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In California water news today …
Dam removal deal could create longest free-flowing California river
“The push to remove two dams on Northern California’s Eel River, making it the longest free-flowing river in the state, took a step forward Thursday with a major agreement among clashing communities. The agreement, which unites local, state and tribal leaders behind the retirement of PG&E’s Potter Valley hydroelectric project and its two dams, promises “restorative justice” compensation for the region’s indigenous people and continued water exports to the Russian River basin, where the PG&E facility has long sent supplies. Restoring the Eel River to its natural flow has been an enduring goal for many along the waterway. Most fundamentally, it would raise river levels and give struggling salmon and other fish access to spawning habitat blocked by the dams for more than a century. Several obstacles have stood in the way, however — none so great as concern that cities and farms in Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties might lose the Eel River water that is piped into their Russian River supplies. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read via MSN News.
Eel River pact redresses past wrongs, provides model for compromise among diverse interests, officials say
“There was emotion in the room Thursday as public officials from around the North Coast gathered in Sacramento for a ceremonial signing. They were putting their names to a historic agreement on the future of the Eel River that secures crucial water supplies for the Russian River watershed while redressing past oversights and injustices. Negotiated over more than six years to chart a way forward once Pacific Gas & Electric decommissions its Potter Valley powerhouse and tears out dams that have degraded the Eel River and imperiled fish species, the multiparty pact gives equal attention to river restoration needs and to modernizing water diversions for Russian River users in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. In the process, it confers Eel River water rights to the Round Valley Indian Tribes in northeast Mendocino County, requiring beneficiaries on the Russian River to pay them $1 million a year for the privilege of transferring water from the Eel into the Russian River. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
SEE ALSO:
- Natural Resources Agency thanks Tribal leaders, Northern California counties and conservation groups for their leadership as historic agreement announced to secure water reliability in the Russian River, benefit salmon on the Eel River, press release from state agencies
- Regional Partners Sign Historic MOU on Eel River Recovery, from Cal Trout
- Breakthrough for the Eel, from Trout Unlimited
When will the California storms end? Here’s when to expect sunshine to return
“Scattered rain and mountain snow showers will continue across Northern and Central California on Friday morning. But stormy conditions will fade across California by the evening, giving way to generally quiet weather for the three-day holiday weekend. Continued showers could add up to an additional foot of snow in the Sierra Nevada above 5,000 feet, with the heaviest snowfall in the morning and midafternoon Friday. Travelers heading across the Sierra for the holiday weekend should prepare for winter driving conditions. In the Bay Area, rain showers will be more hit-or-miss than Thursday’s widespread precipitation. The best chance of showers Friday will be in the morning, particularly in the hills and along the coast. Temperatures in the mid-50s and gusty northwest of 15 to 25 mph will make for a chilly day. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Atmospheric Rivers explain atypical El Niño and La Niña years
“El Niño and La Niña are climate phenomena that are generally associated with wetter and drier winter conditions in the Southwestern United States, respectively. In 2023, however, a La Niña year proved extremely wet in the Southwest instead of dry. New research from scientists at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography finds that atmospheric rivers explain the majority of atypical El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years, such as 2023. For example, during 2023’s La Niña, California experienced a series of nine atmospheric rivers that added up to the state’s 10th wettest year on record. The study, published in the journal Climate Dynamics and supported by the California Department of Water Resources and the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, shows that atmospheric rivers can overwhelm the influence of El Niño and La Niña on annual precipitation totals in the American West. This has important implications for water managers, who rely on seasonal forecasts based on El Niño and La Niña to inform key planning decisions around reservoirs and water allocation. … ” Read more from Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
What’s an atmospheric river? A pineapple express? AP explains the weather phenomenon
“Atmospheric rivers are a plume of moisture that extend across the Pacific to near Hawaii. When they hit land they can cause heavy rains and snow. Here’s a look at the phenomenon: What is an atmospheric river? Atmospheric rivers are long and relatively narrow bands of water vapor that form over an ocean and flow through the sky, transporting much of the moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes. They occur globally but are especially significant on the West Coast of the United States, where they create 30% to 50% of annual precipitation and are vital to water supplies but also can cause storms that produce flooding and mudslides, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Drought status update for California-Nevada
“A record-setting dry start to the water year in southern California and Nevada led to Extreme Drought (D3) in the region—and now Exceptional Drought (D4) in Nevada—according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The first four months of Water Year 2025 were among the top three driest October–January periods on record for California’s South Coast Drainage (2nd driest) and Southeast Desert Basin (3rd driest) climate divisions and Nevada’s South Central (3rd driest) and Extreme Southern (driest) climate divisions. A recent storm and an ongoing atmospheric river are bringing much needed precipitation to central and southern California and Nevada. This will mitigate some of the most acute drought impacts, but drought conditions will remain. Drought preparedness is key for California and Nevada. After the ongoing atmospheric river event, outlooks suggest a lull in precipitation over the next 2 weeks and potentially beyond. … ” Read more from NIDIS.
