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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.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Webb Tract Meeting #2 from 10am to 12pm. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is hosting the second public meeting for the Webb Tract Wetland Restoration and Webb Tract Rice Conversion Projects located on the central Delta island of Webb Tract. These projects, funded by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy and Metropolitan, will develop a wetland and convert existing agricultural lands to a sustainable ag crop. Together, both projects are designed to stop and/or reverse subsidence, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and provide funding for scientific efforts. Malinda Stalvey, Metropolitan project manager, will provide updates on the Wetland Restoration Project design and the status of the Rice Conversion Project. This meeting is co-hosted by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy and Metropolitan and is designed to solicit your feedback on the projects. Time will be reserved for questions and answers. The meeting location is Big Break Visitor Center in Oakley, 69 Big Break Road, or you can join us via Zoom (see the link above). The meeting is expected to last for approximately one hour but may extend to noon if additional time is needed to answer all questions. For more information about these projects, click here.
- WEBINAR: Trump’s Executive Actions’ Impact on Energy, Transportation and Water from 12:30 to 2:00pm. This webinar, led by attorneys from Nossaman’s Environment & Land Use and Infrastructure Groups, will discuss this executive order among many others and the impacts of these executive actions on a variety of sectors, including energy, transportation, water, residential and commercial development projects. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
California braces for flooding and mudslides as atmospheric river looms
“Officials in California are bracing for what could be the biggest rain storm of the winter season, alerting residents to avoid travel during the expected downpours and warning about the potential for flooding and mudslides, especially in fire-ravaged areas. An atmospheric river – the second to wallop the state in recent weeks – will bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to much of the California coast, with over 8 inches possible in some isolated areas, according to AccuWeather. The rain is expected to begin Wednesday night and move into Southern California on Thursday, when the heaviest downpours are forecast. “The associated heavy rain will create mainly localized areas of flash flooding, with urban areas, roads, small streams, and burn scars the most vulnerable,” the national weather service said. “The risk of flash flooding will be highest in and near recent burn scar areas in Southern California.” … ” Read more from USA Today. | Read via MSN News.
SEE ALSO: Major storm is set to batter California. Here’s when impacts will be most intense, from the San Francisco Chronicle
State proposes retroactive changes to farmland retirement program that some fear could pull rug out from ongoing projects
“A proposal to retroactively change some of the goals of California’s $90-million farmland retirement program has literally stopped numerous projects in their tracks. “Right now, all implementation projects are basically stopped,” said Reyn Akiona of Valley Eco, a consulting firm overseeing state-funded farmland conversion projects in the Kaweah, Tule and Merced subbasins. “No tractors are moving until we get guidance on this piece of language.” The proposed language change in the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program comes down to, basically, one word – “meaningful.” The state Department of Conservation, which oversees the program, put out a proposal to change funding guidelines – retroactively – by adding that each project must include “meaningful benefit to a disadvantaged community” as a goal. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Update on State Water Board’s SGMA intervention efforts
“Natalie Stork, director of the State Water Resources Control Board’s Office of Sustainable Groundwater Management, spoke at the 2025 California Irrigation Institute conference about the state’s intervention process for groundwater management. She provided updates on six San Joaquin Valley groundwater basins with Groundwater Sustainability Plans deemed inadequate by the Department of Water Resources and outlined the steps needed for these basins to exit the intervention process. Her presentation also reviewed the successes and challenges encountered during the first decade of implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. … ” Continue reading at Maven’s Notebook.
Kings County Farm Bureau: SGMA remains a top concern for Tulare Lake Subbasin Growers
Dusty Ference writes, “Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) in the Tulare Lake Subbasin (TLSB) remain focused on complying with SGMA as KCFB’s lawsuit against the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) works to address concerns regarding SGMA oversight by state regulators. Local GSAs are committed to creating groundwater management plans (GSP) that comply with the law while protecting landowners in the subbasin. The Mid-Kings River GSA (MKRGSA) has appointed its Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which the board of directors has tasked to review the GSA’s current GSP and suggest updates to the plan. The committee met for the first time on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. At that meeting, Garrett Gilcrease and Kevin Ruble were appointed Chair and Vice Chair of the committee. The group also agreed to meet every Monday afternoon beginning Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
Grant helps tribes, nonprofits plan to expand range of sea otters
“The push to reintroduce southern sea otters to greater sections of the California and Oregon coast is getting a big boost from a $1.56 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, part of the America the Beautiful Challenge program. Over the next three years, tribes and nonprofit partners will build public awareness of the need to expand sea otters’ range. Robert Kentta, elected member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians’ tribal council and board member of the Elakha Alliance, said his group is focused on helping sea otters thrive. “Sea otters are an ultra-keystone species because they don’t just maintain the habitat of the near shore ecosystem, they create that kelp forest habitat, which leads to abundance and diversity,” Kentta outlined. “That’s always been recognized by our tribal stories.” … ” Read more from the Public News Service.
