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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Undamming the Klamath from 12pm to 1pm. Speaker: Ren Brownell, Public Information Officer, Klamath River Renewal Corporation. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
New report shows implementation of Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations at Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar can increase region’s resilience to floods
“A new report released today shows that changes to reservoir operations at Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar Reservoir can further reduce flood risk for communities along the Yuba and Feather rivers during extreme atmospheric river storm events and potentially benefit water supply during drier periods. The approach, known as Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations, or FIRO, uses improved monitoring, weather, and runoff projections to build more flexibility and efficiency into reservoir operations. In the largest FIRO assessment to date, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Yuba Water Agency (Yuba Water) partnered with the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Engineering Research and Development Center to evaluate if FIRO could be implemented at both reservoirs to reduce downstream flood risk without negatively impacting water supplies. Lake Oroville is managed by DWR and New Bullards Bar is managed by Yuba Water. … ” Continue reading from the Department of Water Resources.
SEE ALSO: DWR releases reports for implementation of Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations at Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar, from Action News Now
Sierra sees snowiest day in two years after powerful storm
“A powerful storm system dumped 2 feet of snow to the Sierra over the course of a few hours overnight, the National Weather Service said Thursday. The Central Sierra Snow Lab measured 27 inches of snow from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday, the largest single-day accumulation at the lab since March 5, 2023. Weather conditions were conspiring to bring even more snow to the Tahoe region: While snow was expected to taper off Thursday, another deluge was likely to begin Friday, meteorologists said. The weather service issued a winter storm warning that was expected to last until at least 11 p.m. Thursday. Most places saw up to 2 feet of snow overnight Wednesday, with the Sierra Crest receiving 30 inches, said Mark Deutschendorf, a meteorologist with the weather service’s office in Reno. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read via MSN News.
California’s snowpack is lagging behind average. Here’s why
“Snow piled up in the Sierra Nevada this week, with 1 to 2 feet falling at Tahoe ski resorts Wednesday. The cold storm system notably differed from earlier storms this season. “This year has been a year of warm temperatures and rain when we should have had snow,” said Andrew Schwartz, director of UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, located at Donner Pass. California’s statewide snowpack is running below normal, due to the low amount of water stored in the snow that has fallen. Other parts of the western United States are experiencing even larger deficits. Experts say there aren’t immediate concerns for California reservoir levels but add that there could be heightened wildfire concerns come summer. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Three troubled San Joaquin Valley subbasins may band together to tackle widespread sinking
“Subsidence, or land sinking, has been a major problem for all three regions, causing a 33-mile long sag in the Friant-Kern Canal and repeatedly sinking the Corcoran levee. Excessive groundwater pumping has caused so much subsidence, it can be seen from space and was nicknamed the “Corcoran bowl.” Subsidence is also a main focus of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which mandates groundwater agencies bring aquifers into balance by 2040 and halt negative impacts of over pumping – such as subsidence. Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s Manager Chuck Kinney informed the GSA board during a March 11 meeting that he’s met with other water managers in the region to work on a joint subsidence monitoring and action plan. “All of the discussions are preliminary at this point, but it seems like there’s an interest amongst the general managers to work towards this regional approach, since actions of a GSA could impact all of the other GSAs and all the surrounding subbasins’ ability to address subsidence,” Kinney told the board. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Water allocation welcome, allocation timing challenging
“The California Farm Bureau reports that farmers south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are welcoming a 35% water allocation from the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) but say the timing limits its impact. Announced in late February, the allocation comes after many farmers had already made planting decisions, with some citing challenges in adjusting plans so late. Stanislaus County farmer Daniel Bays, who grows tree and row crops in Westley, said he was already making planting decisions and preparing ground in the fall. “To wait until March 1 to decide whether or not you’re going to farm is a little late,” he said. “It could get wet for the rest of March, and you’re unable to get out and prep the fields to plant.” … ” Read more from Ag Info.