A new bill could require California to monitor wastewater for disease in the Central Valley
“State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) is frustrated by the lack of wastewater monitoring for H5N1 bird flu in the state’s most at risk communities: regions of the Central Valley where dairy workers, dairy herds and commercial poultry operations are most concentrated. On Tuesday, she introduced a bill to fix that. Called the Wastewater Surveillance Act, if passed, it would require at least one wastewater monitoring site in every California county. The bill would require the state’s department of public health to expand its current wastewater network, known as Cal-SuWers, to include all counties “and prioritize underserved and high-risk areas.” California is ground zero for the H5N1 bird flu virus in dairy cattle and dairy workers. Since the virus was first reported in dairy herds in March 2024, California has accounted for 77% of all U.S. dairy herd infections and 38 of the nation’s 68 human cases. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Rep. Josh Harder introduces bipartisan bill to stop swamp rat invasion of California
“The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta ecosystem is in its worst-ever crisis as Central Valley salmon and Delta fish populations move closer and closer to extinction. The Delta Smelt has become virtually extinct in the wild, due to massive water exports to agribusiness and Southern California water agencies through the state and federal water projects, combined with toxics, invasive species and water pollution. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife caught zero Delta smelt in its annual Fall Midwater Trawl survey in 2024, despite the stocking of tens of thousands of hatchery-raised smelt over the past few years. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
In most of the U.S., the rainy season comes in spring. Not California
“As the first major atmospheric river of the winter arrives in Los Angeles, it brings with it the hope that the fire risk has finally receded, the danger that severe landslides could occur in the fire-scarred hills around the city, and the possibility that Southern California’s rainy season is, at long last, going to begin in earnest. Many accounts of the Palisades and Eaton fires have attributed their intensity in part to a delay in the winter rains, and that framing is not wrong. However, it doesn’t answer a basic question: why does Los Angeles receive virtually all its rain during the winter? It seems like merely a fact of life on the West Coast that summers are dry — in a typical year, LAX receives about 2½ inches of rain in the eight months between April and November, which represents less than 20% of the annual average. But compared to most of the rest of the country (and the world), this is an unusual pattern. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Golden mussel, California’s newest Delta invader, is likely here to stay – and spread
“A new aquatic invader, the golden mussel, has penetrated California’s ecologically fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the West Coast’s largest tidal estuary and the hub of the state’s vast water export system. While state officials say they’re working to keep this latest invasive species in check, they concede it may be a nearly impossible task: The golden mussel is in the Golden State to stay – and it is likely to spread. The fingertip-size mussel is believed to have hitchhiked into the Delta in the ballast water of a freighter from Asia that docked at the Port of Stockton. The mussel was first detected there in October 2024, and its discovery set off alarm bells among water managers and environmental scientists. The reason: Unlike their cousins the quagga mussels, which have infested major Colorado River facilities in Southern California, golden mussels can tolerate a wider range of aquatic environments and may have more opportunities to do so. … ” Read more from Western Water.
