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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) 2025 Informational Virtual Meeting from 10am to 12pm. Join the Department of Water Resources for an informational Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative meeting regarding the task force’s plan for engagement and activities in 2025. DRIP Collaborative members and the public will be informed on the 2025 engagement process related to collaboration work, roles and expectations, opportunities to engage on diverse interests, and timelines for activities as well as expected tracking of 2024 recommendations. Members of the public will be able to observe the meeting and provide public comments in-person at the meeting location or remotely via Zoom. Register here.
In California water news today …
Atmospheric river begins: Torrential rain to trigger flooding and mudslides 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 into the end of the 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.
Major storm to bring high risk of debris flows in SoCal wildfire zones, with some flood risk elsewhere
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “Well, it has finally rained in Southern California this winter. But nearly the entire region remains woefully behind average. And the much-discussed north-south precipitation dipole has persisted all the way through mid-February, with NorCal remaining exceptionally wet (with some locations in the northeast interior of CA (including portions of the Modoc Plateau) experiencing record-wet conditions for the season to date and most regions south of the SF Bay Area below average (with some continued pockets of record/near record dryness in the southern third of the state). This dipole will probably continue, in some form, for the rest of the season–but the upcoming heavy precipitation event preferentially focused on the southern half of the state will mitigate it somewhat and probably bring all areas in SoCal out of “record dry” territory. … ” Read more from Weather West.
SEE ALSO: A Major Storm Is About to Soak California, from the New York Times
California’s largest reservoir has risen 22 feet, as more rain drenches the state
“After an unusually dry January where most of Northern California went without rain for 27 days in a row, the storms have come fast and furious, dramatically improving the state’s water-supply outlook. So much rain fell in the first week of February that California’s largest reservoir, Shasta Lake, near Redding, rose 22 feet. Shasta Lake is 34 miles long. The watershed at the state’s second-largest, Lake Oroville, in Butte County, has received 24 inches of rain in the past two weeks — five times the historical average — sending the reservoir level up 23 feet from Feb. 1 to Feb. 7. And now a new atmospheric river storm is forecast to soak the Bay Area and the rest of the state Thursday and Friday. “We’ve had two good years in a row prior to this, and we are heading into a third year,” said Jeff Mount, a professor emeritus at UC Davis and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center. “I can confidently say we are in really good shape. It’s unusual to get three wet years in a row.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Podcast: Examining the state of California’s levees, a crucial part of water infrastructure
“There is a crucial part of California’s water infrastructure that is key to preventing flooding. They’re called levees, and you may see them in your own community. Today, we break down the importance of these systems and how they’re holding up. Emily Zentner from The California Newsroom brings us why levees are important and the questions we still have about their sustainability. Plus, the latest news headlines, including a Kern County bakery discrimination case being reversed and what we saw at the World Ag Expo as it comes to a close.” Listen at KVPR.
Bay Area legislator proposes new rules for using recycled water
“The use of recycled water could expand significantly in California under a new bill introduced this week by state Sen. Jerry McNerney. McNerney, D-Pleasanton, said the proposed law would help “drought proof” the state by loosening the rules governing how businesses, homes and government agencies use treated wastewater for irrigation and other things, thereby saving precious drinking water for better uses. “Instead of water wars pitting one region of the state against the other, North versus South, California must develop commonsense solutions that enable us to use the water we have more efficiently,” McNerney said in a news release Tuesday. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
California Court of Appeal holds that a water district’s surcharge to cover water infrastructure construction costs violates Proposition 218
“In California, a levy, charge, or exaction imposed by a local government is an unconstitutional and invalid tax if it does not qualify as one of seven enumerated tax exceptions and was not approved by at least a majority of voters. The California Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District recently invalidated a water rate increase imposed on non-agricultural water users because the water district failed to produce evidence that non-agricultural water customers were solely responsible for paying increased groundwater replenishment fees. The case highlights the evidentiary burden on local governments to demonstrate an exaction is not a tax under the California Constitution. (Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. v. Coachella Valley Water Dist. (Jan. 31, 2025 E080870) 2025 Cal.App. Lexis 44 (Howard Jarvis).) … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn.
