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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Sites Reservoir Project water rights hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending petition for Sites Reservoir Project water rights. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@swrcbadministrativehearing728/featured. Click here for the hearing notice.
- LEG HEARING: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife beginning at 9am. The Committee will hold an informational hearing titled, Is California Ready for Flood? Click here for the agenda. Click here for the video link.
- LEG HEARING: Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee beginning at 9am. This will be an information hearing titled: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act at 11 Years: Progress and Challenges. Click here for more information.
- WEBINAR: Spin Cycle: Decoding population dynamics of phalaropes and other waterbirds of the Pacific Flyway from 11am to 12pm. Scientist Nathan Van Schmidt of the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) will talk about his research on the challenges facing waterbirds of the Pacific Flyway within the Restoration Project. He will dig into over two decades of monitoring data on ten foraging guilds including shorebirds, ducks, gulls, terns, fisheaters, and more for areas within Restoration Project boundaries and at nearby remaining commercial salt-production ponds. Over a million waterbirds utilize San Francisco Bay for migratory stopover or over-wintering habitat each year, including many species which have already lost substantial habitat elsewhere within the Western United States. Their habitat needs complicate efforts to restore tidal marsh throughout the Bay Area, and a careful design of a balanced mosaic of habitats may be necessary to ensure the diverse species’ persistence. Register here.
- WEBINAR: Managing Sediment for a Reliable Water Supply from 12pm to 1pm. Join us to explore how sediment management impacts our water supply and its significance to both inland and coastal communities. Experts from the Orange County Water District (OCWD) and the County of Orange will highlight innovative tools like SediMatch, regional collaboration efforts, and solutions to challenges at Prado Dam—a key site for stormwater capture that supports OCWD and its communities. Discover how these initiatives are advancing sustainable solutions and why broader stakeholder involvement and federal support are needed to ensure long-term success and water supply resiliency. Click here to register for the webinar.
In California water news today …
Inches of rain, feet of mountain snow coming to California this week
“Two storms will roll ashore from the Pacific this week, with one aiming for Southern California followed by a second larger storm that will blast much of the West Coast with drenching rain and heavy mountain snow. While the storms will create travel problems and some dangers, AccuWeather meteorologists say they will also offer some drought relief. The first storm will push in across Southern California late Monday night and Tuesday before pressing quickly eastward across the interior Southwest and then the South Central states by midweek. The Tuesday storm will bring up to an inch of rain to coastal areas of Southern California, with the greatest amounts and locally higher totals along the west- and south-facing slopes of the Coast Ranges. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
California mountains brace for one of the snowiest storms of the season
“Several feet of snow will fall across parts of the Sierra on Wednesday and Thursday in what will be one of the most powerful storm systems to impact California’s mountains so far this winter. The midweek storm system won’t have an excessive amount of moisture and will qualify only as a weak atmospheric river event. However, an extremely favorable and efficient environment for snow generation will exist in the Sierra over a 36-hour period stretching from Wednesday morning through Thursday evening. “If the forecast verifies, this will be the snowiest period of the winter for the Snow Lab and much of the Sierra Nevada,” said Dr. Andrew Schwartz, director of the Central Sierra Snow Lab. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: Storms Are Headed for California. One Could Be a Big Snow Maker, from the New York Times
Reps. Jim Costa, Adam Gray call on Trump, Newsom for bipartisan action on Central Valley and State Water Projects
“In light of recent executive orders at the federal and state levels, U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Adam Gray (CA-13) are calling on President Trump and Governor Newsom to work together to address the long-term operations of the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP). “Rather than engage in years of endless litigation, our desire is that through collaborative efforts we can work together to incorporate a common-sense regulatory structure that promotes solutions that better capture water through increased storage and enhanced conveyance infrastructure,” said the lawmakers. “This regulatory structure should strike an appropriate balance between species protection and water supply, supported by sufficient adaptive management to respond to both new science and changing weather conditions.” … ” Read more from Congressman Costa.
