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In California water news today …
More drenching rain and heavy mountain snow take aim at Central, Northern California
“After the recent series of storms this past week, the Pacific still has more storms to deliver. The region will remain in active storm mode for much of the remainder of the month, and its moisture will lead to more rounds of low elevation rain and mountain snow with the focus into Monday night stretching across Central and Northern California. … A storm with a total rainfall of 1-2 inches will fall across inland regions from northern California to western Washington. Pockets of 2-5 inches with locally higher amounts have been reported from the northwestern corner of California through western Oregon–mainly along some of the lower west-facing slopes of the Coast Ranges, the Cascades and the Olympics. Enough rain will fall to slow travel, and, in more extreme cases, flash flooding will occur in portions of Central California into Monday night. Landslides are also possible in steep terrain, while mudslides will most likely, but not limited to, recent burn scar locations. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections
“Local leaders in California are slamming the Trump administration’s moves to gut dozens of environmental policies on climate change and pollution in low-income communities. Last week Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency will loosen restrictions on oil and gas and reconsider the “endangerment finding” underpinning regulations on greenhouse gases. Felipe Perez, city council member and former mayor of Firebaugh, said farmworkers in the Central Valley rely on the feds to limit air pollution from nearby oil rigs. “The people that work in the field, we have to go to work even though the pollution is too high,” Perez pointed out. “We have to go because we have to feed our families.” … ” Read more from the Public News Service.
Reservoir levels rise — here’s what the latest numbers reveal
“Reservoirs in California are fuller than they’ve been in years, thanks to some unexpected weather patterns in the region. According to the Redding Record Searchlight, 14 of the 16 reservoirs regulated by the California Water Resources Department held more water than their historic averages for the month of February. This was due to a uniquely wet winter, including storms that dumped almost a foot and a half of rain on the state’s largest reservoir, Lake Shasta. Even more impressive, the reservoirs are higher than their typical levels despite the state increasing the amount of water flowing out of them to make room for more rain that is anticipated during the rest of the rainy season. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Trump targets two national monuments in California for elimination
“President Donald Trump plans to eliminate two massive national monuments in California established by former president Joe Biden, the White House confirmed Saturday. Less than a week before leaving office, Biden signed proclamations establishing the 624,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California and the 224,000-acre Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in northern California. Native American tribes that consider these landscapes sacred had urged Biden to put them off-limits to drilling, mining, clean-energy development and other industrial activity. The plan to repeal the proclamations, first reported by the New York Times, underscores how Trump has sought to dismantle Biden’s sweeping environmental legacy. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
SEE ALSO:
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- Trump seeks to eliminate two California national monuments, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Confusion clouds the fate of two new California monuments, from the LA Times
And lastly … Glass at 50%
“How do California’s engineers see a partially-full water glass? Mostly the same as they did in the original 2012 version of this post, but we’ve added a few more perspectives over the years. Depending on your outlook, the proverbial glass of water is either half full or half empty. Not so, for engineers in California. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
In commentary today …
Elon Musk is endangering California water. It takes people to run big federal projects
Opinion writer Tom Philp writes, “The mass layoffs of federal workers by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk are about to hit key people who control California’s water supply and are also responsible for flood protection protecting millions of Californians, particularly in Sacramento and the Central Valley. For decades, a federal agency known as the Bureau of Reclamation has steadily been fueling the West with the water and hydropower to make this civilization possible. It manages iconic structures such as Shasta and Hoover dams. Yet now it is being tasked essentially to plan its own destruction. According to a document obtained by The Bee, it has been analyzing budget and staff cuts up to 40%. This plan was scheduled to arrive on the desk of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Friday, according to a Reclamation official who has had direct knowledge of the evolving process. This process is on top of cuts of about 10% of 1,075 staffers serving California, Oregon and Nevada, that have already happened in recent weeks. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Reclamation anticipates adequate irrigation supply for the Klamath Basin
“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation expects adequate irrigation supplies from Upper Klamath Lake this year. Specific details on projected demand and total supply were not provided in a March 6 letter from the agency to Paul Simmons, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. The association, which received the document March 11, called the development “encouraging” in a post on its website. The president of the Klamath Irrigation District said the letter seemed exciting at first but wasn’t a binding legal document and provided “false hope” to farmers and other water users. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
