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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.
- WEBINAR: A Conversation with Dr. Daniel Swain, Climate Scientist, California Institute for Water Resources (UC ANR), and Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, UCLA from 9am to 10am. Grab a cup and please join us for RWA’s virtual Coffee and Conversation with Dr. Daniel Swain. Hosted by RWA’s Manager of Government Relations, Ryan Ojakian, the discussion will explore the challenges and opportunities of managing California’s increasing climate extremes, from intensifying droughts to severe floods. This engaging discussion will examine what the future holds, how water agencies can prepare, and strategies for balancing affordability and resilience in a rapidly changing world. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Predictions of Groundwater PFAS Occurrence at Drinking Water Supply Depths in the United States from 12pm to 1pm. This GRACast will present recent work by a USGS team on a national model for predicting the occurrence of PFAS in groundwater used for drinking water supplies. People in the United States may unknowingly be drinking water that contains PFAS because of a lack of systematic analysis, particularly in domestic water supplies. We present an extreme gradient–boosting model for predicting the occurrence of PFAS in groundwater at the depths of drinking water supply for the conterminous United States. Our model results indicate that 71 million to 95 million people in the conterminous United States potentially rely on groundwater with detectable concentrations of PFAS for their drinking water supplies before any treatment. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
California and federal government set to increase water deliveries after storms
“State and federal agencies plan to deliver more water to California farms and cities following recent storms that brought rain and snow and boosted reservoir levels. Cities in Southern California and other agencies that depend on water delivered from Northern California via the State Water Project are projected to receive 35% of requested water supplies, up from an estimated 20% last month, the state Department of Water Resources said Tuesday. In a similar announcement, the federal Bureau of Reclamation said agricultural irrigation districts south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are expected to receive 35% of their full contract amounts from the federal Central Valley Project — more than double the 15% they were allocated at this time last year. The agency said in a written statement that officials are acting on a recent order by President Trump to “maximize water supply, particularly for south-of-Delta contracts.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
California’s water allocation up as state juggles supply and flood risks
“The California Department of Water Resources announced another increase to the State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast for 2025. The allocation increased to 35%, up from 20% in January. This after comes after two large atmospheric rivers in February helped boost water supply. The SWP provides water to agencies serving 27 million Californians and 750,000 farmland acres across the state. California has pivoted from a wet start to the water year, to an abnormally dry January, back to a wet February. This poses challenges for the state to store as much water in wet times, but protect areas of potential flooding hazards. Proposed projects like Sites Reservoir and the Delta Conveyance Project are two ways the state hopes to add additional storage when there is excess water. DWR says “the Delta Conveyance Project alone could have captured more than 700,000 acre-feet of additional storage so far this winter, which is enough to support more than 7 million people and nearly 2.5 million households.” … ” Read more from Channel 10.
SEE ALSO:
- Reclamation maximizes water supplies for initial Central Valley Project 2025 allocations; CVP contractors respond.
- State Water Project allocation increased to 35%; Metropolitan, State Water Contractors respond.
- ‘Winter of extremes’ boosts water deliveries for California, from Stocktonia
- Big California farms in San Joaquin Valley to get 35% of the water they want, feds project, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Reclamation sets initial water allocation at 35%, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
- Initial Friant Division allocation: 45 percent, from the Porterville Recorder
Sites Reservoir gets another $200 million in federal funds
“Federal and state representatives Tuesday praised the Department of the Interior’s announcement of more funding committed to Sites Reservoir. Both Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) and Assembly member James Gallagher issued statements praising the announcement, which stated more than $315 million was being designated for the future Sites Reservoir and the existing San Luis Reservoir. The Department of the Interior didn’t make clear how much was designated for Sites Reservoir, but both LaMalfa and Gallagher’s statements indicated it was $200 million. That would raise the federal government’s investment in the Sites Reservoir Project to $846 million. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
SEE ALSO:
- Governor Newsom issues statement on federal investments in Sites Reservoir, Office of the Governor
- Rep. LaMalfa Celebrates Trump Administration’s Funding for Sites Reservoir, statement from Rep. Doug LaMalfa
- Governor Gavin Newsom praises Trump for release of $315 million for Sites and San Luis reservoirs, from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos
2024 Incidental Take Permit marks a shift in state water management strategy