Newsom’s top water official will work with Trump to weaken California Delta water protections
“Karla Nemeth, Governor Gavin Newsom’s top water official, told an audience of growers and water managers at the Kern County Water Summit on March 6 that the state is willing to work with the Trump Administration to weaken environmental rules that restrict the pumping of water, allowing them over-pump the imperiled Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. “She said that she expected updating one particular rule governing pumping water in the state’s main water hub, called the Old and Middle River flow limit, to be part of ongoing regulations with federal counterparts this spring and throughout the year,” according to Politico. “My spidey sense is that’s probably going to be part of what plan comes out of the federal administration’s plan to implement the executive order,” said Nemeth, the Director of the California Department of Water Resources. “The state is open to that. We’re looking for a federal partner to help us work through that information together.” … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
Two is better than one: combined techniques reveal diversity in salmon populations
“The revelation that 25% of freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction has drawn more attention to the plight of underwater diversity, which was historically “out of sight, out of mind.” But a deeper diversity crisis remains largely hidden, namely the loss of diversity within species. This “intraspecific” diversity is critical for species persistence in an increasingly unpredictable world but is challenging to investigate. Fortunately, improvements in analytical methods allow scientists to better understand this within-species diversity, as demonstrated in a recent study of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Yuba River in California (Willmes et al. 2024). Researchers conducting this study integrated data obtained from different techniques to reconstruct and monitor changes in diversity within this population of Chinook, and their findings have important implications for future conservation plans. … ” Read more from FishBio.
Crews use new tool to help fight nutria in California’s Delta
“It may be a small island in the center of California’s Delta, but there is a massive ongoing effort at the center of the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Sherman Island is one of our northernmost and newer sites where we detected nutria,” said environmental program manager Valerie Cook. About a year and a half ago, crews first found nutria on the 16,000-acre island. “It’s critical for us that we are able to employ all the tools in the toolbox that help us work most efficiently and can help us get detections most effectively,” Cook said. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Fresno County’s Pleasant Valley heads to State Water Board for possible intervention
“A western Fresno County groundwater subbasin is the seventh in the San Joaquin Valley to come under threat of state intervention. The Department of Water Resources announced in a news release Feb. 27 that it deemed the Pleasant Valley subbasin’s 2024 groundwater sustainability plan ‘inadequate’ and punted oversight of the subbasin to the state Water Resources Control Board. Per the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, such a decision authorizes state bureaucrats to step in if managers cannot rectify issues in their groundwater plan. SGMA mandates that aquifers be balanced by 2040. In a letter to Pleasant Valley water managers, DWR cited three deficiencies in Pleasant Valley’s plan. Those include not being protective enough of groundwater levels and water quality. The plan also lacks a reasonable assessment of overdraft conditions and ways to prevent future overdraft. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
2025 State of Dairy: California: Water, water, water
“Many dairy producers in California are cautiously optimistic about what 2025 has in store, including Tyler Ribeiro from Rib-Arrow Dairy in Tulare. Topping his list of concerns right now are feed and water costs. “We could be gearing up for a doozy here in 2026 depending on how 2025 treats us,” Ribeiro says. “With the lack of water due to the lack of snowpack in the mountains, inability to store surface water, restrictions on ground pumping and now a potential tariff measuring contest, we could be in for a steady increase in feed costs through 2025.” … ” Read more from Ag Proud.
DWR celebrates Groundwater Awareness Week
“Groundwater Awareness Week is March 9-15, and DWR is celebrating all week long. Established in 1999 by the National Ground Water Association, Groundwater Awareness Week highlights the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater. Groundwater is a critical resource in California providing 41 percent of the state’s total supply in a normal year and up to 60 percent or more during droughts. To help celebrate this occasion, DWR is sharing daily themes and resources for local partners through a new toolkit to help communicate the importance of groundwater. To view the toolkit, visit: https://cadwr.box.com/s/ahv5eecibuzw9eh44792nl127l7jf1px
Scary NASA study reveals how major coastal cities are rapidly sinking into the sea
“Could this be the American Atlantis? New York City isn’t the only metropolis that’s on the descent. An alarming new study by NASA has found that parts of California, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, are sinking into the ocean at a shocking rate, exacerbating the effects of sea level rise. A study detailing this literal downward trend was published earlier this year in the journal Science Advances. “In many parts of the world, like the reclaimed ground beneath San Francisco, the land is moving down faster than the sea itself is going up,” the study’s head author Marin Govorcin, who specializes in remote sensing at NASA’s Propulsion Laboratory, warned in a statement. … ” Read more from the New York Post.
