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In California water news this weekend …
California salmon fishing season in jeopardy for third year in a row
“The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PMFC) is weighing a decision at one of their conferences to determine the fate of California’s salmon fishing season. While they’re still in the early stages of making that decision, for the third year in a row, the number of chinook salmon in the Sacramento River is coming in significantly low. If the fishing season is canceled, it will be historic for the state. “There have been two years of closure in a row before. We haven’t experienced a three-year closure,” said Angela Forristall, a salmon staff officer with the PFMC. … ” Read more from CBS News.
‘Enough is enough’: Scientists from UCLA, USC protest Trump’s policy changes
“Hundreds of scientists marched under sunny skies in front of federal offices in Los Angeles on Friday as part of a day of nationwide protests against Trump administration policies. Pushing back against perceived threats to research and science, they bore on-theme signs, including one that read “What would Albert do?” accompanying a photo of Einstein. The rally outside the Wilshire Federal Building drew graduate students and professors from USC and UCLA and was held under the banner of the Stand Up for Science movement, which drew inspiration from the March for Science held in 2017 shortly after Trump began his first term. Many scientists once again feel under attack. In a matter of weeks, the second Trump administration has slashed jobs at science agencies — including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — pulled the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement (again), clawed back research papers under review at scientific journals to scrub terms that the political right has railed against, such as “transgender,” and terminated funding for global health programs. The administration has also attempted to block grants and reduce funding for research institutions. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
- Hundreds rally in Sacramento against federal science cuts: ‘Never been an issue before’, from the Sacramento Bee
- Taking it to the streets: Scientists mobilize to fight trump’s “unprecedented” anti-science agenda, from Inside Climate News
Trump’s 2.2 billion-gallon dump from California reservoirs just got even uglier
“When it happened, the late-January release of around 2.2 billion gallons from California reservoirs already seemed strange, ill-advised and abrupt. But a new report from the Washington Post paints an even bleaker picture.The three-day release from Lake Kaweah and Lake Success by the Army Corp of Engineers was water that’s typically saved for the drier, hotter growing season, as SFGATE reported at the time. The Army Corps’ move came after Los Angeles County’s devastating January fires prompted President Donald Trump to issue an executive order where he blasted California water policies and commanded federal department heads to “ensure water resources in Southern California.” But the corps’ decision, the Post reported, flew in the face of actual acts. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO:
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- Musk’s DOGE ‘whiz kids’ flew to California to try and release water themselves during LA fires, from The Independent via MSN News
- Report: Army Corps knew Trump’s water release couldn’t reach Southern California, from the San Francisco Chronicle
This farmer is taking the long view on Trump
“Stuart Woolf likes the extra water President Donald Trump is promising Central Valley farmers — but he doesn’t think it’ll be enough to change their fate. Woolf, the president and CEO of Woolf Farming and Processing and the current chair of the board for the trade group Western Growers Association, grows almonds and tomatoes in one of the most arid regions of the Central Valley. He’s also been an early champion of agave, the drought-tolerant crop used in tequila and mezcal, which he sees as key to sustaining the region’s agriculture in an era of limited water supplies, and the development of solar panels on fallowed farmland. A self-described independent, Woolf isn’t backing away from his vision. POLITICO caught up with him after a panel at the Kern County Water Summit in Bakersfield on Thursday, where he talked about alternatives to thirsty crops and the long-term sustainability of agriculture on some of California’s most productive acres (and got away with applause, not boos). … ” Read more from Politico.
Rep. Calvert reintroduces the FISH ACT
“Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) reintroduced the Federally Integrated Species Health (FISH) Act, H.R. 1894, to consolidate the management and regulation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), with respect to anadromous species, within the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Currently, ESA authority is split between FWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). “The FISH Act will benefit species and Americans trying to comply with the Endangered Species Act by having a single federal agency manage all species,” said Rep. Calvert. “Consolidating the management of our endangered species and our rivers will translate into better results for species and those trying to comply with ESA regulations. The FISH Act will provide stakeholders and our habitats a more uniform approach to managing threatened and endangered species.” “California’s water delivery system and its fisheries would benefit from having a single federal agency responsible for anadromous species management to help avoid conflicting regulations from multiple agencies,” said Deven Upadhyay General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California appreciates Representative Calvert introducing this legislation and looks forward to its passage.” … ” Read more from Congressman Ken Calvert.