California recycled water rules to be loosened under new state Senate bill
“The drought may have ended in 2017, but now, even when it’s raining, California’s water supply has remained a topic of debate. And while there have been calls for more water storage, some believe the problem could be solved if we stopped viewing water as a single-use product. Much of Northern and Central California’s freshwater flows toward the Delta. But with so much being siphoned off by so many different interests, it’s become a huge battleground in state Sen. Jerry McNerney’s district. “We’re right in the middle of water controversy,” he said. “Basically, what I want to do is make sure that water is available through recycling, through storage, through a little bit of de-salt, so we don’t have to fight so much over the water that’s in the Delta.” … ” Read more from CBS News.
SEE ALSO: McNerney introduces bill to help drought-proof CA
California’s marine protected areas boost fish populations across the state
“It’s 1999, the 21st century is on the horizon, and California has big plans for marine conservation. New legislation has presented a mandate to establish an ambitious network of marine protected areas (MPAs) unlike anywhere else in the world. The goal is to craft strategic protections to safeguard the state’s marine life for preservation and economic benefits alike. Now 25 years later, an international team of researchers, led by scientists at UC Santa Barbara, have evaluated the network’s effects across different species and habitats. “What everyone wants to know is do MPAs work?” said Joshua Smith, lead author of a new study on the matter published in Conservation Biology. The study confirmed many benefits an MPA can confer to sea life, especially those targeted by fisheries. … ” Read more from the Current.
In commentary today …
A Trump-Newsom agreement on water? Public has the right to know
Scott Artis, Executive Director of the Golden State Salmon Association, and Barbara Barrigan-Parilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, write, “There’s a lot to be nervous about in today’s world. Here’s another: President Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom are talking about the future of the environmentally threatened San Francisco Bay-Delta. On Feb. 5, they met at the White House to discuss fire relief and water issues. Neither party revealed what water issues were discussed or if an agreement was reached. The public and the people who depend on the health of the magnificent Bay-Delta ecosystem, have a right to know the details of these private talks. And they have cause to be concerned. There are recent signs of an emerging alignment between Trump and Newsom on weakening Bay-Delta protections. Newsom wants to build a massive Delta tunnel — a mind-boggling 36 feet in diameter — to pump more water south from the Sacramento River. Trump wants to eliminate all Bay-Delta environmental protections that limit water diversions. If you put these two ideas together — the biggest water tunnel in the world and no environmental protections — the result would be an economic, ecological and human disaster. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
California’s process for reviewing petitions to protect species needs immediate reform
Paul S. Weiland writes, “In November 2023, the California Fish and Game Commission received a petition to list the white sturgeon under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). White Sturgeon are native to the western United States, including California, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, as well as British Columbia. In California, white sturgeon have long been a popular sport fish that spawn in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries. The Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a perfunctory 90-day evaluation of the petition in March 2024. My colleague penned a post in June 2024 urging the Commission to view the petition with a critical eye, rather than a rubber stamp. But in that same month, the Commission voted unanimously to oblige the petitioners and make the species a candidate for listing. Candidates for listing are afforded the same protections that extend to species listed as threatened or endangered under section 2085 of CESA. Accordingly, the decision to make a species a candidate for listing can have significant and costly consequences for regulated communities, which include public agencies, such as cities and water districts, and private entities, such as homeowners and corporations. … ” Read more from Delta Currents.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
‘The dams will come out’: Humboldt County supervisors sign onto historic Potter Valley water diversion agreement
“The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors signed onto a historic agreement for Eel River water diversions on Tuesday. The supervisors said a draft agreement signed, a culmination of years of negotiations and conflict with the agencies that use Potter Valley project water, was the county’s best chance to get the dams out. “What is great is that the dams will come out. That’s about it,” said chair and 2nd District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell before the board voted 5-0 to sign the agreement. The diversion agreement, part of PG&E’s dam removal process in the Potter Valley Project, spells intentions to continue water diversions from the Eel River, which started over a century ago — but the volume of water diverted would be lower than historic rates, according to presentations from Humboldt County’s public works department. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard (gift article).