California’s popular High Sierra national parks cut back services
“The federal budget cuts wreaking havoc on California’s national parks and forests will also affect basic services at Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, among the most visited recreational areas in the High Sierra. In a social media post on Friday, the parks announced that “ranger programs in the parks are cancelled until further notice.” The parks did not elaborate about the meaning or possible impacts to visitor experiences, and inquiries made with Sequoia-Kings Canyon and the National Park Service were not immediately returned. “We regret any inconvenience” regarding the ranger program cancellations, the parks wrote on its website. In the same social media post, Sequoia-Kings Canyon announced that operational hours at key visitor centers along main highways into the park are being significantly reduced: Foothills Visitor Center will be closed Thursday-Saturday; Kings Canyon Visitor Center will close Monday-Wednesday; and Giant Forest Museum will close Wednesday and Thursday. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
ACWA co-sponsors SB 454 to address PFAS in water, wastewater
“ACWA, in partnership with the League of California Cities, is co-sponsoring SB 454, which would create a statewide PFAS Mitigation Fund intended to help agencies pay for manmade PFAS contamination cleanup in drinking water and wastewater. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton), would create a much-needed funding tool to help water and wastewater agencies pay for costs that would otherwise be covered by local ratepayers on their water and wastewater bills. There are currently multiple sources of funding aimed at addressing PFAS contamination (current and potentially future legal settlements, federal funding, state bond funding, etc.) that could be directed to this fund. … ” Read more from ACWA Water News.
Trump-backed Calif. congressman moves to gut key coastal protections
“A local Republican congressman has set his sights on the California Coastal Commission, the vital agency tasked with protecting roughly 1,100 miles of ocean coastline from Oregon to Mexico. On March 5, Rep. Kevin Kiley announced the introduction of the Coastal Commission Accountability Act, which he said on X would “strip the CA Coastal Commission of its powers under federal law.” Kiley called the more-than-50-year-old Coastal Commission “out-of-control” and said the work being done by the commission “has repeatedly threatened the safety of Californians and weakened our national defense, while needlessly undercutting innovation and economic progress.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Tribe water settlement bill advances in Senate
“A bill that would enact the 2007 Water Settlement the Tule River Tribe reached with the federal government moved one more step closer to becoming reality. The legislation that would formally recognize the Tule River Tribe’s reserved water rights from Democratic U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff advanced through the Senate Committee of Indian Affairs by voice vote on Friday. The bill will now go to the full Senate. The settlement provides for the Tribe’s right to 5,828 acre feet of surface water per year from the Tule River’s South Fork. Padilla’s office stated for decades, the Tule River Tribe has worked with the federal government and downstream water users to advance the settlement, avoiding costly and adversarial litigation for both the Tribe and the federal government. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Column: Newsom’s money grab targets bond funds for climate projects
Columnist George Skelton writes, “Governors are like card sharks when dealing out budgets. They’ve usually got gimmicks tucked up their sleeves. Legislatures tend to follow suit – at least when there’s lopsided one-party rule, as there has been in Sacramento for the last 14 years. Budget season has just opened in California’s Capitol. Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $322 billion state budget in January for the fiscal year beginning July 1. After an inexcusably long pause required by outdated legislative rules, budget committees now have begun plowing through the weeds of the governor’s spending plan. One Newsom gimmick has drawn little attention amid Los Angeles-area wildfires and all the focus on chaos generated by President Trump. … ” Read more at the Fresno Bee.
In commentary today …
In Trump’s war on NOAA, the losers will be Americans and the economy
David Helvarg, a writer and the executive director of Blue Frontier, an ocean policy group, writes, “Last month, close to 1,000 National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration workers, including weather forecasters, were fired. The Trump administration has now told agency leaders to fire another 1,000 people. Along with 300 resignations to date this will approach 20% of its workforce. The White House’s Department of Government Efficiency also informed NOAA that its lease on the Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Md., will soon be canceled. The center is essential in creating accurate computer models for everything from the next severe weather front to hit farmers in the Midwest to the long-term costs of extreme weather events linked to climate change. NOAA was also ordered to cut off $4.5 million in funding to Maine Sea Grant, one of 34 state-based university sea grant programs that support research on marine and Great Lakes issues to help local economies. … ” Continue reading from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
How new state water use regulations may impact city of Redding residents
“City of Redding staff members are urging water conservation, going along with new California guidelines. They said the State Water Board recently rolled out new regulations across California, including indoor water use limits. Now, they stated, each person per household should not use more than 47 gallons of water per day, which is roughly a 15% drop from previous regulations. There’s no penalty right now for people who exceed the amount, but it’s possible the city could have to pay as a result. City of Redding Water Utility Manager Josh Watkins told KRCR he feels it’s a lofty goal set by the state. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Lawmakers seek $7M to address flood risks in Chico’s compromised Five-Mile Basin
“California Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) and Senator Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) have announced a legislative push to address public safety concerns in the Five-Mile Basin, a critical flood control system in Chico and Butte County. The basin, compromised by erosion from the 2024 Park Fire, faces heightened flood risks due to recent storms. In a letter to the Assembly Budget Committee, Gallagher and Dahle requested $7 million for emergency maintenance. “Far too often, we see government delays and bureaucratic red tape get in the way of preventing disaster. We cannot let that happen here,” Gallagher said. “It’s going to be a heck of a lot cheaper to fix this mess now than it will be if the system fails.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
Live Oak council considering 60 percent water rate hike
“The Live Oak City Council voted to pursue a possible 60 percent initial water rate increase at a March 5 council meeting. With a total water fund deficit of $2.8 million after not raising rates for about 15 years, the water fund is “on the verge of bankruptcy,” as Mayor Jeramy Chapdelaine put it. In an effort to find a solution, Live Oak was presented with a water rate study at the March 5 meeting by Project Manager Alison Lechowicz of Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants. Funded by a grant from the California Water Board, the study analyzed Live Oak’s current water rate in comparison with other cities in the region and provided recommendations. … ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat.
