those jurisdictions, city or county fire departments are first responders and enforce fire safety rules. The areas designated as “high” or “very high” would be subject to the strongest state standards for wildfire-resilient buildings. Fire hazards in California have grown, in part, because of climate-driven droughts and a longer, more dangerous wildfire season. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Eel River diversion agreement on Humboldt County Board of Supervisors agenda
“New proposed water diversion rules on the Eel River have been released for the public to see — and on Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will consider signing a memorandum of understanding with a bundle of other powers for diversions on the Eel River, as part of a dam decommissioning plan of the Potter Valley Project. The MOU comes after the Pacific Gas and Electric company released a draft decommissioning plan on Jan. 31, for the defunct hydroelectric project, which dammed the Eel and Russian Rivers over a century ago and sent water diversions to Marin, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The staff report says the county has negotiated for protections for the Eel River, a watershed which makes up 33 percent of Humboldt County, in this agreement. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
SEE ALSO: THIS WEEK IN SUPES: Humboldt Supervisors Consider Next Steps for Decommissioning the Potter Valley Project, from the Lost Coast Outpost
Mendocino County braces for another round of rain
“Another round of rain is expected Wednesday and Thursday, with some mild flooding expected along the Russian River in Hopland, according to the National Weather Service. “We have a chance of precipitation on Wednesday morning. There could even be snow early Wednesday morning, but I don’t think it would get to the valley floors,” said Jacob Boomsma, a meteorologist with the weather service. On Wednesday and Thursday, and possibly into Friday morning, 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected, Boomsma said. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
$1 million grant aids in acquiring land near River Lodge
“A $1 million grant from the California Coastal Conservancy was awarded to the city of Fortuna and the Wiyot Tribe for land acquisition along the Eel River near the Fortuna River Lodge and Conference Center. For several years, there have been ongoing negotiations with the private property owner. “Now we have the money in place, so this is most exciting,” Fortuna City Manager Amy Nilsen said. Nilsen said an appraisal needs to be completed and negotiations with the property owner need to be resolved so acquisition of the property can occur. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Ukiah Valley Water Authority moves to standardized fees in major overhaul
“The Ukiah Valley Water Authority (UVWA) Executive Committee tackled big financial changes at its Jan. 30 special meeting, voting to standardize fees across its four member agencies—Redwood Valley, Millview, Willow, and Ukiah. Finance Director Dan Buffalo pushed for uniform rates to streamline billing and boost efficiency. The board also discussed a five-year rate study, major infrastructure funding, and the transition of customers to UVWA’s billing system. This meeting was focused on financial matters. Dan Buffalo, the City of Ukiah’s Finance Director, spoke about the adoption of standardized fees for the consolidated UVWA, which is comprised of four different water agencies: Redwood Valley, Millview, Willow, and the City of Ukiah, which have had separate fees and cost structures. Willow County Water District manages several other water districts, some of which are not in the UVWA. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District says they will not withdraw support of court appeal
“The Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, who is the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for Tehama County, says it will not withdraw support for the appeal of a recent court ruling. The court ruling in question, which found the GSA’s well registration fee to be an invalid regulatory fee, is being appealed. The Board of the Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District says they respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling and feel confident in their chances of prevailing on appeal due to California’s Sustainable Groundwater management Act (SGMA). … ” Read more from Action News Now.
There’s more rain in the forecast for Sacramento, plus freezing temperatures. Here’s when
“The wet weather is not over yet, Sacramento. After below-freezing temperatures chill Northern California, another atmospheric river system is set to hit the region, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologist Bill Rasch said this new system is “very similar” to three previous atmospheric river systems that brought more than two inches of rain to Sacramento in one week. Here’s what to know about the forecast: The freeze warning will be in effect for the Sacramento Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley from 10 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday, the weather service said. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Is Sacramento ready for the big one?