SEE ALSO: Board OKs Agreement on Potter Valley Project Decommissioning and New Eel-Russian Diversion Facility, from the Lost Coast Outpost
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
California mountains to get hammered with snow in ‘strongest storm of season’
“Several feet of snow is anticipated to blanket California’s mountains this week, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of “the strongest storm of the season” so far in the Sierra Nevada. A powerful low-pressure system will move toward Cape Mendocino on Thursday, farther south than many previous storms this winter. The proximity of the storm means its cold front will remain intact as it moves from Lake Tahoe toward Mammoth Mountain and Yosemite National Park on Thursday afternoon. Heavy snow is expected along this cold front, with hourly accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and intense winds creating periods of “zero visibility,” according to the weather service. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mt. Rose snowpack below average, raising wildfire and water supply concerns
“Scientists measuring the snowpack on Mt. Rose have found it to be below average, raising concerns about wildfire risks and water supply in the region. The snowpack in the Truckee-Tahoe Basin is currently at 80% of the median for this time of year, according to Jeff Anderson, a hydrologist conducting the measurements. Anderson said, If the storms last week had brought snow instead of rain above 6,000 feet, the snowpack would be 94% of median, so just about normal. But instead, all that rain has already run off. … ” Read more from KTNV.
Nevada Irrigation District to continue discussion of golden mussels, water conservation
“Golden mussels continue to be a prevalent issue for Nevada Irrigation District (NID), who will meet Wednesday morning to discuss the problematic bivalves which, if introduced to local waterways, could potentially destroy infrastructure to NID and PG&E powerhouses. … For now, the risk of the mussels—which typically are transported via vessels that have traversed Delta waterways—is low at Scotts Flat Reservoir, though the risk is moderate to high at Rollins Reservoir. According to the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, “Mussels may impede water distribution clogging water intakes, fish screens, impede distribution of municipal water supplies, agricultural irrigation, and power plant operation.” … ” Read more from The Union.
Invasive mussel forces Lake Tulloch to close recreational boating
“Recreational boating has been closed on Lake Tulloch due to an invasive mussel threat. “In an effort to protect Tulloch Reservoir from the potential spread of invasive species, the Tri-Dam Project has announced the immediate closure of the reservoir to all recreational boating until further notice,” state Tri-Dam officials said, adding, “This decision was made to prevent the introduction of the Golden Mussel, an invasive species known for causing severe ecological and infrastructure damage.” Due to their rapid reproduction and ability to adhere to submerged surfaces, golden mussels pose a hazard to water sources by blocking conveyance infrastructure and intake pipelines. They have the potential to upset the natural equilibrium by displacing sport fish and native species. They are hard to get rid of once they are out there. The minuscule mussels may live in water for a long time as larvae. On boats or other watercraft, they may be carried with ease in live wells, bilges, ballast tanks, engine systems, plumbing, or any other compartment. … ” Read more from My Mother Lode.