SEE ALSO: Canals carry precious water across vast California landscape, photo gallery from the AP
California tries Trump-proofing by another name
“California politicians are still trying to protect themselves from President Donald Trump — they’re just being quieter about it. The latest example is a trio of Democratic state bills that would enshrine pre-Trump federal water protections in state law. The key context is Trump’s promises to undo federal environmental protections, but lawmakers are avoiding making it all about him. “We have purposely not been communicating that this bill is a Trump resistance bill,” said Sean Bothwell, executive director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, of a measure to insulate the state from any weakening of the federal Clean Water Act, as Trump did on Wednesday. Lawmakers during Trump’s first term explicitly billed a previous version in 2019 as “Trump insurance.” This time, they’re going with “future-proofing.” … ” Read more from Politico.
Arctic sea ice loss drives drier weather over California and wetter over Spain and Portugal
“A study led by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation, has used a novel approach to unravel the influence of the loss of Arctic sea ice on the planet’s climate, isolating it from other factors related to climate change. The study, published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, shows that on decadal timescales, the loss of Arctic ice favours the climate of the south-west of the United States – and California in particular – becoming drier on average, especially in winter. This phenomenon would also affect the climate of Spain and Portugal, favouring conditions of higher humidity in winter, although in this case the observed effect is weaker. There is much scientific disagreement about the remote effects of Arctic sea ice loss. So far, many studies have focused on the long-term effects, on a scale of centuries. … ” Read more from Science Daily.
In commentary today …
Three ways California can fight climate chaos after the wildfires
Angelo Logan, the Senior Director for Environmental and Climate Justice at the Liberty Hill Foundation, writes, “The fires that scorched Southern California last month were the opposite of a “natural” disaster. They were driven by the fossil fuels we burn around the clock. California styles itself as a bastion of progressive thought, but how progressive can we be if we fail to meet this moment with urgent, necessary actions that are well within reach? Wetter years produce vegetation; drier years turn it into kindling. “Climate chaos” is a better name for this than climate change or global warming. A 2021 study, reconfirmed recently, showed that burning fossil fuels has caused hotter temperatures, longer droughts, and made the atmosphere “thirstier”, driving the increase in wildfires beyond any other factor. Regardless of federal intransigence, state and local policy makers must move forward with aggressive climate emergency actions. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
‘Attack on working people:’ Trump admin won’t comment on Reclamation cuts in North State
“The Trump Administration is keeping a tight lid on information about cuts to North State programs, and even members of Congress are being left in the dark about how Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts are affecting local communities in their districts. While the Trump Administration’s U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to close an office in Weaverville, representatives of that agency would not confirm which office it was, what would happen to employees working in that office or if employees would be relocated to another location. DOGE did list on its website that it canceled a $566,304 contract to provide environmental consulting services as part of an analysis for a modernization project at the Trinity River Fish Hatchery near Lewiston Dam. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lake Tahoe nonprofit releases docuseries highlighting trash found at lake bottoms
“A Lake Tahoe nonprofit has a new show highlighting all the trash found at the bottom of lakes around the country and the effort to not only get it out of the water but keep it out. “When you go 10-15 feet below the surface, it looks closer to one of the dirtiest areas on Highway 80,” said Colin West, the founder of Clean Up The Lake. Cones, cans and even car batteries are just a few of the things West has found diving in Tahoe and in lakes around the country. “Old pieces of Model T Fords with kind of the whole axel and infrastructure,” West said. “Two weeks ago I found a tire from a Model T Ford.” … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
Employee uncertainty and new lawmakers’ policies: a ‘dichotomy’ surrounding Tahoe’s forest
“President Donald Trump’s push to slash federal spending prompted the termination of 3,400 USDA Forest Service employees, followed by their subsequent temporary reinstatement by order. While these workers sit in limbo, lawmakers consider new policies to advance forest health and resilience. “We have this dichotomy of our representatives saying that ‘I support our forests,’ but then at the same time cutting all the staff and funding for our forest service,” 13-year (2004-2017) Forest Service employee Nadia Tase says, who worked on fuels reduction projects in the south shore and around the lake. Political leaders like Representative Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) are sponsoring new bills that attempt to address forest health. Kiley is co-sponsoring the Fix Our Forests Act which seeks to increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires, protect communities by expediting environmental analyses, reduce frivolous lawsuits, and increase the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
‘Amazed it hasn’t burned’: One of Tahoe’s oldest forest stands at high risk of wildfire
“For years, land managers discussed developing a fuel treatment plan for the Beaver Creek Pinery, a stand of largely old-growth ponderosa pines and black oaks in Lassen National Forest’s 41,000-acre Ishi Wilderness in northeastern California. One of the largest old-growth forest stands in the region, it had never been logged and served as an important template for Northern California forest restoration efforts. But the stand was never treated. Last year, the 430,000-acre Park Fire “ripped through” the pinery. Now, authors of a fire modeling study focused on one of the few remaining old-growth forests in the Lake Tahoe Basin are pointing to the loss of the Beaver Creek stand as a cautionary tale of what could happen to the undisturbed giant ponderosa pines and other trees in Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay State Park. … ” Read more from Carson Now.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
California lawmakers push for emergency funds to tackle flood risks in Chico
“California Assemblyman James Gallagher and Senator Megan Dahle are spearheading legislative efforts to address urgent public safety concerns in the Five-Mile Basin, a crucial flood control system in Chico and Butte County. The basin, significantly impacted by erosion following the 2024 Park Fire, faces increased flood risks due to recent storms. In response, Gallagher and Dahle have requested $7 million for emergency maintenance in a letter to the Assembly Budget Committee. Gallagher highlighted the importance of timely action, emphasizing that addressing the issue now would be more cost-effective than dealing with potential system failures later. … ” Read more from Sierra Daily News.