“The California Water Commission’s February meeting included a brief presentation by Dr. Lenny Grimaldo, Environmental Director for the State Water Project, on the project’s recently issued Incidental Take Permit (ITP). This updated permit, approved by the Department of Fish and Wildlife in October 2024, is critical in regulating activities that could affect species protected under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The 2024 ITP includes provisions for Delta smelt, longfin smelt, and both winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon. Additionally, the permit extends to white sturgeon, a species currently under consideration for listing by the Fish and Game Commission. While the listing decision is pending, specific measures are required to ensure its protection. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Army Corps grilled about January water dump; meanwhile storm releases fill Tulare County waterways
“Even as Kaweah and Success lakes returned to normal operations, with some releases sent into local rivers last week after recent storms, the United States Army Corps of Engineers was being grilled in Washington, D.C. about whether the earlier water dump in January adhered to established practice and “common sense.” “I’m going to speculate that you have a lot of work to do to regain the trust and confidence of farmers, local stakeholders, scientists and all of us that you’re going to follow common sense and facts rather than an executive order that contradicts all those things,” said Rep. Mike Levin (D-Oceanside) after repeatedly challenging Army Corps Lt. General William H. Graham to explain last month’s releases. The exchange happened Tuesday during a State of the Civil Works Program oversight hearing. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
DAN WALTERS: California lacks the capacity to store water that atmospheric rivers dump on the state
“President Donald Trump is obsessed with how California manages its water supply, demanding changes as one price of giving the state billions of dollars in aid to cope with Southern California’s deadly and destructive wildfires. However, Trump’s specific complaints are not grounded in hydrologic or managerial reality — such as his insistence that a lack of water from Northern California was a factor in either the fires’ eruption or the firefighting efforts. Hydrants dried up largely because systems were designed to deal with individual structure fires, not widespread wildfires involving thousands of buildings. That said, there’s much to criticize in how California, once a global leader in large-scale water management, has faltered. Population growth and evolving agricultural practices have increased demand, while federal and state environmental laws, judicial decisions, political foot-dragging and climate change have restricted supply. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
California weather has undergone an important shift — and you’ll be feeling the impacts soon
“Spring has warmed across much of the United States over recent decades, according to an analysis released Wednesday by Climate Central, an independent group of scientists and communicators. Californians across the state felt the impacts, with all 58 counties experiencing warmer springs from 1970 to 2024. Such a shift could stress water supplies, prolong seasonal allergies and worsen wildfire risk. The analysis looked into average temperatures during meteorological spring — March, April and May — based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Over 95% of the counties analyzed in the U.S. experienced rising spring temperatures from 1970 to 2024. Temperature jumps were especially in Alaska and the Southwest. There’s still variability from year to year but “the baseline is going up,” said Jen Brady, a senior data analyst with Climate Central who led the spring temperature analysis. A few places, such as in the Dakotas, experienced slightly cooler springs — scientists are still investigating why, Brady said. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Record winegrape acreage left unpicked last season
“California’s winegrape sector continues to reel from a shrinking market that has left the state with too much vineyard acreage and, year after year, an oversupply of grapes. Last year, more than a tenth of the state’s crop was left unpicked, according to industry estimates presented last month at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento. “I don’t think there’s ever been a time when we left that many acres of grapes on the vine,” said Jeff Bitter, president of Allied Grape Growers, a grower-owned marketing group that sells winegrapes for 400 growers across California. After years of growth, global wine consumption has declined in recent years, with U.S. sales falling for three straight years and experts forecasting the trend to continue. Industry experts have attributed the weak wine market to multiple factors, including a shift in messaging from health experts about how safe it is to consume low levels of alcohol, the industry’s failure to win over younger demographics, and market share lost to seltzers, ready-to-drink cocktails and marijuana. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
California’s 2024 fall chinook salmon returns only 55% of fishery management objective
“The latest salmon report from the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) paints a bleak picture for California’s fall-run Chinook salmon. In 2024, an estimated 99,274 adult salmon returned to the Sacramento River Basin—just 55% of the management objective of 180,000 fish. The PFMC will formally review these numbers in March before determining regulations for the upcoming fishing season. This sharp decline follows back-to-back closures of the salmon fishing season in 2023 and 2024, marking only the third and fourth times in history that salmon fishing was banned in California. The closures have devastated the state’s commercial and recreational fishing industries, which typically contribute $1.4 billion annually and support 23,000 jobs. … ” Read more from Active NorCal.