LAO report: The 2025-26 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan
“Governor Proposes Multiyear Spending Plan to Implement Proposition 4. In November 2024, voters approved Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond measure focused on increasing the state’s resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Governor has proposed a multiyear spending plan to implement the bond, including appropriations totaling $2.7 billion in 2025‑26. The Governor also proposes shifting some prior appropriations from the General Fund and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to instead be supported by Proposition 4. This brief assesses the Governor’s proposals to implement Proposition 4, the $10 billion climate bond approved by voters in November 2024. … ” Read more from the LAO Report.
A ‘recipe for extinction’: can the US’s envied nature protections survive Trump and his ‘God squad’?
“Donald Trump has already begun dismantling parts of the envied US endangered species protections in his quest to boost oil and gas drilling, in part using a panel with an ominous name: the God squad. A slew of early actions by the Trump administration has set about throwing open more land and waters for the fossil fuel industry, triggering the reversal of regulations that strengthen the Endangered Species Act, the country’s landmark 1973 conservation bill, including a rule that protects migratory birds from unintentional killing. The department of interior has been tasked with allowing all previously refused drilling leases, including in the Alaskan Arctic, and with drawing up plans to “review and, as appropriate, revise all withdrawn public lands”. This could shrink wildlife refuges and national monuments, which are protected lands designated by the president. Trump slashed the size of two vast national monuments in Utah when last in office. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
This alien-like field of mirrors in the California desert was once the future of solar energy. It’s closing after just 11 years
“From a distance, the Ivanpah solar plant looks like a shimmering lake in the Mojave Desert. Up close, it’s a vast alien-like installation of hundreds of thousand of mirrors pointed at three towers, each taller than the Statue of Liberty. When this plant opened near the California-Nevada border in early 2014, it was pitched as the future of solar power. Just over a decade later, it’s closing. The plant’s co-owner NRG Energy announced in January it was unwinding contracts with power companies and, subject to regulatory approval, would begin closing the plant in early 2026, readying the site to potentially be repurposed for a new kind of solar energy. For some, Ivanpah now stands as a huge, shiny monument to wasted tax dollars and environmental damage — campaign groups long criticized the plant for its impact on desert wildlife. For others, failures like this are a natural part of the race to find the winning solutions for the clean energy transition. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
US wildfire suppressants rife with toxic heavy metals, study finds
“The US federal government and chemical makers have long concealed the contents of pink wildfire suppressants widely spread by firefighting aircraft to contain blazes, but new test results provide alarming answers – the substances are rife with cadmium, arsenic, chromium and other toxic heavy metals. The suppressants are a “major” source of toxic pollution that causes heavy-metal levels to spike in the environment, and the products themselves contain metal levels up to 3,000 times above drinking water limits, the peer-reviewed research found. The government and chemical makers have claimed up to 20% of aerial suppressants’ contents are “trade secrets” and exempt from public disclosure, so while there has been suspicion of the substances’ toxicity, the study is the first to confirm the metals’ presence. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Cal Fire begins releasing new state-mandated maps showing highest fire hazard areas
“The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection this week released new fire hazard severity zone maps for dozens of inland Northern California cities and towns — the first updates to maps for these areas in more than a decade. The new maps add more than 377,000 acres into zones where increased fire safety regulations will apply. The release launches a two-month rollout of new fire hazard maps that will culminate on March 24 with maps for Southern California. The updates are expected to increase the extent of “very high” and “high” hazard zone areas — where most increased fire safety regulations apply — by some 1.4 million acres. In this first release, all but one of the cities Cal Fire mapped saw an increase in acres zoned. Out of the 35 cities included, Truckee in Nevada County and Chico in Butte County saw the largest increases in acreage in the two zones where most regulations apply. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In commentary today …
A new, dangerous era of water management begins under President Donald Trump