BAY AREA
Toxic waste cleanups take longer in marginalized communities
“On warm nights Arieann Harrison used to sit and chat with neighbors on the steps outside her apartment down the street from the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, a federal Superfund site. Trucks would rumble by, carting away contaminated soil as part of a shipyard cleanup effort that has spanned 39 years. Harrison says the trucks were often uncovered, and she recalls seeing dirt blow over the street in clouds that looked like smoke. “You’d think it was a fire from blocks away,” said Harrison, 58. That dust — which she couldn’t avoid inhaling — might have been contaminated with more than a hundred pollutants, some radioactive. The shipyard, a notoriously toxic site, is just one of thousands of contaminated parcels around the Bay Area undergoing remediation. These cleanups take longer in marginalized communities, according to a new San Francisco Public Press analysis of more than 20,000 sites of varying size across the nine-county Bay Area. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Public Press.
SEE ALSO: US supreme court weakens rules on discharge of raw sewage into water supplies, from The Guardian
Commentary: Before pipeline, MMWD should do more to control water loss
James Workman of Mill Valley, an author and designer of resource conservation strategies, writes, “To ease risks from crippling drought, the Marin Municipal Water District has set out to secure more water. For years it has considered new supply-side options, from desalination plants, to an emergency East Bay pipeline, to expanding Marin’s seven local reservoirs. Last month, in a unanimous vote, the district decided to import Sonoma County water. That solid plan arose through a thoughtful and democratic process. And the decision, made during a wet season with full reservoirs, showed foresight. Yet, before investing $168 million to construct a 13-mile pipeline over a half decade (while diverting 3,800 acre-feet to 4,750 acre-feet out of the Russian River’s ecosystem, let’s first build resilience from within. Marin could quietly augment our water security through a fast and affordable strategy that, oddly, no one seems to be talking about: reduce systemic losses. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Officials confirm bizarre phenomenon is happening again at major lake: ‘It’s mesmerizing to watch’
“The largest reservoir in Napa County, California, has been host to an eye-catching spectacle that signals good news for the water supply, according to The Sacramento Bee. The “Glory Hole” of Lake Berryessa is a 72-foot-wide drainage pipe that feeds into nearby Putah Creek. When water levels reach 440 feet, it spills over into the 200-foot-deep hole to an altogether eerie effect. “It’s mesmerizing to watch,” said Solano County Water Agency general manager Chris Lee. “It’s not something you can see in very many places in the world.” … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Weaponized turds: San Francisco’s strange and terrible victory over the EPA
“Politicians are wont to say that there are no Democratic potholes or Republican potholes. Alright, fair enough: But what about turds? What about turds … floating offshore? Are there Republican floating turds or Democratic floating turds? You’re not going to believe this, but one could argue that, yes, there are. San Francisco, in fact, literally made a federal case out of this. And, lo and behold, we won! Last week, San Francisco bested the Environmental Protection Agency in a case that worked its way all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. The city prevailed via a counterintuitive 5-4 grouping; Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberals — meaning that, for whatever reason, all the male justices favored San Francisco and all the female ones did not. As you’d imagine regarding a regulatory case, there were a lot of ins, lot of outs, lot of what-have-yous. But, in the end, it all came down to floating turds. … ” Read more from Mission Local.