New Fish and Wildlife campaign urges Californians to “Save a swamp, Sauté a Nutria”
“It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week and the US Fish and Wildlife Service wants people to know that nutria can be delicious. The large, semi-aquatic rodent is considered an invasive species along the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Originally brought to the US from South America for fur, wildlife officials say the large rodent is destroying marshland. In California, wildland managers have been raising concerns over nutria for years – warning that the giant rodent poses not only a threat to natural habitats but also to levees critical to agriculture. Noting that eating invasive species is one way people can help protect native wildlife, Fish and Wildlife started a new campaign for this National Invasive Species Awareness Week by highlighting a number of pests that can make for a nice meal. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Delta Plan success metrics inform council priorities for the next five years
“How do we know if we are successfully managing the Delta’s complex ecosystem? How can we adapt management practices to account for a constantly changing environment? What is a reasonable timeframe for seeing the impacts of our actions on the ecosystem? The Delta Plan Five-Year Review seeks to answer these questions to provide insights into how we collectively make a difference approximately ten years after the Delta Stewardship Council adopted the Delta Plan in 2013. Every five years, the Council evaluates progress by examining key accomplishments and deficiencies in Delta Plan implementation. Each Delta Plan review informs the Council’s priorities in the following five years to better achieve the coequal goals. The review is also required by the Delta Reform Act. … ” Read more from the Delta Stewardship Council.
Purge of federal support jolts California agriculture
“The Trump administration’s mass firing of federal employees and its withholding of federal funds during the past month have impacted farmers who for decades have partnered with the federal government for conservation, infrastructure and equipment upgrades, research and other work critical to agriculture. “We have been constantly assessing the impacts because these actions touch so many areas of the federal government that farmers and ranchers interact with,” said Erin Huston, natural resources and land consultant for the California Farm Bureau. “We are concerned about the impacts to both agriculture and the rural communities agriculture serves.” Among those affected were farmers expecting repayment under federal conservation contracts, such as those funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and its Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grants. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Clothes dryers due for closer look as possible culprit for spread of microplastics
“Clothes dryers blow a lot of hot air, but one group wants to know about what else gets spit out by the machine. The San Francisco Estuary Institute is taking a closer look at the household appliance as part of their research into micro-plastic pollution in the Bay Area. Maybe the vent shoots out towards the side yard, breezeway, or back alley, but somewhere that little air vent flaps and flops while your clothes dry through. But is it just hot air coming out the other end? “We saw high levels of microplastics in storm water runoff and a lot of them were fibers,” Diana Lin said. “And so we’ve been wondering where all these fibers are coming from and one hypothesis is that clothing dryers, which are vented outdoors, could be an important source.” … ” Read more from NorCal Public Media.
Donald Trump’s team wants to ‘defund’ the California Coastal Commission. Can they?
“President Donald Trump’s administration is eyeing California’s coastal watchdog as it establishes conditions California must meet to receive federal support for Los Angeles wild fire recovery. Ric Grenell, California Republican aide to Trump who’s considering a gubernatorial bid, told a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference last Friday that the California Coastal Commission “needs to absolutely be defunded.” Grenell has echoed Trump in calls for “conditions” for wildfire recovery aid, including voter ID laws and water storage. Now, they are explicitly calling for the dismantling of the Commission. “We are going to have strings on the money that we give to California,” said Grenell, who currently serves as Trump’s presidential envoy for special missions. … Can the federal government ‘defund’ the commission? No. “They can do harm to the program for sure,” said Jana Zimmer, a former commissioner and author of the legal text, Navigating the California Coastal Act. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Padilla, Barragán introduce bicameral bill to codify DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice
“Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced bicameral legislation to permanently codify the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act follows Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent order eliminating all environmental justice efforts at the DOJ on her first day as Attorney General. Bondi’s directive followed President Trump’s executive order dismantling all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across federal agencies. As a result, programs designed to combat pollution in communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income areas were effectively shut down. The Trump Administration also terminated several ENRD attorneys responsible for prosecuting environmental violations, including cases like the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the East Palestine train derailment. … ” Read more from Senator Padilla’s office.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
State Water Board takes action to protect Klamath river salmon and steelhead
“On February 4, 2025, the California State Water Board issued Water Rights Order WR 2025-0002 settling longstanding disputes regarding the diversion of water from Stanshaw Creek, a tributary of the Klamath River in Siskiyou County. The Order found waste of water, unreasonable use of water, and unreasonable method of diversion. Implementation of the Order will benefit Klamath River Coho salmon and steelhead by protecting their juvenile rearing and cold-water refuge habitat in the lagoon at the mouth of Stanshaw Creek. The enforcement action will benefit the Karuk Tribe’s rights and culture. In 2000, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) and others filed protests of a water rights application of Marble Mountain Ranch (Ranch) to divert water from Stanshaw Creek. CSPA’s protest alleged public trust resource violations and unreasonable use of water and method of diversion. … ” Continue reading from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
Siskiyou Land Conservancy announces acquisition of 183 acres along the Mad River
“A 183-acre property along the Mad River, or Baduwa’t, was recently deeded to the Siskiyou Land Conservancy. The landowner, a director of the SLC, hopes the donation will set an example for nearby property owners to ensure habitat on the river is protected. The property is located in the Kneeland area in Humboldt County. It hosts just under one mile of river frontage and two creeks, stands of second growth forest and some old-growth Douglas fir and maple trees. This offers habitat for several rare and endangered species, according to the SLC. “My main objective with the donation is to permanently protect this important Mad River habitat,” said Ken Miller, a retired physician, in a prepared statement. “But I’m hoping that my donation will inspire others to protect their parcels. In our age of collapsing biodiversity, it’s crucial that people who own land, or who can fund acquisitions of such lands, do everything they can to permanently protect habitat in our area,” he said in the statement. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Herald.