Prescribed fire project cuts risk, increases climate resilience in South Yuba Canyon near Nevada City
“With steep slopes and dense forests rising above popular swimming holes and trails, the Wild and Scenic South Yuba River is an extremely high wildfire-risk area. Nevada City, Grass Valley, and thousands of homes line its southern rim. “This project will implement an important pilot of large-scale thinning and prescribed fire at a strategic location between the community of Nevada City and the South Yuba River to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire,” said Julie Fair, program director, California Headwaters Conservation, with American Rivers, the non-profit leading the Hoyt-Purdon Prescribed Fire and Fuel Reduction Project. A former Nevada City resident, Fair’s professional expertise and lived experience help her to understand how heavy use, steep canyons, dense forests, and lots of built infrastructure make for a very combustible combination in the South Yuba River Canyon. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
After ‘awe inspiring’ Sacramento River flows, Shasta Dam releases expected to slow
“After the Sacramento River flooded parks, streets, backyards and amphitheaters from Redding to Cottonwood this past week, federal officials plan to start dialing back the amount of water being released from Shasta Dam into the river. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Shasta and Keswick dams, announced releases from Shasta would be reduced gradually from 60,000 cubic-feet per second to 40,000 cubic-feet per second (cfs) by 8 a.m. Thursday. The bureau increased the amount of water flowing out of the two reservoirs to make room for more water flowing into Lake Shasta, officials said. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
RELATED: Photo gallery: Flooding along the Sacramento River inundates areas from Redding to Cottonwood, from the Redding Record-Searchlight
Tehama County to appeal well registration fee decision
“The Tehama County Board of Directors for the Flood Control and Water Conservation District announced it would appeal the court ruling that the well registration fee is an invalid regulatory fee. The District passed a resolution in 2022 mandating that all wells in the county be registered and that all eligible APNs contribute $0.29 per acre per year to the registration program’s expenses. The court said the District can impose proper, valid regulatory fees regardless of whether the property is in or out of a sub-basin and that the rate itself is reasonable. It concluded that however small the rate would be, it is not in any way remoted to the property. The Board disagrees with these findings. It expressed confidence in the appeal because California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act authorizes fees such as the well registration fee, and the cost of the registration program was reasonable. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News.
NAPA/SONOMA
Another atmospheric river poised to drench Sonoma, Napa counties
“After a brief break from storms, saturated soils and rising rivers face another test as a new atmospheric river brings heavy rain, strong winds and a slight risk of flash flooding to Sonoma and Napa counties, the National Weather Service warns. Light showers will begin Tuesday night, dropping about 1/10 of an inch of rain through Wednesday morning. But that storm is just the opening act for a much stronger system arriving Wednesday night, meteorologist Brayden Murdock said. Steady moderate to heavy rainfall will persist from late Wednesday through Thursday night, with wind gusts reaching up to 35 mph in valleys and 45 mph in higher elevations. Rain chances will taper off Friday morning and diminish by the afternoon, Murdock said. The storm is expected to drop 2 to 3 inches of rain across most of the North Bay, while the coastal mountains in Sonoma County could see up to 4 inches. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
$24 million land deal creates 7-mile-long Bay Area corridor of protected redwood forests to the ocean
“In one of the largest deals to protect open space in the Bay Area over the past decade, an environmental group is purchasing a scenic redwood forest in the North Bay that will create a 7-mile-long unbroken chain of protected redwood parks and preserves from the mountains to the ocean. The Save the Redwoods League, based in San Francisco, has agreed to pay $24 million for the 1,517-acre property, located 2 miles south of Guerneville near the Russian River in Sonoma County. The size of 1,149 football fields, the rolling parcel includes 20 miles of trails and more than 3 miles of streams and grassy meadows with breathtaking views of the ocean. It has been owned since 1998 by Mendocino Redwood Company, controlled by the Fisher family, owners of the Gap, Banana Republic and the Athletics baseball team. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SEE ALSO: ‘Ancient magical forest’ in Sonoma County to quadruple in size with new trails, from the SF Chronicle
Last year’s California wine harvest was the smallest in 20 years
“In 2024, California wine had its lightest harvest in 20 years, yet another indicator of an industry in trouble. The total grape crop was 2.8 million tons, down 23% from 3.6 million tons in 2023, according to a preliminary report released by the California Department of Food and Agriculture on Monday. The crop hasn’t been this small since 2004, when 2.76 million tons of California wine grapes were crushed. The data epitomizes a tumultuous 2024 harvest for California grape growers. A massive grape and wine oversupply combined with a global downturn in wine sales left growers struggling to find buyers for their crop, even after slashing their prices. Grapes were left on the vine to rot. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: The U.S. Wine Industry is in a ‘Demand Reset’, from NorCal Public Media
BAY AREA
Flash floods, 30-foot waves: Bay Area braces for intense atmospheric river
“This winter’s barrage of atmospheric rivers isn’t letting up, with the latest storm set to hammer the Bay Area starting late tonight, bringing heavy rain, fierce winds and dangerous surf through Friday morning. The storm is expected to intensify late Wednesday and deliver widespread downpours into Northern California. According to the National Weather Service, rainfall totals could reach up to 5 inches in the mountains throughout the Bay Area and up to 3 inches in low-lying areas. The agency predicts the heaviest rainfall will arrive Thursday morning, with forecasters warning of urban and small stream flooding, shallow landslides and possible flash flooding. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Restoration project builds climate resilience in the San Francisco Bay
“A patchwork of salt evaporation ponds lines the South San Francisco Bay in vibrant greens, oranges, and blues, depending on the organisms that thrive at different salinity levels. The ponds, originally used for salt production, are now a focal point of the largest tidal wetland restoration on the West Coast. The ambitious South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project will eventually transform 15,100 acres of industrial salt ponds back into tidal marshes and other wetlands, while adding recreation areas and providing flood risk management. A group of government agencies, municipalities, and researchers are partners in the effort, including the California State Coastal Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. … ” Read more from ESRI.