Half a century ago, Californians saved the coast. Will Trump threats spark another uprising?
Columnist Steve Lopez writes, “In 1972, thousands of Californians came together in what was a defining moment in state history. They were united by fears that the spectacular coast was in danger of becoming overdeveloped, heavily industrialized, ecologically diminished and irreversibly privatized. Rue Furch, a Sonoma State University student, signed on as a volunteer for Proposition 20, which called for a commission to “preserve, protect, restore, and enhance the environment and ecology of the coastal zone.” … So why am I telling you this a half-century later? Because voter-approved Proposition 20 led to the 1976 California Coastal Act and the creation of the Coastal Commission, which is now under threat like never before, targeted by the Trump administration, federal legislation and other critics. In a January visit to Los Angeles after the devastating wildfires, Trump said the Coastal Commission is “considered the most difficult in the entire country” and said when it comes to rebuilding, “we are not going to let them get away with their antics.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Newsom stymies implementation of landmark California plastic law, orders more talks
“Gov. Gavin Newsom this week stymied implementation of landmark state environmental legislation that would have limited the amount of single-use plastics sold and distributed in California — drawing outrage from environmentalists. The law, known as SB 54, was signed by Newsom in 2022. Since then, dozens of regulators, lawmakers, environmentalists and industry groups have worked together to write the rules and regulations that would guide its implementation. On Friday — the deadline to finalize those rules — Newsom told the negotiators to start over. “The Governor is directing CalRecycle to restart these regulations to ensure California’s bold recycling law can achieve its goal of cutting plastic pollution and is implemented fairly,” Daniel Villaseñor, Newsom’s deputy director of communications, said in a statement. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
California lawmakers urge congressional leaders to continue federal wildfire aid
“California’s lawmakers urged their leaders in Congress on Friday to continue funding federal aid in the wake of the L.A. fires, amid a congressional budget battle and questions about possible conditions being imposed by the Trump administration. Their letter — signed by all 54 House and Senate members — marks the latest step in a months-long political fight to ensure California keeps getting the money it needs to clean up the destruction and rebuild after the devastating wildfires in January. “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 the letter sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Malissa Tayaba, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, is leading a charge to protect tribal water rights
“Malissa Tayaba, vice chairperson of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, is leading a charge to protect tribal water rights and preserve cultural connections to California’s waterways. Tayaba, who also serves as the tribe’s director of traditional ecological knowledge, has become a prominent voice in the fight for equitable water management and the preservation of tribal cultural practices. “What happens to the salmon eventually happens to us,” Tayaba says, emphasizing the interconnectedness of tribal well-being and environmental health. The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, traditionally fishing people along the Sacramento and American rivers, have been actively involved in legal challenges against state water policies they believe are detrimental to Delta ecosystems. … ” Read more from Comstock’s.
Elizabeth Ewens: Navigating California’s Water Law: A Balancing Act
“Early in her career, Elizabeth Ewens remembers flipping through the pages of a 19th-century diary that had been passed down in an Idaho ranching family for generations. The ink may have faded, but the words painted a vivid picture of a time when water meant survival, dictating where cattle could graze and families could settle. These handwritten entries, carefully detailing the movement of livestock and the sources of water they depended on, were more than just history. They were evidence — proof in a modern legal battle over historic water rights. For Ewens, a top water attorney at the Sacramento office of Seattle-based law firm Stoel Rives, moments like these encapsulate the deep historical and legal complexity of her field. “So much water law is rooted in the history of the state of California,” she says. “It involves complex hydrology and legal issues, and even public policy issues.” … ” Read more from Comstock’s.
