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In California water news today …
Two more storms lining up for California, West with rain and snow next week
“In the wake of the storm that rolled ashore in the southwestern United States during the middle of this week, most areas will get a break this weekend. However, AccuWeather meteorologists say that more storms will move into the region, including California. The storm bringing locally drenching rain to coastal areas of Southern California and snow to the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges will pivot across the interior Southwest on Friday. The multiple-part storm will end up delivering a heavy snow accumulation to the Arizona mountains and up to a few inches over the ridge and passes in Southern California. The storms into Friday have been beneficial in terms of moistening the soil, bringing snow to the mountains and helping to ease the drought situation. … The next storm, a much larger system, will waste little time following up next week. The larger storm will spread rain into the Northwest and expand quickly into Northern California later Tuesday or Tuesday night before spreading into Southern California and part of the Great Basin on Wednesday and next Thursday. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
An active pattern to continue across California, with mainly beneficial precipitation through mid-March
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “The last couple of weeks have featured a mix of wet and dry weather statewide–not uncommon for February and March in California. More unusual has been the periods of considerable warmth–in some cases, record-breaking–across parts of the state in recent days. But overall, the last couple of weeks have been a less dramatic period (meteorologically speaking, at least) than January and early February were. What about the pronounced wet north/dry south “precipitation dipole” that has persisted for some months across California? Well, is still there, and still pretty notable–though less so than in months past. Nearly all of SoCal, including the entire coastal swath from Santa Barbara County south to San Diego County, is still running under 50% of average for season-to-date precipitation while nearly all of CA north of about the Interstate 80 corridor continues be wetter than average for the season to date (with some pockets of NE CA running ~200% of typical numbers!). … ” Read more from Weather West.
SEE ALSO: California’s weather taking a wet turn next week as back-to-back storms approach, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Snow drought current conditions and impacts in the West
“Another month of extremely dry conditions plagued the Southwest (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada), leading to deepening snow deficits across already dry basins. Exceptional snow drought continues to persist with the peak snow water equivalent (SWE) dates past for Arizona and New Mexico. Lower-elevation snow drought persisted across southern Alaska due to continued warm and dry conditions, with Anchorage Airport recording its driest February on record. Large areas in southwest Alaska and low elevations in south-central Alaska—which are typically snow covered—were (nearly) snow-free as of March 1. Moderate snow drought conditions persisted in the northern and central Cascade Range of Washington due to below-average winter precipitation. A recent storm cycle brought welcome moisture back to California and Nevada, improving snow drought conditions, but deficits still remain in the region. … ” Continue reading from NIDIS.
9 graphics that visualize EPA’s climate change indicators for snow
Mitch Tobin writes, “I can’t vouch for its shelf life in the Trump administration, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to publish a revealing set of indicators of climate change impacts, including 14 connected to snow and ice. These data sets, many of them visualized with simple maps and time-series charts, show the unmistakable effects of warming and cover a wide range of subjects, including public health, ecosystems and oceans. Below I share and describe nine graphics that focus on snowfall, snow cover and the American West’s snowpack. All of these measures document concerning trends about this corner of the cryosphere—the frozen portion of the Earth’s surface. … ” Read the full post from the Water Desk.
‘Goal is destruction’: Fired Calif. NOAA scientists warn of dire global consequences
“The Trump administration’s layoffs continue to careen down a path of destruction through federal agencies — last week touching down on a critical National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration office on the Monterey Peninsula that is on the front lines of tracking and helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. According to the recently fired employees, at least six Monterey-based NOAA employees — three from the National Weather Service office and three from the Fisheries office — were fired last Thursday without warning or explanation. All six employees who were let go had probationary employee status, which means they were in their first year of employment or new to their role, though several had worked for NOAA in other capacities for multiple years. In one case, this year would have been their 10-year anniversary working for the agency. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Army Corps knew Trump order would waste California water, memo shows
“The Army Corps of Engineers colonel responsible for releasing water from two California reservoirs at President Donald Trump’s direction in January knew that it was unlikely to reach the southern part of the state as Trump had promised, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post.The agency carried out Trump’s directive, which came in the wake of catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles County, on short notice on Jan. 30, though it would normally require days to coordinate. A memo written four days after the release, obtained by The Post through a public records request, shows how federal officials rushed ahead with the plan to release irrigation water despite objections from the state’s elected officials and some local farmers.Col. Chad W. Caldwell, commander of the Army Corps’ Sacramento district, wrote that the water that poured out of Lake Kaweah and Success Lake “could not be delivered to Southern California directly.” … ” Read more from the Washington Post (gift article).