Lester Snow, a natural resources consultant with more than 45 years of water management experience in the West, including regional director for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, director of the California Department of Water Resources and secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, writes, “I have been around western water management long enough to work for some very different leaders. In Arizona, I worked under Gov. Bruce Babbitt implementing the state’s groundwater management act. Later, in California, I worked for Govs. Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, both with different styles and priorities. Now, however, I fear we have entered a new, dangerous era under President Donald Trump’s second term. In recent days, we have witnessed water management decisions being made in Washington without the benefit of input from local experts and those being impacted. Western water is as complex as an issue can get. Trump’s uninformed, shoot-from-the-hip style does not bode well for addressing the many connected and complicated issues facing western water managers. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Humboldt County Supervisors sign onto historic water agreement for Eel River
“Humboldt County Supervisors signed onto an agreement on Tuesday that will pave the way to remove two dams on the Eel River to improve fish habitat. The agreement has been in the works for over a year and a half, according to county staff. It spells out how water will continue to be diverted from the Eel River south to Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties for irrigation. Humboldt County has for over a century opposed these water diversions because it leaves less water for downstream uses. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Redding could wake up to snow on Thursday. Here’s how much atmospheric river could drop
“A winter storm moving over Shasta County Wednesday night could drop 3 to 4 inches of snow on Redding and Shasta Lake by Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service. A 3 p.m. update to the weather service’s forecast places Redding in the thick of a very cold block of air, left over from the lingering cold snap at the beginning of the week. Because cold air sinks, that air is trapped by the mountains at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley, said meteorologist Kate Forrest at the weather service’s Sacramento branch. As a result, Redding could get snow instead of rain through Thursday morning at the beginning of a three-day winter storm. That snow might even stay on the ground until after sunrise Thursday morning, Forrest said. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
NCWA’s 5 year priorities to vitalizing healthy rivers, landscapes, and communities
Roger Cornwell, NCWA Chair of the Board of Directors; and Jim Mayer, NCWA First Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, write, “Northern California Water Association’s (NCWA’s) five-year strategic priorities are now finalized and approved by the NCWA Board of Directors, and it was a privilege to be part of the process. These priorities are more than a roadmap—they’re a catalyst, driving momentum, adapting to change, and sustaining long-term progress. These priorities reflect a commitment to water stewardship that is as dynamic as the productive working landscapes and the natural systems we seek to protect. NCWA is dedicated to fostering a resilient Sacramento Valley where water resources support economically vibrant communities, thriving farmlands, abundant wildlife habitats, and healthy rivers and landscapes. Working closely with scientists, conservationists, community leaders, and policymakers, NCWA promotes collective stewardship and multi-benefit water management to meet present and future water needs and adapt to a changing climate. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Tehama County flood control, water board fighting court’s fee ruling
“Tehama County’s Board of Directors for the Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District), which is the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for the county, said in a public statement that it “will not withdraw its support for the appeal of a recent court ruling finding the GSA’s well registration fee to be an invalid regulatory fee.” In November a Tehama County Superior Court judge found the District board’s attempt to levy a .29 cent per acre fee as illegal. “The board respectfully disagrees with the recent court ruling and feels confident in its chances of prevailing on appeal because California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) authorizes fees such as the well registration fee and the cost of the registration program was reasonable,” reported the District board. … ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat.
USACE releases Final Remedial Investigation Report And 2024 Semiannual Groundwater And Soil Vapor Monitoring Report for former Beale AFB Titan 1-A Missile Complex
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District released its Final Remedial Investigation Report for the Former Beale Air Force Base Titan 1-A Missile Complex remediation project. The report assesses environmental conditions specific to trichloroethene (TCE) contamination near the former Titan 1-A, a nuclear missile site operated by the Department of Defense from 1962 to 1965. The report also outlines potential risks to human health and the environment posed by the presence of TCE. Among the findings detailed in the report is that the extent of TCE in groundwater that exceeds maximum contaminant levels is largely known. Additional groundwater monitoring wells and soil vapor probes along with western edge of the plume have already been installed to collect additional data and better inform the selection of remedial technologies. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board has reviewed the document and shared it on their GeoTracker web page. … ” Read more from the Army Corps of Engineers.
