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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Sites Reservoir Project water rights hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending petition for Sites Reservoir Project water rights. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@swrcbadministrativehearing728/featured. Click here for the hearing notice.
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board from 9am to 12:30pm. Agenda items include a discussion on the planning for a Climate Science Research Symposium and contaminants monitoring review. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Water Supply and the Los Angeles Fires: Emerging Lessons and Implications from 12pm to 1pm. Speakers are Edith de Guzman, UCCE Cooperative Extension Specialist in Water Equity and Adaptation Policy, & Greg Pierce, Co-Director, Luskin Center for Innovation, UCLA on Water Supply and the Los Angeles Fires: Emerging Lessons and Implications. Webinar link: https://tinyurl.com/anrwaterwebinar25. Pre-registration is not required.
In California water news today …
Functional flows are good for California’s native fishes
“As California grapples with ongoing water management challenges, the question of “how much water to leave in streams” to support native fishes and aquatic species often arises. There is no easy answer to this question, as evidenced by the more than 200 environmental flow assessment methods that exist globally. In California, there has been movement towards using a Functional Flows approach, as described in the California Environmental Flows Framework (CEFF) to answer this question more scientifically. Several previous blogs have covered CEFF and Functional Flows (see further reading below), and the California Environmental Flow Technical Working Group meets quarterly to discuss and share related research, case studies, and applications. For people learning about this work, two common questions are often asked: “Has a Functional Flows approach been implemented anywhere in the state?” and “Is there empirical evidence that a Functional Flows approach really supports California native fishes?” In short, the answers are “to a certain extent” and “yes”. A recent study by Baruch et al. in 2024 in Ecological Applications helps explain these answers. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
Dam removal and its discontents: Stakeholders weigh in on PG&E decommission and license surrender plan
“The early months of 2025 marked a milestone for stakeholders along the Eel River and Russian River watershed. PG&E announced that it has readied a final version of the company’s surrender application for the Potter Valley Project. The application outlines the utility company’s plan for closing and removing facilities associated with the project — including the more than 100-year-old Scott and Cape Horn dams, repurposing portions of the project’s infrastructure and introducing a new diversionary facility where once stood a now-defunct hydroelectric power plant to continue water diversion from the upper Eel River watershed to agricultural interests along the Russian River. Additionally, the plan will put in place a continued source of funding from the beneficiaries of Russian River diversion to support ecological restoration of the Eel River, and it will return water rights to Indigenous communities in the Eel River watershed. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Lake County Supervisors to discuss concerns over plan to remove Scott Dam, consider letters to governor and Trump Administration
“The Board of Supervisors is set to discuss the county’s concerns about the proposed removal of the Scott Dam, which created Lake Pillsbury, and along with it will consider sending letters to the governor and to the Trump Administration seeking assistance in stopping the dam’s decommissioning. … The construction in 1922 of the dam, located on the Eel River in Lake County and within the Mendocino National Forest, created Lake Pillsbury. It’s one of two dams included in PG&E’s Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project. On Jan. 31, PG&E released its draft license surrender application, with the comment period to close on March 3. The staff report for the discussion said the county’s proposed letter “addresses considerations regarding the comment period timeline and potential impacts to Lake County, including implications for fire suppression capabilities, property values, and county revenue streams.” … ” Read more from Lake County News.
SEE ALSO:
- The Eel River’s Return: California’s third largest watershed is on its way to flowing free and CalTrout has a plan for its restoration, from Cal Trout
- Editorial: Historic North Coast water deal takes shape, from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Scenic small town along Sacramento River could get new riverfront hotel
Paul Hames / DWR
“A small town in the Sacramento Delta with less than 300 people could soon be a new hotspot for tourism. Developers say the town of Hood is the perfect place for a new boutique hotel. This scenic spot could soon be the site of Sacramento County’s newest luxury inn. “This is the perfect opportunity to build another beautiful hotel on the riverfront,” hotel developer Robert Leach said. Leach has big plans for this location along the Sacramento River in the tiny delta town of Hood. “There’s really nothing that would be like a luxury boutique hotel in this marketplace, so we’d like to be the first,” Leach said. … ” Read more from CBS News.