Trump administration cuts hit home, dealing a potential huge blow to Davis and UC Davis
“The headline from a trade publication was: “US has now canceled about one in 10 active federal commercial real estate leases.” That news directly impacts Davis, as the Trump administration has now reportedly cancelled the US Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC). The abrupt decision not only jeopardizes a long-standing institution central to water resources research, but also threatens the broader engineering and hydrology ecosystem in Davis, which has relied on the center’s presence for decades. With an 11,180-square-foot space in the Brinley Building and an annual lease of over $500,000, the HEC has played a vital role in supporting water resources engineering, flood modeling, and environmental planning. Its closure comes as part of a sweeping federal government initiative spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has terminated roughly 10% of all active federal commercial real estate leases, including crucial research and training facilities across the nation. For Davis, a city deeply intertwined with UC Davis, the loss of the HEC could have far-reaching economic and academic consequences. The center has long served as a hub for engineers, hydrologists, and scientists who conduct critical research on water management, a topic of increasing importance given California’s ongoing drought challenges and climate change concerns. … ” Read more from Vangard News Davis.
SEE ALSO:
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- The Trump building list that mysteriously disappeared, from E&E News
- Dozens of federal offices across California targeted for closure under Elon Musk’s DOGE, from the Sacramento Bee
Low salmon numbers in California could prompt shutdown of fishing for a record third straight year
“California’s salmon population has declined so severely over the last several years that regulators canceled the fishing season in 2023 and again in 2024. This year, state estimates show the number of Chinook salmon is still so low that fishing could again be prohibited — or if not, sharply limited — to help fish stocks recover. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, a multistate, quasi-federal body, is expected to decide in April after a series of meetings whether there will be a limited fishing season or none at all. Newly released figures from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimate the number of Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon in the ocean this year at nearly 166,000 fish — down from a preseason estimate of 214,000 last year, and similar to the 2023 estimate of 169,000 fish. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via PhysOrg.
SEE ALSO: Low salmon numbers in California could prompt shutdown of fishing for a record third straight year, from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Division of Boating and Waterways to begin annual control efforts for aquatic invasive plants in the Delta
“California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) announced today its 2025 control efforts for invasive aquatic plants in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its southern tributaries (Delta). Starting March 20, DBW will begin herbicide treatments on water hyacinth, South American spongeplant, Uruguay water primrose, alligator weed, Brazilian waterweed, curlyleaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, coontail, fanwort, and ribbon weed in the Delta. The treatment start date may change depending on weather conditions and plant growth/movement. “DBW continues to work with the public and our local, state and federal partners to control these aquatic invasive plants to reduce or eliminate the negative impacts on people’s daily lives and businesses,” said DBW’s Deputy Director Ramona Fernandez. “The continued use of monitoring and technology allows the division to focus on the areas that best help us manage the challenges.” … ” Read more from the Division of Boating and Waterways.
Real estate values and agricultural transitions in California’s Central Valley
“In California’s Central Valley, the value of farmland is closely tied to agricultural production, which relies on water. Cropland prices can range from less than $10,000 per acre to over $60,000 per acre. These values vary based on many factors, such as soil suitability, the types of crops grown, and water availability. Location is important and can account for development pressures. Microclimates and proximity to markets or production facilities can influence profitability. Land sales also fluctuate with changing economic trends in real estate or the agricultural sector. If commodity prices fall, there can be reduced demand for production from current fields. Land prices can also be influenced by longer-term changes in water scarcity and environmental factors. For instance, implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), passed in 2014, will likely require reductions of intense agricultural production in areas of long-term groundwater overdraft. If less irrigation water is available, how will cropland production and acreage be affected? Are long-term regulatory changes already getting incorporated into farmland values in the state? Parsing out these influences from the many factors affecting farmland values requires lots of data, especially to detect both spatial and temporal trends. … ” Continue reading from UCANR.
The WAVE Studies SGMA
“A study conducted by California State University researchers looks at how aware San Joaquin Valley farmers are of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and its administration. The Water And Valley Economy, WAVE study was funded by the CSU Agricultural Research Institute as well as cash and in-kind contributions from private enterprises. The study was led by CSU-WATER, Water Advocacy Towards Education & Research and includes faculty, staff and students from Fresno State, Chico State and volunteer collaborators from ag related businesses cooperatively conducted the study over the past year. … One of the requirements in SGMA is for the GSAs to perform outreach to the people within its boundaries. For many in the ag irrigation community SGMA is now an acronym as familiar as NASA. It’s the first major change in water law in a century. But for many growers and businesses in the Valley SGMA is just another undefined government program or they’re not even aware of its existence. Yet the implementation of SGMA could so reduce water availability that farms may be forced to permanently fallow one million acres in the Valley. … The survey portion of the study focused on five questions and five factors to determine farmer engagement. … ” Read the full post at Water Wrights.