In commentary today …
Congress must continue to fund these critical strategies to fight and prevent wildfires
Matt Dias, president and CEO of the California Forestry Association, and Doug Teeter, the District 5 Supervisor for Butte County, write, “Northern Californians watched the Los Angeles-area fires in sympathetic horror, knowing all too well the devastation brought by these disasters. The Camp Fire in November 2018 took almost everything from so many in Butte County, and it’s unbearable to see others experience the same devastating losses. Wildfires are often viewed as a Northern California issue: the Park Fire last July — the fourth largest fire in California’s history — burned in the same counties as the infamous Camp, North Complex and Dixie fires. Northern California also battled the CZU Lightening Complex, August Complex, Valley, Tubbs and Caldor wildfires. When we say we have great empathy for our neighbors in Southern California, we truly mean it. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
California ski resorts see closures, lift delays amid massive snowstorm
“A hefty snowstorm is currently battering California’s Sierra Nevada amid this week’s atmospheric river, causing closures and delays at popular ski resorts across the region. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the entirety of Mono County on Thursday, alerting the public to “very difficult to impossible” travel conditions through Friday. The storm brings the possibility of 1 to 2 feet of snow along Highway 395 and 3 feet on mountain crests, plus ridge wind gusts up to 90 mph, according to the weather service. A backcountry avalanche warning was also issued by the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center in Mammoth Lakes. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Exclusive: How a Tahoe avalanche control team keeps highways open
“Billy Newman had two questions on his mind on Thursday morning: would he need to blast the mountain later that day? And if so, when? Snow had begun barrelling across parts of Highway 50 the night before. As superintendent of the California Department of Transportation’s South Lake Tahoe Maintenance Yard, Newman’s job was to keep the narrow highway free of snow and safe for drivers. Weather forecasters had predicted significant snowfall in the Sierra, and as much as four feet on mountain peaks across the region. Highway 50 cuts east from West Sacramento, a two-lane highway that climbs above 7,000 feet passing under steep inclines. With heavy snow, those mountain faces were prone to avalanches, which could cover the road, snarling traffic for miles. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
‘Terrible and dangerous’: Federal cuts threaten critical Tahoe avalanche forecasting service
“For a growing number of people who ski and snowboard out of bounds and in the backcountry, the daily avalanche forecasts written by the Sierra Avalanche Center provide crucial, life-saving information about the stability of the snowpack and the risk of avalanches in Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada. But the Sierra Avalanche Center announced this week that due to ongoing staff cuts by the federal government, it may have no choice but to cut back on the number of forecasts it issues. The center currently works with three forecasters who are employed by the U.S. Forest Service. They cover a 200-square-mile region that stretches from Sierraville to Bear Valley, including Donner Pass, Truckee and the entire Lake Tahoe Basin. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Placer County Water Agency approves project to increase storage at Hell Hole Reservoir
“At its Thursday meeting, the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors approved a $5.8 million contract for the Hell Hole seasonal storage increase project, adding to the capacity of the Hell Hole Reservoir so it can store more water during wetter winters.“This is a crucial and timely adaptation of local resources for Placer County residents, in the near and long-term future,” said PCWA Board Chair Robert Dugan. “By increasing the size of an existing reservoir, more water during wet winters can be saved for summer use without the cost of building a new reservoir.” … ” Read more from YubaNet.
BAY AREA
Bay area hit by heavy rain, flooding and landslides; thousands without power
“Heavy rain fell across the Bay Area Thursday morning and afternoon as one of the strongest atmospheric river storms of the year hit California, causing highway flooding, power outages and a few landslides. The National Weather Service says the Santa Cruz Mountains have been hit the hardest, leading to a rare flash flood warning for parts of that region, and a minor flood watch for most of the Bay Area remains until Sunday as the rain recedes. But flood advisories are in effect for most of the Bay Area through 5:30 p.m. “We’ve heard numerous reports of flooding from the East Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains and the North Bay,” said Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Bay Area office. “There have been several landslides, but from here on out, we should see rain rates decrease.” … ” Read more from KQED.