CENTRAL COAST
Advocate Erin Brockovich hosting virtual town hall for Moss Landing fire
“Injury attorney law firm Singleton Schreiber and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich will host a virtual town hall meeting Tuesday to provide community updates and the next steps in litigation, following a mass tort several Monterey County residents filed against Vistra and PG&E for negligence during the Jan. 16 fire. Brockovich is a consumer advocate and environmental activist who was famously instrumental in building a case against PG&E involving groundwater contamination in 1993. The successful suit was the subject of the Oscar-nominated film “Erin Brockovich” in 2000, starring Julia Roberts as Brockovich. Testing from the county and Environmental Protection Agency have reaffirmed that they say there is no risk to public health. However, many Monterey County residents near and around the site of the Moss Landing Battery Plant fire have shared concerns about the aftermath of smoke and debris that was released. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Citizen group fights new development in Los Osos. ‘To save our only water supply’
“A 35-year-old building moratorium may have been lifted on the sleepy, seaside town of Los Osos last year — but a citizen group worried about the water supply is still fighting new development there. The Los Osos Sustainability Group appealed permits for two homes and two hotels in Los Osos, which the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors is expected to review at its Tuesday meeting. “To save our only water supply — that’s what our goal is,” group chair Patrick McGibney told The Tribune ahead of the meeting. Los Osos has long been home to water woes. During the 1970s and ‘80s, poorly designed septic systems leaked nitrates into the community’s only water supply: the Los Osos groundwater basin. Meanwhile, a population boom overdrew the basin, and chlorides from seawater intrusion contaminated the groundwater. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune. | Read via AOL News.
Paso Robles residents fight vote for water basin governance. ‘It’s not us, it’s them’
“The city of Paso Robles joined a countywide effort to create an agency that could charge fees for pumping water out of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, despite public outcry during a fiery City Council meeting Tuesday night. The approved agreement paves the way for sustainable and collaborative management of the basin, which was determined by the California Department of Water Resources to be in “critical overdraft,” according to Paso Robles public works director Christopher Alakel. Annually, pumpers use around 13,700 acre-feet more water than is returned to the basin each year. One acre-foot is enough water to cover a football field with one foot of water. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune. | Read via Yahoo News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Investing in nature-based solutions to boost climate resilience in Central Valley
“As California faces increasingly more severe and frequent weather challenges that test the state’s climate resilience—from historic floods to droughts—investments in the type of large-scale, multi-benefit river restoration River Partners has championed since our founding in 1998 are gaining momentum as powerful nature-based solutions. Restoring floodplains replenishes freshwater supplies, improves flood safety, and creates vital habitat for endangered wildlife, all while strengthening the state’s climate resilience. Building on the success of the historic 2,100-acre Dos Rios Ranch Preserve—the state’s largest public-private floodplain restoration and now California’s newest state park located 80 miles south of Sacramento—we are expanding our model to the largest river confluence in the Central Valley. This new restoration opportunity is located 20 miles north of Sacramento at the confluence of the Sacramento River, Feather River, and Butte Creek. This approximately 1,560-acre site known as Dos Rios Norte presents a rare opportunity to reconnect rivers to their natural floodplains, revitalize ecosystems, and secure water resources for generations to come. … ” Read more from River Partners.
Concerns rise over CEMEX’s Rockfield mining near San Joaquin River
“An international company is asking for a 100-year extension to continue mining operations along the San Joaquin River. If approved, crews with CEMEX would blast hard rock and drill a 600-foot-deep pit at one of the two sites for the Rockfield Project located on Friant Road north of Willow Avenue. According to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the project, the output would increase to 3 metric tons in about 10 years, causing production in the area to double. The changes are sparking some concern among community members and environmental advocates in Fresno County. Sharon Weaver is the Executive Director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust and said the group is concerned about the idea of drilling. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
Kings County Water District wants to mend fences with groundwater agency it imploded last year
“A Kings County water district blamed for leaving a key groundwater agency in the beleaguered Tulare Lake subbasin in tatters last year may want to stitch a new partnership. “I’d like to take the temperature of the (GSA) board and see what we can do to get back involved with that,” Kings County Water District Board Member Paul Gillum said during the district’s March 6 meeting. He referred to the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency, which the Kings County Water District left in the dust after a chaotic and contentious break up last summer. Gillum’s comment raised eyebrows in the room but wasn’t discounted out of hand. Fellow Kings County Water District director Chip Mello allowed there could be room for such a conversation in 2026 as the board is currently focused on updating its groundwater plan and policies. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
After years of political clashes, is this Central Valley community finally on a path to clean water?