Central Valley economists warn of potential price hikes amid drought and tariffs
“Economists in California’s Central Valley are closely monitoring the effects of drought, tariffs, and immigration raids on crop output and supermarket prices as spring approaches. While prices have remained relatively stable across two presidential administrations, concerns are mounting that California’s water retention challenges and American trade policies could drive costs higher. Brad Rubin, sector manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, said, “Any time you impact farming conditions that shorten a crop, you are going to expect prices to drive higher.” He noted that water availability significantly affects farming conditions in the region. … ” Read more from Bakersfield Now.
Supreme Court narrows Clean Water Act liability for stormwater permittees, others
“The Supreme Court has provided a measure of relief to local agencies facing the threat of Clean Water Act enforcement for sources of pollution outside their control. On March 4, 2025, the Court held upheld the City and County of San Francisco’s challenge to two “narrative” permit conditions in the permit for one of the City’s combined wastewater facilities. Those conditions effectively imposed liability for any discharge that contributes to a violation of water quality standards, notwithstanding compliance with numerical effluent limitations and other permit requirements. The Court’s opinion, authored by Justice Alito, turned on whether EPA’s authority to establish “any more stringent limitation . . . required to implement any applicable water quality standard” allows state and federal water quality regulators to impose permit conditions that mandate achieving certain results—specifically, not “contributing to a violation of applicable water quality standards” in receiving waters or “creating pollution, contamination, or a nuisance,” as defined by the California Water Code. … ” Read more from Hanson Bridgett.
U.S. Supreme Court holds that general narrative prohibitions in NPDES permits are not authorized under the Clean Water Act
“In a split decision in City and County of San Francisco, California v. Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Supreme Court held the Clean Water Act (CWA) does not authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to include general narrative prohibitions in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. The Court called such prohibitions “end-result” requirements or provisions and described them as provisions that “make a permittee responsible for the quality of the water in the body of water into which the permittee discharges pollutants.” The Court found that these end-result provisions exceed EPA’s permitting authority under the CWA. The end-result provisions at issue in this case are found in the City of San Francisco’s (“City” or “San Francisco”) NPDES permits for its combined sewer system, specifically the permit for the Oceanside treatment plant. … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn.
Padilla, Schiff urge Interior Department to halt further workforce cuts at Bureau of Reclamation
“Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, pushed the Department of the Interior to ensure there are no further federal workforce cuts to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). The letter comes after the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo last week requiring agency heads to submit guidance on large-scale reductions in force and their reorganization plans by March 15. Due to the chaos of the Trump Administration’s reckless cuts, Reclamation is already set to lose about 100 employees in California, which is 10 percent of its regional staff. Despite its tradition of operating as a lean agency, Reclamation supports and operates many critical California water management projects and delivers water to more than 31 million Americans and 10 million acres of farmland. This farmland managed by Reclamation produces over 60 percent of the nation’s vegetables and more than 25 percent of its fruits and nuts. “Any federal dollars ‘saved’ from a reduction in staffing will ultimately cost taxpayers more through disrupted supply chains, increased burdens on state taxpayers, and emergency response due to the instability created by these reductions,” wrote the Senators. … ” Read more from Senator Padilla’s office.
Padilla, Schiff, Calvert, Lofgren lead entire California delegation in bipartisan push for federal disaster funding for LA County fires
“Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with the Chairs of the Republican and Democratic Congressional Delegations — Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) — led the entire bipartisan California Congressional delegation in urging Senior Congressional leadership to provide additional disaster relief funding and resources to help Los Angeles County communities rebuild after the recent devastating fires. At the urging of Padilla, Schiff, Calvert, Lofgren, and a bipartisan group of 45 other California Members of Congress, former President Biden issued a major disaster declaration in response to the fires on January 8, 2025. Although federal support so far has helped, the extensive damage caused by the Los Angeles fires will require additional federal assistance, coordination, and funding for short- and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. “The tremendous task of rebuilding is well underway with Phase 1 removal of household hazardous materials from properties destroyed or heavily damaged by the Eaton and Palisades fires,” wrote the lawmakers. “However, the road to full recovery is long, and while the response from the federal government has been incredibly helpful to date, additional funding and resources will be needed.” … ” Read more from Senator Padilla’s office.
Politico: Little fires everywhere
“California wants to do more on wildfires, but paying for it is already getting messy. There’s, of course, the request for $40 billion in federal funds to help Los Angeles recover after the fires, which Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats are negotiating with President Donald Trump and Congress. But there’s also a lot of new promises to fire-proof California, including new building and landscaping requirements on millions of property owners, that don’t come with any additional money. Already, politicians are getting into tiffs over how to spend the money they have. Take Proposition 4, the bond voters approved last November to raise $10 billion for climate, water and fire projects. Though they agreed on an overall spending plan for the money last year, the Newsom administration and the Legislature are now negotiating the details. … ” Read more from Politico.