Work on Mendocino drought resilience plan continues
“The Mendocino County Water Agency (MCWA) held its second public workshop on drought resilience planning in Fort Bragg on February 21st. The workshops are part of the County’s response to SB 522, signed into law in September 2021, requiring each county to prepare a drought resistance plan (DRP) for state small water systems and domestic well owners. At the first workshop, in September of 2024, consultants working on the plan pointed out that Mendocino County is rated one of the counties most at risk for drought impacts in the entire state. Dr. Laura Garza, a University of California water and climate change advisor and part of the county’s Drought and Water Storage Task Force, began the workshop by pointing out that droughts are normal, recurrent climate features that have been exacerbated and accelerated by climate change. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
Lake County Supervisors approve letters to state, federal officials over concerns about proposed Scott Dam removal
“In a show of unity on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to submit comments to Pacific Gas and Electric, the governor and the Trump Administration regarding the county’s concerns over plans to decommission and eventually remove the Scott Dam. … The action they took on Tuesday included approving a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom in which they raise issue with the state taking sides in the process when they said it should have been neutral. Their criticism included pointing out that removal of the Scott Dam contradicts Newsom’s own January executive order on maximizing water storage, and they point out that the state, through the Department of Water Resources, is a party to a memorandum of understanding on the process that does not include Lake County. Further, the county asks for time to meet with the Governor’s Office to discuss the situation. “Lake County has not been heard, and costs to keep Lake County whole in the face of potential future loss of Scott Dam have been minimized and misrepresented by other parties.” … ” Read the full story at Lake County News.
BAY AREA
Marin Municipal Water District reports progress on capital improvements
“After overhauling customer rates to support investments in maintenance and water supply nearly two years ago, the Marin Municipal Water District says it’s slightly ahead of schedule on a $62.5 million capital improvements program ending June 30. “This is a pretty good spot to be in halfway through the fiscal year,” Alex Anaya, director of engineering at the district, said at a recent board presentation. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the district initially approved a $49.4 million capital improvements program to replace leak-prone pipes in central Marin and Marin City and to continue construction on water storage tanks in Fairfax, among other projects. The district raised the amount to $62.5 million after accounting for rolled-over encumbrances from the previous year, plus a few unplanned expenses, including an effort to reshape the dam at the Nicasio Reservoir to add storage capacity. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
San Francisco dumps sewage into the ocean; do you really want to know how much?
