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In California water news today …
DWR’s Nemeth signals détente with feds on water
“Despite recent political posturing over water management in California, the state’s top water official says her agency is working closely with the federal government to maximize long-term water resilience for people and farms. Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, asserts officials from the State Water Project and federal Central Valley Project communicate daily, and sometimes even hourly, to calibrate water movement through the state’s elaborate but aging system of canals and reservoirs. She said improving conveyance and storage with projects such as Sites Reservoir, the proposed Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta tunnels and groundwater recharge will provide agriculture with a more reliable water supply. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Federal cuts hit NOAA. What happens to these employees and their vital work to protect the planet?
“The Trump Administration launched another set of cuts to the federal workforce with hundreds of employees fired at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a move that could lead to the understaffing of agencies that provide vital data and information for first responders, conservation groups, and everyday Americans. Elon Musk, who now leads the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, is looking to reduce federal spending, and that has come with mass firings across government agencies. NOAA is made up of several branches that each handle a different climate control entity, such as environment satellites, fisheries, and the National Weather Service. NWS is one of the largest sources of public climate and weather data in the world, and its models are used by meteorologists on a daily basis. NOAA hasn’t announced exactly how many cuts, if any, were made at NWS, but less staff could have major implications according to a former employee. … ” Read more from KCRA.
SEE ALSO: ‘Defies common sense’: Newsom’s office criticizes federal cuts impacting California water districts, from KCRA
Supreme Court water ruling might have unexpectedly clean result in Southern California
“A new Supreme Court ruling widely criticized by environmentalists actually could lead to cleaner water flowing from the Inland Empire and Orange County into the ocean as soon as this year. So says the lawyer for a nonprofit environmental group, Orange County Coastkeeper, that favors tougher pollution rules as a way to protect fresh and salt water. “We’re leveraging (the ruling) as a positive thing,” said Sarah Spinuzzi, an environmental lawyer for Coastkeeper who last year wrote an amicus brief supporting what turned out to be the losing argument in the case in question, San Francisco v. the Environmental Protection Agency. … ” Read more from the OC Register (gift article).
SEE ALSO:
- NACWA calls Supreme Court ruling ‘major victory’ for clean water, from Water Finance & Management
- Supreme Court sides with San Francisco against EPA in landmark ruling, from SF Gate
With rain on the way, California’s water managers are ‘waiting with bated breath’
“California is staring down a round of storms that will bring intermittent rain and snow across the state over the next 10 days, and, with the wet season more than two-thirds over, state water managers are watching the forecast closely, hoping these systems will deliver enough precipitation to offset a deficit in some places that have faced dangerously low levels of precipitation this winter. A storm pushed onshore on Wednesday, and the chance for rain and snow is expected to persist into early Friday. While this system is weak, forecasters were watching it closely in Southern California, where a slight chance of thunderstorms could bring heavy rain to areas of Los Angeles County that recently burned in wildfires partly fueled by how little precipitation had fallen in Southern California in the months before. The weekend is forecast to be mostly dry before a second storm arrives as early as Sunday and a third, potentially the strongest and wettest, sweeps the state next week. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Planting decisions suggest significant fallowing
“Planting decisions for non-permanent crops are under way in Central California, and if what I’m hearing from a couple of long-time farmers in the region holds up, row and field crop acreage will be down significantly. Two San Joaquin Valley farmers I spoke with recently said they will each likely fallow over 1,000 acres of land this season – farmland that could otherwise grow Pima cotton, canning tomatoes or other specialty crops. Despite decent reservoir storage in northern California, San Joaquin Valley farmers reliant on the state and federal water projects for their irrigation needs may fallow considerable acreage as the state and federal water managers promise just 35% of its contracted deliveries this year. As always, those numbers can change, but it’s not looking good for a boost in deliveries. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Low salmon counts make season restrictions likely
“Salmon fishers along the Coastside are likely to face a third year of severe restrictions or an all-out ban on salmon fishing, according to officials at a February “Salmon Information Meeting” presented by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The salmon season begins in April and lasts until October. The 2023 and 2024 seasons were closed due to alarmingly low rates of west coast salmon populations. The endangered Chinook, or “king salmon,” a variety that frequents the shallow waters of Half Moon Bay, showed particularly dismal numbers this year, shattering hopes that the two-year ban would revitalize the population. “This year, we’re seeing a lower forecast than the last two years, where we had closures,” said Kandice Morgenstern, an environmental scientist at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, at the Feb. 26 informational meeting. Morgenstern added, however, that, “It would be pre-decisional at this stage to infer that the council is going to follow precedent from the prior two years and recommend closures again.” … ” Read more from Coastside News.