SEE ALSO: California delegation unites behind wildfire aid plea, from Politico
Professor’s TED Talk warns of AI’s hidden water costs
“While artificial intelligence, or AI, is transforming industries, its environmental impact is often overlooked. Shaolei Ren, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UC Riverside, took to a TED Talk stage last fall in Vienna, Austria, to discuss a hidden consequence of AI’s rapid expansion. In his talk, “AI Consumes a Lot of Water – But Why?,” Ren explained how the growing demand for AI-powered computing is driving significant water usage, particularly in cloud-based data centers. Such facilities can require millions of liters of water to cool the servers that power AI models, often straining local water supplies. … Addressing water consumption is integral for advancing AI infrastructure responsibly, as extended droughts are becoming a norm. Ren emphasized that AI companies must take responsibility for their water footprints. He proposed a simple but effective solution: timing AI training during cooler hours to reduce water evaporation. “We don’t water our lawns at noon because it’s inefficient,” Ren explained. “Similarly, we shouldn’t train AI models when it’s hottest outside. Scheduling AI workloads for cooler parts of the day could significantly reduce water waste.” … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
DOGE cuts target 7 federal offices in Redding, Yreka, elsewhere in the North State
“Leases for seven federal agencies in the North State and North Coast were among the more than 60 being cancelled throughout California, according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website. As of Wednesday, leases at government agencies in Redding, Yreka, Mount Shasta, Weaverville and Chico were on the government shutdown list. There were also two Arcata offices and one in Eureka earmarked for closure on the DOGE list. Cost savings to be realized from the closings will amount to $623,779, according to the government’s website. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
C-WIN: A 250 ft. Wall of water on the Trinity River is still a big threat
“Trinity Dam has been a source of anxiety ever since Oroville Dam on the Feather River almost failed during the megastorms of 2017. Both are earth-fill dams, and both are vulnerable to overtopping. If Oroville had overtopped, the surging water would’ve rapidly eroded the dam, ultimately unleashing a massive flood down the Feather and Sacramento Rivers. The same scenario applies to Trinity Dam, its downstream earth-fill sister structure, Lewiston Dam, the Trinity River, and the Lower Klamath River. “Trinity and Lewiston Dams actually pose a bigger threat than Oroville because they have such poor outlet structures,” said Tom Stokely, a Board Member of the California Water Impact Network. … ” Read more from the California Water Impact Network.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lake Tahoe Basin recreation staff to be cut by 33%, New York Times reports
“Firings, dismissals and budget freezes could close nearly 4,000 campsites in California’s 18 national forests this summer, including in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Those potential cuts include a 33% reduction of staff in the Lake Tahoe Basin area, and the lone full-time wilderness ranger for the Desolation Wilderness National Forest southwest of Lake Tahoe. The proposed budget was detailed on an internal U.S. Forest Service spreadsheet reviewed by New York Times reporters. The newspaper noted that the Forest Service adds up to 50 seasonal workers each summer, but it remained unclear whether the agency would be able to hire any for 2025. … ” Read more from the Reno Gazette-Journal.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy awards $2.3 million to 40 Acre Conservation League forest-health project
“At the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s (SNC) quarterly Board meeting held March 6, the Board awarded a grant of $2,299,993 to the 40 Acre Conservation League to complete forest health work on its 650-acre property just west of Emigrant Gap in Placer County. “This grant advances SNC’s goal of expanding access-for-all throughout the Sierra-Cascade,” said SNC Executive Officer Angela Avery. “The Tahoe Forest Gateway is a beautiful property along Interstate 80 and these funds will help the 40 Acre Conservation League restore forest health and wildfire resilience as they develop a culturally relevant, accommodating, and welcoming place for the public to enjoy everything the area has to offer.” … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
Visible Progress on the Little Deer Creek Landscape Resilience Project
“The Yuba Watershed Institute (YWI) invites residents of Nevada County, particularly those in the Banner Mountain area, to take note of the significant progress being made on fuel reduction efforts along Gracie Road. Since last fall, five contracted crews have been working—weather permitting—to remove small trees and brush. “Driving along Gracie Road from Nevada City to Banner Lava Cap, residents can see firsthand the extensive work that has already been completed,” said Chris Friedel, Executive Director of the YWI. “Approximately 116 acres have been treated, including areas immediately adjacent to the road, behind residences, within the Nevada County Sportsmen Club’s archery range, and around Nevada City’s water treatment plant and reservoir. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
Burning question: How to save an old-growth forest in Tahoe
“On the shores of Lake Tahoe at Emerald Bay State Park grows what some consider to be the most iconic old-growth forest in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Giant ponderosa pines — some of the last remaining in the area — share space with at least 13 other tree species. Yet despite its high conservation value and proximity to severely burned forests, the Emerald Point stand has not been managed to reduce its risk to drought or catastrophic wildfire. The fire-adapted forest has also not experienced fire for at least 120 years. This has led to massive increases in forest density, fuels, and insect- and drought-driven mortality. A fire modeling study conducted by the University of California, Davis, and the University of Nevada, Reno, found that forest thinning followed by a prescribed burn could greatly improve the stand’s resistance to catastrophic fire. The study, published in the journal Fire, indicates that such treatments could also help other seasonally dry, mature, old-growth forests in North America. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Red Bluff column: Good things on the water front
Shanna Long writes, “Congratulations to our Groundwater Sustainability Plan authors, revisers, and – dare I say – Tehama County Flood Control Directors. On Tuesday of last week, while directors were busy wearing their unenviable Board of Supervisor hats, the California Department of Water Resources quietly approved our groundwater plans for subbasins within Tehama County. So what does this mean for the citizens of Tehama County? It means we get local control over how we use our groundwater, so long as we follow the rules stipulated by the 2014 passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). I’ll get to some of those rules in a minute but for now, I’m going to attempt an extremely simplified version of how I believe we got here. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News.