Stephanie Hastings and Amy Steinfeld: Leading the way in water law
“Stephanie Hastings and Amy Steinfeld are water and natural resources lawyers, shareholders in the law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and the founders of the H2O Women Conference, a biennial conference and retreat that showcases leading women professionals from industries throughout the water space. Q: Did you find the water industry or did water find you? Stephanie: I moved to California at the end of the 1987-92 drought—one of California’s most significant (longest duration and driest hydrology) statewide droughts of the 1900s. The impact that the drought had had on businesses, residents and the environment made a big impression on me. … Amy: When I was in the fourth grade, the Drought Water Duck visited my Orange County classroom to teach us about California’s precious water supplies. That spurred my lifelong fascination with California water. … ” Read the article at Water World.
Dan Walters: Reflecting on 50 years of writing about California’s politics — and still counting
“This week is a personal milestone, marking a half-century of writing about California’s ever-changing political ambiance. My move into the Sacramento Union’s Capitol bureau on March 3, 1975, was part of its effort to become more competitive with The Sacramento Bee. The Bee had a large Capitol staff and believed that its only real competition in the political arena was the Los Angeles Times. Al Donner, who had been the Union’s sole Capitol reporter, and I were determined to change that situation. The Capitol was undergoing one of its periodic political upheavals, so it was — in a journalistic sense — a target-rich environment. Jerry Brown, the 36-year-old son of former governor Pat Brown, had been inaugurated as governor just two months earlier and was already becoming something of a political pop star. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Podcasts …
BOILING POINT: Reporting the truth about water in California
Ian James is a veteran climate and water reporter at the Los Angeles Times. His recent stories have exposed misinformation surrounding California’s water supplies and wildfire response — including a political stunt by President Trump. Together, he and Sammy break down the facts that will shape our climate future, and our ability to survive it.
POLITICO ENERGY: How DOGE undercut Trump’s California water plan
The Department of Government Efficiency has hobbled the federal agency that delivers water across California, a move that inadvertently undercuts President Donald Trump’s plan to address the state’s water crisis. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down how DOGE’s actions are in direct conflict with the president’s policy goals. Plus, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Monday requested an inspector general probe of the management of a $20 billion climate fund held by Citibank.
DELTA FLOWS: Delta Conveyance Project featuring Barbara Barrigan Parilla & Morgen Synder
The Delta Tunnel would be the largest transfer of public wealth in California for the last forty years. Officially known as the Delta Conveyance Project, the Delta Tunnel has been called a “climate adaptation project” which is simply not true. It has more accurately been referred to as a zombie project because it has been proposed in various forms over the last four decades. The Delta Tunnel jeopardizes the environment and our communities as a whole. It would devastate the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta through further eradication of endangered fish species, declining water quality, destroying seven-generational family farms, construction pollution, and the overall negative impacts on Tribes and disadvantaged communities. Tony Gladney will be discussing the current threats from the project, the flaws of the project, as well as ways to take action with Executive Director Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla and Policy Analyst Morgen Snyder with Restore the Delta.
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: Sarah Woolf – A change maker
Sarah Woolf, a California Ag and Water icon, joins Darcy and Darcy and discusses Water Wise – a water management company for farmers in the central San Joaquin Valley, the Change Coalition, the San Joaquin Blueprint, the San Joaquin Valley Water Collaborative Action Program, and family farming – just to name a few! Sarah shares her perspective on California water and agriculture, how it has changed, and where it may be going over the next decade or two. What was clear, was there is so much more to talk about! Darcy & Darcy can’t wait to have her back! Sarah is truly a W.O.W. – a Woman of WATER! This is a conversation you can’t miss!
SCIENCE IN SHORT: Longfin Smelt, The Little Fish That Gets Around
In this Science-in-Short episode reporter Ashleigh Papp interviews three scientists about longfin smelt, an endangered species, in the San Francisco Estuary. Experts, including UC Davis’ Levi Lewis and USGS’ Matthew Young, share their insights into how longfin use Delta, Bay and ocean habitats, including restored marshes, during different parts of their life cycle.
