A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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In California water news this week …
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.
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.
California could save this endangered fish. But federal funding under Trump just ended
“The Trump administration has ended federal funding for a captive breeding program for California’s endangered delta smelt, threatening the future of the fish that the president blames for burdensome water regulations. The UC Davis-run Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory in Contra Costa County, which maintains a population of smelt to help sustain the small number of smelt in the wild, has been getting about three quarters of its budget from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. That funding, which is tied to a five-year grant, expired Friday, however, and the agency has not committed to renewing the payments. A UC Davis spokesman said university administrators have been in conversations with federal officials and are optimistic about getting new financing. Still, they’ve made contingency plans. Eleven of the lab’s 17 employees have been sent termination notices. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
Pumping 1/100th of available water: A case study in regulatory constraints
“On February 10, 2025, flows from the Sacramento River through the Delta were increasing following a series of storms in Northern California. Delta outflow—flows out to the Pacific Ocean on that day were estimated by the Department of Water Resources to be 197,700 cfs. On that same day, the State Water Project pumps were operating at 1,800 cfs. SWP operations achieved the unique distinction of pumping less than 1/100th of the water that was flowing out to the ocean. Why? It wasn’t due to physical capacity — the pumps were capable of moving 5.5 times that amount. It wasn’t a permitting issue either, as they were authorized to pump 3.5 times that volume. And it wasn’t a lack of downstream storage—San Luis Reservoir was not yet full and even if it were, huge volumes could be sent to groundwater recharge facilities. The anomaly was driven by two factors. … ” Continue reading at Valley Ag Voice.
Trump administration dramatically cuts staff at water agency in California
“The Trump administration has ordered firings and buyouts at the federal agency that operates water infrastructure in California, potentially jeopardizing the agency’s ability to manage dams and deliver water, according to Central Valley water officials. The job cuts at the Bureau of Reclamation were ordered by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, according to two bureau employees with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly. The bureau, which employs about 1,000 people, is set to lose about 100 employees in California through terminations and buyouts, eliminating about 10% of its regional staff, one of the employees said. But larger workforce reductions are slated, and the bureau has been ordered to prepare plans to cut its staff by 40%, this person said. Those targeted first for dismissal have been employees in their first year, and others who have been at the agency the shortest. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
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.
‘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.
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.
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).
Wheeler Ridge board members weigh costs and benefits of Delta tunnel project
“Discussions among Kern County agricultural water districts on whether to continue funding the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) are ramping up. The project proposes to move Sacramento River water through a massive tunnel under the environmentally sensitive Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Kern ag district participation is key to helping pay for the $20 billion project, as the districts, collectively, make up the second largest contractor on the State Water Project, at nearly 1 million acre feet per year. The contract is held by the Kern County Water Agency on behalf of 13 local ag districts. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is the SWP’s largest contractor. MWD recently agreed to pay its share of $141 million of $300 million the Department of Water Resources needs to begin the planning and preconstruction phase of the project. The state is waiting to hear whether Kern districts will pay their $33 million share. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: Third amended notice of public hearing and procedural ruling
“The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office (AHO) is conducting a public hearing about the Delta Conveyance Project. The purpose of the hearing is to gather evidence that the State Water Board will consider to determine whether to approve change petitions filed by the Department of Water Resources (DWR or Petitioner) to add two new points of diversion and rediversion to water right Permits 16478, 16479, 16481, and 16482 (Applications 5630, 14443, 14445A, and 17512, respectively) (SWP Permits) and, if so, terms and conditions the Board should include in the amended permits. This ruling addresses the request for supplemental information from DWR, the joint motion for cancellation and related requests, and other procedural matters.” Read the ruling.
California rice fields fuel salmon migration
“A record-setting amount of food for endangered fish was produced this winter on California rice fields, scientists say. The nutrient-rich water, laden with bugs, is being funneled into the Sacramento River to fuel the journey of juvenile salmon, according to the Floodplains Forward Coalition. The coalition said 25,000 acres of ricelands are producing 147,500 pounds of much-needed food for endangered fish such as Chinook salmon. Rice fields are flooded in the late fall and winter to break down the remaining rice straw left over after harvest. The conservation group California Trout reports that these fields are teeming with food for tiny juvenile salmon. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
How Executive Order N-16-25 enables recharge during floods
“The Newsom Administration has taken an important step toward improving California’s flood safety and water resilience by issuing Executive Order (EO) N-16-25, which waives the requirement for local planning documents to include flood threshold definitions that indicate when groundwater recharge diversions can occur. This temporary waiver allows recharge diversion efforts to begin when local agencies determine there is a flooding emergency, rather than being delayed by the need to finalize and follow these specific planning documents. By removing this administrative hurdle, the directive enables faster flood responses while ensuring diverted water helps sustain California’s long-term water supply. … ” Read more from Sustainable Conservation.