Bay Area’s water supply in a ‘good place’ as CA reservoirs fill from rain
“Bay Area reservoirs are filling up from powerful rainstorms. Santa Clara Valley Water District spokesperson Matt Keller said after the dry start to the year, water levels at their reservoirs went from 70% of normal in mid-January to 82% now. “So it’s obvious on the upward swing, and then with this rain and then all the runoff that’s going to be coming in the next few days I expect that number to go up,” Keller said. At California’s two largest reservoirs, Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville, the Bureau of Reclamation has increased the amount of water flowing out to make room for more water coming in. As of Thursday, Shasta Lake was 82% full. … ” Read more from ABC Bay Area.
Sunken ship found hidden under San Francisco Bay waters
“At a glance, it just looks like an oblong mass in a sea of grey. But according to intrigued online communities where people noticed it while using 3D map tools earlier this week — and a maritime archeologist who was able to provide confirmation — it’s the skeleton of a sunken ship hidden beneath the chilly waters of the San Francisco Bay. The vessel, likely from the 20th century, is located in a known dumping site for decommissioned ships near Treasure Island, maritime archeologist James Delgado told SFGATE. Because wood tends to rapidly disintegrate in salt water, the fact that it has such a smooth outline indicates it’s a newer model, possibly from the military. The ship seems to have been recorded as an “obstruction” in 1966, he said. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Port of Oakland to benefit wetlands through sustainable dredging
“The Port of Oakland deepens its commitment to sustainability by sending more dredged sediment from the Oakland Seaport to a Solano County wetland restoration site. Montezuma Wetlands will receive an approximately $2.1 million grant over the next three years to allow more Port-dredged sediment to go towards restoring wetlands and endangered species habitat. Regulations require a minimum of 40% of sand, silt, and mud dredged from berth maintenance to go towards beneficial reuse. Berths and approach channels must be up to 50-feet-deep to accommodate the big vessels that call the Port today.“We are committed to expanding our sustainable dredging initiative,” said Port of Oakland Director of Environmental Programs and Planning Colleen Liang. “Restoring and maintaining the Bay’s ecosystem provides many environmental benefits to the region.” … ” Read more from the American Journal of Transportation.
The future of Suisun Marsh depends on understanding its past
“SFEI recently completed the Suisun Landscapes project, a multi-million, multi-year effort funded by Delta Stewardship Council and the US Bureau of Reclamation. Suisun Marsh is one of the largest brackish tidal marshes on the West Coast of North America and provides habitat for rare and endangered species. While much of the marsh’s historic habitat and wildlife have been lost, Suisun is still a hotspot for biodiversity and a destination for hunters, fishers, and boaters who use its managed wetlands. Because it is just downstream from the source of the State and Federal Water Projects, the marsh’s health affects the state’s water supply and decisions about water infrastructure in the Delta. … ” Read more from SFEI.
CENTRAL COAST
As officials fret about how to protect the Seaside Basin, a bulwark of recycled water may provide the answer.
“For all the talk about the Carmel and Salinas rivers, and the various groundwater subbasins in the Salinas Valley, the Seaside Basin receives remarkably little attention, despite being a cornerstone of the Monterey Peninsula’s water supply. It’s an underground reservoir that stores water injected from the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s aquifer storage and recovery project (ASR) and the recycled water project Pure Water Monterey. And like most things related to water in Monterey County, it’s both wildly complicated and politicized. It’s also unique in that, due to a legal action brought by Cal Am in 2003, the pumping rights within the basin were adjudicated by the courts, which ultimately decided 3,000 acre-feet annually was a “natural safe yield” to keep the basin in balance – at the time, about 6,000 acre-feet annually were being pumped from the basin. The Seaside Watermaster oversees the basin. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Groundwater in good position to meet sustainability mandate