POLITICO ENERGY: Why the Supreme Court weakened EPA’s water pollution regulatory authority
The Supreme Court imposed new limits on EPA’s ability to regulate water pollution on Tuesday. POLITICO’s Annie Snider breaks down the ruling, how the case involved strange political alliances, and what this means for EPA and America’s water quality moving forward. Plus, America’s oil industry has been pretty muted about President Donald Trump’s new tariffs despite the trade moves financially hurting its bottom line.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Working Together
Water is a pretty basic resource that is essential for our lives. So, when it begins to disappear or diminish in quality, our daily routine can change and, sometimes, homelife can become quite difficult. Expanding this problem to a larger region that supports a bigger population, and you have the makings of a natural and social disaster. How can government and personal responsibility be joined as an effective force that makes a threatening situation like this turn into a success story for all to share? Water is a Many Splendor ’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
ECONEWS REPORT: Trump has gutted NEPA. What does that mean?
The Trump Administration has taken a large whack at the National Environmental Policy Act (often better known by its acronym, NEPA). NEPA is the federal environmental law that requires that the federal government understand and acknowledge the environmental impacts of its actions and provide an opportunity for public engagement on projects. While a bedrock federal environmental law, the law itself is vaguely worded. Thus, implementing regulations (issued by the Council on Environmental Quality in 1978) have been important to its application. Through these regulations, we have NEPA as we know it—”major federal projects” and “cumulative impact analysis” and so on. All that changed on January 20th. Through Executive Order, Trump revoked the authority of the Council on Environmental Quality to issue regulations and the agency has withdrawn the long-standing rules. Now we are in a legal limbo: NEPA still exists (Trump can’t veto a law that has already been approved) but the rules implementing NEPA are gone. What are we to do?
In regional water news this weekend …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
‘There is literally no one’: The fallout coming to Lake Tahoe after forest service gutted
“The U.S. Forest Service manages 78% of the land in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Yet, a hiring freeze on seasonal workers and recent firings of key staff have gutted an already-stretched-thin agency, putting on hold critical work in water quality, environmental restoration and forest fuels reduction projects while also diminishing the forest service’s capacity to manage the millions of visitors who come to Lake Tahoe every year — especially on the Fourth of July. Eleven people who work at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit lost their jobs last month in the so-called “Valentine’s Day Massacre” led by Elon Musk’s U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, according to former employees. The job losses compound chronically low staffing, plus a hiring freeze on seasonal workers that went into effect last fall. In all, the management unit has lost a third of its recreational staff, including the lone permanent wilderness ranger position in Desolation Wilderness. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Nevada Irrigation District March snow survey: snowpack at 96% after February storms
“A cold, wet February delivered double the average amount of snow and rain for the month. As a result, the snowpack has increased on Nevada Irrigation District (NID) upper watersheds, and the water content in the snow is just about normal for this time of year, according to the District’s March survey. NID hydrographers conducted the second snow survey of the year on Feb. 26-27; their measurements taken on five courses found the water content to be 96 percent of average. “Significant precipitation in February made up for the dry January we experienced, bringing seasonal totals back above average,” said NID’s Water Resource Superintendent Thor Larsen. “Snowpack conditions also improved from last month and are close to average as we head into March.” … ” Read more from the Nevada Irrigation District.
BAY AREA
With Los Vaqueros expansion canceled, water options remain slim
“Last month’s devastating fires in Los Angeles brought attention to the need for California to build needed water storage facilities throughout the state. Case in point is the proposed expansion of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir, which was halted in November after the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) withdrew from the plans. The CCWD board explained: “Beyond the significant cost increase, there were several other significant factors that led to this project – including decreased benefits for partners, increased benefit uncertainty and insufficient guarantees of backup water supplies for CCWD customers while the reservoir is demolished and reconstructed.” … ” Read more from The Pioneer.