NAPA/SONOMA
Monte Rio park expansion gets key funding boost
“The long-anticipated expansion of Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park took a major step forward this week. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved Regional Parks’ application for an $8 million state grant—key funding toward the $24 million needed to acquire 1,517 acres of forestland near Monte Rio. Save the Redwoods League plans to purchase the property, currently owned by Mendocino Redwood Co., and transfer it to Sonoma County Regional Parks by summer 2025. The acquisition will expand the current 515-acre park to more than 2,000 acres, connecting protected land from the Russian River to the Pacific Ocean. “This project is an exciting piece of a much larger puzzle,” said Misti Arias, general manager of Sonoma County Ag + Open Space. “It connects protected lands, ensuring they remain open for future generations.” … ” Read more from the Sonoma Gazette.
Lake Berryessa’s famed ‘glory hole’ is on full display for first time in years
“The eerie, swirling vortex of Napa County’s Lake Berryessa, on display this year for the first time since 2019, could be visible for another week. Called the Morning Glory spillway, or “glory hole,” Lake Berryessa’s bizarre-looking circular drain funnels excess water into Putah Creek when the water rises above a certain level at the Monticello Dam. Most of the time, the hulking circular structure rises above the lake’s surface, but the water was already at a high point in February when winter rains this year pushed the level above the concrete structure. “It’s just fascinating,” said Peter Kilkus, who has been tracking the spillway on his Lake Berryessa News website going back decades. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
BAY AREA
Bay Area will have a dry weekend before the rain returns. Here’s what to expect
“The storm system that soaked California with widespread rain and buried the Sierra in snow is now charging east, bringing severe weather to the southeast and critical fire weather conditions to Texas and Oklahoma. But active weather in California and the Bay Area isn’t over just yet. While weekend conditions will be relatively calm locally, expect a a switch back to rain toward the end of the week. Friday starts wet but ends dry in the Bay Area, with steady morning rain tapering to scattered showers and some sunshine to break through the clouds in the afternoon. The best stretch of weather over the weekend will occur from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon as a weak but effective area of high pressure builds over the region. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Keller Beach has stunning views but forget building a home there
“Andy Keating always had a fascination with water and exploring San Francisco Bay. The longtime Piedmont resident and his wife, Tammi, often explored the bay by kayak, paddling through the region’s different corners. One day in 2021, the couple decided to paddle to Richmond, ending up at Keller Beach in Point Richmond. “We looked up and there was a piece of undeveloped land that had no house on it,” Keating said. They returned by car, driving around until they found a “For sale” sign. Though that property ended up being unavailable, Keating found a similar undeveloped parcel across the street. “We were excited. The spot is looking out across the water, Golden Gate Bridge in the distance and some really pretty scenery. We were excited to find a piece of land where we could build a dream home.” … ” Read more from Richmondside.