“2022 was wrapping up as a very dry year, which is saying something considering all the drought years that preceded it. From April through November, Sacramento received less than 2 inches of rain. Then, the day after Christmas, it started to rain … and rain … and rain … nearly every day for almost four weeks. Sacramento received more than 9 inches of rain in that time, more than half its annual average in less than a month. Sierra snowmelt added to the mess. The Sacramento and American rivers bulged, and the Cosumnes River flooded, causing property damage in southern Sacramento County. The scene repeated itself across the state, including south of Fresno, where the long-dormant and once-massive Tulare Lake was brought back to life. Officials declared a state of emergency, and millions of dollars in damage claims were paid. … ” Read more from Comstock’s.
Sacramento reaches record settlement over water meters
“The City of Sacramento has reached its most significant settlement in the city’s history of $13.4 million to settle its three-year lawsuit against Teichert Construction Company and others, according to a news release. The lawsuit alleges non-compliant work and fraudulent billing on the Accelerated Water Program. The Accelerated Water Program is a state requirement that all homes and businesses have water meters by 2025. As part of its $62 million contract with the city, Teichert Construction was hired to install approximately 13,000 water meters in the South Land Park, Tradewinds, North Sacramento, Meadowview, Golf Course Terrace, and Lemon Hill neighborhoods. City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood said in a press release last week that Sacramento residents won’t be deprived of materials and services they paid for. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
NAPA/SONOMA
North Bay preparing for more storms after flooding leaves residents homeless
“Storms in the forecast this week could bring more heavy rain to spots still drying out. A Sonoma County Supervisor says last week’s heavy rain, landslides and flooding did more than $7.5 million in damage. “We lost all of our furniture, our beds, our dressers, our desks, most of my storage unit we lost all that,” said Katelyn Ellison of Guerneville. Ellison and her kids lost pretty much everything during Guerneville’s recent flooding. … Around a hundred people showed up to an event in Guerneville Monday night with numerous agencies and non-profits to see how they can get help for a situation that came as a surprise. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
BAY AREA
Bay Area to get hit by fast-moving storm — but the next intense system won’t arrive for days
“A quick-moving storm system will bring light rain to the Bay Area on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning. Rainfall amounts will be highest south of San Francisco, but totals will be light. This event will serve as a precursor to a much stronger and more impactful storm system set to hit California on Thursday. … Moderate to heavy rain will overspread the Bay Area late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning as the next storm system approaches. And this storm will pack a punch. Forecast details are still being ironed out, but Thursday should be a washout, with several inches of rain expected up and down the California coast and several feet of snow falling across the Sierra. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Northern California’s famed ‘glory hole’ spillway is used for first time in years
“A unique spectacle key to Napa County’s water management could be drawing onlookers for weeks to come thanks to the string of atmospheric rivers continuing to hit Northern California. Lake Berryessa’s famed “glory hole,” located about 80 miles north of San Francisco, experienced its first spillover in years after water levels on the man-made reservoir exceeded 440 feet, automatically triggering the use of the mid-lake pipe to keep the lake from flooding. Technically called the Morning Glory Hole spillway, the drainage pipe has been used only 25 times in its nearly 70-year history, according to the Solano County Water Agency, which utilizes water from the reservoir. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Recovery of southern steelhead in San Mateo creek starts with a plan
“CalTrout spearheaded the development of the San Mateo Creek Watershed Management Plan, which was formally accepted by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board in January 2025. This is a monumental step in the recovery of Southern steelhead in San Mateo Creek, opening new funding opportunities and creating a replicable blueprint for invasive species management in watersheds throughout the state. As recently as the mid-1900s, Southern steelhead were abundant in coastal watersheds, including San Mateo Creek, located in northern San Diego County. Changes in land-use and the proliferation of non-native “invasive” aquatic species in San Mateo Creek have drastically reduced the population of native Southern steelhead. These ocean-going trout are now listed as a state and federally endangered species, and it is now extremely rare to observe southern steelhead in San Mateo Creek and other coastal watersheds where they once thrived. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
CENTRAL COAST
Atmospheric river headed to Monterey Peninsula later this week