“Despite recent political momentum, the tiny Tulare County community of East Orosi remains without a clear path forward to solving its decades-long struggle with contaminated drinking water. Disputes between local and state officials, coupled with deep divisions and infighting among local district water board members have thwarted efforts to clear up the community’s water for many years. Formal efforts to consolidate East Orosi’s water system with the Orosi system have been underway since at least 2018, but little progress has been made. The slow crawl towards a solution has left East Orosi residents in fear of their own tap water. Many rely on bottled water deliveries, despite living less than a mile from Orosi and its safe, clean water. “Imagine children knowing that water only comes from a bottle and not from their own tap,” said Eddie Valero, a native of Cutler-Orosi who now represents District 4 of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
Tehachapi: Water district celebrates 60 years, offers pump plant tour
“On Monday, Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District marked six decades of innovation and water supply management, General Manager Tom Neisler said in a news release. The district was formed on March 10, 1965, with five original board members — Karl M. Backes, Don I. Carroll, Jacob C. Jacobsen Jr., Fred D. Patterson and Bernard Sasia. Neisler noted that groundwater levels were declining throughout the greater Tehachapi area at the time. “Through the district’s continuing efforts, the basins have been restored to sustainability by groundwater adjudication and by supplementing local water supplies through importing water from the State Water Project to replenish the native groundwater basins,” he said. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
L.A. area faces more rain, snow, potential flooding with new atmospheric river
“Don’t be fooled by the weekend’s warm temperatures — you’ll need your raincoat again soon with forecasters predicting a pair of cold storms that could drench Southern California this week and threaten the recent burn areas. The first of the storms will arrive in the Southland on Monday evening with a 70% chance of light showers on Tuesday, and areas of gusty winds south of Point Conception, according to the National Weather Service. Then a powerful atmospheric river is expected to arrive early Wednesday, bringing heavy rain along the coast through Thursday, with significant impacts to the mountains as it moves east through the week. “It’s unlikely any area is going to be spared from the moderate to heavy rain,” said Robbie Munroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “We’ll probably have some convective or heavier showers that could be a little more isolated and only hit certain areas.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
NWS says upcoming storms not expected to end drought, but could cause problems in burn areas
“Could a set of storms heading toward Southern California mean an end to the drought in the region? Experts with the National Weather Service say probably not, but thanks to considerable rainfall over the last two winters, the water levels at reservoirs across the state are well above the historic average for this time of year. “Because of the two wet winters we had, we were able to fill up the reservoirs,” said hydrologist Jayme Leber with the National Weather Service. “The water supply is in really good condition.” Leber added that while Southern California is in the midst of a significant drought, the northern part of the state is not. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
SEE ALSO: Late winter storms to bring heavy rain, threat of debris flows to SoCal, from the LAist
Joint effort by Orange County Water District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increases water supply for Orange County
“The Orange County Water District (OCWD), in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), announces the approval of a minor deviation to the Water Control Plan at Prado Dam, effective February 28, 2025. This five-year deviation represents a milestone in OCWD’s ongoing efforts to bolster the drinking water supply for 2.5 million residents through innovative stormwater capture strategies. Denis Bilodeau, P.E., President of OCWD, underscored the importance of this approval, stating, “This is a significant achievement in our longstanding efforts to enhance the Orange County Groundwater Basin. By raising the water storage levels at Prado Dam, we are capturing more Santa Ana River stormwater and enhancing our community’s drinking water reserves in a sustainable and efficient way.” OCWD has partnered with USACE since 1995 to store water from the Santa Ana River at Prado Dam. The approved deviation allows for higher water storage levels, temporarily raising it to 508 feet above mean sea level, with potential future increases to 510 or 512 feet. This adjustment will allow for the capture of an additional two billion gallons of stormwater, which is enough water to supply 48,000 people and save $6 million in imported water costs. … Read more from the Orange County Water District.
New annual reports for MPA Watch and Santa Ana River Mouth Monitoring Project
“This project analyzes human, dog, and bird activity at the mouth of the Santa Ana River, located between Newport and Huntington Beach. Constant off-leash dog activity at the river mouth jeopardizes threatened and protected shorebird populations that have inhabited the area for thousands of years. Our goal is to document the problem so that the river mouth’s governing agencies can better address the issue through education and law enforcement. In 2024, we conducted 1,634 surveys of the river mouth. In total, we observed 26,191 beachgoers and 2,356 dogs, with approximately 61% of those dogs illegally off-leash. A total of 153 bird flushing events impacted 4,386 birds in the area. Bird flushing occurs when a dog or human chases off a bird or group of birds resting on the sand, often resulting in chick abandonment and, consequently, population decline. These findings are consistent with our survey data from 2023. However, 2024 saw a significant increase in law enforcement presence. In total, we witnessed 320 visitors contacted by enforcement officers and other public agency representatives. … ” Read more from the OC Waterkeeper.