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.
Supreme Court sides with San Francisco, requiring EPA to set specific targets in water pollution permits
Robin Kundis Craig, University of Kansas, writes, “The U.S. Supreme Court has limited how flexible the Environmental Protection Agency and states can be in regulating water pollution under the Clean Water Act in a ruling issued March 4, 2025. However, the justices kept the decision relatively narrow. The ruling only prohibits federal and state permitting agencies from issuing permits that are effectively broad orders not to violate water quality standards. In this case, the city and county of San Francisco argued successfully that the EPA’s requirements were not clear enough. My research focuses on water issues, including the Clean Water Act and the Supreme Court’s interpretations of it. In my view, regulators still will have multiple options for limiting the pollutants that factories, sewage treatment plants and other sources can release into protected water bodies. While this court has not been friendly to regulation in recent years, I believe the practical impact of this decision remains to be seen, and that it is not the major blow to clean water protection that some observers feared the court would inflict. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
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).
PPIC: Report: Implementing climate-smart conservation
“California has demonstrated a commitment to protecting its endangered freshwater species for decades. Yet despite this, most protected species have not recovered, and now a new threat multiplier is pushing many populations to the brink: climate change. The usual conservation tools cannot keep up with the pace of change; instead, as described in our first report, Climate-Smart Tools to Protect California’s Freshwater Biodiversity, the state needs to adopt a broad portfolio of climate-smart tools to conserve at-risk species. But is such change feasible? In this report, we show that laws such as the Endangered Species Act are not, for the most part, impediments to using the tools identified in our previous report. Rather, the problem lies with how society is applying them. To make real progress, the state must address the key issues that are hampering conservation work: permitting complexity, competition for funding, inadequate staffing, and a culture of risk aversion within agencies, water users, and environmental organizations. Although the federal government will continue to be a partner, the state should lead these efforts. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
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.
In commentary this week …
Wrecking ball report, California water edition
John Fleck writes, “We’re starting to see dimly the outlines of what it means for the federal government to no longer be a reliable partner in western water management. Here’s Annie Snider and Camille Von Kaenel on what’s happening in California’s Reclamation operations: “DOGE’s cuts are already hurting Reclamation’s ability to move water through a sprawling system of pumps, canals and reservoirs to roughly a third of the state’s farmland — and impeding the agency’s ability to ratchet up deliveries in line with Trump’s demand, the people said.” … ” Read more from Inkstain.
California’s water management system needs balanced solutions, not politics
Allison Febbo, general manager of Westlands Water District, writes, “In these turbulent times, nearly every issue gets filtered through a political lens, where real solutions are often sidelined in favor of scoring political points. When it comes to managing our state’s water supplies, this dynamic is unfortunately all too common. We do, however, have essential truths: Water is essential to life, and how we manage this resource is one of the most crucial responsibilities we bear, so we must get this right. California’s water management system is complicated, and its surrounding political landscape can be treacherous. Yes, fish need water. But people do, too. We must balance the needs of people and our farmlands while also supporting healthy ecosystems. This fundamental truth must remain at the core of the policies and solutions we enact. We must not approach this with an us-against-them mentality or we will continue to fail. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
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.
The State Water Board and SGMA: Progress or overreach?
Don Wright of Water Wrights writes, “Here’s what I’m hearing in the coffee shops and parking lots regarding the California State Water Resources Control Board’s handing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. This government controlled matter has immediate impacts on the livelihoods of the people of the San Joaquin Valley. If there were a word cloud made from the statements of those most impacted, farmers and people in the agricultural industry – out of control, overreaching, disingenuous, confused and reckless – would be the words in the largest font. But is this fair? Yes and no. At the risk of sounding like former Senator John Kerry who responded, “You bet I might” when asked if he’d support a controversial bill – I think there’s a case to be made the State Board is doing what it’s allowed to do and almost no one is happy with the results. … ” Read more from Water Wrights.