“A larger storm is headed for Monterey County this week, with the effects likely to be exacerbated by last week’s wet weather, bringing several inches of rain and the potential for high winds and thunderstorms. The cool and sunny weather the Monterey Peninsula has been having for the last week will continue into Tuesday morning. Later this week residents are encouraged to take precautions for potential thunderstorms or flooding. Tuesday is expected to be sunny during the day. The rain will start Tuesday evening, with a 30 percent chance of rain from 4 p.m. until after midnight when the chance rises to 80 percent. The rain is expected to continue into Wednesday morning before 10 a.m. “Technically we’re not considering Tuesday into Wednesday an atmospheric river, between those days we’ll see about half an inch to an inch of rain,” said Crystal Oudit, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service Bay Area. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Santa Cruz wildfire plan aims to coordinate evacuations, water delivery, resources
“The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday is set to consider a potential Wildfire Preparedness and Safety Program to coordinate evacuation plans, ensure water delivery, and better prepare residents and first responders for potentially catastrophic wildfire. The city already has several programs in place, but “our community can and must do more to prepare ourselves for wildfires,” wrote Santa Cruz City Councilmember Susie O’Hara. Elected to the city council last year, O’Hara formerly worked in the city’s water department and city manager’s office. … ” Read more from Santa Cruz Local.
The perceived divide between the Salinas Valley and Monterey Peninsula is on display in the most unlikely of places.
“David Schmalz here, with some thoughts about the oft-used term “Lettuce Curtain,” a metaphor for the perceived divide between the interests of the Salinas Valley and the Monterey Peninsula. The Lettuce Curtain, in my view, is only as real as people want it to be—it’s a human construct that is an intellectually lazy way to describe two constituencies that occasionally—but rarely—have competing interests. Usually, those competing interests—which are often more perceived than real—revolve around tensions related to water. The lower Salinas Valley Basin is critically overdrafted, as growers have pumped unhindered for decades, and still do, despite the relentless intrusion of seawater into the aquifers. Meanwhile, in the Cal Am service area on the Peninsula, property owners haven’t been able to set new water meters—or upsize existing ones—since the state imposed a cease-and-desist order (CDO) against Cal Am in 2009 for the private utility’s illegal overpumping of the Carmel River. This, in turn, has exacerbated the Peninsula’s housing crisis. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
City of Santa Barbara water system and firefighting FAQs
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve received many questions from community members about the availability of local water sources to fight fires, maintenance of our fire hydrants, and the impacts of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) on these systems. We’ve compiled this list of key facts and FAQs to help answer these important questions and keep our community informed. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Strongest storm in a year bearing down on Southern California: What you need to know
“The strongest storm in a year is set to pound Southern California this week, with forecasters warning of potential widespread roadway flooding and the chance of landslides throughout the region — especially in areas recently charred in the devastating Los Angeles County firestorms. The rain will be nothing like the relatively modest storms that have brought largely beneficial rain to Southern California the last two weeks. Forecasters suggest avoiding travel if possible on Thursday. “Thursday is just not a great day to be on the road,” said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “If nothing else, [expect] lots of slick roads, lots of traffic accidents. There will be some roadway flooding. Not all areas … but certainly more than we’ve seen this winter so far. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Ahead of storm system, State moves resources to protect impacted communities
“With another storm system expected to reach California later this week, work continues statewide to ensure communities impacted by the recent wildfires, including the firestorms in Los Angeles, are protected. At Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive, the Cal OES Watershed and Debris Flow Task Force has installed emergency protection materials – straw wattles, compost silt socks, and silt fences to contain hazardous materials from the Eaton and Palisades Fires from entering LA’s creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water. The task force is coordinating locally requested materials such as K-rails to divert debris flow and has completed debris basin clean-up activities over the last month to mitigate potential impacts in vulnerable areas. Additionally, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is coordinating with the Department of Water Resources, Caltrans, CHP, California Military Department, CAL FIRE, Health and Human Services, the California Conservation Corps, and California Geological Survey to strategically place resources across the state to bolster local response. … ” Read more from Cal OES.