“Several times per year, San Francisco’s sewage and stormwater system gets overwhelmed by rain runoff. The excess polluted water flows straight into the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The city says it’s the best they can do with their resources, but local environmental groups aren’t satisfied with the efforts. “When their system is operating properly, it’s a very well-working system,” Sejal Choksi-Chugh, San Francisco Baykeeper executive director, told KQED in a story highlighting the pollution issue. “The problem is when we have heavy rains, their system is not built to hold all those flows. That means the system gets overwhelmed, creating contaminated spots that are harmful for public access.” “The problem has definitely grown worse,” Choksi-Chugh added. “They’re not allowed to be discharging this much bacteria and pollution into the bay, yet they are doing it.” … ” Read more from The Inertia.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Modesto-area residents most impacted by contamination get free well testing, bottled water
“Over the last four years, the Valley Water Collaborative has focused its efforts on testing nitrate levels in private wells in the Turlock and Modesto subbasins. The findings are not good and not surprising: Contamination at unhealthy levels was found in 75% of the wells tested. The collaborative offers free water replacement to those who need it. Now, the nonprofit organization is expanding to five more subbasins throughout the Central Valley. People most impacted live in rural, underserved communities not hooked up to a municipal water source. “It is those households that are relatively isolated, that were built maybe 40, 50, 60 years ago, that have a relatively shallow well that are most vulnerable to this contamination,” said Patrick Pulupa, executive officer of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Valley Water Collaborative launches free well testing, replacement water program for private wells
“Valley Water Collaborative (VWC) on Feb. 26, begins accepting applications for its new free well testing and replacement water program for private wells located in five groundwater basins throughout the Central Valley. VWC started its free well testing program in the Modesto and Turlock Basins in 2021. Its service is now expanded to five more basins: Yolo, Eastern San Joaquin, Delta Mendota, Merced and Madera. The program is being offered free to residents living in the five basins who rely on private drinking water wells. VWC provides water testing for a range of groundwater contaminants such as nitrate, arsenic, uranium and 1,2,3-TCP. If the water exceeds State standards, replacement water is provided to those residents who meet program requirements. … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal.
State Water Board delays probation for Kern subbasin
“Groundwater agencies in Kern County have been given more time to improve their groundwater sustainability plans and potentially avoid state intervention. Citing significant progress in the agencies’ plans to bring the critically overdrafted Kern County Subbasin into sustainability by 2040 under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, the California State Water Resources Control Board last week continued its hearing to Sept. 17 on whether to place the subbasin in probationary status. This marks the first time a probationary hearing has been continued. As part of the continuance, the board asked the Kern Subbasin’s 20 groundwater agencies to submit their collective revised plans by June 20, to provide time for the board to review updated plans before the hearing. State water board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel acknowledged that the Kern Subbasin is geologically complex and said there has been substantial progress by local agencies toward plans that ensure sustainable groundwater management. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
New Santa Ana event to spur record warmth in Southern California
“Soon after warmth builds over the interior southwestern United States, offshore winds will kick up and help bring the heat to coastal areas of Southern California, AccuWeather meteorologists say. The Santa Ana winds and warmth will drive up the wildfire risk. “Temperatures will surge to 10-20 degrees above the historical average across the interior Southwest in cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Palm Springs, California,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis said. On Wednesday and Thursday, Phoenix’s daily record highs of 91 and 92, both set in 1986, will be challenged. Las Vegas and Palm Springs will challenge record highs set the same year on Tuesday afternoon. The Tuesday record is 85 in Las Vegas and 95 in Palm Springs. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Don’t expect huge wildflower, poppy blooms in Southern California this spring. Here’s why
“The vibrant wildflowers and poppies that bloom across Southern California state parks in spring are expected to be “limited” this season, California State Parks announced on Monday. The reason behind the forecast is below-average rainfall this winter, according to California State Parks. The stunning views of flowers in bloom in Southern California typically attract visitors eager to catch a glimpse or snap a photo, sometimes to the flowers’ detriment. While the wildflower display “may be small this year,” California State Parks encourages visits to various state parks in the region for other landscape views and outdoor recreational offerings. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
What’s in Los Angeles’ drinking water?
“Nearly 4 million people are served drinking water from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, making it one of the largest water utilities in the U.S. With the release of the 2025 update of EWG’s Tap Water Database, we took a closer look at this expansive system for the millions of Angelenos served by it, comparing it to the nation as a whole. In addition to information about L.A. drinking water quality, the Tap Water Database provides details about chemical and radioactive contaminants in the water of nearly 50,000 community systems nationwide. It also shows how these concentrations compare to federal legal limits and EWG’s own health-based standards for protection against harms such as a greater risk of cancer. … ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group.