Solano County fights for federal funds
“Solano County staffers have been asked to submit federal appropriations requests for this year before the end of Febuary, according to an email from Principal Management Analyst Matthew Davis to the heads of each department in County Government. Congress is currently working on passing a FY 2025 budget resolution, the email explains, and the county must look forward to the FY 2026 federal budget process. “Here in California, our Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla and Representatives John Garamendi and MikeThompson, are all expected to seek project requests from Solano County for potential earmark funding in the FY2026 Congressional cycle,” the email reads. “In order to be in the running for federal earmark dollars, we must submit project proposals as soon as possible, as there is a very quick turnaround timeframe to apply.” … ” Read more from the Vallejo Times Herald.
CENTRAL COAST
Parts of SLO County could flood during new atmospheric river storm. Here’s when and where
“Parts of San Luis Obispo County could see flooding as an intense rainstorm hammers the Central Coast, according to the National Weather Service. Another atmospheric river system is set to hit Thursday, bringing heavy rains, high wind gusts and a 10% chance of thunderstorms, the weather service said. “(The flood risk is) higher than we’ve seen in a while,” National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford told The Tribune via phone on Tuesday. The new system could dump up to 10 inches of rain in the Santa Lucia Mountains and cause large amounts of water to run down creeks, which could possibly flood local roadways, according to Wofford. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
SEE ALSO: The big story – NWS says AR to bring lots of snow, from Sierra 2 the Sea
California law says protection of Oceano Dunes is more important than off-roading, Coastal Commission argues in appeal
“The California Coastal Commission was correct in trying to prohibit off-road vehicles in Oceano Dunes because it’s legally obligated to protect environmentally sensitive areas, even if that means contradicting the official name of the area, an attorney for the commission told a panel of appeal judges on Tuesday. “What’s the name of the facility?” asked Second District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Kenneth R. Yegan at the court’s Ventura annex. “It’s a state vehicle recreation area,” said William J. White of Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger, the commission’s attorney. “Doesn’t it mean that vehicles should be able to go there?” Yegan retorted. Not quite, White said. Yes, when Oceano Dunes became a California State Park in the 1970s, the state intended to let vehicles race around the sand dunes, but it didn’t give off-roaders a special exemption to trample on state laws and coastal planning policies, he said. … ” Continue reading from the Courthouse News Service.