Another cost of rebuilding after LA fires? Higher water bills.
“It wasn’t just homes and wildlands that burned in the Eaton Fire. Vital drinking water infrastructure, like pump stations, storage tanks, and reservoirs, were among the wreckage. As the long-term damage to these water systems becomes clearer, so does the need to figure out how to cover the costs of the repairs. “We’re possibly looking at modest to large ratepayer impacts for these systems,” said Greg Pierce, director of UCLA’s Human Right to Water Solutions Lab, about another potential cost that residents might have to grapple with as they go about the pricey venture of rebuilding their lives and communities. “That’s just building back to how things were, before you even get to ideas about, ‘Let’s build back modestly or much more climate resilient,’” Pierce added. “The price tags just get higher and higher.” … ” Read more from the LA Public Press.
Dan Walters: Will having ‘too many cooks’ complicate recovery from deadly Los Angeles fires?
“A proverb said to have arisen in 16th-century England postulates that “too many cooks spoil the broth.” When too many people are working on a project without clear accountability, it may produce a shoddy outcome. In fact, research conducted at Princeton University 11 years ago appears to validate this. Iain Couzin, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and the study’s senior author, said it undercuts the so-called “wisdom-of-crowds” theory that champions multiple inputs. “It’s a starting point that opens up the possibility of capturing collective decision-making in a more realistic environment,” Couzin said in a statement at the time. “When we do see small groups of animals or organisms making decisions they are not necessarily compromising accuracy. They might actually do worse if more individuals were involved. I think that’s the new insight.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Aquarium of the Pacific helps endangered fish impacted by the Palisades Fire
“An endangered species of fish rescued from the Palisades Fire is getting a second chance at life thanks to the efforts of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. The aquarium successfully rescued tidewater goby fish after their habitat in the Topanga Canyon Lagoon was severely impacted by the wildfire. “These are a small brackish water fish that live in these unique California lagoon water symptoms. And they needed a place to put them because they knew their habitat was going to be decimated by ash and debris and thankfully because their habitat in the Topanga Canyon Lagoon did get pretty bad,” said Nate Jaros, vice president of animal care at the Aquarium of the Pacific. … ” Read more from KABC.
Critically endangered Calif. fish population evacuated from creek ahead of toxic storm
“Teams of people ventured out into the scorched landscape of the Santa Monica Mountains about two weeks after the start of the Palisades Fire, walking through the recently transformed and bare Los Angeles landscape while carrying nets, buckets and various fishing devices. Staff with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife led the charge alongside other organizations. The groups set out on Jan. 23 with one goal: to collect as many endangered fish as possible. And they were on a deadline — rain was forecast for the weekend, which could bring devastating impacts to the Southern California steelhead trout. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SAN DIEGO
Atmospheric river bringing two rounds of rainfall to San Diego
“One of the more potent storm systems so far this season is setting up to bring significant widespread rainfall and windy conditions to much of San Diego towards the middle of the week. An atmospheric river is developing off the coast of Northern California Tuesday and will dip south into Southern California Wednesday through Friday. There will be two rounds of rain with the storm, the second bringing heavier rainfall rates and the potential for some flooding concerns. The plume of sub-tropical moisture will first reach San Diego sometime Wednesday morning into the afternoon hours. This first surge of rain is weaker than the second and looks to bring between a half inch to an inch of rain across the county as a preliminary outlook for totals. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Along the Colorado River …
Feds ask Colorado River official to resign, leaving another leadership gap during “existential time” for the river