Pleasanton: State Water Board now looking at Fire Training Facility as possible PFAS source
“The investigation into where the source of the Tri-Valley’s “forever chemical” contamination is located has identified a Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department (LPFD) fire training facility in Pleasanton as one possible source. LPFD announced those findings last week, saying that while the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board has ruled out LPFD Fire Station 10 as a possible contamination source, the LPFD Fire Training Center at 3301 Busch Road needed further investigation. Sampling at several test wells around the facility’s training tower revealed concentrations as high as 3,500 parts per trillion of the chemical perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and 1,100 parts per trillion of perfluorooctanoic acid, according to an investigative report prepared by Integral Consulting Inc. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set maximum drinking-water contaminant levels for these chemicals at 4 and 10 parts per trillion, respectively. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
How Valley Water maintains the safety of levees in Santa Clara County
“Many areas of Santa Clara County rely on local streams to keep floodwaters away from homes, businesses, and transportation routes. Several of those streams depend on levees to hold back floodwaters. Valley Water operates a Stream Maintenance Program that protects and manages more than 333 miles of streams in the county. A key part of this program is ensuring about 100 miles of levees along these local streams are in good condition. The Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, a parcel tax that county voters renewed in 2020, provides funding for various efforts, including flood protection work along miles of creeks and the proactive maintenance of those projects. During levee inspections, Valley Water workers look for issues that could weaken the levee, such as overgrown vegetation, burrowing rodents, and erosion. If we find a problem, our teams take the necessary steps to fix it and prevent future issues. This maintenance helps keep the levees safe for nearby people and properties. It also ensures we can access and service streams in emergencies, such as flood events. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
Commentary: Responsible water management requires planning for an uncertain future
Lacy Carothers, the Director of Engineering at California American Water, writes, “Responsible water management is complex and relies on planning for potential worst-case scenarios to ensure there is enough supply to meet any and all future demand. Reputable, data-centered water forecasting must look at trends and changes in current customer behavior, new government regulations, growth and new development, changes in commercial activity and climate conditions. To make sure that sufficient water is available in both drought years and wet years, California American Water forecasts demand by looking at state and regional growth projections, commercial and industrial supply and anticipated demand, as well as commercial and residential remodels. There is no way to oversimplify water demand modeling. There are no shortcuts or workarounds. And Cal Am’s data certainly can’t be arbitrarily underestimated. As the director of our engineering team for Cal Am, when we say that the Monterey Peninsula will likely need 14,480 acre-feet per year of water in 2050, I assure you it’s based on sound data and thoughtful modeling. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
‘Save Santa Barbara Steelhead’ town hall brings together historic, ecological, and cultural knowledge
“For about 13,000 years, Santa Barbara County’s rivers teemed with steelhead trout. They dwelled in its cool pools, journeyed to and from the ocean, and built spawning nests, or redds, in gravely bottoms. Until the 1950s, the area supported runs of tens of thousands of fish journeying upstream to spawn. Today, the Southern California steelhead is critically endangered. On Sunday, folks spent the afternoon at the Lobero Theatre learning about the southern steelhead. The event, part of the Santa Barbara Flyfisher’s campaign to “Save Santa Barbara Steelhead,” included a town hall with eight panelists who discussed everything from the historic and cultural significance of the fish to how to prevent its extinction. “[The Steelhead] live in and enjoy the same things we like here in Santa Barbara,” said Mark Rockwell, the conservation committee chair for the Santa Barbara Flyfishers. “The ocean, the rivers, and the mountains that are behind us. They are all keys to their survival, and I think they’re keys to our enjoyment of this area.” … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Bakersfield water and sewer rates could be going up – way up
“Residents who get their water and sewer services from the Bakersfield City system could see major rate increases starting as early as this July. The City Council Water Board committee voted Wednesday to bring a proposed water rate increase of 50.8% over the next five years to the full City Council at its March 26 meeting. Bakersfield serves about 165,000 residents. The proposed rate increases come on the heels of another multi-year increase approved in 2022. That increase boosted rates by 10% in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, then another 6% in 2024-2025. The remaining three rate hikes under that plan would be replaced under the new proposal. The Water Board, made up of council members Manpreet Kaur, Bob Smith and Andrae Gonzalez, also approved bringing a nearly 300% increase to the city’s annual sewer charge to the council for consideration at the same meeting. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Tornado reported in Los Angeles as storm batters California
“The Los Angeles office of the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado moved through the Pico Rivera area east of downtown early Thursday, as a powerful storm system battered Southern California with heavy rain and damaging winds. The office classified it as a zero, the lowest level on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which runs up to five. Although tornadoes are unusual for the region, they are not unheard of, especially this time of year. “The L.A. basin area tends to be a magnet for tornadoes for this time of year,” said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the NWS Los Angeles office. “I’d say March is a favorable month for them in this area.” … ” Read more from the New York Times.