Calif. beaches close after 80,000 gallons of sewage spill into ocean in Ventura County
“Several Southern California beaches are closed after 80,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the ocean in Ventura County, officials announced. The spill occurred near Perkins Road at Ormond Beach in Oxnard, Ventura County officials wrote in a press release Friday. Several locations at Ormond Beach and Port Hueneme Beach Park are now closed, with warning signs posted. Raw sewage might contain “disease causing microorganisms,” the county wrote. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Mountain Fire survivors in Camarillo brace for rain storm, possible mudslides
“Homeowners who live near the Mountain Fire zone in Ventura County are concerned that the upcoming rain storm will bring charred hillsides tumbling down. Three months after the Mountain Fire roared through Camarillo, crews are still removing hazardous materials from the burned out homes. Some of the work has been completed, and the next phase is clearing the debris to start rebuilding. Some residents say this process has been slow, but seeing the work means there’s progress. “I feel like it’s gone too slow for the rain coming, and the EPA concerns, the environmental concerns and for the concerns for people who didn’t lose their homes and are still living in hotels. And some people got pushed out of their hotels because of people from the other fires,” said Amy Best, a Camarillo resident. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Stockton is behind in flood control
“As bad as the flood risks are in Sacramento, they might be worse in Stockton. Like Sacramento, Stockton has two major rivers — the San Joaquin and the Calaveras — that converge in the city. Like Sacramento, Stockton’s rivers can overflow because of winter storms and Sierra snowmelt, factors that experts say are increasing with climate change. Stockton differs from Sacramento in one key area: the quality of its flood-protection system. Stockton’s levees haven’t received a major overhaul since the 1990s, while Sacramento’s have received widespread upgrades in the last 20 years. “We think they’re in danger,” says Jane Dolan, chair of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. “They’re behind on flood protection.” … ” Read more from Comstock’s.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Toxic runoff, debris flows threaten wildfire-ravaged areas of Southern California
“Rain is about to return to drought-stricken Southern California as an atmospheric river douses the state, bringing a new danger to the areas ravaged by January’s deadly infernos. The massive burn scars left by the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire and others that ignited last month left the landscape primed for flash flooding, debris flows and mudslides. Scorched earth acts more like pavement than normal soil, so the incoming deluge can quickly cause flash flooding, mudslides and debris flows in and downhill from where the wildfires recently raged. “Some of the runoff can be toxic in some locations as it washes ash and other debris into streams and then reaches the beaches,” AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
SEE ALSO: Worst rains since L.A. fires will fuel landslide risk. What to know about the storm., from the Washington Post
With biggest winter storm of the season looming, California takes early, proactive steps to protect communities and harden burn scar areas
“With another significant winter storm system expected to reach California later this week, work continues statewide to ensure communities impacted by recent wildfires – including the firestorms in Los Angeles – are protected. To prepare for this storm, Governor Gavin Newsom is directing a whole-of-government response to bolster local resources. In Altadena today, Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom surveyed ongoing work by state crews to prepare the Eaton Fire burn scar area ahead of rain. At Governor Newsom’s direction, the state has installed emergency protection materials to contain burn scar debris from the Eaton and Palisades fires from entering creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water. The state is coordinating locally requested materials such as K-rails (concrete barriers) to divert debris flow and has completed debris basin clean-up activities over the last month to mitigate potential impacts in vulnerable areas. … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
Crushed by boulders, drowned in mud: How debris flows endanger LA’s fire-ravaged communities
“Sterling Klippel is awed by the beauty of nature but spends his working days resisting its power. Casting worried glances at a gray sky above the Sierra Madre Dam in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Klippel, a beefy and upbeat man, was patiently describing the complexities of Los Angeles County’s flood protection system. As a principal engineer for the county’s Public Works Department, Klippel’s job is to try to stop catastrophic flows of mud, debris and boulders that could rush into fire-stricken neighborhoods in Altadena and surrounding communities. Klippel and his stormwater crews must ensure that the county’s network of dams, debris basins, channels and storm drains are up to the task. Emergency teams from multiple agencies have cleared out flood basins beneath the Eaton Fire’s 14,000-acre burn scar, rushed to distribute sandbags and placed long concrete barriers to redirect potential flows. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Moving ‘at the speed of trust’: Meet the Army colonel leading LA County wildfire debris-removal push
“Phase 2 of the debris cleanup caused by Los Angeles County’s massive wildfires began on Tuesday, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Eric Swenson, tasked with overseeing it all, has been waiting for this day. For Swenson, it follows weeks of trust-building in the Palisades and Eaton fire burn areas. Telling people whose dreams, memories and things have gone up in smoke that federal crews are going to come on to their property and clean it all up is not an easy thing. And then there’s just coordinating the whole thing – right of entry, securing the 12,000-plus properties to clean. And he has to do it with some speed and efficiency in an era of tight timelines and residents eager to rebuild. As he puts it, the clean-up has to move “at the speed of trust.” … ” Read more from the LA Daily News (gift article).