Los Angeles wildfire hazardous debris cleanup reaches substantial completion in record time
“In less than 30 days, federal and state crews have substantially completed wildfire hazardous debris cleanup for the Eaton and Palisades fires, as part of broader efforts to help Los Angeles firestorm survivors recover and rebuild at a record pace. U.S. EPA crews, working alongside state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) personnel and the U.S. Department of Defense, have reached 99% completion, with around 100 harder-to-access properties remaining. Crews have assessed and cleaned up thousands of residential parcels – clearing more than 9,000 properties of hazardous materials. Phase 1 prioritizes the removal of household hazardous waste, which was necessary to begin Phase 2 clearing of structural debris. Governor Gavin Newsom joined federal, state and local leaders to launch that important second phase of work and mark the swift progress of cleanup efforts. … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
Three LA County landfills are set to accept wildfire debris
“L.A. County supervisors cleared the way Tuesday for large amounts of wildfire debris to be disposed of at the Calabasas, Sunshine Canyon and Lancaster landfills. The debris will come from Phase 2 of the cleanup process, which includes ash, soil and the remnants of homes, including foundations and chimneys. Hazardous material such as asbestos, propane tanks, solvents and lithium batteries should have been removed as part of Phase 1 of the cleanup. That should be wrapping up this week, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Eric Swenson, who spoke during the supervisors’ meeting. “The fire ash and debris is in an uncontrolled state, and what is most important for the health of this community … is that we get it from an uncontrolled environment to a controlled environment as quickly and safely as possible,” Swenson said. … ” Read more from the LAist.
L.A. County supervisors vote 5 to 0 to let Calabasas landfill accept more fire debris
“The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 0 Tuesday to allow Calabasas Landfill to accept potentially toxic wildfire debris outside its typical service area and increase the tonnage limits at two other Southern California landfills to accommodate the fire-related waste. Calabasas Landfill, a county-owned landfill in the unincorporated community of Agoura, is authorized to receive waste only from within a roughly 350-square-mile area, which includes about 70% of the fire-damaged area affected by the Palisades fire. The board unanimously voted to waive that restriction for six months, permitting Calabasas Landfill to receive ash and debris from the entire Palisades fire burn scar — and potentially from the Eaton fire and others. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Wildlife experts undertake critical rescue mission after devastating fires in Los Angeles: ‘[It] needs to happen now’
“When wildfires burn, it’s not just homes and forests at risk — endangered species are also caught in the crossfire. In the wake of the recent Palisades Fire in Southern California, fish and wildlife rescuers worked to save hundreds of endangered fish from fire-damaged waterways. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently removed more than 250 endangered southern steelhead trout from Topanga Creek after recent wildfires left the creek’s watershed severely degraded. “Rescuing this genetically unique population of trout needs to happen now,” Rosi Dagit, a conservation biologist involved in the effort, told local news station KTLA 5. More than 750 tidewater gobies — tiny and bony freshwater — were also rescued from nearby Topanga Lagoon, located downstream from Topanga Creek. Officials say the waters in these areas may remain uninhabitable for fish species for years. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Rancho Palos Verdes homes continue to slide into the ocean, but the destruction could have been avoided
“Rancho Palos Verdes life is mostly idyllic and insular. Clifftop ocean views, scenic hiking trails and a thriving equine community mean residents rarely have to go “down the hill.” But in recent years, multi-million-dollar homes perched atop oceanside bluffs in the Portuguese Bend area have started to succumb to geological forces that — despite millions of dollars and years of efforts — cannot be stopped. In fact, those forces were accelerated by heavy rains in 2023 and 2024, pulling apart structures, cutting gas and power lines and severing roads. NASA imagery shows that land was sliding at a rate of 4 inches a week during a four-week period last year. Portuguese Bend is clearly on borrowed time. … ” Read more from the LAist.
California sea lions are getting sick, but what’s causing it?
“Wildlife experts have been responding to an uptick in California sea lions getting sick off the shores of Malibu due to a toxic algae bloom. According to the California Wildlife Center, more than a dozen sea lions have been sickened by a suspected “domoic acid event” in Malibu. Domoic acid, or DA, is an algae bloom that may spread to marine life through the consumption of contaminated fish, the center explained in a Facebook post. On Saturday, the center said its team received 14 calls reporting sea lions in distress since last Wednesday. Signs include seizures, a craning head motion and lethargy, wildlife experts stated. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
SAN DIEGO
Halfway point reached on construction of San Diego’s historic first aqueduct
“The historic First Aqueduct’s critical construction project is at the halfway point, says the San Diego County Water Authority. The project is intended to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable water supplies to the region. The Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement Project is expected to run through summer 2026, renovating 99 structures along two large-diameter water pipelines that run from North to South County. The project stretches 21 miles, starting north of Escondido and east of the 15 freeway, continuing south to Slaughterhouse Canyon in incorporated San Diego County, and ending at the San Vicente Reservoir in Lakeside. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego.