“The next drought could end up with two domestic wells going dry in the water basin that most of San Joaquin County and parts of surrounding counties rely on. Compare that to Kern County in the southern San Joaquin Valley where many wells go as deep as 1,200 to 1,600 feet. Water experts anticipate 200 wells will go dry in Kern County when the next drought rolls around. That extreme outlook elsewhere underscores what looks like sound decisions made over 100 years ago to develop surface water and more recent decisions to shift the cities of Tracy, Manteca, and Lathrop to partial dependence on surface water. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Madera County deputies keeping eyes on the mountains as atmospheric river carries on
“As the most recent atmospheric river runs through the region, water continues to rush through the foothill and mountain communities of Madera County. While it can cause headaches at a minimum, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office shared Thursday it could even create major hazards. Those most at risk include for serious ones include the area south of Oakhurst near the 2016 Serpa Fire burn scar off Matty Fhy Road and Highway 41. “Previously, we did see mudslides where it actually came through someone’s house. So, you know, there always is that concern,” said Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue. The sheriff says as of Thursday, no land movement has been seen in the area as they continue operations to monitor the conditions, even as water can be seen pouring through the steep mountain neighborhoods. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
Rain doesn’t dampen Ag Expo enthusiasm as final day features food, water seminars and, of course, big red tractors
“Hydrogeologist Luis Busso believes in being one with your well. “Use your senses,” he told the crowd gathered for “Become Your Own Well Whisperer,” one of several water-related seminars held on the final day of the World Ag Expo in Tulare. Busso encouraged listening, smelling, feeling and observing, especially when turning on a pump. “If you maintain what you have, you will avoid those giant, expensive repairs.” Busso, of environmental consulting firm Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, talked well anatomy and got into the nitty gritty of well health during his half-hour seminar. He encouraged well owners to maintain precise records about their well’s lifespan, including driller’s notes, video logs, production rates and sand content. “That is helpful to me coming in and trying to solve your problems,” he said. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
Mammoth Mountain predicts ‘fantastic’ skiing conditions amid major powder influx
“A powerful winter tempest blew into the Bay Area and across California on Thursday, dropping curtains of rain and pummeling the mountains with snow ahead of Presidents Day weekend. By late Thursday morning, nearly 1 foot of snow had fallen near Donner Peak in Tahoe National Forest. About 3 feet had fallen at Mammoth Mountain ski resort in Inyo National Forest, and the resort reported “no signs of stopping.” It was the largest influx of powder so far this season. “Conditions over the holiday weekend are going to be fantastic,” said Emily van Greuning, a Mammoth Mountain spokesperson. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Worst of year’s biggest storm passes, but mudslide and debris flow risk remains
“The brunt of the storm passed through Southern California Thursday night after heavy rain snarled traffic, caused debris flows and sparked warnings about flooding, thunderstorms, wind and hail. But officials warned that people should remain cautious on Friday, especially around canyons and steeper terrain where the risk of mudslides and rockslides remains. The Sierra Madre foothills experienced a significant mud flow of several feet, trapping a truck and likely damaging houses. LAist reporter Erin Stone said that officials were advising residents who had stayed to shelter in place, although evacuation orders had been issued Thursday. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Mudslides, flooding, rescues, possible tornado as storm batters Southern California
“The biggest storm of the winter walloped Southern California on Thursday, forcing the closure of Pacific Coast Highway, damaging homes and vehicles and bringing with it the possibility of “life-threatening” debris flows just a month after fierce Santa Ana winds propelled a firestorm across L.A. County. Street flooding and mudslides were reported across the region as the storm moved through late Thursday, with some of the worst damage taking place along PCH. Mud flows and flash floods have also been reported in the Eaton fire burn area in Altadena and on Mulholland and Outpost drives in the Hollywood Hills. By Friday morning, conditions were improving as the storm subsided. … ” Read more from the LA Times via MSN News.
