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In California water news today …
La Niña is winding down: What comes next?
“Long range weather forecasting is a very challenging endeavor but has had some success over the decades it’s been in practice. Two global weather phenomenon come to mind for most people called El Niño and La Niña. The El Niño event is spawned by warmer than average temperatures in the Central Pacific called the “Nino 3.4″ region. When sea surface temperatures are warm here by more than 0.5C or higher for a few months, weather patterns tend to shift and statistically significant patterns can emerge like wetter than normal areas and drier as well. The other event is called La Niña and that’s when the sea surface temperatures are -0.5C, or colder than normal for several months. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Will Northern California see ‘Miracle March’ after wild winter? What weather experts say
“After a wild winter, California is celebrating the start of spring with near-normal water levels. That’s caused some people to wonder whether a weather miracle is possible. Will California see a so-called “Miracle March” after a flurry of late winter storms? Could the Golden State continue to see wet weather? The Sacramento Bee reached out to weather experts to find out the answers. … Though the Sierra snowpack increased significantly in March, it’s unlikely California will see another Miracle March in 2025, according to Andrew Schwartz, director of the Central Sierra Snow Lab. “This year (is) a little below average” in terms of precipitation, Schwartz said. “People love Miracle March,” Schwartz said. “Miracle March is this idea that March is somehow going to make up for this big lack of snowpack throughout the season by having these big storms come in, one right after the other.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
New data reveals worrying trend in key water supply that could impact millions: ‘We are quickly running out of time’
“The long-term trend for Sierra Nevada snow at lower elevations shows a reduction in snowfall, a crucial part of the water supply in the Western U.S. California’s snowpack fell in late February to 85% of the average for the end of the second month of meteorological winter. By the middle of March, the snow water equivalents in the Sierra Nevada ranged from 96% in the northern part of the mountain range to only 77-80% in the central and southern portions. The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is monitored closely because it impacts the region’s water supply. Almost a third of California’s water supply comes from mountain snow. “Every day it’s not actively snowing or raining, we’re likely losing ground, and that’s exacerbated with warmer temperatures,” Andy Reising, California’s Department of Water Resources’s manager of snow surveys, told the Los Angeles Times. “While we still have about one month left in the traditional snow accumulation season, we are quickly running out of time to catch up to what would be an average snow year like we had last year.” … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Restored stream supports new wild salmon run
“Almost everywhere in California, salmon are on the decline. But in Putah Creek — a restored stream running through the University of California, Davis, campus — wild salmon are not only increasing, they also are completing their life cycle. A UC Davis study, published in the journal Ecosphere, is the first to document Putah Creek-origin salmon. Chinook salmon have been observed at the creek since 2014, but prior studies had shown them to be strays from hatcheries. This study now confirms that some salmon returning to Putah Creek in the fall to spawn are actually born there. This should not be news. Salmon are famous for their simple life cycle: Hatch in a stream, migrate to the ocean, and return to the stream to spawn at their life’s end. Yet salmon in 21st century California are sometimes trucked or flown to the ocean from hatcheries due to dams, habitat loss, warming streams, drought and other threats restricting their natural migration.This study shows that at Putah Creek — and potentially other altered and dam-controlled streams worldwide — restored waterways can help restore and even create salmon runs. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
SEE ALSO: UC Davis research confirms new salmon run in restored Putah Creek, from CBS News
New desalination technology being tested in California could lower costs of tapping seawater
“Californians could be drinking water tapped from the Pacific Ocean off Malibu several years from now — that is, if a company’s new desalination technology proves viable. OceanWell Co. plans to anchor about two dozen 40-foot-long devices, called pods, to the seafloor several miles offshore and use them to take in saltwater and pump purified fresh water to shore in a pipeline. The company calls the concept a water farm and is testing a prototype of its pod at a reservoir in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. The pilot study, supported by Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, is being closely watched by managers of several large water agencies in Southern California. They hope that if the new technology proves economical, it could supply more water for cities and suburbs that are vulnerable to shortages during droughts, while avoiding the environmental drawbacks of large coastal desalination plants. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
California’s new water law targets non-functional turf to conserve resources
“As California continues to grapple with ongoing drought conditions, state lawmakers have introduced new regulations to curb unnecessary water use. Assembly Bill 1572 now prohibits the use of potable water—water safe for drinking and bathing—to irrigate non-functional turf. The bill defines non-functional turf as grass that serves no recreational or public assembly purpose and requires homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to switch to recycled water for irrigation by 2029. With three major statewide droughts in just 15 years, conservation efforts are a growing priority. Supporters of the bill argue that using drinking water for decorative lawns is wasteful when alternative solutions, like drip irrigation and drought-resistant landscaping, are available. … ” Read more from NBC Palm Springs.