AI takeover: Automated fish counting cameras
“Artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into evermore tasks, but can it be used to identify and count salmon migrating upstream? Traditionally, counting fish that enter rivers, hatcheries, and fish ladders requires an observer to tally fish as they swim past an underwater viewing window or to generate counts by reviewing footage from fish passage structures captured on video – both time-consuming and tedious endeavors. Technological advancements resulted in sensors and cameras that automatically detect fish, replacing the human observer or drastically reducing the time required to review footage of fish passages. Now, with artificial intelligence and neural network programming, it is possible to use 3D cameras and computer vision (AI that uses images and videos) to automatically identify fish. FISHBIO recently stepped into the world of AI fish identification with the acquisition of cameras and software from Simsonar, a Finnish company that specializes in automated fish monitoring cameras. … ” Read more from FishBio.
California flood risk exceeds fire concerns, according to study
“Within the next 25 years, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco will be more at risk from flooding than wildfires, a new study has found. “The fires in Los Angeles this January followed two years of wet winters which encouraged the vegetation growth that became wildfire fuel,” says the study from CoreLogic. “Now, the metro’s burned areas lack the vegetation that can absorb water, making them more vulnerable to flood.” The study estimates that in Los Angeles, 762,000 homes will be affected. The estimate is 231,000 homes in San Diego and 65,000 homes in San Francisco. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Collecting fog could help provide water in arid cities, study says
“Researchers have determined multiple ways that harvested fog could help meet water demand in arid cities, particularly those within the driest area on Earth, the Atacama Desert. From providing drinking water to irrigating landscapes to supporting hydroponic gardening, the new research shows promise in fog-harvesting technology. In the study published in Frontiers in Environmental Science, scientists investigated the potential of fog collection in Alto Hospicio, Chile, an area threatened by water scarcity. The region receives less than 0.19 inches, or 5 millimeters, of rain per year, the BBC reported. Further, the Alto Hospicio region relies on underground aquifers for drinking water, and those aquifers have not been replenished in 10,000 to 17,000 years. While fog harvesting for water has been considered previously, the study authors noted that this method is typically considered for rural areas. However, the scientists found that fog harvesting could also supplement the water supply in larger urban areas. … ” Read more from EcoWatch.
California Senate Bill takes aim at saving farm lands
“Amid a push by local leaders to conserve farmlands and open spaces in the Bay Area from future development, state senator David Cortese has introduced a bill that would shore up funding to preserve agricultural land throughout the state despite the measure’s uncertain financial outlook. The bill, SB 462, would bolster an existing program called the California Farmland Conservancy Program, which supports agricultural conservation and sustainable land management. If enacted into law, the bill would offer an annual $20 million infusion of funds dedicated specifically to “conservation easements.” Under that system, the land owner receives payment in exchange for permanently limiting their land to agricultural use – even if it changes owners. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Bay Area legislator introduces bill to help clean up ‘forever chemicals’ from water supply
“A new bill by a Bay Area state senator aims to create a special fund to help clean up so-called forever chemicals in California’s water supply. Senate Bill 454 was introduced by Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, on Tuesday and, if passed by the state Legislature and signed by the governor, would create the PFAS Mitigation Fund. The fund would be managed by the State Water Resources Control Board and be used by drinking water agencies and other local jurisdictions to help remove the widespread toxic chemicals from water supplies. It is co-sponsored by the League of California Cities and the Association of California Water Agencies. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
California to launch first-in-the-nation digital democracy effort to improve public engagement for LA fire recovery
“Governor Gavin Newsom today announced California’s upcoming launch of a bold, innovative program that will bring Californians together to engage, interact, and share ideas to help shape government services and collectively create policy solutions. Engaged California is a program to support community conversations about important topics using digital platforms. With this new initiative, the state will lead the nation in deliberative democracy, better ensuring decisions are centered on the people’s voices. As part of California’s all-in response to the firestorm, this pilot program is being launched now for survivors and the greater Los Angeles community. “Government works better when we build it together – and this means making it easier for everyone to be involved. After years of development, I am excited to launch this new pilot program to help create a town hall for the modern era – where Californians share their perspectives, concerns, and ideas geared toward finding real solutions. We’re starting this effort by more directly involving Californians in the LA firestorm response and recovery. As we recover, reimagine, and rebuild Los Angeles, we will do it together.” … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
‘A desperate plea’: Bold display pops up at Yosemite National Park after layoffs
“A striking sight unfurled thousands of feet over the steep granite face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Saturday — and it wasn’t the annual firefall. A group of six demonstrators rigged ropes and rappelled down to hang and secure four corners of an inverted American flag over the 7,500-foot cliff. As many as hundreds of unsuspecting spectators were gathered below to take in the last weekend of the sunset spectacle that transforms the waters of Horsetail Falls into a glowing bright orange hue. … “Little did we know we would get to witness history in the making,” she said. “I knew instinctively right away that it must be a desperate plea for the American people to help protect our public lands. Protected lands that are at huge risk of being taken away and exploited.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Trump keeps talking about taking PNW water — is that possible?