‘Toxic plume’ from gas station imperils Walnut Creek development plans, legal complaint alleges
“A “toxic plume” at a gas station on Mt. Diablo Boulevard has contaminated the neighborhood’s air and soil, according to a February legal complaint filed by the former owner of an eco-friendly dry cleaning business next door. The complaint claims that regional environmental agencies failed to hold oil companies accountable for remediating their land for decades, and that the environmental viability of future, transit-oriented development eyed for plaintiff Steve Depper’s property is now threatened. But Depper said the defendants, Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company, who have both owned the property, are ultimately responsible. … “I’m very cautious about exposing my employees — obviously that’s why I’m all green,” Depper said in an interview Friday. “Rather than coming up with a new engineering solution, which I understand is readily available, (Marathon and Tesoro) decided to just leave that big mound of highly contaminated soil in place and cover it up. It’s still there today, and it’s not going away.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
‘It’s been pretty horrific’: Creek restoration brings hope for life without flooding
“After decades of flooding created chaos for the people of the Rollingwood neighborhood, a recent restoration of Rheem Creek promises to bring relief during the rainy season. Residents hope the improvements last. Since the 1950s, Rheem Creek has acted as an important drainage ditch for a community built on what once was a flood plain and tidal marsh. It runs about 3.4 miles through Richmond, San Pablo and unincorporated Contra Costa County, draining about 2.8 square miles of water into San Pablo Bay. As time passed, sediment and debris began to build up as overgrown non-native plants greatly decreased the amount of water that could flow through the channel, causing water to disperse into nearby neighborhoods for more than 20 years. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
See the rare creatures that showed up in a California bay to feed on salmon
“A group of Southern Resident killer whales were spotted in Monterey Bay, California, on Tuesday in a rare spectacle of the endangered creatures. About 25 of the whales were seen during an expedition by the Monterey Bay Whale Watch. The organization noted that the whales were feeding on salmon in the area, and did so for several hours. “What an amazing and once-in-a-lifetime experience for our passengers and crew – a day we won’t soon forget!” said the Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Southern Resident killer whales are unique from other killer whales in that they are a bit animated, according to Monterey Whale Watch Marine Biologist Nancy Black. “They are very active, so that means they tend to breach a lot more than the other types of killer whale,” she said. “They’re spy hopping, where their head comes out of the water and looking, and they can be very curious, and they’re just very bubbly and playful.” … ” Read more from Fox Weather.
A community meeting paid for by Cal Am draws angry residents upset over a desal plan.
“Pam Marino here. Like many of you, when I get out of bed in the morning I’m thirsty, so I turn on the tap and help myself to a glass of water. I don’t really think about the water I’m drinking, that is until it’s time to pay the water bill. That’s when I remember that those of us on the Monterey Peninsula pay some of the highest prices for water in the country through the private company Cal Am. The sour feelings Cal Am customers have translated into a win for Measure J in 2018 by a 56-44 margin, with a goal of a public buyout of Cal Am by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, which seven years later is still struggling to come to fruition. In Marina, the bad feelings run just a little deeper, after the California Coastal Commission approved, in November 2022, a Cal Am plan to build a desalination plant in Marina, which the city and many residents believe will siphon off precious water found underneath them. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
Cal Water infrastructure upgrade underway in King City
“California Water Service is preparing to complete work on a water infrastructure upgrade this month that will improve water supply reliability and fire protection in King City. The project includes the installation of 1,405 feet of new 8- and 12-inch water main in the city’s downtown area. “Infrastructure improvements like this help Cal Water maintain a reliable water supply for both everyday and emergency needs, and it enables us to keep providing quality, service and value to our customers,” said Brenda Granillo, Cal Water Salinas District Manager, who currently also oversees Cal Water’s King City District. … ” Read more from the King City Rustler.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
San Joaquin River: Born in the pristine waters of Thousand Island Lake, it feeds the stomachs and souls of countless people