Sites Reservoir receives an additional $134 million in federal funding from Trump regime
“The Sites Reservoir Project in California, a controversial water project promoted by Governor Gavin Newson and opposed by a coalition of environmental groups, fishing groups and Tribes because it will divert more water out of the Sacramento River, recently received $134 million in federal funding from the Trump Administration. Critics note that the money was issued as Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom develops an increasingly cozy relationship with President Donald Trump — and has been elevating and embracing far right-wing media stars such as Charlie Kirk, Michael Savage and Steve Bannon by featuring them as guests on his new podcast: www.dailykos.com/… The $134 million brings the total federal investment in the project to $780.15 million. The money comes from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act) that provides funding to “improve water infrastructure throughout the United States,” according to an announcement from the Sites Authority. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
California Water Commission delays decision on majority of new water storage funding
“Over $500 million is on the table for water storage projects across California. Options on how to allocate this money were discussed at the February meeting, and a final decision on funding was expected to be made at the March 19 meeting. However, the commissioners ultimately decided to withhold the majority of the money, at least for now. Most of the available funding came from the failed Los Vaqueros Reservoir expansion in Contra Costa County. $453.7 million was returned to the California Water Commission Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP) following the collapse of the project. In addition to the Los Vaqueros funds, a further $75 million has been made available to the WSIP from Proposition 4, the recently-passed November 2024 climate bond. This pushes the total money the commission currently has to spend on water storage to over half a billion dollars. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Small bugs in California rice fields are making a huge impact for salmon
“Every morning is an early morning for scientists working the flood plains of the Sacramento Valley. “Putting a cold pair of wet waders first thing in the morning — always the most pleasant, but that’s what the hot cup of coffee is for,” said Jacob Montgomery. Montgomery and his crew from California Trout head out along Yolo County’s stretch of the Sacramento River. They stop along the levee to spot where four cages float in the water. “There is a little shelf here,” Montgomery said. “We just pull all the cages in at once.” Inside the cages are baby salmon. “Inside each enclosure are five juvenile Chinook Salmon from the Coleman Natural Fishery,” he said. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Trump backlash adds to challenges for California water policymakers
“As firefighters in Los Angeles finally contained the flames from the devastating fires in January, the Trump administration made the curious decision to order the sudden release of billions of gallons of fresh water from two dams about 360km north of the city. US President Donald Trump had blamed firefighters’ struggles to contain the fires on California’s environmental policies, which he claimed prevented water flowing from reservoirs in the northern part of the state down to Los Angeles. Following an executive order, the president got his wish to see the water released on January 31, the day the fires were finally contained. … ” Continue reading from the Financial Times.
Meet the EPA’s new regional administrator in charge of California (and the rest of the Pacific Southwest)
“President Trump this week appointed Josh F.W. Cook as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in California and the Pacific Southwest, making him one of the Golden State’s most prominent new climate officials. Cook, who lives in Chico, will be responsible for implementing and enforcing federal environmental laws in Region 9, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands and 148 tribal nations. His appointment comes as the state and region grapple with worsening climate issues such as extreme heat, devastating wildfires and a water crisis on the Colorado River. “Josh Cook is the right person we need to lead Region 9,” said Lee Zeldin, Trump’s head of the EPA, in a statement. “He understands the unique nature of the Pacific Southwest and will be a great addition to the EPA team. Josh’s talent working with state and local partners will be paramount to power the great American comeback across our regions.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Former Biggs City administrator appointed to lead EPA’s Pacific Southwest, from KRCR
As U.S. EPA rolls back protections, California launches satellite project to detect and reduce dangerous methane leaks
“In his first action since being named Co-Chair of the subnational climate coalition America Is All In, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced a groundbreaking state effort to cut methane pollution with the help of innovative satellite technology. The new initiative comes as the Trump Administration’s EPA works to dismantle decades of clean air and clean water protections. Specifically, the U.S. EPA is reconsidering the “endangerment finding,” which is the basis for federal actions to curb planet-warming emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and methane. The technology announced today involves satellite-mounted methane sensors which send data to enable the state to locate and monitor large emissions of methane that could otherwise go undetected. This new data will allow state and local agencies to work together with industry to stop the leaks and protect public health. … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
In commentary today …
Water scarcity’s economic toll on California agriculture: why we must act now
The California Farm Water Coalition writes, “If egg prices are any indication of what happens when a disruption occurs in our food supply, consumers should prepare for rising prices and reduced availability in other aisles of the grocery store as well. Unlike temporary and short-lived supply interruptions like those affecting egg prices today, we should all be concerned about the effect of increased water shortages on the fruits, nuts, and vegetables that have long been grown in California. It’s no secret that water is the lifeblood of California agriculture. It is fuel for the industry that feeds the nation and sustains our rural communities. But as droughts intensify, as some experts say they will, regulations become more onerous, and water supplies shrink even further, the economic impacts will only get worse – for everyone. Unstable, but shrinking water supplies for farms- from drought or onerous regulation, threaten farms, jobs, and ultimately the food prices we all pay at the grocery store. … ” Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition.