NAPA/SONOMA
Historic pact reached on future Eel River water flows into Russian River
“Officials from three counties and the Round Valley Indian Tribes have reached a historic agreement that paves the way for continued diversions from the Eel River to bolster flows in the Russian River. The agreement represents a critical development for anyone whose water comes from the Russian River. The complex accord resulted from years of negotiations to preserve supplemental flows in the Russian River, the water lifeline for residents, ranchers and wildlife in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. The agreement also supports the restoration and fish recovery in the Eel River, which was crucial to securing support from environmental interests, tribes and Humboldt County residents. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
San Francisco dumps millions of gallons of sewage during big storms. Surfers say that needs to stop
“Nina Atkind loves surfing, but she’s also a detective of sorts. During storms — like the massive systems that recently rocked the Bay Area — she cloaks herself in an apple-red rain jacket and pulls up her tan gaiters before wading out into the swirling water at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach. During one recent storm in mid-December, Atkind dips a glass jar into the ocean as angry waves crash against the beach, frothy brown rollers pushing up towards the dunes at Vincente Street. The jar fills with the cloudy water, and she screws on a black cap. “It looks yucky with a bunch of debris,” Atkind said on a recent storm day in December. “I see microplastic in there.” Atkind manages the Surfrider Foundation’s San Francisco chapter and delivers the water to a lab where it will be analyzed. … ” Read more from KQED.
Marin: Greenbrae sewage leak fouls parking lot, creek
“A sewage spill of nearly 88,000 gallons sent effluent flowing into a Greenbrae parking lot and Corte Madera Creek, the county reported Wednesday. The incident happened at about 2 p.m. Feb. 6 behind Bon Air Center on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. The sewage came from a main connected to a pump station, said Greg Pirie, a deputy director at the Marin County Community Development Agency. Ross Valley Sanitary District staff stopped the leak around 4:30 p.m. by shutting off an isolation valve. The district reported the incident to the California State Warning Center, said Pirie, who works in the Environmental Health Services Division.Pirie said the sewage spread from the shopping center to Corte Madera Creek through an overflow point near a creek bridge and through a catch basin. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
San Francisco is sinking, scientists say
“Multiple regions along Northern California’s coastline are sinking and sliding, adding to the state’s growing list of geological woes, NASA said Monday — and according to the agency, multiple Bay Area regions in particular are already experiencing geological changes, paving the way for higher sea levels in the years to come. Land in San Rafael, Corte Madera and Bay Farm Island next to Oakland International Airport is subsiding at a “steady rate” of more than 0.4 inch per year due to sediment compaction, the Feb. 10 NASA article says. As a result, sea levels could rise more than 17 inches in some of the lowest-lying areas by 2050. Foster City was also mentioned, but its $90 million Levee Improvements Project, completed in February 2024, is delaying the impact of sea level rise. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
CENTRAL COAST
California American Water completes $560,000 water tank rehabilitation in Monterey
“California American Water announced the completion of a $560,000 water storage tank rehabilitation project in Monterey. This investment in critical infrastructure, a tank with 80,000-gallon capacity, will help ensure continued safe, clean and reliable water service for customers and communities. The Aguajito Tank project included extensive improvements to enhance its long-term performance and resilience. These upgrades included interior and exterior coating to prevent corrosion and leaks, minimizing potential service interruptions. A new ladder and handrails were installed to ensure safe access for crews performing routine maintenance and inspections. Piping modifications were made to meet the latest tank standards and incorporate seismic improvements, further strengthening the tank’s resilience. Finally, comprehensive maintenance was performed, including repairs to the anchor bolts, foundation, manholes and roof vents. As with every tank rehabilitation project, the Aguajito Tank also underwent thorough cleaning and disinfection. … ” Continue reading this press release from American Water.
Carpinteria’s water future: investing in long-term security despite short-term costs
“As California faces increasingly severe droughts, local water resources are under greater strain than ever before. The Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project (CAPP) is a bold step forward in securing a reliable water supply for the community, despite the initial financial investment required. CAPP will produce 1,000 acre-feet (AF) of water per year, supplying approximately 25% of the Carpinteria Valley Water District’s (CVWD) total demand. Given that Carpinteria’s water supply relies primarily on surface water, which is particularly vulnerable to prolonged droughts, this project is essential for the region’s long-term water security. … ” Read more from Coastal View.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Conference examines Central Valley’s role in state’s climate future
“Stanford University’s Bill Lane Center for the American West, in partnership with the California Water Institute and the Maddy Institute at Fresno State, will host the 11th annual Eccles Family Rural West Conference at Fresno State’s Linda and Stewart Resnick Student Union on Feb. 26 and 27. The conference is free and open to the public. This year’s conference theme is “People and Places: Resourcing California’s Climate Future in the Central Valley.” Centered in a region that is a crossroad between environmental sustainability, economic resilience and community engagement, the event will explore the Central Valley’s vital role in addressing climate change and its impact on rural communities. In its commitment to advancing scholarly and public understanding of the past, present and future of Western North America, the Bill Lane Center and its partners are collaborating to assemble speakers, presentations and panel discussions featuring influential voices in climate science, policy and community development. … ” Read more from Fresno State.