Survey: Water system consolidations improve water quality, infrastructure
““Nino, the water’s not coming out right; something’s going on with the well.” Those words – from Michael Prado Sr.’s goddaughter – are reflective of longstanding water concerns in Monson, a rural community of about 100 people in Tulare County. “I was one of those people who just used to turn the faucet on and expected the water to come on – I didn’t know where it came from, or what was in it,” said Prado, a retired machine operator. But during 29 years on the Community Services District (CSD) board of Sultana, a town four miles north of Monson, Prado became a self-described “water nerd” who learned about local water systems and the troubles faced by his neighbors. Monson historically has relied on private wells – some of which had high nitrate contamination levels. Then, during the drought of 2014-15, many of the wells ran dry and residents had to rely on bottled water or water tanks filled periodically by truck. … ” Read more from UCANR.
Parts of California are sinking, and it could worsen the effects of sea-level rise, NASA study finds
“Parts of California’s coastline are sinking, according to a NASA-led study published earlier this year in Science Advances. That’s bad news for sea-level rise, which poses a flood risk along the shore even without the land subsiding. “In many parts of the world, like the reclaimed ground beneath San Francisco, the land is moving down faster than the sea itself is going up,” Marin Govorcin, the study’s lead author and a remote sensing scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, says in a statement. The study pinpoints specific areas in the state where the ground is shifting up or down. These movements—called vertical land motion—are driven by both human and natural causes, such as groundwater pumping or the actions of tectonic plates. To measure these changes, researchers used satellite radar data collected by the European Space Agency and motion velocity data from the Global Navigation Satellite System. They compared observations of the same sites between 2015 and 2023. … ” Read more from Smithsonian Magazine.
Mushrooms may aid California wildfire recovery, experts say
“Wildfires have left burn scars across California, but mycologists suggest that mushrooms could play a crucial role in restoring these damaged lands. The fungi’s mycelium is known for its ability to aid in nutrient cycling, soil aggregation, and ecosystem restoration. “Unlike us where we ingest our food and then we digest it, mushrooms eat their food by excreting digestive enzymes into the environment and then that breaks down the food outside their bodies and then they absorb the nutrients,” said an Jon Carver, Mycologist and Co-Founder of North Spore “Those enzymes can also break down a wide range of other things, so if there are organic pollutants or sort of toxins that were inside building materials or things like that are now in that ecosystem, mushrooms will help facilitate the breakdown of those compounds.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
California bill would ban private firefighters from using hydrants, cites public good
“California lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban private firefighters, like those who saved many buildings in the Palisades and Eaton fires, from using public hydrants, saying firefighting is a “public good.” Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, introduced Assembly Bill 1075 with the support of the California Professional Firefighters Union, which claims private firefighters are not trained or equipped as well. “They don’t train to the same standards,” said CPF President Brian Rice to Politico regarding the bill. “They’re not equipped like we are. They’re not professionals like we are.” As the Palisades Fire raged and destroyed most of the Pacific Palisades, one complex — Rick Caruso’s Palisade Village shopping center — escaped largely unscathed as the surrounding structures burned to the ground, thanks to the use of private firefighters. Bryan said he has no problem with wealthy individuals paying to protect their properties but added that private firefighters’ drawing of water from hydrants could have contributed to the hydrants running dry. … ” Read more from Center Square.