“Anne Castle expected to be asked to leave her position representing the federal government in Colorado River policy planning. She just didn’t know how long it would take to be shown the door. The answer? Seven days from President Donald Trump’s inauguration to her official resignation. Castle has helped guide Colorado River policy alongside four state officials on an interstate commission representing the Upper Basin — Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Former President Joe Biden appointed her to the position in 2022. The request for her resignation came as the Trump administration makes broad moves to replace key leaders and reshape the federal government. “This is an existential time for the river,” Castle wrote in her resignation letter. “We are on the brink of putting in place an operating regime that will govern our lives and our economies for decades.” … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Lake Mead: Colorado snowpack adds to water woes
“Lake Mead and Lake Powell could be in for a tough year, with the latest estimates of Colorado’s snowpack providing underwhelming reading. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Water and Climate Center, the snowpack in Upper Colorado River Basin—the primary source of flows into Mead and Powell—is presently sitting at just 83 percent of the historic median for this time of year. This is a significant decrease since January, when numbers were closer to 95 percent, and a drop of 2 percent in the last week alone. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Podcast: Groundwater and growth: ADWR top attorney discusses importance of landmark Groundwater Management Act
“Soon after ADWR Hydrologists in November 2024 released the Department’s comprehensive analysis of groundwater conditions in the Phoenix Active Management Area, critics began focusing on the perceived challenges those results could present to homebuilding in north-central Arizona. Specifically, many of those critics focused on a concept known as “unmet demand” – a term long used to describe how groundwater supplies may be insufficient for meeting Arizona’s requirement that consumers buying new homes built in Active Management Areas must be assured at least a 100-year water supply. Arizona Water News recently sat down with ADWR Chief Attorney Nicole Klobas to discuss those critiques, the importance of protecting new-home buyers and more.” Listen at the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Chandler plans to amend water allocation policy for 1st time since 2015
“Chandler is working to address future water needs. City officials want to be prepared in case of long-term shortages. A work session discussion led the city to reviewing projects related to the improvement of storage capacity at the Bartlett Dam and the recharging of the local aquifer. At a meeting scheduled for Feb. 20, the city intends to amend its water allocation policy adopted in 2015. Simone Kjolsrud is the water resources manager for the city. “Our surface water supplies come from the Salt and Verde River System, which is delivered through SRP canals; and we also receive Colorado River water, which is delivered through the Central Arizona Project canals,” she said. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Arizona ranchers appeal water rights case involving Gila River Indian Community
“Arizona ranchers typically use a series of wells for domestic purposes and irrigation. However, a lawsuit has prevented some from using wells due to water rights claimed by the Gila River Indian Community. The tribe says the ranchers pumped water in violation of a decree. However, the ranchers argued that water pumped from the wells is groundwater rather than subflow from the Gila River. The United States District Court ruled in favor of the Gila River Indian Community. Director Tim Berg of Fennemore Craig, P.C. says the law being used to seal the wells is too broad in scope and reaches beyond what it was intended to cover. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Commentary: Arizona’s new water politics: Force action, retaliate, repeat
“The Home Builders Association of Central Arizona is suing the state over its decision to stop allowing subdivisions to build on groundwater. The problem, homebuilders contend, is that the state water department made that rule unilaterally, without putting it through a formal vetting and public comment process. They are asking a judge to throw out the rule and keep it from being enforced. Which could have wide-reaching implications for Arizona. But that’s not what troubles me most about this case. It’s that this case even exists. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Water experts: Crisis on Colorado River affects all Coloradans
“Three of Colorado’s top water experts hammered home the idea that Colorado’s water situation id precarious, at best, and almost always on the brink of crisis. The day-long Voices of Rural Colorado symposium in Denver was the setting for an hour-long discussion of Colorado water. Attendees heard from, and interacted with, Rebecca Mitchell, former executive director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and now Colorado’s representative on the Upper Colorado River Commission; Zane Kessler, director of government relations for the Colorado River District; and Jim Yahn, Logan County Commissioner and manager of the North Sterling Irrigation District. … ” Read more from the Journal Advocate.