“The answer is no. President Donald Trump has not and cannot take water from the Pacific Northwest and send it somewhere else, such as California. … Trump has talked of taking water from the Pacific Northwest multiple times. He didn’t invent the idea; it’s been around for generations and has never really gained momentum. The notion won’t work for a variety of reasons, water managers and legal experts say, and should instead be relegated to the heap of failed environmental proposals. “It’s just factually, economically, legally and politically mind-bogglingly stupid,” said Daniel Rohlf, an environmental law professor with the College of Lewis and Clark in Portland. Here’s why the idea won’t work. … ” Read more from the Seattle Times.
Troubled waters: New U.S. policies put Canada’s water security at risk, expert warns
“With the possibility of fewer environmental protections under U.S. President Donald Trump, experts are warning about the impact on Canada’s water security and resources, and environmental, health, and economic risks. Gail Krantzberg, professor emeritus in McMaster’s W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, has studied the remediation and protection of the Great Lakes for years. She shares some insights and suggestions for Canadians interested in protecting water resources. Q: When we first talked about the impact of Donald Trump, you said: “These are dangerous times for our waters.” What did you mean by that? A: Donald Trump’s approach to regulation poses a serious threat to our waters. He believes less regulation is better. He believes in reducing regulations on industries like mining, oil exploration, and manufacturing, which often leads to higher discharge of pollutants being released into the environment. In our case, this could directly affect the Great Lakes and other water bodies in Canada. … ” Continue reading at Canada’s McMaster University.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Spring-like week ahead for South Lake Tahoe, but starts off with wind advisory
“The week ahead in South Lake Tahoe starts with a Lake Wind Advisory which is in effect from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday. Expect winds from the southwest 15-25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Waves could be 2-4 feet on Lake Tahoe. The region will experience spring-like temperatures and dry weather this week, especially Wednesday through Friday. A cooler and more unsettled weather pattern returns next weekend through the first week of March. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now.
Salmon seen in California’s North Yuba River for first time in almost a century
“Several months after the start of a pilot program aiming to restore salmon runs in California’s Sierra County, Chinook salmon can be found in the North Yuba River “for the first time in close to a century,” the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced on Thursday.The salmon are a result of a project studying the return of spring-run Chinook salmon to their native spawning habitat in the Sierra Nevada, the department said. The eggs that the fish hatched from were deposited in October along a 12-mile stretch of gravel riverbed in the North Yuba River east of Downieville in an effort to mimic the spawning behaviors of wild salmon. Young fish were first seen on Feb. 11 in a rotary screw trap installed several miles downstream from where the eggs were implanted, according to CDFW. The fish are being trucked downstream to the lower Yuba River, where they will then continue their migration to the ocean. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
New program aims to boost salmon in Northern California river
“For the first time in more than 80 years, Chinook salmon are swimming in the North Yuba River in Northern California thanks to an innovative wildlife program. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with federal and local agencies, launched a pilot program to reintroduce Chinook salmon into their historic spawning grounds in the North Yuba River in Plumas County. This stretch of cool water, according to the state, is considered some of the highest quality and most climate-resilient in California. But Chinook salmon disappeared from the waterway after the construction of the Englebright Dam prevented fish from swimming upstream. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
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 Yahoo News.