Butte Water District proposed rate increase
“Recently, an anonymous local farmer visited The Gridley Herald office with some concerns about possible water rate increases through Butte Water District (BWD). The last water rate increase was in 2006. General Manager Donnie Stinnett and former General Manager Mark Orme sat down with The Gridley Herald to talk about the proposed rate increase. Butte Water District comprises about 31,000 acres in Butte and Sutter counties. The district has rights to more than 130,000-acre feet of water from Feather River, which is distributed via canals to landowners for irrigation, environmental enhancement and groundwater replacement. Butte Water District is a Groundwater Management Agency under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. … ” Read more from the Gridley Herald.
Volunteer group finds more than 19,000 needles while picking up trash around Sacramento waterways
“A volunteer organization is alerting people about the massive amount of needles they’re finding in and along Sacramento waterways. The River City Waterway Alliance showed ABC10 a photo of more than 19,000 needles they’ve removed in the past two years. “The trash alone is one problem, but having hypodermic needles in our waterways is a much bigger problem to the public,” said River City Waterway Alliance co-founder David Ingram. The organization usually prides itself on cleaning up trash in and around the American River, Steelhead Creek and Arcade Creek. But recently, it’s been a photo displaying water jugs filled with thousands of needles they’ve collected in the last two years. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
NAPA/SONOMA
Local vintners test autonomous wildfire suppression system
“Dalla Valle Vineyards in Napa Valley is one of two North Coast vintners working with an Israeli company to develop a system that would automatically snuff out flames and fires sparked by blowing embers. Dalle Valle and Calligraphy Wines in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley are set to become the first U.S. pilot sites for design of FireDome’s two-layer system inspired by Israel’s autonomous missile and projectile defense platforms. The first systems are set to roll out next year. The first layer is detection of approaching flames then directing the mechanical launch 12-gallon capsules of what’s said to be an environmentally friendly fire retardant into the path of the blaze. The second layer are cameras and artificial intelligence system that see airborne embers that get through and suppresses spot fires. … ” Read more from the North Bay Business Journal.
BAY AREA
Valley Water’s annual Capital Improvement Program: Projects to protect and enhance healthy ecosystems in Santa Clara County
“Every year, Valley Water updates its funding plan for the critical infrastructure projects necessary to meet Santa Clara County’s needs. The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Five-Year Plan is a detailed document that outlines the funding for the planning, design and construction of water-related infrastructure. Valley Water is committed to transparency and public engagement as we develop our CIP Five-Year Plan. To ensure that our initiatives align with community values and priorities, we will host meetings and presentations to inform and involve residents in decision-making. As we prepare the CIP preliminary fiscal year 2026-2030 five-year plan, we focus on enhancing flood protection through strategic initiatives that allocate significant resources to combat potential flooding risks. The plan features 13 projects to provide water resources stewardship, which accounts for $148 million of the total budget. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
Tunitas Creek: A new beach park is opening in San Mateo
“The beauty of Highway 1 builds your anticipation for Tunitas Creek Beach, and the beach delivers on the expectation. Located between Half Moon Bay and San Gregorio, the hidden oasis hits you with a wave of awe. Renovated with new upper-bluff and mid-bluff facilities and beach access, the beach will open in early 2025. The 58-acre property has long been an unofficial gathering spot for people and parties, a beach without protection that suffered as gatherings grew larger. It attracted visitors who left piles of garbage and trampled the natural resources. In early 2020, the San Mateo County Parks department purchased the Tunitas Creek Beach property from Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), which had bought it from a private trust for $5 million in 2017. (Reportedly, rockabilly musician Chris Isaak at one point owned the property.) Community members, neighbors, and volunteers came together to clean up and protect the beach. Daily patrols by rangers helped to shut down bonfires, raves, and what San Mateo County Parks ranger Mario Nastari calls “nefarious activities.” … ” Read more from Bay Nature.