SEE ALSO: Bureau of Reclamation to allow full allocation for Klamath Project, from KDRV
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lake Tahoe’s rising water levels: ‘We welcome these storm events’
“Lake Tahoe’s water level rose by over a quarter of a foot after atmospheric rivers swept across parts of California and Nevada in late January and early February, as the website SnowBrains detailed — and it has continued to rise. An atmospheric river is essentially a river in the sky carrying massive amounts of moisture from the tropics to the poles that unleash massive amounts of rain and snow when they reach land, according to the Department of Energy. According to an Instagram post by the Tahoe Fund on Feb. 6, 12 billion gallons of water were added to the lake since the previous week. To raise such a large lake’s water level by any amount takes a “staggering” amount, according to SnowBrains. News of impending storms in the Sierra Nevada is not entirely unwelcome for some. “We welcome these storm events for spring skiing and for our state water supply.” John Rice, CEO of Ski California, told the Sacramento Bee. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Salmon in the Yuba River: ‘A huge win’
“In a surprising turn of events, Chinook salmon have been spotted in California’s North Yuba River for the first time in nearly a century, according to SFGate. The Chinook salmon was once thought to be extinct, so this unexpected sighting marks a significant step forward in efforts to restore salmon populations to their natural habitats in the Sierra County region. While a pleasant surprise, the reappearance of the fish makes sense as this initiative was carefully planned and years in the making. The sightings come as part of a restoration project led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). In October, salmon eggs were placed along a 12-mile stretch of riverbed to recreate the conditions salmon would typically need to spawn. By February, young salmon were observed in a trap downstream, signaling the successful hatching of the eggs. With the presence of dams along the river, the young fish are now being transported downstream to continue their journey toward the ocean. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Oroville rehabbing water recreation spot
“Bedrock Park looks forward to a renovation from the ground up. Sitting on the edge of the Feather River, the former primetime swim spot and family park has gone somewhat sour through years — its lagoon swamped, its island overgrown and facilities tarnished. But it’s not forgotten by the Oroville City Council. This month, the dais approved an update for a rehabilitation project to clean the park’s lagoon and landscaping — and possibly add rentals for water recreation. The two-phase project begins with new irrigation, renovated turf, new shade trees, code-complaint stairs and railings, security lights and clearing the island of non-native species, according to Tim Kaber, project manager and senior civil engineer. As for the burned building at the park, the council gave direction at its March 4 meeting to bring a rental kiosk for kayaks and watercraft for the river and electric scooters and bicycles for the river trail. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
BAY AREA
Bay Area braces for one more storm before spring breaks through. Here’s what to expect
“As the most recent storm system departs the region Monday, we will be left with a somewhat unstable environment as another shot of cold air filters in. Through Monday afternoon, the atmosphere will be conducive to pop-up showers, some of which will contain brief heavy downpours and small hail. But this isn’t exactly uncharted territory for us, at least not lately. Since the start of the month — excluding the most recent storm system — the Bay Area has been hit by a steady parade of moderately strong storms, rolling in every few days. After each storm clears, we’re typically left with a 6- to 12-hour window of unsettled weather, where pop-up storms can strike at any moment. The steady stream of storm activity hasn’t exactly added up to a bonanza in terms of precipitation. Not including the most recent storm, about 1 to 2 inches of rain has fallen in the Bay Area so far this month, which is nearly in line with the 30-year average. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Eucalyptus trees removed in Los Gatos nature preserve to improve wildfire resiliency
“The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District removed about 150 eucalyptus trees in part of a nature preserve last month to replace them with native plants and improve the forest’s fire resilience. The trees were cleared from a 2.5-acre portion of the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve near Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos as part of the district’s Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, which aims to promote healthy, resilient, fire-adapted ecosystems, reduce wildland fire risk and facilitate the response of fire agencies. “As a land management agency, we have a responsibility to take care of these lands. These lands, these open spaces, they do so much to take care of us,” said Midpen spokesman Ryan McCauley. “So I think it’s really incumbent upon us as managers of these lands to really ensure that we’re doing everything we can to make sure it’s as resilient as possible.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Zone 7 offers prizes to leak detectives
“The Zone 7 Water Agency’s Water Wise Wendy Fix-A-Leak Challenge is back for 2025. The water agency is offering residents of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and the Dougherty Valley of San Ramon who find and correct a household water leak the chance at winning an outdoor water adventure package at Lake Del Valle or Shadow Cliffs valued at $400. One winner from each of the retail water providers in the Zone 7 service area — California Water Service, Dublin San Ramon Services District, and the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton — will be randomly selected on Tuesday, April 15. To enter, residents must submit photos detailing their leak detection journey by Monday, March 31. … ” Read more from the Independent.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