BAY AREA
Solano County Supervisors look to extend Suisun Marsh levee emergency
“The Solano County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider extending its local emergency due to levee breaches in five reclamation districts in the Suisun Marsh. Most of the marsh damage has been in Supervisor Monica Brown’s district. She did not return a call seeking comment. The county Office of Emergency Services did not return a call Friday seeking an update. “Since the initial proclamation of the local emergency, the county has experienced continued storm activity, further complicating recovery efforts. Soil saturation continues to be a concern, and the levee system faces ongoing risk,” the staff report to the board states. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
CENTRAL COAST
Carmel River: Wading in to save the steelhead
“Every spring Cory Hamilton and his team wade into the Carmel River armed with nets. Up to their ankles in water, they scan the surface for steelhead trout. Some of those fish are in distress, stranded as the river dries up. The team nets them and then trucks the rescued fish to a rearing facility or to a safer section of the river. “It feels good,” says Hamilton, who has been rescuing steelhead in the Carmel River for 22 years, “to help save something.” Since 1989, nearly 500,000 fish have been rescued, many of them having been threatened by overpumping of the river for potable water to supply the Monterey Peninsula. The overpumping has stopped, yet the river still dries up in places during the summer. Looming is a new presidential administration that vows to put “people over fish.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Tehachapi: State hasn’t announced an increase, but water district will plan for 35% allocation
“The California Department of Water Resources began releasing water over the spillway at the Oroville Dam on Feb. 3, directors of Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District heard in a report on Feb. 19. According to General Manager Tom Neisler, the releases are to comply with flood control requirements intended to ensure that adequate storage is available to control storm runoff at the dam in Northern California that feeds the State Water Project, an important source of water in Tehachapi and other locations. Neisler told directors that the flow over the spillway varies but has been as much as 35,000 cubic feet per second this month. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Fire debris is washing up on L.A.’s beaches. County officials warn the public to steer clear
“The gunk has turned up on shorelines from Malibu to Redondo Beach: ghostly lines of charred black bits and melted debris left behind by retreating waves. It’s a mix of ash, sand and pulverized flecks of burned wood and plastic, material destroyed during January’s fires and then washed into the sea by recent rains. The county Department of Beaches and Harbors declared last week that the stuff was “not hazardous to beachgoers or the environment,” based on initial testing of samples taken from Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Lagoon in late January. The department also said that the sediment won’t be removed under the county’s ongoing efforts to clear fire debris from shorelines. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: From Baywatch to toxic waste – LA’s iconic beaches unrecognisable after fires, from the BBC
A slow-moving California landslide suddenly speeds up
“Along the sparkling coast of Southern California, a string of landslides creeping toward the sea has transformed the wealthy community of Rancho Palos Verdes into a disaster zone. New data from a NASA plane shows the widening threat of these slow-moving landslides, which have destabilized homes, businesses, and infrastructure like roads and utilities. Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory documented how the landslides have pushed westward, almost doubling in area since the state mapped them in 2007. The landslides have also sped up in recent years. A month of aerial radar images taken by NASA in the fall revealed how land in the Palos Verdes Peninsula slid toward the ocean by as much as four inches each week between mid-September and mid-October. Before that, a city report showed more than a foot of weekly movement in July and August. … ” Read more from New York Times.
In national water news today …
Republican attack on science targets water research that benefits all
“The Republican effort to rid the federal government of initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is expanding to publicly funded research, ensnaring in its wide net scientific endeavors at the National Science Foundation that seek to expand access to clean water, reduce the cost of water purification, and minimize flood damages. The GOP’s move against the National Science Foundation is part of a broader Republican rejection of federally funded climate and environmental science that does not align with the party’s political and cultural aims. In his first four weeks in office, President Donald Trump has acted imperiously in this regard, firing tens of thousands of federal employees and shelving a major federal research project assessing the value of nature to the country. He has attempted to illegally withhold funds for renewable energy, medical research, and foreign aid that Congress already approved but do not match his America First agenda. … ” Read more from the Circle of Blue.
Ranking members of agriculture committees demand answers on food aid disruptions
“The Ranking Members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees are seeking answers from the Trump administration regarding disruptions to international food aid programs. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Angie Craig, both Democrats from Minnesota, have called for an explanation following a stop-work order that halted the delivery and distribution of hundreds of millions of metric tons of American-grown food aid. The pause raises concerns about potential impacts on American farmers and U.S. agricultural markets. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Klobuchar and Craig stated, “We have received reports of American-grown commodities sitting in storage, with no ability to monitor whether this aid will reach the more than 75,000 children who would have otherwise received school meals.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Trump’s CEQ has no nominee as it tears down NEPA rules
“President Donald Trump in recent days has relied on a White House policy shop — the Council on Environmental Quality — to take a sledgehammer to what’s known as the “Magna Carta” of environmental laws. The Nixon-era office swiftly moved to scrap almost five decades’ worth of its own environmental rules aimed at implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, handing the job off to hundreds of federal agencies. At the center of that contentious policy shift is a looming vacancy, one that conservatives say should quickly be filled by someone who wants to aggressively promote Trump’s plans to boost energy production and speed up the federal permitting process. … ” Read more from E&E News.