CENTRAL COAST
Future flare-ups at Moss Landing Battery Plant possible
“The Environmental Protection Agency warned that there could be additional flare ups at the Moss Landing Battery Plant as the crews work to delink the remaining batteries. Federal on-scene coordinator Eric Sandusky said phase one of the clean up process continues at the Moss Landing Battery Plant, during the county briefing Wednesday, with about 60% of the “accessible” batteries being delinked. All of the batteries were a part of the Jan. 16 fire and Feb. 18 re-ignition. Officials say the phase one process is reducing the risk of larger fires, but there is still a possibility of flare-ups. “De-connecting the batteries lessens the chance of thermal runaway,” Sandusky said. “However, given the damage of the facility and the remaining batteries that are still linked together on ranks, we know that it’s likely that other flare-ups will occur.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
A community outreach process in Marina, paid for by Cal Am, gets off to a rocky start
“Just before 10am on Saturday, March 1, about a dozen people start trickling into a building at UC MBEST, a research facility operated by UC Santa Cruz just northeast of Imjin Parkway at Reservation Road. They are attending an outreach session conducted by EnviroGage, an environmental consulting firm, as to how to spend $3 million to improve access or add other amenities within the city’s Coastal Zone. Just where that $3 million comes from, and whether it will ever be spent, requires some explanation. In November 2022, when the California Coastal Commission approved Cal Am’s desalination project in Marina amid much controversy, the approval came with a slew of conditions, some of which have to be completed prior to construction. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
Santa Barbara Fly Fishers launching ‘Save Santa Barbara Steelhead’ campaign
“One of Santa Barbara’s oldest residents is nearly gone. Southern California steelhead trout, a mysterious fish that swims in our ocean and local streams and rivers, is at risk of extinction. The Santa Barbara Flyfishers — who do recreational catch and release fishing — are trying to save it. On Sunday, March 9, the group will be holding a town hall meeting to launch their long-term campaign, “Save Santa Barbara Steelhead.” “They’re worse off today than they’ve ever been,” said Dr. Mark Rockwell, the Flyfishers Conservation Chair and a retired chiropractor. He calls the fish like they are: “beautiful, mysterious, and endangered.” They’re mysterious because of their unusual ability to shapeshift from freshwater to saltwater fish, living out their first few years in rivers and creeks and then, for unknown reasons, going through a radical transformation to spend their adulthood in the ocean. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
Santa Barbara County drops 4,000 pounds of rainbow trout into Cachuma Lake for fishers
“Santa Barbara County just added 4,000 pounds of rainbow trout to Cachuma Lake for recreational visitors. It’s the third restock batch of rainbow trout this season, bringing the total to over 16,000 pounds. “The range of fish size is anywhere from about a half-pound catchable to those eight-pound trophy fish,” County Communications Manager Kelsey Buttitta said. … ” Read more from KCBX.
Investigation uncovers illegal petroleum discharge into Grimes Canyon Creek
” An investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has determined that a petroleum-contaminated wastewater discharge into Grimes Canyon Creek originated from a vacuum truck operated by a temporary employee of Advanced Industrial Services, Inc. (AIS). The case began on November 1, 2022, when an employee of California Natural Resources Group discovered petroleum byproduct in a dry creek bed at the Dryden oil lease facility in Fillmore. Environmental authorities launched an investigation to determine the source of the contamination. Investigators used a combination of physical evidence, logbook records, photographs, tire tread analysis, and witness statements to track the discharge back to an AIS-operated vacuum truck. … ” Read more from the Fillmore Gazette.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Man charged with dumping 280 gallons of oil into Stockton’s Smith Canal
“Five months after an oil spill caused a public health threat and shut down a Stockton waterway, a man has been charged with illegally dumping petroleum in the area, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced. Multiple agencies responded Sept. 28 to a report of an oil spill near Smith Canal in Stockton. The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies responded to the incident, recovering oil from the waterway and removing tainted soil along the canal, the CDFW said in a news release Wednesday. State officials briefly halted fishing in the canal. When it resumed, it came with a warning that no fish or shellfish caught in the Port of Stockton, including Smith Canal, should be eaten. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
San Joaquin River officials refuse to debate CEMEX’s billion-dollar blast mine mystery
“The San Joaquin River, one of California’s most beleaguered waterways, has endured over a century of exploitation. The river’s flow reduced by 97%, its salmon runs were erased by dams, its wetlands stripped by decades of mining, and its floodplain in the heart of Fresno carved into barren pits. Now, global mining giant CEMEX wants to blast a massive new crater along its banks – a hole roughly twice as deep as Millerton Lake. The project, the international company claims, is critical to address Fresno’s gravel supply chain. But a Fresnoland investigation, based on thousands of pages of technical documents, environmental reports, and state geological records, reveals the project is a needless assault on the San Joaquin River to extract materials the region already has in surplus. The San Joaquin River Conservancy, a state agency charged with protecting the river, now faces scrutiny for its refusal to publicly oppose a project that would sabotage its own stalled parkway plans for another century. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
Mining company asks for 100-year extension along Fresno County river, conservation group speaks out
“A mining company on the San Joaquin River wants a long-term commitment from Fresno County. CEMEX is located on Friant Road near Willow Avenue and is proposing to extend mining operations for the next 100 years. The San Joaquin River Parkway Trust says the project could have a negative impact on the water, air, and public safety. The CEMEX Rockfield Expansion Project is also looking to transition to hard rock mining, which involves blasting and drilling. … ” Read more from ABC 30.