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “Seven miles into the Ansel Adams Wilderness I got my first view of Thousand Island Lake from the Pacific Crest Trail. Its numerous namesake rocky islands — many complete with pine trees — broke up the gently wind whipped blue water sparkling below the 12,942-foot prominence of Mt. Banner dotted with several small glaciers. The lake before me in mid-July of 2020 was unlike the 10 others I had passed as I made my way into the High Sierra from June Lake. This was the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, where some of the snowmelt — if it is lucky — will make a 366-mile journey before flowing into Suisun Bay at the Delta’s edge on its way to San Francisco Bay, then out the Golden Gate to mingle into oblivion with the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
South San Joaquin Irrigation District may assist fish flow, farmers south of the Delta
“South San Joaquin Irrigation District in one fell swoop could improve the outlook for fish, help farmers south of the Delta, and boost the district’s financial bottom line. Recent snowfall on the Stanislaus River watershed indicates the SSJID along with Oakdale Irrigation District will likely receive the full 600,000 acre feet of runoff that they share with first-in-line water rights. That is on top of the two districts’ water conservation account in the New Melones Reservoir. If that happens, the two districts will be able to participate in an April-May window that would allow them to release up to 100,000 acre feet to improve critical soring fish flows. That would allow them to eventually sell the water to farmers south of Delta once it flows down the river and into the Delta to benefit fish. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Kings County residents may sign up to have drinking water wells tested for free
“Rural Kings County residents concerned about their drinking water may sign up to have their wells tested for free at an event to be held at 5:30 p.m. March 18. The Kings Water Alliance is hosting the informational event for residents to apply to have their wells tested for nitrate contamination. The event will be held at the Kings Cultural Center, 14054 Front Street, Armona. The well testing program is free for Kings County residents who rely on wells for drinking water. The alliance has offered its free program to residents in portions of Fresno and Tulare Counties and a small northeast portion of Kings County. The free testing program was made available to residents in the rest of Kings County starting last month. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
Acres of dusty lakebed will be exposed by DWP exports
“In 1994 the California State Water Resources Control Board issued Decision 1631, mandating a Mono Lake elevation of 6,392 feet above sea level that balanced protection of Public Trust resources and continued delivery of water to Los Angeles. Air quality is one of those protected resources jeopardized by a low lake. The exposed lakebed is a source of PM-10 pollution—particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter—and for decades the Mono Basin has ranked among the worst dust emissions in the country. Mono Lake remains well below its mandated level but the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) insists the lake is healthy and that there is no need to adjust its water exports. Air quality regulators disagree. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
L.A. fires put new drinking-water safety measures to the test
“A month after the 2017 Tubbs fire, a Santa Rosa resident finally returned home to one of the handful of houses still standing amid a field of destruction. They turned on their kitchen faucet and smelled gasoline. It was an immediate red flag for Santa Rosa Water, which quickly sent over technicians to test the tap. In the water, they found benzene, a known carcinogen — a discovery that sent shockwaves through the scientific and water safety world. In Santa Rosa, the contamination investigation would expand from a single household to the entire burn area. As devastating urban wildfires continued to increase in frequency in the American West, the problem would reappear — in Paradise, Calif.; in Colorado; in Hawaii; and finally in L.A.’s Pacific Palisades and Altadena. All the while, scientists, regulators and local utilities raced to figure out what was happening and how to keep residents safe. By the time the Eaton and Palisades fires broke out, scientists and the state could hand the affected utilities a playbook on how to restore safe water for their customers. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Rebuilding LA: A look at the progress made 2 months after fires
“It’s been two months since the start of the Palisades and Eaton fires, and the road to recovery continues. Both fires erupted on Jan. 7, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds. After burning for 24 days, both fires were fully contained on Jan. 31, with over 37,000 acres burned and more than 16,000 structures destroyed. The impact of the destruction was felt far beyond the borders of these communities and the tens of billions in damage will take years to clean up. But the recovery process is making progress – slowly but surely. The Department of Water and Power’s “Do Not Drink” notice in the Pacific Palisades was lifted Friday – a big step forward for the area. Crews will continue testing water in the Palisades area, and the department is asking residents to flush out their pipes. … ” Read more from KABC.