From carrot kings to small pumpers: The unequal fight for Cuyama’s water
Trudy Wischemann writes, “Last Tuesday I felt called to make another trip to Cuyama, solo this time. They were having a meeting of the Small Farmer and Rancher Network (SFAR) for small pumpers, and I was pulled viscerally by that term. “Do you consider yourself a small pumper having minimal impact on the Cuyama groundwater basin?” the flyer read. “Then come learn about and plan with the Small Farmer and Rancher Network…” What an incredible identity to proclaim. Small pumper. Minimal impact. And beyond, that those who fall into that category can “work together to keep our water rights and create a sustainable Cuyama Valley.” I had to see who had the heart and mind to declare that vision. There definitely are leaders in Cuyama Valley, educated, intelligent people who live there, work the land, and care about the whole ecosystem in that arid place. They are neighbors as well, who believe in each other and share thoughts, observations, experiences. When I entered the Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center just as the sun went down, two men were discussing organic weed control methods they’d seen the giant carrot producers employing, comparing it with their own. … ” Continue reading this guest commentary.
Political stunts worsen Western water woes
Juliet Christian-Smith, Western States Regional Director for the Union of Concerned Scientists, writes,”It’s almost the end of California’s wet season. California is in a Mediterranean climate zone, characterized by long, dry summers and short, wet winters. Snow is a crucial part of our year-round water supply, serving as a natural reservoir and providing up to a third of our water supply. Today, the California Department of Water Resources conducted a snow survey to determine how much snow we have stockpiled to date. Today’s survey shows we are at 85% of average levels, statewide. That could spell trouble given above average temperatures that the state is currently experiencing. In addition, significant regional differences reveal some of the ways climate change is shifting our water supplies. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Trump’s attack on science drowns common sense
Keith Schneider, Circle of Blue’s senior editor and chief correspondent, writes, “Attacking the virtue and validity of research science is nothing new in certain corners of American culture. A century ago, in the famous Scopes trial, a high school teacher in Tennessee was prosecuted for teaching evolutionary biology in violation of state law and religious doctrine. In the 21st century, Christian conservatives are at it again. They’ve united with fossil fuel industry executives to attack the scientific research that projects with astonishing accuracy the pace and damaging consequences of increasing levels of carbon in the atmosphere on water resources, agriculture, and communities. Never before, though, has the United States confronted an attack on science like the one President Trump launched in January 2025. For the first time in U.S. history, raw ideological menace is blocking federal funding that supports scientific advance. Like a coach drawing up a diabolical game plan, Trump launched the assault on January 20, Inauguration Day, when he signed an executive order that directed every federal agency to terminate any reference to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all programs and activities. … ” Read more from the Circle of Blue.
What does NOAA do for us, and how can we defend it?
Frank Schwing, retired federal scientist, writes, “Project 2025, the far-right’s playbook for systemically reshaping the federal government, specifically calls out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to be “dismantled,” “downsized,” and “eliminated.” Calling the agency “the source of… climate alarmism,” it recommends the privatization of many of NOAA’s essential functions, some of which are congressionally mandated. Although denying any knowledge of this plan throughout the campaign, the new administration appears ready to follow through. Roughly 10% of NOAA staff have been fired, with more layoffs expected. Confidential and proprietary data have been compromised, budgets are threatened, and scientists censored and ignored. And this is just the beginning. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Commentary: We need humans for forest restoration
Nadia Tase writes, “Elon Musk’s U.S. Department of Government Efficiency has been active in its quest to dismantle the federal government under the guise of rooting out corruption, fraud, and waste. Since the inauguration, DOGE emails have taunted federal employees, stating they are unproductive and offering so-called buyouts to resign. Over President’s day weekend, 3,400 U.S. Forest Service (USFS) employees and 1,000 National Park Service employees still in their probationary period of hire were terminated illegally by the Trump administration, including many individuals that accepted the “Fork in the road” Musk buyout offer. While permanent federal employees are easier to fire while in probationary status, there still must be cause. The cause provided? “The [Forest Service] Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.” This would be fine if it were true, but it is not. Here on the local forest, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), 11 people working in trails, watershed restoration, vegetation management, wildlife biology, fisheries, and public services who had only positive performance reviews were illegally terminated. Individuals who have been with the forest working as temporary seasonal employees without benefits for years, decades even. Nobody can accuse these individuals of being lazy. No. … ” Continue reading at the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
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 this week …
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.
Trump, Musk plan to shutter federal offices includes Arcata site for NOAA Fisheries, Redwood National Park staff
“President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s plan to dramatically downsize the federal government has placed a bullseye on an Arcata field office that houses roughly two dozen 65 full-time employees of agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries and Redwood National Park. Following the first wave in a massive purge of federal employees carried out by the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the administration now plans to close more than 2 million square feet of office space being used by the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies. The General Services Administration’s (GSA) lease-termination list includes 1655 Heindon Rd. in Arcata, a 25,500-square-foot office building off Giuntoli Lane, near Toni’s 24-Hour Restaurant. According to a former federal employee who spoke on condition of anonymity, the office’s lease is scheduled to be terminated at the end of September. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost.