Trump administration lays off USDA scientists at Fresno County grape-breeding program
“Far-reaching federal budget cuts have put a longstanding California grape breeding program in jeopardy after key members of the research team were among the thousands fired in the Trump Administration’s effort to downsize government. For more than a century, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service in Fresno County has produced some of the most popular table grape varieties in the nation, including the first red seedless grape in 1973. And it has also been on the forefront of developing raisin grape varieties that can be dried on the vine and mechanically harvested. Located in Parlier on a 130-acre plot of land, the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center is home to scientists working on methods to combat crop diseases and pests, creating new fruit and nut varieties, and water management. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
Water summit covers gamut of water issues facing Kern County farmers
“While the picture of how SGMA will likely impact agriculture has become more clear, it hasn’t gotten any prettier over the past 10 years since the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act became law. The first panel of the day set the tone as farmland appraisers Mike Ming and Allan Barros flipped through slide after slide showing how values have dropped, especially in regions where growers are totally groundwater dependent or even if they have contracts for state water. The most encouragement Ming could give the crowd was that he sees values “bottoming out” in some Kern County areas, especially those with federal water contracts. “The market can’t go much lower,” he said. “I know a lot of farmers who are in a tough situation.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Ag leaders discuss policy and land-use alternatives at 2025 Kern County Water Summit
“At the 2025 Kern County Water Summit, organized by the Water Association of Kern County, agricultural industry leaders and state water experts discussed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and other regulatory challenges in the state alongside efforts to repurpose unused agricultural land. Prior to a panel discussion on land-use alternatives, moderator and California Farm Bureau Senior Policy Advocate Alexandra Biering highlighted that by 2040, between 500,000 and one million acres of agricultural land could potentially be fallowed due to SGMA and Delta pumping, amongst other factors. As such, Biering emphasized the importance of finding ways to manage existing land productively, ensuring a smooth transition to a new economic model, with some strategies under consideration including solar projects, habitat restoration, and other alternative land uses. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Palisades water supply cleared for drinking as Bass touts speed of fire recovery
“Residents and businesses in Pacific Palisades will be able to safely use water this week, Mayor Karen Bass announced Thursday, touting the milestone as a sign of the speed of efforts to rebuild the devastated neighborhood. The “do not drink” notice will be lifted Friday, the two-month anniversary of the deadly Palisades fire, after engineers and experts at the L.A. Department of Water and Power confirmed the absence of contaminants in the water supply. Bass credited DWP crews for working seven days a week to restore and flush out toxic substances from the water supply, drawing a comparison to the November 2018 wildfire in Paradise, where the do-not-drink advisory remained in place until May 2020. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Palisades water restrictions to be lifted Friday, from the LAist
Ecosystem restoration and urban river renewal in the Greater Los Angeles Basin
“Loyola Marymount University’s John Petrie, assistant professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, is interested in how water flows through urban landscapes and the vital restoration of diminishing ecosystems. He specializes in fluvial hydraulics, an important branch of science and engineering focused on the behavior, movement, and application of water and sediment in motion, especially in natural systems such as rivers, streams, and flood management channels. The restoration of ecosystems in urban settings is critical in helping to improve air and water quality, mitigating the urban heat island effect, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing the well-being of residents by offering access to nature, while also addressing the environmental impacts of urbanization. Restoration in highly urbanized areas such as southern California is particularly challenging due to the need to balance ecological benefits with flood risk and protection of infrastructure. … ” Read more from Loyola Marymount University.