Federal, state orders aim to speed forest management, reduce wildfire risk
“Orders issued at the state and federal level during the past weekend have the goal of reducing permitting and regulatory barriers that may impede forest management projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, a key component in enhancing California’s headwater health, an ACWA priority issue. Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 1 proclaimed a state of emergency to fast-track eligible critical wildfire prevention projects statewide, ahead of peak fire season. The proclamation “will cut bureaucratic red tape – including suspending CEQA and the Coastal Act – that is slowing down critical forest management projects,” according to a news release from the governor’s office. The news release announcing Newsom’s proclamation highlighted recent firestorms that devastated entire communities in Los Angeles as a motivating factor. It also outlines similar actions undertaken by Newsom in March 2019 to expedite forest management projects ahead of challenging fire seasons in 2019 and 2020. … ” Read more from ACWA Water News.
In commentary today …
Mismanagement of California water shows Trump’s ignorance
Bruce Herring writes, “For the moment let us take our tribal hats off and take an objective look at what really happened. A clear eyed look so to speak. Recall during the LA fires the President announced that DOGE officials had visited a pumping plant. Following that the Army Corps of Engineers alerted water authorities in the Central Valley that they would be “cranking releases” from two of its reservoirs to maximum capacity — “in one hour.” Normally when there is a need for water to be released from a federal facility the quantity and amount are carefully negotiated with water managers and local authorities. The overarching reason for this is the want — and need — to keep as much water as possible in the reservoirs for the summer irrigation season. … ” Read more from The Union.
California must not miss critical deadline to tackle plastic pollution
Julie Packard, Executive Director of Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Wendy Schmidt, president and co-founder of Schmidt Family Foundation and Schmidt Ocean Institute, write, “California has long been a leader in environmental protection. From cutting tailpipe emissions, to keeping our coastline accessible to all, and incorporating environmental justice as a core principle in our laws, the state has been the benchmark to which others aspire. Our actions to curb plastic pollution are second to none. California outlawed microplastic beads in personal care products and banned single-use plastic grocery bags. Three years ago, California enacted the most far-reaching legislation anywhere to cut plastic pollution at the source and hold producers responsible for the plastic they create. Senate Bill 54 (Allen, 2022) was a monumental bipartisan accomplishment. … ” Continue reading at Capitol Weekly.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Mysteries of the Deep: An independent researcher’s effort to uncover Lake Tahoe’s unknowns
“One independent researcher is working to uncover the secrets hidden at the bottom of Lake Tahoe. Instead of a submarine, he’s using a custom-built rover. The mysteries of the deep stem from a garage 50 miles away in Pollock Pines. NATS – “The big thing behind this camera is that we can upgrade it in the future.” Chase Petley wears a lot of hats — engineer, explorer and visionary, to name a few. Today, he’s focused on one mission: preparing this rover for its first dive. The goal is to find out what’s at the bottom of Lake Tahoe. “You can’t wait for someone to give you the answers to the questions,” he said. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Second phase of Oflyng Water Quality project will be accepting construction bids until March 25th
“The Oflyng Water Quality project, designed to increase urban runoff water quality and address flood management issues in a residential development in Meyers, will be accepting construction bids for Phase 2 until March 25 at 2 p.m. Projects to improve the Oflyng neighborhood’s water quality have been in the works since 2017, where construction to repair or replace failing infrastructure and install new drainage basins and infiltration basins have aimed to reduce transport of fine sediment into Lake Tahoe. The Oflyng Water Quality project is slated to finish this year according to the Environmental Improvement Plan website’s project tracker. The project aims to reduce the amount of very fine inorganic sediment by 12%, fine inorganic sediment by 25%, and coarse inorganic sediment by 33% from the defined boundaries. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
American River Watershed drinking water supply remains among the best in the United States
“A new independent survey of conditions in Placer County Water Agency’s American River watershed has found that water quality remains excellent overall, despite some initial concern following recent forest fires and erosion of ash and sediment that followed. (Editor’s note: The previous 2019 report also cited the watershed as among the best anywhere in the United States.) The PCWA Board of Directors on Feb. 15 heard a report from Starr Consulting of Colfax about water quality during the five-year period from January 2018 to December 2022 in the American River watershed. The survey found that PCWA’s drinking water quality far exceeds regulatory requirements. It also found no need to modify PCWA’s drinking water treatment activities. … ” Read more from Roseville Today.