Dredging gets underway this week at Carlsbad lagoon
“Dredging begins this week at Agua Hedionda Lagoon for the first time in four years, work needed to keep water flowing to the Carlsbad desalination plant with the bonus of boosting sand on nearby beaches. Workers set up a temporary dock Monday in the outer lagoon along Carlsbad Boulevard south of Tamarack Avenue. The dock will be used by a small tugboat and a barge with equipment to vacuum sand and pump it through a pipe in a watery slurry onto the shoreline from Pine Avenue to just north of Cannon Road. The work will take place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through late April, city officials said. The sidewalks along Carlsbad Boulevard will remain open. Crews will direct visitors around where replenishment is occurring on the beach. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Questions and confusion as Trump pauses key funding for shrinking Colorado River
“An executive order issued in the early days of the Trump administration hit pause on at least $4 billion set aside to protect the flow of the Colorado River. The funds from the Inflation Reduction Act were offered to protect the flow of the water supply for about 40 million people and a massive agricultural economy. With the money on hold, Colorado River users are worried about the future of the dwindling water supply. The river is shrinking due to climate change. The nation’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, created by dams on the Colorado River, have reached record low levels in recent years amid a megadrought spanning more than two decades. If water levels fall much lower, they could lose the ability to generate hydropower within the massive dams that hold them back, or even lose the ability to pass water downstream. … ” Read more from KUNC.
Goldwater Institute files lawsuit against Arizona Department of Water Resources
“The Goldwater Institute has filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Department of Water Resources on behalf of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA). The suit alleges Governor Katie Hobbs’ office and the Arizona Department of Water Resources enacted a water rule without going through the proper legislative channels. Jon Riches, Vice President for Litigation at Goldwater Institute, joined us to discuss. … The ADWR’s Director, Tom Buschatzke, stands by its process for making determinations on assured water supply applications. The suit also said cities and towns including Buckeye and Queen Creek that are not yet designated water providers are being devastated by the ruling, as are the state’s efforts to build affordable housing. … ” Read more and watch segment at Arizona PBS.
Utah could become the first state to ban fluoride in its drinking water
“Utah could become the first state to ban fluoride in its drinking water, alarming public health experts and dentists who note the mineral’s role in reducing tooth decay across the nation. The Republican-controlled statehouse sent the legislation to Gov. Spencer Cox (R) last week after both chambers passed it largely along party lines. If signed into law, the bill would prohibit adding fluoride to public water systems and would bar cities and counties from requiring the mineral in their water. Opponents of the measure argue that it infringes on communities’ right to decide whether to use the cavity-fighting mineral and that it departs from decades of science demonstrating fluoride’s enamel-strengthening, tooth-decay-combating benefits — particularly for children. The bill’s supporters contend that it would prevent the government from medicating the public without its consent. … ” Read more from Washington Post.
In national water news today …
Trump White House rescinds rules implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
“The Trump administration’s assault on the nation’s environmental laws continues at an unprecedented pace, with its latest target being the landmark National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). On Feb. 19, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) eliminated all of the rules that implement NEPA in an effort to “unleash” oil and gas drilling at the same time that the world is heating up from fossil-fuel driven climate change. “This interim final rule removes the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) from the Code of Federal Regulations,” according to the notice signed by the CEQ Director for NEPA, Jomar Maldonado Vazquez and submitted for publication in the Federal Register. The rule will become effect 45 days after it is published. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
FEMA memo: Replace ‘noncitizen’ with ‘alien,’ remove ‘climate’ from documents
“Federal disaster workers are being advised to replace the word “noncitizen” with “alien” in official documents and to remove phrases such as “social justice” and “global warming” to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive orders. A Federal Emergency Management Agency memo obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News lists 34 words and phrases that should be removed from FEMA documents. FEMA provides roughly $50 billion a year in disaster aid and grants. Under former President Joe Biden, the agency sought to end practices that resulted in low-income or minority communities receiving less help. The memo was sent by a senior career FEMA official to about 25 workers as guidance to help them comply with White House mandates on climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion, according to a FEMA employee. The deletions could signal that a FEMA program is slated for termination, potentially disrupting aid that has gone to areas that are most vulnerable to natural disasters due in part to demographics such as income and education levels. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL looks to fill Delta Independent Science Board vacancies
SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP seeks new board members