The new NIMBY battle over the waste from the L.A. Fires
“Gov. Gavin Newsom of California visited Altadena on Tuesday to praise the progress of the cleanup after the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, vowing to complete debris removal at “unprecedented, record-breaking speed.” Catalina Pasillas has a problem with the debris, but her home is far from Altadena. She lives near one of the four federal staging areas where hazardous materials from the rubble are being stored. Ms. Pasillas, a real estate agent who lives in Duarte, about a mile from one of the sites in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles, said smoke from the fires had exacerbated her asthma. Now, she worries that the waste site, in Lario Park, will poison the air even more. “I understand they need to put the toxic waste somewhere,” she said. “But it feels like they chose our city because they thought we wouldn’t say anything.” … ” Read more from the New York Times (gift article).
Trump funding freeze halts key environmental projects in Los Angeles area
“President Trump’s federal funding freeze has halted two environmental improvement projects in Los Angeles County worth $28 million, preventing the planting of urban trees, including some that were to be used in burned out Altadena. Six nonprofit agencies were awarded a joint grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for greening less-affluent, pollution-burdened communities. The $20 million GREEN (Green, Resilient, Energy Efficient Neighborhoods) San Gabriel Valley Collaborative grant was funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, a bipartisan law adopted by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Workshop to highlight desert irrigation, tech
“The latest in irrigation research and technology will be showcased at the Advances in Irrigation Tools and Technologies Workshop in Holtville on Feb. 27. “This workshop brings together University of California scientists, irrigation and water industries, government agencies and the farming community to discuss advances in irrigation tools and technologies and provide a guide to smart farming choices in the low desert region,” said Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial County. The workshop will feature 19 presentations on cutting-edge irrigation technologies and innovations and precision farming irrigation. The irrigation industry will exhibit the latest products and technologies. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego braces for first major storm of year: What to expect and when
“San Diego is expected to get hit by its first major storm of the year this week following the single slowest start to the region’s typical “rainy season” in recorded history. The storm, which is an atmospheric river moving in from the northwest, will bring several days of moderate to heavy rainfall. The absence of rain up until this point could give way to widespread flooding, due to the drying out of the ground since the last major storm last year. A flood watch has been issued for most of the county west of the mountains due to this potentiality later in the week. … ” Read more from Fox News.
South County Report: More industrial chemicals found in Sweetwater Reservoir
“Sweetwater Authority, which supplies drinking water to roughly 200,000 customers in Chula Vista and surrounding communities, learned last month that its main reservoir contains levels of a toxic industrial chemical that could require expensive treatment or necessitate decommissioning the reservoir entirely. The elevated chemical finding came as part of a year-long testing process required by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. An earlier sample taken late last year found PFAS levels high enough to require public notification. Samples taken last month found even higher levels of one chemical, PFOA, that the EPA has designated a “hazardous substance” posing “a substantial danger to the public health.” … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Advanced water purification project bursts past $1 billion
“East County’s biggest infrastructure project, Advanced Water Purification, is officially costing more than $1 billion after the Joint Powers Authority that oversees it approved about $80 million in changes to its construction contract. AWP, planned since 2015 to provide water reliability to the region, was initially estimated to cost about $500 million to build, but by 2021, its former CEO Alan Carlisle told the Santee City Council the new estimate for the program was “north of $600 million.” Now the cost for construction packages 1 through 4 is more than twice the original estimate. And that’s not counting the cost for package 5, which hasn’t been disclosed because it’s still in the planning stages. However, documents on AWP’s website show an estimate between $100 million and $200 million for a system that converts waste to energy to power the new facility under construction at the end of Fanita Parkway in Santee. … ” Read more from the East County Times.
Along the Colorado River …
A story of adaptation: Managing the Colorado River in an uncertain future
“The Colorado River supplies water for 40 million people in the West. The basin stretches from Wyoming and Colorado all the way to the Gulf of California in Mexico, winding through several states that rely on its waters for irrigation, drinking, recreation, treatment and more. Within that map lies a story — a story of changing landscapes as climate change and human consumption gnaw at the edges of the Colorado River Basin. The story of the Colorado is one of myriad questions for the future, and water researchers approach these arising issues from several angles in order to provide greater understanding to those charged with finding solutions. The story begins with the agreements that govern water resource allocation in the basin — agreements that are expiring in 2026. With all eyes on new management options, Utah Water Research Laboratory faculty and students are addressing a variety of research needs. … ” Read more from Utah State University.