Well registration policy hammered out by Mid-Kings River groundwater agency advisory group
“The new Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s advisory group made recent headway on improving plans and policies, though the agency is still behind its counterparts in the subbasin. “They’re catching up with everyone else,” Amer Hussain of Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. said of Mid-Kings. “They’re maybe five months behind.” Hussain who consults with a number of the region’s five groundwater agencies. During a Feb. 10 meeting, the advisory group focused on updating Mid-Kings’ well registration and metering policies. The proposed changes will go before the GSA board for approval in March. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Brunt of atmospheric river storm hits L.A. today: Timing, trouble spots, evacuations and more
“The most powerful phase of Southern California’s strongest atmospheric river storm of the winter is arriving Thursday, and it’s expected to bring significant flooding to roads and a high risk of landslides. The rains Thursday are expected to peak — and depart — a little earlier than previously forecast, the National Weather Service in Oxnard said. There’s a “high risk of flooding, debris flow, damaging winds,” the weather service said. “Change travel plans and avoid roads on Thursday. Conditions could escalate quickly with little warning.” The weather service also suggested parking away from trees and charging up electronics. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Evacuations issued in Southern California as heavy rain brings threat of debris flows in areas scarred by wildfires
“Southern Californians are evacuating their homes for the second time this year, but this time, it’s for heavy rain and debris flows that threaten new destruction in areas still recovering from last month’s devastating wildfires. The strongest storm to impact parts of California in over a year has arrived and was drenching more than 600 miles of the state early Thursday morning. Coastal areas and valleys in Southern California – including the Los Angeles basin – will see up to 3 inches of rain through Friday, according to the National Weather Service, with mountainous areas facing up to 6 inches. Los Angeles County will see the worst of its flooding rain in the afternoon and evening but heavy rain could start as early as the late morning. … ” Read more from CNN.
New storm could almost double Los Angeles rainfall since October
“Los Angeles could see nearly double the rain it has received since October 1 with an incoming storm. Southern California has experienced an abnormally dry start to its water year, which begins in October. The dry weather exacerbated wildfires that tore through the region in January. Incoming rain could help remedy the dry winter that Southern California has seen, but it also comes with hazards that National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists are warning about. As of February 11, downtown Los Angeles has only received 2.65 inches of rain since the wet season began on October 1. The typical amount the city sees from October 1 to February 11 is 8.3 inches. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
California’s problem now isn’t fire—it’s rain
“Southern California’s long overdue rainy season is about to go into overdrive. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has issued a flash-flood watch for heavy rain that will start on Wednesday and stretch into Friday. State resources have been placed on high alert, and meteorologists are anticipating possible thunderstorms—a sharp contrast to what has been the driest start to any rainy season in Southern California history. As much as 3 to 6 inches of rain could fall in the higher elevations of coastal Southern California in the next few days, which the NWS says will create a “high risk of flooding and burn scar debris flows.” By the time this week’s storms are over, rainfall totals from this week alone should surpass those of the previous nine months combined. … ” Read more from Wired.
How neighborhoods near LA County’s burn scars are preparing for debris flows
“Public works crews in Los Angeles County have been clearing debris basins and storm drains, and handing out sandbags to residents ahead of the most intense periods of rain from a powerful mid-February storm. As part of those preparations before the brunt of the storm on Thursday, LA County has been working with federal agencies to develop a system for containing debris that may start flowing from within the Palisades and Eaton fire burn zones. The goal is to contain any flows in the street and prevent streams of mud, water, rocks, tree branches and other debris from reaching property. During Wednesday’s county news conference, Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said rainfall rates that exceed a half-inch per hour can lead to mud and debris flows, depending on topography, the soil system, geology and the status of the flood control system. He said crews have been working around the clock to ensure the county’s 154 debris basins are clear and are ready to capture mud and debris that could crash down mountain slopes. … ” Read more from NBC 4.