Citing threats, DWP seeks to spend up to $700,000 on private security for CEO
“The chief executive of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has asked the utility’s board to spend around $700,000 on private security for her, citing an uptick in threats after the Palisades fire. The five-member Board of Water and Power Commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to approve the one-year private security contract for the CEO and chief engineer, Janisse Quiñones. In the wake of the Palisades fire, DWP received criticism for diminished water pressure in some hydrants and for the Santa Ynez Reservoir sitting empty for nearly a year while awaiting a repair estimated to cost about $130,000. Quiñones, who took over as chief executive of the nation’s largest municipal utility in May, came under increasingly personal attacks online that assailed her $750,000 salary and denigrated her as a “DEI hire” for her Puerto Rican roots. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Thousands of trees will go unplanted in Los Angeles after Musk pulls funding
“Tree planting programs across the U.S. are on the chopping block as a result of federal funding cuts under the billionaire Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. The cuts include $75 million to the U.S. Forest Service, $1 million to nonprofits in Nashville and $12 million to Philadelphia. In Los Angeles, thousands of trees may now go unplanted. “We’re taking a hit somewhere to close to $2.5 million, which for a small nonprofit is a big deal,” says Aaron Thomas, director of urban forestry for North East Trees. North East Trees is a tree-planting nonprofit that primarily operates in low-income communities in Los Angeles like Watts, Boyle Heights and Northeast and South L.A. They build parks, run cleanup events in the L.A. River and plant thousands of shade trees.“Between 80 and 90% of our budget is from government grants,” Thomas said. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Leveraging the recent Supreme Court ruling to strengthen stormwater permits
“In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA that the EPA exceeded its authority under the Clean Water Act by imposing “end-result” requirements in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. The ruling effectively eliminates permit provisions that hold dischargers accountable for the condition of receiving waters and reinforces that the EPA—not permittees—must define clear, enforceable limitations to achieve water quality standards at the point of discharge. While many initial reactions perceived this as a blow to the Clean Water Act, we see the opinion largely as a win. This ruling requires regulatory agencies to determine specific limitations in stormwater permits to meet water quality objectives. Previously, stormwater permits included vague water quality objectives without specific requirements on how to achieve those goals, making compliance difficult to determine. … ” Read more from the OC Coastkeeper.
Newport Beach unveils California’s first trash-collecting water wheel
“A new multi-million dollar trash-collecting water wheel was unveiled in Newport Beach Friday, the first-of-its-kind in the state, to collect floating trash before it contaminates the local harbors and beaches. City leaders said every year, hundreds of tons of floating trash and debris enter Newport Bay through San Diego Creek. The garbage eventually makes its way to the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Newport Harbor and beaches. The $5.5 million Newport Bay Trash Interceptor will supplement other cleaning efforts including trash booms, catch basin collection systems and floating skimmers, city officials said. … ” Read more from KTLA.
Unprecedented number of sick, stranded sea lions being found on Los Angeles beaches
“An unusually high number of disoriented marine mammals, sickened by a toxic algae bloom, is being found along Southern California’s coast, prompting concerns 2025 could be the deadliest year yet. As an algae bloom, formed off the shores of California, including Malibu and Dockweiler Beach, is occurring for the fourth year in a row, a neurological toxin called domoic acid from the algae has already sickened dozens of sea lions and elephant seals this year alone, causing them to strand with seizures or lethargy, according to the Marine Mammal Care Center, a nonprofit rescue organization. While algae blooms are natural phenomena, the last four years have been more intense and widespread due to warmer water temperature, the rescue group said. What’s more concerning this year compared to 2023 is the algae bloom is starting early in February. … ” Read more from NBC 4.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River choices botched by feds under Biden, letter to Burgum alleges
“The federal agency charged with managing the Colorado River failed to do its job properly when it excluded a viable option presented by Nevada, Arizona and California, according to documents that surfaced Friday. The three states that make up the Lower Basin are fighting a critical war for their rights to water from the river. The future of growing cities is in the balance, along with farms, businesses and everyone else in the desert Southwest. On Friday, a Feb. 13 letter to incoming Interior Secretary Doug Burgum was obtained by 8 News Now, along with a supporting document that argues the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is making a big mistake by refusing to address a known problem with Glen Canyon Dam, which creates the nation’s second-largest reservoir, Lake Powell. … ” Read more from KLAS.