California deploys cutting-edge technologies for LA fires recovery with expanded NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory partnership
“As part of the state’s ongoing actions to support Los Angeles County’s wildfire recovery, Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that the state is expanding its collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to monitor air and water using cutting-edge technologies. The collaboration will provide the state with additional data on water and air quality – helping California protect communities in and around the Palisades and Eaton fire areas. “California and JPL are once again demonstrating the power of science, technology and partnership to address real-world challenges. While JPL is known for exploring the farthest reaches of our solar system, their scientists – many directly impacted by these fires – have turned their attention toward helping their neighbors, demonstrating that innovation and collaboration are vital for accelerating recovery,” said Governor Newsom. … ” Continue reading from the Office of the Governor.
Rebuilding after the fires: Cleanup efforts push forward despite rain
“The rain isn’t stopping the much-needed work to clean up burned homes following January’s fires in Palisades and Altadena. Crews have had to adjust their methods to keep up with the debris removal despite fluctuating weather conditions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has modified some of its processes to work around the rain, ensuring that cleanup efforts continue. Officials say they are closely monitoring weather conditions and adjusting as necessary, with the ultimate goal of helping residents move forward in the rebuilding process. Crews from the Army Corps are actively clearing debris and cleaning properties affected by the Eaton Fire. So far, 367 properties in Altadena and another 262 in the Palisades have been cleared, meaning that ash and fire debris have been fully removed. … ” Read more from NBC LA.
LA wildfire debris is going to local landfills. Neighbors of one worry it’s toxic
“Cleaning up from one of the largest wildfire disasters in recent history takes a while. The first phase of the cleanup around Los Angeles involved removing truckloads of hazardous household stuff, including propane tanks, batteries and paint cans. All of that went to landfills designated to take hazardous waste. The cleanup is now in phase two, which involves removing all the remaining debris. And it is not going very far at all — in fact, a lot of it is staying right in L.A. County, just hundreds of yards from homes, parks and schools. That’s not particularly popular with the people who live there. That’s why dozens of protesters spent a recent afternoon blocking the entrance of the Calabasas Landfill about 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. … ” Read more from the LAist.
A burning California landfill has made neighbors miserable for 3 years. Can lawmakers help?
“For more than two years, Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo’s constituents have been complaining to her about the stench and fumes they’ve been breathing since trash buried at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Southern California ignited and never stopped burning. Shiavo, a Democrat representing the Santa Clarita Valley north of Los Angeles, decided to spend the night as a guest of one of the 639-acre landfill’s closest neighbors. She wanted to experience for herself what life is like for the hundreds of people who’ve complained about the noxious fumes since the underground chemical reaction started below the Castaic landfill in May 2022. It’s not known what caused the chemical reaction, but federal officials say the burn zone has grown underground to at least 35 acres. As the landfill belches a stench like rotten milk, residents allege chemical emissions are making them sick. And it could keep burning for years. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Latest storm in Southern California exposes need for climate superfund bill
“Remember the apocalyptic firestorm in Los Angeles County this January that damaged or destroyed over 7,800 structures in the Palisades Fire and 10,500 structures in the Eaton Fire while claiming the lives of at least 29 Californians? A storm is currently hitting Southern California, presenting the risk of flooding, debris flows and mudslides. Northern California is also under a winter storm warning this week. “Some storms over southwest California are strengthening and could become severe through 5 pm today with strong winds, heavy rain, hail, and even a tornado,” the National Weather Service Los Angeles reported on X. “Bottom line, STAY AWARE. If the weather looks ominous, or you hear thunder, be safe and GO INDOORS.” Food & Water Watch California Director Nicole Ghio responded to the weather warnings in a statement urging support for a bill to create a Climate Superfund in California. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
As the Colorado River shrinks, Southern California is embracing water recycling
“During the hottest days of the year, sun glimmers off of an aqueduct as it moves water from the shrinking Colorado River to millions of residents in the sprawling cities of Southern California. In one of the nation’s most populous regions, many cities import a large portion of their drinking water from faraway rivers through this aqueduct and a network of dams and diversions. But climate change means a lot less could be available going forward. Over the past two decades, the worst drought in 1,200 years has driven the Colorado River into extreme shortages, forcing officials across the American Southwest to confront hard realities and make tough calls about the future. … ” Read more from Reasons to be Cheerful.