Yucapia Valley Water District collaborates on habitat monitoring
“Yucaipa Valley Water District will collaborate with the environmental firm Dudek for the 2025 Habitat Monitoring Program, the board of directors decided at their meeting on Feb. 20. The agreement with Dudek amounts to $63,750, and Resource Manager Jennifer Ares provided an overview of the program at the meeting. The Yucaipa Valley Water District began discharging to San Timoteo Creek in 1986, and highly treated recycled water has helped sustain the riparian vegetation in the area. Now YVWD is following an adaptive management plan which includes gradual discharge reductions to maximize the re-use of recycled water. “The resource agencies require us to maintain or make sure the health of the habitat is intact, especially when we reduce our discharges to bring in recycled water,” Ares said. … ” Read more from the News-Mirror.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Environmentalists appeal decision that favored lithium project near Salton Sea
“After a California judge denied environmentalists’ claims that the Hells Kitchen lithium extraction project approved by Imperial County was not adequately studied for water supply, air pollution and tribal issues, the two groups are pressing on. Their appeal filed on March 7 in California’s 4th District Court of Appeal could stall the already badly delayed project. Comite Civico del Valle and Earthworks charged in a lawsuit a year ago that Imperial County violated the California Environmental Quality Act by approving the project by relying on an environmental impact report that failed to adequately analyze and alleviate impacts, including possible air pollution, hazardous waste and impacts to diminishing county water supply. They also alleged county officials and staff failed to comply with legal requirements for tribal consultation or to address concerns raised by tribal representatives. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego water bills to rise on May 1 after 5.5% rate hike
“San Diego utility customers will see another upcharge on their water bills starting May 1 after a 5.5% rate adjustment was approved by the San Diego City Council last week. The city of San Diego said the rate hike passed last Tuesday was a pass-through charge necessary to cover a 14% increase approved by the San Diego County Water Authority in July 2024. “As a result of this significant increase in SDCWA’s 2025 rates, the Public Utilities Department does not have sufficient revenue. To maintain the financial stability of the City’s water utility and ensure adequate cost recovery, the City must adjust rates to account for anticipated increases in water purchase costs from SDCWA,” the city said in a notice to customers that includes a list of maximum charge depending on meter size with the pass-through rate increase. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
San Diego Coastkeeper and CERF file lawsuit over SeaWorld’s fireworks pollution in Mission Bay
“Following their November, 2024 Notice of Intent to sue (NOI), San Diego Coastkeeper (Coastkeeper) and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation (CERF), represented by Coast Law Group, have filed a citizen suit enforcement case against SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. and Sea World LLC (collectively, SeaWorld) for its multiple, ongoing Clean Water Act violations. The complaint was filed March 6th, 2025. SeaWorld has repeatedly failed to comply with its Clean Water Act Fireworks Permit and Waste Discharge Permit, resulting in pollutant discharge violations. The lawsuit aims to put an end to these ongoing violations and ensure SeaWorld adopts practices that protect the health of Mission Bay’s vital ecosystem and the public. … ”
Sunday sewage spill leads to more problems in Tijuana River Valley
“Millions of gallons of raw sewage spilled from a construction site in Tijuana and found its way into San Diego County early Sunday. The spill came after a few days of rain already flushed the polluted Tijuana River Valley. “Every time it rains, we have insane amounts of volume and flow of the river,” sighed Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. “We can’t take more of this.” The International Boundary and Water Commission released a statement Sunday evening about the spill. “A team of experts from the USIBWC, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of State is engaging with Mexico to determine the cause of the excessive flow and whether it was related to Mexico’s work on a new international collector,” read a portion of the statement. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
Local leader & activists react to the head of EPA post on sewage crisis & and latest wastewater flow
“The Tijuana Sewage Crisis saw it’s latest incident of wastewater flowing into the United States. The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) said in a statement on Sunday that it was, “investigating the cause of the transboundary flow of wastewater mixed with heavy stormwater that has been entering the United States at the San Diego, Calif.-Tijuana, Baja Calif. international boundary.” The flow happened near Stewart’s Drain which flows into the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. “No surprise at all. This is the Kool-Aid we drink as residents,” Baron Partlow, a Imperial Beach activist, said. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Along the Colorado River …
Could Trump walk back Biden’s Colorado River deal-making? Nevada hopes so
“The hourglass is running out of sand when it comes to solving the crisis on the Colorado River, but a group of states sees an opportunity: a new administration. In a letter sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum last month and obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the three negotiators who represent Nevada, California and Arizona expressed their dismay with how proceedings were left under the Biden administration. The federal government is tasked with moving the states toward consensus before the end of 2026, when the current operating guidelines for the Colorado River are set to expire. Because of what they see as a violation of bedrock environmental laws, the three officials call for Trump’s Interior Department to direct the Bureau of Reclamation to retract the so-called “alternatives report” issued early this year. It left off both the Upper and Lower basins’ separate proposals for how to operate the river, instead favoring a “basin hybrid” alternative — a move thought to be largely symbolic in an effort to shock the deadlocked states closer toward consensus. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Some Colorado River states want a new federal review of water management plans