Lee, Curtis take on Biden’s hydropower restriction at Glen Canyon Dam
“U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and John Curtis (R-Utah), introduced the Basin Fund Preservation Act. Citing protection of an endangered species, a federal decision was made last year to restrict hydropower generation at the Glen Canyon Dam. This led to higher energy costs for millions of people across Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Nebraska. This bill ensures that these communities won’t be unfairly impacted by rising energy costs by requiring federal agencies to sign an agreement that both sustains sufficient hydropower generation and supports conservation efforts under the Endangered Species Act. “People in Utah and across the West depend on the Glen Canyon Dam for stable, low-cost electricity. Last year, the Biden administration recklessly limited hydropower generation at this site and increased energy costs for millions of people in the surrounding areas. The Basin Fund Preservation Act creates a plan to reverse these high energy costs while also supporting local conservation efforts,” said Chairman Lee. … ” Read more from Senator Lee’s website.
Decreasing Lake Mead levels keep Arizona at risk
“Two years ago, headlines blared warnings of a Colorado River in crisis, with Lake Mead’s plummeting water levels threatening the water and power supply for 40 million Americans. Today, the situation has improved slightly, but experts say the reservoir—a vital lifeline for the West—remains far from secure. Lake Mead, a popular fishing spot for Arizonans and a key water source for the region, has risen about 20 feet over the past 18 months, offering a glimmer of hope after years of decline. “The water levels have come up about 20 feet over the last 18 months or so, so that’s the good news,” said John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. … ” Read more from KVOA.
In Arizona’s famed Sky Islands, Trump administration’s funding freeze stalls crucial conservation work
““Look at the ground.” Surrounding Rodrigo Sierra Corona in the foothills between the Santa Rita and Patagonia mountain ranges—two of Arizona’s famed Sky Islands that support isolated, high-elevation habitats—were dry creosote bushes and pod-less mesquites. He stood at the edge of a large pit in the ground that had formed where years of flooding had eroded the soil, leaving the roots of the mesquite trees exposed to the surface. The rainy season in this desert comes in just a couple of 25-minute storms during the summer monsoons, Sierra Corona explained. The rushing water forces its way along the path of least resistance through the dry soil, carving a visible path through the land over the years. It’s a natural process, but one being made worse by climate change. Soils are dryer and temperatures are hotter. Overgrazing has wiped out much of the native vegetation, leaving barren land unable to effectively capture moisture. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
In national water news this weekend …
How Trump’s ‘51st state’ Canada talk came to be seen as deadly serious
“After President Trump imposed tariffs on Canada on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an extraordinary statement that was largely lost in the fray of the moment. “The excuse that he’s giving for these tariffs today of fentanyl is completely bogus, completely unjustified, completely false,” Mr. Trudeau told the news media in Ottawa. “What he wants is to see a total collapse of the Canadian economy, because that’ll make it easier to annex us,” he added. … Mr. Trump and Mr. Trudeau spoke twice on Feb. 3, once in the morning and again in the afternoon, as part of discussions to stave off tariffs on Canadian exports. But those early February calls were not just about tariffs. … Mr. Trump also mentioned revisiting the sharing of lakes and rivers between the two nations, which is regulated by a number of treaties, a topic he’s expressed interest about in the past. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