Along the Colorado River …
How Trump is already adding to Colorado River water worries
“President Donald Trump’s first month in office has worried federal and state officials alike tasked with overseeing the West’s all-important water supply. The Bureau of Reclamation — the federal agency tasked with managing America’s largest dams, including Hoover and Glen Canyon on the Colorado River — is facing as much as a 40% staff cut, although the final number could be lower, three people familiar with the matter told CNN. And the agency still doesn’t have a nominee for the commissioner to lead it. Trump’s early actions, from staff cuts to directly ordering the US Army Corps of Engineers to open two California dams, have led to concerns over the stability of water management in the region. The administration’s pause on federal grants for water cuts, which have since been reinstated, threw a wrench into negotiations between seven Western states on how to divvy up a dwindling and overused Colorado River – negotiations managed by Reclamation with critical deadlines approaching. Internal discussions at Reclamation are now focused on how to protect critical staff who oversee dam safety and hydropower, but agency morale is extremely low, two of the sources said. … ” Read more from CNN.
Donald Trump loses battle over Lake Mead
“A Native American reservation recently compelled the Trump administration to release $105 million in previously frozen federal funds to protect the Colorado River. The Gila River Indian Community, which holds a powerful water claim, issued an ultimatum that led to the release of the payments meant to support conservation efforts along the vital waterway. Newsweek reached out to the Interior Department for comment on Thursday. Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, provides water to some 40 million people in California, Arizona and Nevada. Its shrinking levels have been a crisis for decades. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Legal complications pile up against Arizona state agency’s water requirement for new developments
“Homebuilders are asking a judge to void what they are calling an illegal “tax” they have to pay to get permission to build in certain areas around Phoenix and in Pinal County, a levy they say will drive up already high home prices. The lawsuit filed March 10 alleges the state Department of Water Resources lacks the legal authority to tell them that if they want to build they have to show their water provider has access to not just the water they need for the next 100 years, but another 33% on top of that. Attorney Andrew Gould said that runs contrary to state law which requires only proof that they have the water for their own specific project. And he said even if that were legal — a point he does not concede — that 33% “is not defensible, lacks rationale, and is unsupported by the acceptable data.” … ” Read more from Arizona Capital Times.
Republican plan to exempt developers from water restrictions fails in Arizona House
“A Republican’s plan to give a break to housing developers who they say were treated unfairly by updated groundwater supply modeling is dead in the lack of water. The plan to exempt specific proposed housing developments in areas of Queen Creek and Buckeye from a moratorium on building failed to pass through the Arizona House of Representatives for the second time by a vote of 29-26 on Wednesday. One Republican, Rep. Alexander Kolodin, of Scottsdale, voted against the bill, alongside House Democrats. The second rejection means the bill cannot be revived. … ” Read more from the Arizona Mirror.
Arizona lawmakers seek do-over for $5B tribal water settlement after failed 2024 effort
“Arizona lawmakers are taking another shot at a $5.1 billion water rights settlement between the state and three tribal nations after the measure failed to come up for a vote before Congress adjourned at the end of 2024. The settlement act would secure safe, reliable water for thousands of Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute tribal members in northeastern Arizona. It would give the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe a reservation. It would resolve water rights disputes, and potentially set up new funding streams for tribes. The bill was reintroduced Tuesday. In the first go-round, state and tribal leaders could not resolve concerns raised by officials in the Upper Colorado River Basin — Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — before time ran out. Now, proponents are tasked with gaining seven-state support and passing a bill with a hefty price tag through Congress at a time when the federal government is taking unprecedented steps to cut its budget. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
A new plan to flush smallmouth bass out of the Grand Canyon seems to be working. Some Western lawmakers want to squash it
“A few Western lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives are leaning on the Trump administration to investigate, and possibly roll back, a plan to manage invasive species in the Colorado River. They worry that recent efforts to control the spread of smallmouth bass in the Grand Canyon by increasing pulse flows from Glen Canyon Dam are taking too big a bite out of hydropower production and making electricity more expensive.To that end, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) introduced companion bills in both chambers that would review the Bureau of Reclamation’s 2024 decision to use Glen Canyon Dam to mitigate the spread of smallies. The two bills would also address any impacts the decision has had on the Upper Colorado Basin Fund, which gets most of its funding from hydroelectric power revenues.“People in Utah and across the West depend on the Glen Canyon Dam for stable, low-cost electricity,” Lee said in a statement introducing the bill last week. “Last year, the Biden administration recklessly limited hydropower generation at this site and increased energy costs for millions of people.” … ” Read more from Outdoor Life.