CENTRAL COAST
Paso Robles: City Council moves forward with Joint Powers Agreement for groundwater management
“City Council in Paso Robles made the decision to opt into a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) to administer the Paso Robles Groundwater Sub-Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan and then later create the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority. During the Tuesday, March 4, meeting, Paso Robles and neighboring residents came out to express mostly their disapproval of joining the JPA. After nearly two hours of public comment, council ultimately decided with a 4-1 vote (Councilmember Chris Bausch opposed) to authorize the city manager to sign either one of the two versions of the Joint Powers Agreement for Administration of the Paso Robles Groundwater Sub-Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan and creating the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority, with the understanding that staff and counsel may make non-substantive and/or technical edits to the agreement as necessary. … ” Read more from the Pleasanton Weekly.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Man charged after 280-gallon oil spill in Stockton canal
“A man is facing charges of destroying public property and disposal of hazardous waste after he allegedly dumped oil into a Stockton canal last year. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the investigation started Sept. 28, 2024, after an oil and fuel spill in Smith Canal. At the time, officials told ABC10 “a dumped tank container of what appears to be used oils and possibly fuels was tipped over and spilled directly into the levee.” It prompted state and federal officials to lead a cleanup response, which caught the oil before it washed down into the San Joaquin River. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Troublesome well removed from Newman’s drinking supply
“The issue that arose for the City of Newman regarding safe drinking water from one of the wells in town has been resolved because the City disconnected the well from the water system. On Jan. 16, a letter was sent out by the City to residents informing them that the State of California had issued a drinking water warning because tests showed elevated nitrate levels in one of the city’s wells. According to the letter, a sample taken from Well 5 on Jan. 8, showed a nitrate level of 10.5 mg/L, which exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L set by the state. A follow-up sample on Jan. 14, confirmed the high level with a result of 10.7 mg/L. This was a significant increase from the previous quarterly sample taken on Oct. 9, 2024, which showed a level of 8.43 mg/L, well below the MCL. … ” Read more from Westside Connect.
Shake up on powerful Kern water board
“Ted Page, a long-serving director of the powerful Kern County Water Agency, announced his resignation from the board Wednesday, according to an agency press release. “Due to recent personal life changes, I am no longer able to dedicate the time and focus that this role demands,” the release quotes Page. His current term ends Dec. 4, 2026. Page had served on the agency board for 14 years, including 10 as its president. Page was briefly voted out as president in 2020 in favor of fellow director and former Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District board president Royce Fast. Water managers, at the time, said the agency wasn’t focused enough on local issues and that other people needed an opportunity to lead. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Storm unleashes rain, mountain snow across Southern California. A stronger system may follow soon
“After a lackluster start to the rainy season in Southern California, the region welcomed a surge of moisture Wednesday that forecasters say could be the beginning of a soggy March. Rain began falling in Los Angeles County on Wednesday afternoon, and showers are expected to continue through early Friday. Next week is expected to deliver even more moisture — potentially an atmospheric river — to Southern California’s parched landscape. The region endured one of its driest starts to the rainy season in recorded history, which helped fuel one of the most destructive fire seasons ever. But a wet March could help the region delay the return of high fire season, said Robbie Munroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
With rain incoming, California takes action to protect fire-impacted communities in Los Angeles County
“As another round of winter weather is forecasted to make its way across California starting today, Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to coordinate with key partners to strategically preposition critical resources to protect the public. … Actively working to keep communities safe, the state continues coordinating with Los Angeles City Emergency Management Department and the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management to ensure their region has the resources it needs ahead of this inclement weather. The National Weather Service has forecasted light to moderate rain Tuesday through Thursday with a chance of isolated thunderstorms for areas near burn scars in Los Angeles County. … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
Deadline for free fire debris removal in L.A. County is approaching
“Los Angeles County is doubling down on its outreach efforts to let property owners know they have until the end of the month to opt into the free fire debris removal program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After the March 31 deadline, residents will have to foot the bill to clear fire debris from their properties. “I encourage everyone who is sitting on the fence or thinking about it to call us, to call the county, to get the facts and to make an election so that we can get this process started on your property,” Col. Eric Swenson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday. Nearly two months after the January fires, roughly 8,200 properties have opted into the program, according to the latest data from the county. More than 700 property owners opted out. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Trump’s EPA is botching removal of toxic waste from the Los Angeles fires