SEE ALSO:
- Be prepared for mudslides and debris flows in burn scar areas, from Cal OES
- Audio: Incoming atmospheric river has Californians worried about mudslides around L.A., from NPR
Topanga EPA hazardous waste site: February 2025 update
“Heal the Bay strongly disagrees with the use of Topanga Creek and the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot for the sorting and staging of hazardous waste. In January, Heal the Bay met with the EPA to obtain information and discuss our concerns. Since then, Heal the Bay has been hard at work advocating for the communities, ecosystems, and coastal waters impacted by this work.On February 8, 2025, Heal the Bay’s Associate Director of Science and Policy, Annelisa Moe, toured the EPA hazardous waste sorting and storage sites at Topanga Creek and Will Rogers State Beach with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the EPA, and FEMA. The pollution mitigation measures observed by Heal the Bay at the Topanga site caused concern as they did not seem adequate. While we continue to fight for the EPA to move operations to a safer location, our Science & Policy Team is also developing recommendations to strengthen mitigation measures to prevent contaminants from leaving the EPA sites and polluting our beaches, creeks, lagoon, and bay. … ” Read more from Heal the Bay.
Air, soil, water and dust: New study focuses on long-term health impacts of LA wildfire pollution
“A team of university researchers has launched a planned 10-year project to examine pollution from Los Angeles’ recent wildfires and study its long-term impacts on health. The researchers, including those from UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health, say they want to look at what exposure to pollution from thousands of burned structures does to people over time. Specifically, they say, they’ll look at how Angelenos’ respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, immune and reproductive systems may be affected. Although the project is expected to go on for years, some answers may be available much sooner. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Feds won’t test soil after L.A. wildfire cleanup, potentially leaving contamination behind
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday that it won’t order soil testing at properties damaged by the Eaton and Palisades fires after they have been cleaned by private federal contractors — breaking with a long-standing safeguard to ensure no lingering contamination is left behind after wildfires. Federal and state agencies have called for soil samples to be collected and analyzed at homes and schools cleaned by work crews after nearly every major wildfire in California for the last two decades. The process, known as confirmation sampling, is intended to verify that the soil at these properties no longer harbors toxic chemicals above the state’s cleanup standards once toxic-laden ash and rubble are removed, along with up to six inches of topsoil. But now, on the heels of the most costly wildfires in the state’s history, Army Corps officials are saying that excavating six inches of topsoil is enough to rid fire-devastated properties of hazardous pollution. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Authorities close more beaches, impose advisories on others. Here’s why
“Some Southern California beaches have lifted fire-debris- and sewage-related closures and advisories, while the arrival of a major storm is shutting down access to the water at other shorelines from Ventura to San Diego counties. Ventura County’s Resource Management Agency announced Wednesday afternoon that visitors were advised to avoid the water at Promenade Park Beach at Figueroa Street in Ventura and Channel Island Harbor Beach Park’s Kiddie Beach in Oxnard. The agency’s decision was made after both beaches failed to meet state standards for bacteria from water sampled. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Some LA beaches reopen, but officials urge caution in Palisades runoff area, from the LAist
Storm poses life-threatening dangers along Santa Ana River bottom for homeless population
“The storm is also posing a significant threat along the Santa Ana riverbed. Crews working swiftly to clear the area and help people find shelter in higher ground. Near the Van Buren Bridge in Riverside this afternoon, a team of police officers reached out to the homeless population, alerting them of the potential for the Santa Ana River to surge as a powerful storm moves in. “Our police helicopter will fly out there, a couple times, during the day before the rain, just to make announcements over the PA system for the homeless, warning them that some heavy rain is coming, and to seek shelter and go to higher ground,” said Riverside Police Department Officer Ryan Railsback. … ” Read more from KRCR.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Metropolitan’s board supports funding for community improvements in Palo Verde Valley
“As farmers across Palo Verde Valley reduce irrigation on portions of their land to conserve water and help stabilize the Colorado River, the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors this week took action to mitigate the impact of that temporary land fallowing and strengthen the greater Palo Verde Valley community. Metropolitan’s board voted Tuesday to join with the Palo Verde Irrigation District to fund up to $8 million for a community improvement program that will support business development, public health, schools, public safety and other projects that benefit the Palo Verde Valley, which stretches across Riverside and Imperial counties. “When Lake Mead hit a record low three years ago, California cities and farmers came together to help avert a pending crisis by reducing their use of Colorado River water. The farmers in the Palo Verde Irrigation District stepped up and agreed to do their part. Now it’s time for us to build on past efforts by investing in their community and supporting its success,” said Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. … ” Read more from the Metropolitan Water District.