Colorado is split into snowpack haves and have-nots, drought report shows
“Winter storms brought some moisture back to the northern Colorado mountains, with snow that will melt and recharge the Colorado River Basin in the months to come. But travel south in the state and it’s a far different, more dry story. Mountains that, come warmer weather, will have their water running off into northern river basins, like the Yampa, North and South Platte, are in decent shape with snowpack levels hovering at about normal, or even above normal for this time of the year, according to federal data released Thursday. But the lack of snow in the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountains has left southern river basins lagging behind. Snowpack in the San Miguel-Dolores-Animas San Juan basin is far below average at 67% and the upper Rio Grande Basin at 65%. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
US pauses water-sharing negotiations with Canada over Columbia River
“The United States has paused negotiations with Canada on a key water-sharing treaty as Donald Trump continues both his threats to annex his northern neighbour and to upend major agreements governing relations between the two counties. British Columbia’s energy ministry said officials south of the border were “conducting a broad review” of the Columbia River Treaty, the 61-year-old pact that governs transnational flood control, power generation and water supply. The sprawling Columbia River, which originates in south-eastern British Columbia and terminates in the Pacific Ocean on the Oregon-Washington border, is one of the largest watersheds on the continent. The immense volume of water that moves along its 1,200-mile (1,900km) route produces roughly 40% of US hydroelectric power and nearly half the hydropower in BC. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Trump threatens Great Lakes agreements between U.S. and Canada
“In 2024 when Donald Trump as a presidential candidate proposed piping water from British Columbia, Canada to California, his statement was largely dismissed as campaign rhetoric. Once he was elected, Canadians started paying attention but the potential water grab was seen as logistically and politically problematic and unlikely to gain traction. And the issue received scant attention in the water-rich Great Lakes regions of the U.S. and Canada. But now, Great Lakes water and related agreements between the U.S. and Canada are clearly on President Trump’s radar according to a recent New York Times story. The Times reported that Trump told Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in February that he wanted to abandon various border agreements including those concerning water. “He wanted to tear up the Great Lakes agreements and conventions between the two nations that lay out how they share and manage Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario,” according to the Times. … ” Read more from Great Lakes Now.