U.S. Bank sues Valley water titan Vidovich over $105mil loan default
“John Vidovich, the Bay Area-based water magnate of the southern San Joaquin Valley, is being sued for failing to repay roughly $105 million in loans to U.S. Bank. U.S. Bank filed a lawsuit against Vidovich and his companies, Sandridge Partners and SunnyGem LLC, in Kern County Superior Court with a demand for seizure of property. The news was first reported by SJV Water. The big picture: Along with Vidovich, U.S. Bank named Sandridge Partners, SunnyGem, The Apricot Pit L.P.and several members of Vidovich’s family. U.S. Bank claims Sandridge Partners had not paid back $67.7 million of debt that went into default in December. The bank also claims that SunnyGem still owed $37.5 million in loans and lines of credits that went into default in May 2024. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Along the Colorado River …
Hurd working ‘behind the scenes’ to unfreeze funds for critical water rights purchase
“Western Slope water leaders hope bipartisan support can thaw $40 million in frozen federal money aimed at securing some of the Colorado River’s oldest water rights. The Colorado River District is spearheading an effort to purchase senior rights from Xcel Energy used at the Shoshone hydroelectric plant in Glenwood Canyon. The water allocated by the rights passes through the facility and back into the river, making them “nonconsumptive” rights, but by purchasing them for $99 million Western Slope leaders hope to ensure that water can continue to flow downstream and avoid the possibility it could be rerouted to Front Range users. The effort to buy the rights raised more than $50 million between the state of Colorado, the River District and more than two dozen entities on the Western Slope. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
In national water news today …
How to future-proof water systems in an era of extreme weather
Kirsten James, senior program director for water at Ceres, writes, “From my home in Los Angeles, I witnessed the devastation of wildfires earlier this year and how they underscored the rising urgency to modernize water infrastructure. A slew of dangerous chemicals were released into Los Angeles’ drinking water and stormwater systems during the wildfires, leaving many communities concerned about whether their water was safe to drink. These wildfires shone a light on whether our water systems are equipped to handle disasters. As wildfires grow more frequent and intense, it becomes even more urgent to adapt our water infrastructure to meet this new reality. Much of the nation’s water infrastructure is nearing the end of its lifespan. And yet, modernizing drinking and wastewater systems could exceed $744 billion in costs over the next 20 years. … ” Read more from Trellis.
EPA to revise Waters of the U.S. rule
“U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced last week that EPA will work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to review the definition of “waters of the United States.” EPA said it will move quickly to ensure that a revised definition follows the law, reduces red-tape, cuts overall permitting costs, and lowers the cost of doing business in communities across the country while protecting the nation’s navigable waters from pollution. Given the U.S. Supreme Court’s watershed decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, the agency said it is time to address the issue once and for all “in a way that provides American farmers, landowners, businesses, and states with clear and simplified direction.” … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
Judge orders EPA to rehire fired employees
“EPA is now among the agencies facing court orders to reinstate “probationary” employees who were terminated as part of President Donald Trump’s endeavor to shrink the federal government. A temporary restraining order issued Thursday night by a federal judge in Maryland directed 18 agencies — including EPA and the Interior, Energy and Agriculture departments — to bring back workers with “probationary” status, which generally includes those with less than one to two years of service. The decision followed a separate order issued Thursday by Senior Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, who condemned the firings as a “sham” approach by the government’s human resources department to duck legal obligations for dismissing federal workers. The judge, a Clinton appointee, aimed his order at the Defense, Treasury, Energy, Interior, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs departments. DOE brought back fired employees hours later, and unions that filed the lawsuit have since urged the court to extend its order to more agencies, including EPA. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Christine Todd Whitman thinks the EPA is going in the wrong direction
“The Trump administration has hit the Environmental Protection Agency with major changes. Many workers have been fired, some rehired, and amid the confusion billions of dollars face clawbacks. The new EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, has promised to slash regulations to shreds. President Donald Trump has taken the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement. And the scale of the efforts to cut EPA spending and roll back rules is unprecedented. Christine Todd Whitman was the first woman governor of New Jersey and led the EPA as a Republican with a comparatively modest conservative agenda under President George W. Bush. She’s a cofounder of Forward, a new political party to appeal to centrists who feel left out by both Republicans and Democrats. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. STEVE CURWOOD: How do you feel about the country’s direction now when it comes to climate and the environment? … ” Read the interview at Inside Climate News.