SAN DIEGO
Where San Diego’s water comes from, explained
“Water in California, while always a hot topic, entered the national spotlight at the start of 2025. Where the San Diego region’s water comes from, how it’s provided and who’s in charge of what are big questions that water professionals address every day. In 2024, about 60% of the region’s water supplies were from the Colorado River, about one-third were from local sources and the rest was from Northern California through the State Water Project. The State Water Project is operated by the State of California and is separate from the Central Valley Project operated by the federal government. Regardless of the source, all the water delivered to homes and businesses across the region meets strict state and federal quality standards. … ” Read more from The Coast News.
Along the Colorado River …
The mirage of water security: The politics of short-term fixes and scarcity
Herb Paine writes, “Strange how catastrophe brings critical issues into focus. When disaster strikes, we’re momentarily jolted into awareness – a fleeting recognition of deeper, systemic challenges that simmer beneath the surface. Example: In California, wildfires have done more than scorch landscapes; ironically, they’ve ignited…at least, for a while…a desperately needed conversation about water management. In the interest of raising awareness, I thought it might be of value to our readers to do some research, to dive deep into the water issue and examine why it remains frustratingly unresolved. … ” Read more at Substack.
Q&A: The Colorado River in 2025
“A century ago, the Colorado River Compact of 1922 divided a watershed that would come to support more than 40 million people in the Southwest. The compact split the river at a place called Lee Ferry in Arizona. Lee Ferry is not only a geographic marker, but it’s also the place where the river’s governance is broken into two divisions. Upstream are the Upper Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming), where most of the water originates as snowpack. Downstream are the Lower Basin states (Arizona, California and Nevada), where most of the water is consumed. The compact was flawed in many ways, including at its foundation: There is not as much water promised by the agreement, a structural problem that has long haunted Colorado River management—and one significantly worsened by climate change. … ” Read more from Western Water Notes.
Kelly, Gallego ask Bureau of Reclamation to resume funding Colorado River projects
“Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego are asking the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure projects for Colorado River preservation will still get their funding. The Bureau of Reclamation has already signed off on money for projects across Arizona — including an $86 million agreement to build a recycled water plant in Tucson in exchange for the city taking less Colorado River water over the next 10 years. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
In national water news today …
An EPA rule will reduce lead in drinking water—unless this effort to block it succeeds
“A landmark Environmental Protection Agency rule enacted at the end of last year sought to address the lead crisis—which threatens the health of millions of Americans—by tightening limitations on toxic lead and copper in drinking water. But that might not be the final word. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) introduced a resolution last month to block it and forever bar the EPA from writing a substantially similar rule again. To do so, he’s relying on the Congressional Review Act, a mechanism that allows Congress to vote to permanently reverse a rule finalized late in a previous session. EPA’s action, finalized last October, lowered the allowance for lead in drinking water and beefed up requirements for lead service line replacement. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
February 2025 La Niña update: La Niña today, gone tomorrow?
“La Niña conditions continue, but forecasters estimate a 66% chance of a switch to neutral in March–May. This is looking like a weak and short La Niña. Also, while La Niña’s ocean conditions are currently weak, the atmospheric component is fairly strong. Today, I’ll cover current conditions, the forecast, and that mismatch between the ocean and atmosphere across the tropical Pacific Ocean. … ” Read more from NOAA.
NOAA imposes limits on scientists, sparking concerns over global forecasts
“The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) has placed onerous new restrictions on its scientists that people within the agency say could hamper the quality and availability of the world’s weather forecasts, among other key services. The new requirements have created a sense of unease within the agency, according to current and former high-level Noaascientists and officials the Guardian spoke with, and alarmed partners at European agencies. “My expectation is that it’s going to be a crackdown on climate,” said a senior Noaa scientist. “People are just somewhere between disturbed and terrified.” … ” Read more from The Guardian.