“Leaders in California, Arizona and Nevada sent a letter to Doug Burgum, the newly-appointed Secretary of the Interior, asking for a fresh review of proposals to manage the shrinking Colorado River. The seven states that share the river are under pressure to create a new plan for dividing its shrinking supplies before 2026 when the current rules expire. The states that sent the mid-February letter represent the Lower Basin, one of two factions in a tense standoff over new river rules. “Any actions from decision makers like this, or any communications, have the potential to upend very delicate negotiations that are currently taking place,” said Eric Balken, director of the nonprofit Glen Canyon Institute. The letter focuses primarily on two things – the previous administration’s process for assessing river management proposals, and the need for infrastructure upgrades at Glen Canyon Dam, which holds back Lake Powell. … ” Read more from KUNC.
Summer deadline looms over Colorado River’s management renegotiations
“Seven western states and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) have one year to renegotiate the operating framework for the Colorado River before operating guidelines expire in 2026. If the states fail to reach a consensus by the summer, federal intervention and litigation are more likely. At stake are water allocations, curtailments, storage, and other general operating conditions–all of which S&P Global Ratings believes could affect the credit quality of water issuers in the seven-state area. Downstream challenges facing these issuers from the renegotiation include increased capital and operating costs if more expensive alternatives are required or new contingency plans if operating guidelines revert to pre-2007 levels, all of which could influence rate affordability. … ” Read more from S&P Global.
Water funds for Colorado River may be moving forward, says Arizona official
“$4 billion meant for Colorado River water conservation is in limbo after being frozen by the Trump administration on his first day in office but may have been unfrozen in recent days. Arizona’s top water official says the money is available again, but there’s been no confirmation from federal agencies. Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke says he’s been told some of the money is moving. “I think our current intel is that the money has been unfrozen and it’s going to the projects that it was intended to go to,” Buschatzke said. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
Senators introduce bill tied to 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), recently 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, a March 7 news release related to the bill noted. 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,” the news release said. The bill is supported by the Utah Municipal Power Agency, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, American Public Power Association, and the Colorado River Energy Distributors Association. … ” Read more from the American Public Power Association.
In national water news today …
Here’s why you should never, ever drink the rain.
“In the 1970s, acid rain was one of the most serious environmental threats in North America and Europe. The air was so laden with pollution from coal power plants and cars at the time that it turned the rain toxic. Downpours killed fish, destroyed forests, eroded statues, and damaged buildings, sparking public outcry. … A few decades later, acid rain had largely disappeared. Beginning around 1990, the US and Europe passed legislation that limited the amount of acid-forming pollutants — such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides — that power plants could emit. Laws requiring car manufacturers to put catalytic converters into new vehicles, which reduced harmful emissions, were also taking effect. That brings us to today: While precipitation in some regions is still unnaturally acidic, on the whole, acid rain is largely a problem of the past and a major environmental success story.Now, however, there’s another problem with our rain — and it’s even more alarming. … ” Read more from Vox.
House subcommittee to hold hearing on water infrastructure financing
“House of Representatives’ Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (R-Ga.) announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing to discuss water infrastructure financing on Tuesday, March 11. Members will have an opportunity to hear both local and national perspectives on the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) programs and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The hearing, entitled “Water Infrastructure Financing: WIFIA and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund,” will take place at 10 a.m. ET on March 11 in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management..
Trump considers easing safety screenings for chemicals
“The Trump administration will consider easing regulations under which it considers the safety of existing chemicals — drawing concerns from public health advocates. The administration announced Monday that it was weighing a rewrite of the rules that govern safety screenings for these substances, which decide whether they should be restricted. If implemented, such changes are ultimately expected to prevent further regulations on chemicals. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin described the potential changes as allowing the agency to balance safety with speed. “Today’s announcement will allow EPA to develop a path forward to ensure a timely review of chemicals while bolstering our commitment to safeguard public health and the environment,” Zeldin said in a statement. … ” Read more from The Hill.