USDA initiated lease terminations for FSA and NRCS offices
“The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has initiated lease terminations for 59 Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices to cut costs, as part of the Trump administration’s effort to reduce agency spending. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Large-scale investment in research needed to maintain U.S. agriculture
“Climate change and flagging investment in research and development has U.S. agriculture facing its first productivity slowdown in decades. A new study by researchers at Stanford, Cornell, and the University of Maryland estimates the public sector investment needed to reverse course. In a paper, published March 11 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers model both the dampening effects of climate change on U.S. agriculture and the accelerating effects of publicly funded research and development (R&D) – and use the estimates to quantify the investment in research required to maintain agricultural productivity through 2050. “U.S. agriculture is in many ways a victim of its own success, in that society takes continued progress for granted,” said study senior author David Lobell, the Gloria and Richard Kushel Director of Stanford’s Center on Food Security and the Environment (FSE). “I think it’s hard to overstate the geopolitical, social, and environmental effects of a severe productivity slowdown because few living people have experienced it.” … ” Read more from Stanford.
Trump’s quest to conquer Canada is confusing everyone
” … In private, Trump has made specific demands the Canadians say they could never agree to. The president made clear in a phone call with Trudeau last month that he wants to revise the boundary between the two nations set by a 1908 border treaty, as two Canadian officials said and was previously reported by The New York Times and Toronto Star. If Trump truly objects to the boundary line, the proper forum to resolve the dispute is the International Court of Justice, a Canadian official said. The president has also mentioned renegotiating agreements that dictate how the Great Lakes and Columbia River are governed, the official told NBC News, adding that Trump wants to control the Northwest Passage, a maritime path that begins west of Greenland and cuts through Northern Canada to the Arctic Ocean. “He wants our water,” the Canadian official added. “He wants to take the water.” … ” Read more from NBC News.
NASA analysis shows unexpected amount of sea level rise in 2024
“Global sea level rose faster than expected in 2024, mostly because of ocean water expanding as it warms, or thermal expansion. According to a NASA-led analysis, last year’s rate of rise was 0.23 inches (0.59 centimeters) per year, compared to the expected rate of 0.17 inches (0.43 centimeters) per year. “The rise we saw in 2024 was higher than we expected,” said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “Every year is a little bit different, but what’s clear is that the ocean continues to rise, and the rate of rise is getting faster and faster.” In recent years, about two-thirds of sea level rise was from the addition of water from land into the ocean by melting ice sheets and glaciers. About a third came from thermal expansion of seawater. But in 2024, those contributions flipped, with two-thirds of sea level rise coming from thermal expansion. “With 2024 as the warmest year on record, Earth’s expanding oceans are following suit, reaching their highest levels in three decades,” said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, head of physical oceanography programs and the Integrated Earth System Observatory at NASA Headquarters in Washington. … ” Read more from NASA.
SEE ALSO: Global sea level rose faster than expected in 2024, according to NASA analysis, from ABC News
Some US scientists stick with the IPCC despite the administration pulling out of international climate work
“Despite a series of directives from the Trump administration aimed at disengaging the U.S. government from international climate collaboration, five U.S. scientists are part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s team of 100 experts from 50 countries who met in Osaka, Japan, this week to start writing a report about global warming and cities that is due in 2027. Their participation highlights how U.S. researchers will continue to add expertise and have a voice in the international climate science community, but also how the administration’s hostility toward international collaboration will make it more difficult for U.S. scientists to engage with the global effort to study climate change. The IPCC is resilient and can effectively perform its scientific work even if the U.S. is politically disengaged from the process, said Kevin Gurney, an atmospheric scientist at Northern Arizona University who is part of the contingent of U.S. scientists at the Osaka IPCC meeting and has worked on every IPCC assessment since the first one in 1990. “I was a reviewer for the first report, and I still have a spiral-bound copy in my office,” he said. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