Endangered California coho salmon experience record-breaking spawning season on Mendocino Coast
“Last winter, Central California Coast coho salmon returned to Mendocino Coast rivers in the highest numbers since monitoring began. The overall numbers remain low compared to the species’ past abundance, but NOAA scientists are excited by the results. Last winter, endangered Central California Coast coho salmon (CCC coho) returned to Mendocino Coast rivers and streams in the highest numbers since monitoring began 16 years ago. Monitoring led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to track their population status estimated more than 15,000 adult CCC coho returned to spawn during the 2023–24 season. The Ten Mile and Noyo rivers exceeded recovery targets set by NOAA for delisting CCC coho under the Endangered Species Act, and the Big and Garcia rivers experienced record returns. While the overall numbers remain low compared to the species’ past abundance, NOAA scientists are excited by the results. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
Court order extends temporary window for Sonoma County to issue well permits
“Sonoma County has an extra few weeks to issue permits for nonemergency wells under a recent court order. A judge ordered the county stop issuing nonemergency permits in December after ruling that the county had failed to follow state environmental requirements. A second judge lifted the order temporarily, allowing permit applications through the end of February. He has now extended that window to March 27. Well permitting is critical in county rural areas, which depend on groundwater for agriculture, residential use and new development. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Nevada Irrigation District initiating the process of declaring exempt surplus land meant for Centennial Dam: District voted to not pursue dam project in September 2024
“Nevada Irrigation District (NID) will continue to discuss the selling of 17 parcels the District initially intended to serve as land that would have been part of the Centennial Dam project, which in September the board resolved it would not move forward with. The California Surplus Lands Act (SLA) is used to help governmental agencies, such as NID, focus on various land uses including public amenities like parks and schools. In recent years, the SLA has been used to promote affordable housing in a time where such dwellings are less plentiful. “Surplus land” basically refers to any land owned by a local or state agency that is no longer necessary to the agency’s use. NID owns a total of 10,919 acres along the Bear River which would have been included in the Centennial project. “(There are) about 17 properties in the Bear River,” said Greg Jones, Assistant General Manager for NID. “This is a workshop item.” … ” Read more from The Union.
Chinook salmon are swimming in this California river for the first time in more than 80 years
“Chinook salmon were once abundant in the North Yuba River in California’s Sierra Nevada. But since 1941, they’ve been kept out of the chilly, clear waters by the Englebright Dam. Now, for the first time in more than eight decades, the iridescent, blue-green fish are once again swimming in the northern waterway, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced in a statement this month. The young spring-run Chinook salmon are part of a pilot project that may one day become a full reintroduction program, with the eventual goal of returning the fish to their historic spawning grounds in California’s mountains. The project is a collaboration between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Yuba Water Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries and the U.S. Forest Service. … ” Read more from the Smithsonian Magazine.
This lovely, secluded Bay Area hike has In-N-Out right nearby
“There is usually nothing good to say about a water bill, except maybe that it’s not as bad as a PG&E bill. But recently, my statement from East Bay Municipal Utility District had a surprise: Among the usual gray water and reservoir updates, an insert with the bill featured local hiking trails. My utility had gone all Lonely Planet and suggested some spots I had never heard of, including one that turned out to be secluded, gorgeous and a quick trip from home in Albany. So off I went, taking the Pinole exit from Interstate 80 and heading east. … My destination was the Pinole Ridge Trail, which is part of EBMUD’s Pinole Valley Watershed. This tract covers 3,681 acres of mostly open grassland that the district purchased in the 1950s as a potential reservoir site. … ” Continue reading from SF Gate.