In national water news today …
NOAA’s vast public weather data powers the local forecasts on your phone and TV – a private company alone couldn’t match it
“When a hurricane or tornado starts to form, your local weather forecasters can quickly pull up maps tracking its movement and showing where it’s headed. But have you ever wondered where they get all that information? The forecasts can seem effortless, but behind the scenes, a vast network of satellites, airplanes, radar, computer models and weather analysts are providing access to the latest data – and warnings when necessary. This data comes from analysts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, known as NOAA, and its National Weather Service. Atmospheric scientists Christine Wiedinmyer and Kari Bowen, who is a former National Weather Service forecaster, explained NOAA’s central role in most U.S. weather forecasts. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
SEE ALSO: How Could the Weather Service Change Under Trump?, from the New York Times
Unregulated industrial contaminants detected in some U.S. drinking water
“The U.S. EPA regulates levels of more than 90 contaminants in public drinking water, but thousands more potentially harmful chemicals remain without health standards at either the federal or state level. Monitoring data show that more than 97 million people in the United States have been served by public water systems that contained detectable levels of at least one unregulated industrial contaminant, according to a new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. And drinking water in counties with higher proportions of Hispanic residents was more likely to have these contaminants. “This study affirms what environmental justice advocates have been highlighting for decades: Communities of color often have to drink dirtier water,” said Lara Cushing, an environmental health scientist at University of California, Los Angeles who was not involved with the study. … ” Read more from EOS.
The surprising alliance shaping the fate of America’s 90,000 dams
Jasna Hodzic writes, “This winter, while visiting my parents in California, I came across a YouTube ad that certainly wasn’t running in Utah, where I was living. Against stock footage of outdoor adventures and fresh produce, the narrator promised guilt-free living powered by “clean” electricity — all from hydropower. The message felt overly tidy, reassuring me that I didn’t need to think about where my electricity came from. Then the ad cut to drone footage of a massive dam — a visual reminder of how central dams are to hydropower. That image jogged my memory. Just days earlier, I’d listened to a podcast about removing the Klamath River Dams in northern California. I’d gone camping and climbing in that area and remembered the dams and their impact on the landscape. The podcast celebrated their removal as a major win for the surrounding ecosystem, salmon runs, water quality, and Indigenous communities. The contrast felt striking and obvious. On one side, dams symbolize clean energy. On the other, their removal represents ecological restoration. This raises the obvious question: Which is better for the environment — clean energy from hydropower or free-flowing rivers? And is it really an “either-or” narrative? … ” Read more from the Big Think.
Trump reverses Biden crackdown on lightbulbs and dishwashers, returning to ‘common sense standards’
“President Donald Trump is ordering the immediate reversal of Biden-era green energy regulations on household appliances and the reinstatement of environmental orders issued under his first term. During his term, former President Joe Biden issued more stringent climate standards for various household appliances, such as gas stoves, washing machines and dishwashers, which energy experts and manufacturers have warned could lead to more expensive alternatives that are far less effective than current models. Trump, in a Truth Social post early Tuesday morning, called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by former Rep. Lee Zeldin, to immediately undo Biden’s climate mandates and return to “common sense standards.” … ” Read more from Fox News.
World likely to breach 1.5-degree target, research finds
“The world is set to blow past its goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C, new research shows. Last year was the first to measure roughly 1.5 degrees warmer than the preindustrial era, though the world has not yet officially surpassed the 1.5-degree target set forth in the Paris Agreement, which will be judged according to the average temperature over 20 years. But with emissions hitting new highs, this target is almost certainly out of reach, according to two new papers published in Nature Climate Change. Scientists used modeling to show that just one year at 1.5 degrees C likely heralds a future breaching of the Paris goal. The papers suggest that last year’s record temperatures mean world will probably exceed the 1.5-degree threshold over the next 20 years. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