The LA River kayaker on a ‘re-naturalization’ mission
“If the Los Angeles River were a living being, she would be called a survivor. From her headwaters in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, her 51 miles wind through one of the most densely populated regions of the country and then flow straight down into the Pacific Ocean near Long Beach. The City of Angels owes its existence to her; over 1,000 years ago, the Tongva established the first settlement on her banks near where Los Angeles City Hall stands today. However, she is now forced to swallow urban discharge and runoff from farms, factories, and millions of residents. Ever since devastating floods in the 1930s, most of her body has been imprisoned in a straitjacket of concrete, often polluted by big-city trash such as rusty shopping carts and plastic bags. Yet there are still a few areas where the Los Angeles River is allowed to show her original beauty and meander more naturally, Reasons to be Cheerful reports. … ” Read more from WGAU.
California Coastal Commission to look at wetlands restoration
“The California Coastal Commission will on Thursday, March 13, consider the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority’s application to restore the lower/southern part of the wetlands. This would be a two-phase wetlands restoration project. According to the Commission agenda for March 13, the project, set on a 103.54-acre site of oil land, would include replacing the culvert along the Hellman Channel, creating secondary tidal channels through the wetlands, building new public access (trails, parking and signage) flood management construction, and raising First Street through the wetlands. The power transmission lines would be placed underground along the road at First Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The wetlands straddle the counties of Los Angeles and Orange, as well as the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach. … ” Read more from Sun News.
California water wars: A century of wrangling over Los Angeles’s water
“Just before midnight on March 7, 1928, the St Francis Dam, located roughly 80km (50 miles) inland of Los Angeles, collapsed. There were no witnesses to the disaster – or none who survived – but investigators later determined that the 56-metre-tall (184ft-) barrier fell all at once, sending 12.4 billion gallons of water surging down the San Francisquito Canyon in a wave 43 metres (141ft) high. Five hours later, the waters finally dumped into the Pacific Ocean, leaving chunks of concrete in their wake as heavy as 10,000 tonnes. By then, the gush of water was nearly 3km (2 miles) wide, laying waste to several towns along the way, cutting power throughout the region, and ultimately killing at least 431 people, many of whom were washed out to sea, their remains found as late as 1994 and as far as the Mexican border. … ” Read more from Al Jazeera English.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego water rates are about to go up despite water surplus
“Water rates in San Diego are set to rise, and many residents and business owners are voicing their frustrations. On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted 6-3 to approve a 5.5% water rate increase, with additional hikes expected in the coming years. For businesses like El Carrito, a restaurant in Barrio Logan, water is a daily expense. “Washing dishes, we use water for everything—a big amount of water,” said owner Luis Santana. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Here’s how much rain and snow fell across San Diego County this week
“Rain and snow totals are in from the atmospheric river that brought heavy rain, mountain snow and wind to San Diego County and the Southern California region. Most fell Wednesday and Thursday in the evening hours before tapering off Friday morning. These totals are subject to change as additional accumulations roll in. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
In national water news today …
Scientists are rising up to resist Trump policies
“Thousands of scientists from scores of countries around the world are joining together in solidarity to oppose attempts by the Trump administration to enact what they see as anti-scientific measures that threaten public health and the environment around the world. The first show of unified global resistance is planned for March 7, with Stand Up For Science marches and demonstrations planned in Washington, D.C., and at least 32 more cities around the United States, as well as in several other cities around the world. “There’s never been a more important time to stand up for science,” said climate scientist Michael Mann, director of the Center for Science, Sustainability & the Media at the University of Pennsylvania, who will speak at the March 7 rally in Washington. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Trump’s E.P.A. to rewrite rules aimed at averting chemical disasters
“The Trump administration has moved to rewrite rules designed to prevent disasters at thousands of chemical facilities across the country. The Environmental Protection Agency filed a motion in federal court on Thursday pulling back the safety regulations, introduced last year under former president Joe Biden. The rules, which took effect in May, require sites that handle hazardous chemicals to adopt new safeguards including explicit measures to prepare for storms, floods and other climate-related risks. They also require some facilities to scrutinize their use of particularly dangerous chemicals and switch to safer alternatives as well as to share more information with neighbors and emergency responders. In addition, facilities that have suffered prior accidents also must undergo independent audits. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Three ways NOAA Research works to improve our weather forecasts
“Many Americans have experienced some form of extreme weather in recent years. In the last decade, 90% of American counties have been impacted by weather disasters. NOAA Research’s data, tools, and expertise enables everyone to have the knowledge and ability to be safer, healthier and proactively mitigate the worst impacts of extreme weather events. Read about three ways NOAA Research is improving weather forecasting … ” Read more from NOAA.