SEE ALSO:
- Southern California faces flooding, mudslides after atmospheric river: See photos, from USA Today
- Torrents of mud and floodwater cover roads and trap cars in LA, but city dodges another disaster, from CNN
EPA pauses hazardous waste removal as rain pelts SoCal
“As rain pelts much of Southern California, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday it has paused hazardous waste removal in the wildfire burn areas. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has been handling Phase 2 of debris removal, said it has reduced some operations because of the rain. How we got here: The National Weather Service said the most significant rain is expected Thursday, with as much as 3 inches of rain expected in low-lying areas, while mountain areas could see as much as 6 inches. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Perfect storm: megafires set the stage for debris flows
“Storms now pounding Southern California are raising the specter of more danger for residents — debris flows in areas already reeling from devastating fires. Debris flows are like mudslides, except much faster and more destructive, as they contain a mix of rock, plants and even boulders or trees in addition to mud. Andrew Gray, an associate professor of watershed hydrology at UC Riverside, is an expert on the way water and sediment move through landscapes after wildfires. He weighs in here on the threats to life and infrastructure posed by these fast-moving flows, and how residents can best respond. Q: In your mind, what is the “perfect storm” for a debris flow — the perfect combination of conditions that would precipitate one? A: First and foremost, if you are living near any of the recent burn scars in Southern California, please pay attention to local hazard warnings during the rainstorms this week, especially evacuation orders. … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
Los Angeles groundwater remained depleted after 2023 deluge, study finds
“The greater Los Angeles area has long been subject of intense seismographic monitoring. A network of highly sensitive seismometers peppers the region on a constant vigil for earthquakes. Now researchers at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability have developed a new way to use that existing infrastructure and its decades of data to estimate water levels in the region’s aquifers, which serve some 10 million residents of Los Angeles and Orange counties. The researchers analyzed the impact of 2023’s historic series of atmospheric river storms, which dumped more than 140% of California’s 20th-century average annual precipitation in just three months. Those rains, combined with torrential rainfall from an August storm that began as Hurricane Hilary, nearly refilled surface reservoirs and shallow aquifers depleted by decades of drought and groundwater extraction, the Feb. 14 study in Science shows. But even a year of extreme precipitation failed to replenish aquifers located 50 meters or more below the surface. Unlike the shallow aquifers, these deeper aquifers regained only about 25% of the groundwater they had lost since 2006. … ” Read more from Stanford University.
SEE ALSO:
- Despite historic rains in 2023, aquifers deep beneath L.A. area remain depleted, by the LA Times
- Even big storms can’t fill LA’s deepest aquifers, study finds, from the Courthouse News Service
SAN DIEGO
Navy SEAL candidates sickened by training in sewage-laced ocean water, Pentagon watchdog finds
“Navy SEAL candidates in California are often training in water filled with bacteria that cause illnesses, a Department of Defense watchdog report found, and the service’s special warfare command does not have a formal policy for monitoring water quality and relocating training. The DoD inspector general’s findings, released last week, said candidates at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado would often train in the water even when local San Diego beaches nearby were closed to the public due to high levels of “fecal indicator bacteria.” “Navy SEAL candidate exposure to contaminated water occurred because [Naval Special Warfare Command] did not follow San Diego County’s Beach and Bay Water Quality Program’s beach closure postings,” the inspector general report found. “As a result of Navy SEAL candidate exposure to contaminated water during training, candidates are presented with increased health risks and NAVSPECWARCOM’s training mission could be impacted.” … ” Read more from Military.com.
IBWC says there’s great progress in pollution crisis along US-Mexico border
“Progress. You don’t hear that word often when discussing the pollution crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border. However, that’s what Dr. Maria-Elena Giner talked about Thursday ahead of a citizens forum to discuss repairs at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. “We did get our money,” the commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) said. Giner said Congress was able to secure all the money needed to repair the treatment plant in San Ysidro, which is responsible for cleaning 25 million gallons of raw sewage from Mexico every day. It hasn’t worked in years. The federal funding will allow the IBWC to repair and expand the plant to be able to clean 50 million gallons of raw sewage a day and peak at 75 million gallons a day. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona senators say federal funding freeze is putting Colorado River at risk
“Colorado River conservation programs have stopped receiving money from the federal government, despite temporary restraining orders intended to halt the Trump Administration’s funding freeze. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports. Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego raised concerns this week that Colorado River programs are no longer receiving money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. The Senators say freezing these funds could “undo the collaboration and careful planning needed to keep the Colorado River flowing.” … ” Read more from KNAU.