EPA to review reach of Clean Water Act
“The Environmental Protection Agency will review the definition of “waters of the United States,” pledging to follow a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that shortened the reach of the Clean Water Act. Speaking in Atlanta, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said March 12 he wanted to “fix” the definition “once and for all” with something “simple and durable.” “We are not looking for this to be a ping-pong,” he said. The Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States, or WOTUS. The WOTUS definition has shifted with White House polices and court decisions. The Supreme Court’s Sackett v. The Environmental Protection Agency decision limited the Clean Water Act to larger bodies of water, rather than extending it to isolated wetlands. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
EPA freezes, then terminates, multi-billion dollar climate grants, scuttling projects and triggering lawsuits
“The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to terminate a series of multibillion-dollar climate grants and enlist the FBI to investigate agency employees and grant recipients has sparked widespread alarm and called into question the agency’s authority to withhold Congressionally approved federal funds. In a letter dated March 11 that Inside Climate News reviewed, EPA formally revoked a $7 billion grant awarded to the Maryland-based Climate United Fund, citing “programmatic fraud, waste, and abuse” within the larger Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund—an allegation the nonprofit denies. The letter, signed by Acting Deputy Administrator W.C. McIntosh, said EPA identified deficiencies with the grant, such as circumventing key oversight measures, and said the agreement does not contain enough protections against potential violations of the Constitution. EPA ordered Climate United to “cease all further program expenditures immediately,” freezing funds meant to finance solar projects, electric vehicle infrastructure and energy-efficient housing in disadvantaged communities. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Reality check: Hurdles await EPA’s deregulatory spree
“EPA’s massive regulatory rollback may struggle to survive the scrutiny of the courts — but in its attempt to undercut environmental protections, the Trump administration may succeed in creating enough havoc to delay the nation’s response to the urgent problem of climate change. In his Wednesday announcement of EPA’s deregulatory assault, Administrator Lee Zeldin offered few details on how the agency plans to dismantle dozens of climate, air and energy rules — and the science underpinning those regulations — particularly in light of the Trump administration’s push to shed thousands of EPA staffers and 65 percent of the agency’s budget. To many legal experts, Zeldin’s effort echoes the rule-slashing strategy embraced by former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt during the early days of President Donald Trump’s first term. The courts repeatedly struck down those efforts for violating the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal statute that sets the terms for how agencies can write — and rewrite — rules. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Environmental protection laws still apply even under Trump’s national energy emergency − here’s why
“In response to President Donald Trump’s declaration of a “national energy emergency,” the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently listed hundreds of energy and infrastructure projects that would be eligible for fast-track permitting. The projects, which include oil pipelines, natural gas power plants and mining projects, were already under review. But the possibility of accelerated permitting raised concerns that without effective oversight, the projects might be allowed to alter or destroy hundreds of acres of wetlands or risk contamination of drinking water sources. Facing a backlash from environmental groups, the Corps removed the list and said it would follow up with a refined version. But based on my experience as an environmental law professor and former government lawyer, it’s not clear that the claimed emergency conditions warrant fast-tracking major projects with minimal environmental review or public scrutiny. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
Birds face weakened protections under Trump move
“In a reprise of the first Trump administration, migratory birds are again facing weakened protections under federal law. The issue at hand: Should companies be held responsible if birds are killed accidentally, for example in oil spills or waste pits? The answer has ping-ponged back and forth in recent years under different interpretations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, one of the nation’s oldest environmental laws. Now, as part of a sweeping suspension of legal opinions made by the Interior Department under President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Trump administration is again prioritizing energy companies and other industries that do not want to be penalized when birds die accidentally because of their actions. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
How microplastics could be affecting our food supply
“Microplastics are floating in the air around us, surging through rivers and streams, and burrowing deep into soils. And now, a new study suggests that all those tiny pieces of plastic are also disrupting the growth of plants.A paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday found that the tiny plastic particles could be slashing photosynthesis rates globally. Microplastics, the scientists estimated, are responsible for a reduction in photosynthesis of 7 to 12 percent worldwide in plants and algae. That cut in photosynthesis, the researchers warned, could also impact large-scale crops that humans depend on, such as wheat, corn and rice.“It certainly is very alarming — they’re saying microplastics are having this very dramatic effect on crops and productivity,” said Mary Beth Kirkham, an agronomy professor at Kansas State University who was not involved in the paper. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
Plastic pollution: so much bigger than straws
“Over the past couple of weeks we’ve seen the current U.S. administration grasping at straws, mocking restrictions on single-use plastics, and trying to distract from the real issue: Plastic poisons people and the planet, and the industries that produce it need to stop making so much of it. When I started “The Last Plastic Straw” movement in 2011, the sole purpose was to bring attention to a simple, tangible issue and raise awareness about the absurdity of single-use plastic items and engage people to take action. So what are the real problems with plastic? Plastics don’t break down, they break up: Unlike natural materials that decompose, they fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, never benignly degrading but remaining forever plastic. All plastic items shed plastic particles called microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics, which we inhale, ingest, and absorb into our bodies. Plastics, depending on their manufacturing composition, contain a mixture of more than 16,000 chemicals, at least 4,200 of which are known hazards to human health. When we use plastic straws, cups, plates, utensils, and food packaging, we are literally swallowing those toxic plastic particles and chemicals. … ” Read more from The Revelator.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
ONLINE COURSE: Online Shortcourse, April-May 2025: Groundwater, Watersheds, and Sustainable Groundwater Management