“The week after the Eaton and Palisades fires tore across Los Angeles, clear blue skies shone over the city. Residents consulted their weather apps; the Air Quality Index (AQI) was surprisingly favorable. It seemed impossible that, just days prior, two of the most destructive wildfires in California history had unleashed toxic smoke and made thick ash rain for miles. But looks — and AQIs — can be deceiving. Urban wildfires are known to unleash a range of carcinogens not captured in typical air quality metrics. When things like plastic pipes, synthetic building materials, cars and appliances burn, they can contaminate the surrounding environment with benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos, and more. Then, of course, comes the question of what to do with those burnt materials. The immediate destruction wrought by the Los Angeles fires was just the tip of the iceberg. … ” Read more from Truthout.
Wetlands space takes shape at the Bowtie Parcel in Glassell Park
“Announcements are nice, but there is nothing quite like photo evidence – a new wetlands park is taking shape at the Bowtie Parcel in Glassell Park. The project, which will occupy the northernmost 3.4 acres of the Taylor Yard, includes remediation of toxic soil from the retired rail yard, which is being transformed into green space to provide new L.A. River access. Completion of the wetland area is expected in 2026. … ” Read more from Urbanize LA.
Will drought hinder wildflower super bloom in SoCal this year?
“It’s that time of year where we could see a super bloom of wildflowers. But with SoCal’s drought conditions, will we miss out on all the blossoms? March is typically the time we start to see flowers bloom, with many Southlanders flocking to areas like Lancaster to catch a glimpse of the wildflowers native to California. But our views around SoCal this spring are expected to be much different due to the drought and extremely dry start to winter. This comes after two of the wettest winters on record that brought us an incredible super bloom back in 2023, and another beautiful show last year. Both winters provided the perfect ingredients for wide swaths of poppies to cover our deserts and hills. … ” Read more from KABC.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
CA approves easement for Bombay Beach Wetlands Project at Salton Sea
“In a significant step toward fulfilling California’s obligations under the Salton Sea Restoration Act, the state is moving forward with the Bombay Beach Wetlands Project. On Tuesday, Deputy General Counsel Joanna Smith Hoff presented a resolution to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) executive board, seeking approval for an easement critical to the project’s success. The resolution was adopted, marking a milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to restore the shrinking Salton Sea. The Bombay Beach Wetlands Project, part of the Salton Sea Management Program Phase I: 10-Year Plan, aims to create approximately 800 acres of vegetation—comprising wetlands and upland shrub—on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea, about 1.5 miles southeast of the Bombay Beach community in Imperial County. The project leverages storm and surface water naturally flowing onto the site to expand existing vegetation and encourage natural regrowth, maximizing the use of limited water resources in the arid region. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Will Trump support California’s ‘Lithium Valley’? Local officials see signs of hope
“Key Trump administration officials have signaled their strong support for finalizing a $1.3 billion Biden-era loan for a lithium production plant in impoverished Imperial County, according to county officials who met with them in Washington, D.C., last week. EnergySource Minerals was awarded the conditional loan for its ATLiS project on Jan. 15, five days before President Donald Trump was sworn in to a second term, as part of billions in last-minute Biden administration clean energy and climate resiliency grants and loans that Trump has harshly condemned. But Trump has also praised domestic mineral production, and promised in his address to Congress on Tuesday that “later this week, I will also take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.” … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
SAN DIEGO
Restoration projects in polluted Tijuana River Valley no longer aim of CA bill
“A state bill that could have paid for environmental restoration projects in the polluted Tijuana River Valley no longer has that goal, after the bill’s sponsor revised it to focus on what he says is a more pressing need. Last year State Sen. Steve Padilla introduced SB10 to allow the San Diego Association of Governments, a regional transportation agency, to use a portion of toll revenue from the future Otay Mesa East Port of Entry to clean up polluted lands in the valley, which lies along the U.S.-Mexico border. Revisions made last month to the bill took the mitigation fund off the table, instead authorizing local officials to use the funds to “assist in the maintenance” of the federally owned South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. Though many local advocates still support the bill, some say the change to the legislation is a lost opportunity for a more holistic plan to address long-term environmental impacts of the Tijuana River sewage crisis on South Bay communities. … ” Read more from iNews Source.