2023 Nevada law on septic systems turns plans for dream homes into nightmares
“Julie and Kurt Boringdon found what they considered the perfect property for their retirement in the Foothills neighborhood in far-eastern Henderson. The property provides an unobstructed view of the Las Vegas Strip, offering a picturesque setting to enjoy the evenings — and for watching fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. “I mean, just look at the view,” Julie Boringdon said. “What’s not to love?” But there are logistical hurdles standing in their way: The secluded property is nearly 2,600 feet away from the city of Henderson sewer system, and the family estimates it would cost $500,000 to extend sewer service to what would be their home. A previous alternative for the Boringdons would have been installing a septic system to handle the sewage. There lies another hurdle … ” Continue reading at the Las Vegas Sun.
Colorado snowpack, after a dry January, is near normal in north — and dismal in some places
“A dry January across Colorado and the rest of the Rocky Mountain West has created a dichotomy of water haves and have-nots across the region. Snowpack across Colorado ranges from close to normal levels near the Colorado River headwaters, outside Grand Lake, to troublingly low along the state’s southern border. The pattern of snow conditions worsening from north to south is also visible across the broader mountain west — where snowpack is near normal in the most fortunate places and drastically below normal in the southern tail of the Rocky Mountains. “It’s not a pretty picture, January’s precipitation,” said Cody Moser, a senior hydrologist at the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. … ” Read more from the Daily Camera.
In national water news today …
Trump’s push for ‘efficiency’ may destroy the EPA. What does that mean for you?
“In keeping with the promises he made while on the campaign trail, President Donald Trump has begun the process of shrinking the Environmental Protection Agency. It started on January 28, about a week after he was sworn in for his second term. That day, around 2 million employees across the federal government received an email saying they could either accept a “deal” to resign and receive eight months of pay or remain in their jobs and risk being laid off soon. A few days later, on February 1, over 1,100 EPA workers, all of whom are still in the trial period of their positions, received a second email informing them that the administration has the right to immediately terminate them. While some of these employees are in their first year at the EPA, others had recently switched into new roles after spending decades in the agency. … ” Read more from Grist.
Trump aims to roll back standards for water-using appliances, light bulbs
“President Donald Trump on Tuesday moved to revert to older standards for light bulbs as well as toilets, showers and other water-using appliances, a day after signing an order promoting plastic straws and rescinding a plan to reduce single-use plastics. Trump said he would call on the Environmental Protection Agency to go back to water standards from his first White House term that would also affect sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. In a post on his private social media platform, Trump wrote that he was directing EPA Secretary Lee Zeldin “to immediately go back to my Environmental Orders,” calling them common sense. “I look forward to signing these orders,” Trump added. … ” Read more from Reuters.
Trump’s budget cuts could kill your local weather forecast — and put you in danger
“Almost everyone has heard of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its offshoot, the National Weather Service. Meteorologists depend upon it to offer accurate local forecasts, and its alerts and advisories warn millions of people about dangerous conditions. But they may not know it is part of the Department of Commerce, and, more surprising, that its mission has specifically included “protecting life and property.” Without the agency, known as NOAA, weather forecasts wouldn’t be as reliable, and the impacts of extreme weather on a less prepared public could be devastating. “Everyone would be shocked about the negative things that could happen,” said Alan Sealls, president-elect of the American Meteorological Society and former chief meteorologist at WKRG-TV in Mobile, Alabama. “Those compromises will be not just unpleasant, and not just uncomfortable, but truly dangerous.” … ” Read more from Grist.
January temperature marks new global milestone
“Earth started 2025 with its warmest January on record, according to data from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Last month was also notable for the low amount of sea ice covering both ends of the world. The average global land and ocean surface temperature was 2.39 degrees F (1.33 degrees C) above the 20th-century average, ranking as the warmest January in the 176-year global climate record. This was 0.05 of a degree F (0.03 of a degree C) above the previous record-warm January of 2024. The new January global record is particularly notable for having occurred during a La Nina episode, the cold phase of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Global temperatures tend to be cooler during periods of ENSO-neutral conditions and even cooler during La Nina. According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, there is a 7% chance that 2025 will rank as the warmest year on record. … ” Read more from NOAA.