The water fate of thousands may rest with the Arizona Supreme Court
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “We don’t yet know whether the Arizona Supreme Court will agree to intervene in a dustup between Chandler and the Roosevelt Water Conservation District (RWCD). Or if it does, how the court might rule. But this case should be a cautionary tale for all of Arizona: We’re going to see more disputes like this as water grows scarcer and competition for supplies grows. It’s in all our best interests to resolve them before the fate of thousands (or even millions) of water users rests with a black-and-white court order. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
In national water news today …
It’s not just RFK Jr — Opposition to fluoride in drinking water grows
“Opposition to the US practice of adding fluoride to drinking water supplies has been growing as more evidence accumulates linking fluoride exposure to potential harmful brain impacts in children. Now, the future of the practice could be in doubt, with Thursday’s confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as President Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kennedy, an environmental health lawyer, has been calling for an end to fluoridation in public drinking water for years. And though it is the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that has regulatory oversight of fluoride levels in water supplies, the HHS plays a role in policy by publishing recommendations for fluoridation that many states follow. An HHS task force currently recommends fluoridation based on “strong evidence of effectiveness in reducing tooth decay.” But that could change. In his new role, Kennedy is widely expected to push for guidance against fluoridation. … ” Read more from The New Lede.
Dust from car brakes more harmful than exhaust, study finds
“In cars, pollution doesn’t come from exhaust alone. It also comes from wear and tear on roads, tires, and brakes. According to new research, tiny bits of dust cast off by brake pads may inflict more harm than car exhaust. For the study, published in Particle and Fibre Toxicology, researchers grew human lung cells in a lab and exposed them to dust from car brakes and from diesel tailpipes, finding that brake dust caused greater injury to the cells. … California and Washington have both passed laws to limit the use of copper in brake pads, but brake dust remains largely unregulated. The new study, authors write, highlights “the need for targeted legislation to protect public health.” … ” Read more from Yale e360.
Zeldin’s $20B take-back bid risks plunging EPA into legal peril
“EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin wants to reclaim $20 billion in funding that the Biden administration steered to green banks — saying this week that he aims “get that money back to the government immediately.” But saying it and doing it are two different things. And if Zeldin tries to claw back money from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund without cause, it could put the government at risk of breaching its contracts with some or all the green bank participants, experts say. And that could cost taxpayers more in damages than the sum Zeldin hopes to recover. “If the government abrogates the contract without legal justification, then it will eventually owe damages to these people when they sue, but will not be getting the services that are under contract here,” said David Super, a professor of law and economics at Georgetown University Law Center. … ” Read more from E&E News.
How Trump’s federal funding and hiring freezes are leaving America vulnerable to catastrophic wildfire
“President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to shrink the federal government, launched as the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires burned across Los Angeles, have left the country’s wildland firefighting force unprepared for the rapidly approaching wildfire season. The administration has frozen funds, including money appropriated by Congress, and issued a deluge of orders eliminating federal employees, which has thrown agencies tasked with battling blazes into disarray as individual offices and managers struggle to interpret the directives. The uncertainty has limited training and postponed work to reduce flammable vegetation in areas vulnerable to wildfire. It has also left some firefighters with little choice but to leave the force, their colleagues said. ProPublica spoke to a dozen firefighters and others who assist with the federal wildfire response across the country and across agencies. They described a range of immediate impacts on a workforce that was already stressed by budgetary woes predating the Trump administration. Hiring of some seasonal workers has stalled. Money for partner nonprofits that assist with fuel-reduction projects has been frozen. And crews that had traveled to support prescribed burns in Florida were turned back, while those assisting with wildfire cleanup in California faced confusion over how long they would be allowed to do that work. … ” Read more from Pro Publica.
NOAA is told to make list of climate-related grants, setting off fears
“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, one of the world’s leading climate science agencies, has been ordered to identify grants related to global warming and other topics targeted by President Trump’s executive orders, raising fears that those grants are at risk of being canceled. The instructions were issued on Thursday at the direction of the Commerce Department, which includes NOAA, according to a copy of the document viewed by The New York Times. NOAA staff members were given a list of all “active financial assistant awards” at NOAA and told to identify which of those grants could be “potentially impacted” by one of Mr. Trump’s orders. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Updated Technical Guidance for Water Code Section 1242.1, groundwater recharge