In national water news today …
DOGE ditches environmental offices nationwide
“The Trump EPA in February celebrated renaming its new “Gulf of America Division,” stating that the Gulf will “help power our Great American Comeback” and that EPA is “ready to protect it.” But that EPA office, based in Gulfport, Mississippi, is also on a list of offices whose leases the Trump administration’s DOGE operation has targeted for cancellation. As part of a broader push by the administration to slash the federal government’s footprint, Trump’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency team has announced more than 700 lease terminations for offices across the federal government. Those cancellations include dozens of offices used by energy and environmental agencies for employees including EPA scientists, National Park Service officials and energy regulators. On top of canceled leases, the administration Tuesday released a list of more than 400 federal buildings “designated for disposal.” That list included massive buildings in downtown Washington — including the headquarters of the Energy and Labor departments — although the list was removed from the General Service Administration’s website by Wednesday morning without explanation. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Industry-backed legislation would bar the use of science behind hundreds of environmental protections
“For decades, Republican lawmakers and industry lobbyists have tried to chip away at the small program in the Environmental Protection Agency that measures the threat of toxic chemicals. Most people don’t know IRIS, as the program is called, but it is the scientific engine of the agency that protects human health and the environment. Its scientists assess the toxicity of chemicals, estimating the amount of each that triggers cancer and other health effects. And these values serve as the independent, nonpartisan basis for the rules, regulations and permits that limit our exposure to toxic chemicals. Now IRIS faces the gravest threat to its existence since it was created under President Ronald Reagan four decades ago. … ” Read more from Pro Publica.
3 questions answered about NEPA under Trump
“For the first time in decades, the White House will no longer have National Environmental Policy Act rules. But it will take some time to see changes in how the bedrock environmental law is applied, legal experts say. Project developers are grappling with the potential consequences of President Donald Trump scrapping the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA regulations — rules that since 1977 have told federal agencies how to analyze the effects of building pipelines, transmission lines, highways and wind farms. The Trump administration’s rescission of CEQ’s rulemaking power — bolstered by recent court decisions against the agency’s regulatory authority — “adds another layer of uncertainty onto the permitting process generally,” said M. Benjamin Cowan, a partner at the law firm Troutman Pepper Locke, which represents clients in the renewable energy sector. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Wildfire-fighting nonprofits at risk as federal grants vanish
“Efforts to limit wildfires in a conservative swath of northern Colorado are the latest casualty of the Trump administration’s on-and-off federal spending freeze. The Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed won several million dollars in grants during the Biden administration to help reduce the intensity and likelihood of wildfires and modernize water distribution in the 1.2 million acre watershed. But now the nonprofit is among hundreds around the country in limbo as federal payments stop and start during President Donald Trump’s haphazard efforts to shrink the federal government. “If the money comes back, I’m afraid to spend anything,” said Hally Strevey, the coalition’s executive director. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Trump wants to use the ‘God Squad’ to increase logging, but it must follow strict rules
“President Donald Trump wants to increase logging in national forests and on public lands, including by bypassing endangered species protections. To do that, the federal government would have to activate a seldom-used committee nicknamed the “God Squad” because it can approve federal projects even if it leads to extinction of a species otherwise protected by the Endangered Species Act. But experts say there are strict procedural requirements — and no provision under law to proactively use the committee to bypass protections. Here’s what to know … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