Marin Municipal Water District votes to advance Sonoma-to-Marin water pipeline
“Marin Municipal Water District officials are throwing their support behind a plan to import more Sonoma water into Marin, setting the stage for one of the larger supply and drought resiliency investments in decades. On a unanimous vote Tuesday, the district board authorized staff to move forward with design and environmental review for a new pipeline that would tap into an existing aqueduct system to get Sonoma water to Marin reservoirs. “This is definitely a milestone for us, but it’s not our destination,” said Paul Sellier, the district’s water resources director. “It’s more of a mile marker on our way, and a significant one at that.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Madera County groundwater agency can collect fees and legal action will continue, judge rules
“A lawsuit over whether the Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) improperly conducted an election to assess fees on more than 900 parcels of land to pay for groundwater projects will continue, according to a judge’s ruling issued Thursday. However, an injunction that had prevented those fees from being collected for nearly three years was also lifted by Madera County Superior Court Judge Eric LiCalsi. LiCalsi did not prevent the fees from being assessed retroactively, which would be a huge financial hit to farmers. In the Madera subbasin, fees are $246 per acre, per year. In the Delta-Mendota subbasin, the fees are $183. “That’s $20 million a year spread out over 900 property owners,” said Attorney Patrick Gorman, who represents the Valley Groundwater Coalition, which was formed by growers who alleged that an election to establish the fees under Proposition 218 rules was done improperly. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
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.
Tea Pot Dome agrees to pay share of cost to fix sinking canal and reveal pumping data to Friant Water Authority
“Tea Pot Dome Water District has agreed to pay Friant Water Authority $1.4 million in exchange for relief from its role in a contract designed to pay for damage to a 33-mile section of the Friant-Kern Canal. It also agreed to give Friant pumping data that’s at the heart of a much larger dispute. The deal is one small piece of the ongoing conflict between Friant and several of its own member contractors over who should pay – and how much – to fix the Friant-Kern Canal, which has been sinking due to excessive groundwater pumping. Friant has already spent $326 million from a mix of local and federal funds to rebuild the worst section of canal, which runs through the Eastern Tulare Groundwater Sustainability Agency in southern Tulare County. Four of Friant’s members, Tea Pot Dome and the Porverville, Saucelito and Terra Bella irrigation districts, once ran Eastern Tule. But Friant says Eastern Tule policies not only exacerbated subsidence beneath the canal, but also shorted Friant on funding it needs to repay the federal government for a portion of that $326 million. So, Friant went after the individual irrigation districts for that money. … ” Continue reading from SJV Water.
Legislation could provide new path for farmers in beleaguered Tulare County groundwater agency
“Assembly Bill 1044, introduced by Assembly Member Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare) Feb. 20, would create a new agency to be administered through Tulare County and that would cover half of Eastern Tule’s original acreage. The bill was written at the county’s request after Eastern Tule lost all of its irrigation district members. They left to form their own groundwater agencies following a probationary finding in September by the state Water Resources Control Board, which scrutinized Eastern Tule’s water accounting methods. The splintering off of irrigation districts, left the county as the lone governmental agency of the original Eastern Tule joint powers agreement. Growers in large areas of Eastern Tule don’t have contracts for surface water. The farm areas called “white lands,” as they’re outside of water district boundaries and almost entirely dependent on groundwater. … ” 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.
SoCal: EPA’s Superfund designation for Exide cleanup now in jeopardy
“The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday at a community meeting that a toxin found at the former Exide Technologies battery smelter in Vernon was not generated by the plant, dealing a serious blow to calls from residents and elected leaders to designate the site as a Superfund. Superfund is the informal term used to refer to a law originating in the 1980s that authorizes the EPA to clean polluted industrial sites, as well as force parties at fault for the toxins to clean their properties or pay the government for remediation work. After months of testing and investigating the Exide plant’s toxic chemicals, EPA representatives concluded the presence of the chemical Trichloroethylene (TCE) was not caused by the process of smelting lead batteries. … ” Read more from the Boyle Heights Beat.
LAFD did not alert DWP to more than 1,000 fire hydrants needing repair
“The Los Angeles Fire Department did not inform the city’s Department of Water and Power until mid-February that more than 1,000 fire hydrants needed repairs, despite being aware of the issues months before. According to city records and officials, the Fire Department discovered the damage to the hydrants during inspections in the months before the Jan. 7 Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes. While firefighters struggled with low water pressure during the blaze, it’s unclear whether the damaged hydrants played a role. The lapse in sharing inspection records came to light Feb. 12, when KCBS-TV reported that the LAFD had compiled a list of 1,350 fire hydrants requiring repairs. Some of those repairs appear to have been flagged as early as January 2024, according to the list, which the station obtained from the LAFD through a public records request. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
NOTICE: Reclamation announces a 60-day public comment period for Warren Act contract template providing for storage and/or conveyance of Non-Project Water
NOTICE of Proposed Rulemaking – Water Measurement and Reporting Regulations Revisions
YOUR INPUT WANTED: Proposed Rulemaking for Delta Stewardship Council Meetings Regulations