One major benefit of ridding California of our Coastal Commission: water security
Marc Joffe, a fellow at California Policy Center, writes, “Efforts to defang the California Coastal Commission could have a significant impact on Southern California’s quest for water security and fire safety. The Commission has been a barrier to constructing large-scale desalination plants that have freed Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and other arid coastal places from water shortages. Trump Administration Special Envoy Richard Grenell has suggested conditioning federal disaster aid to California on the state killing the Commission. More recently, Representative Kevin Kiley, R-Auburn, has introduced a bill that would strip the Commission of much of its powers. Grennell and Kiley oppose the Commission because they fear that it will impede redevelopment of Pacific Palisades and Malibu, that it blocked SpaceX from launching rockets along the coast, and that it has shown a general disregard for property rights of those who own land near the Pacific Ocean. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
The theft, harm, and Presidential grift of privatizing the National Weather Service
Juan Declet-Barreto, Senior Social Scientist for Climate Vulnerability writes, “This week, as wildfires break out across Texas, life-saving alerts are being issued by the National Weather Service (NWS), informing evacuations ahead of the advancing threat. On the ground, firefighters are using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites for wildfire monitoring in real time. This is just one of dozens of emergencies our first responders rely on NOAA and NWS data for on any given week. Simply put: NOAA and the NWS save lives and must be defended against the Trump administration’s ongoing assault.We are witnessing the vanishing of our own US assets which taxpayers have funded and built over generations to serve the public good. We need those assets and will suffer in their absence. And we may be forced to pay the private sector to dole them back out to us, piecemeal. We need to call the theft, harm and grift what it is—and stop it. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Humboldt County supervisors support Rogers’ Klamath water bill
“The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday signed off on a letter of support for a state Assembly Bill penned by District 2 Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa). The letter for the bill, which would make emergency water regulations permanent on two Klamath tributaries in the name of protecting fish, was approved in a 4-1 vote. First District Supervisor Rex Bohn was the dissenting vote. Assembly Bill 263 would keep emergency drought water diversion rules in place for the Scott and Shasta rivers until permanent regulations are adopted. Drought water rules for these tributaries to the Klamath River are presently set by the California State Water Resources Control Board on a yearly basis. The board is working on permanent rules for the sticky water diversion situation, but this is expected to take a long time and hinges on state emergency declarations of drought. Rogers previously told the Times-Standard this system creates uncertainty for fish cycles and water users alike. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Exhibit celebrates Klamath River dam removals
““Undammed,” an exhibit celebrating the historic removal of dams on the Klamath River, will be on view April 3 to May 17 at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery. An opening reception will be held April 3 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. According to a press release for the show, “This exhibition brings together the community to celebrate the freeing of the Klamath River, and the decades-long efforts towards the removal of four hydro-electric dams. As a result, salmon populations migrated up into the upper Klamath Basin for the first time in 100 years.” The exhibit features the work of Annelia Hillman, Bob Benson, Lyn Risling, Julian Lang, Jackie Fawn, Jaimoe Kibby and others. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe divers plunge into snowy waters
“Snow and nearly freezing temperatures are no deterrent for Lake Tahoe’s dedicated scuba divers. “Wintertime diving — I feel like you have to be a special person to want to go diving in the cold. says Phill Abernathy, who leads Tahoe Scuba Diving, an informal network of roughly 20 regular year-round divers in the basin. “You have to love this. I hate cold. I despise the cold. But I love diving, so here we are,” With a surface water temperature of 41 degrees that day, cold water diving offers its own unique set of both danger and benefits. Divers face not just increased discomfort, but also higher equipment expenses, logistics and risks. In return, however, they get a calm lake with nearly nobody in the water. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
NAPA/SONOMA
5 years after devastating fire, expansive Russian River park finally reopens
“An expansive park nestled among the redwood forests and rolling grasslands north of the Russian River recently reopened for the first time since a wildfire ripped through it several years ago. Austin Creek State Recreation Area, a 5,700-acre stretch of wilderness near Guerneville, can once more be visited and hiked through since the Wallbridge Fire burned through the park and other communities near the Russian River in 2020.The fire impacted 3,800 acres within the park, damaging infrastructure like hiking trails, bridges and campgrounds. The park’s water infrastructure was also impaired and has yet to be restored. But from an ecological perspective, fires like this one are vital to the health of the surrounding landscape, according to Justin Lindenberg, executive director of Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods. The Guerneville nonprofit helps manage Austin Creek. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
BAY AREA
Point Reyes’ historic dairies ousted after legal battle. Locals say it’s conservation gone mad
“With fog-kissed streets featuring a buttery bakery, an eclectic bookstore and markets peddling artisanal cheeses crafted from the milk of lovingly coddled cows, Point Reyes Station is about as picturesque as tourist towns come in California. It is also a place that, at the moment, is roiling with anger. A place where many locals feel they’re waging an uphill battle for the soul of their community. The alleged villains are unexpected, here in one of the cradles of the organic food movement: the National Park Service and a slate of environmental organizations that maintain that the herds of cattle that have grazed on the Point Reyes Peninsula for more than 150 years are polluting watersheds and threatening endangered species, including the majestic tule elk that roam the windswept headlands. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Livermore commentary: PFAS in our groundwater – Don’t ignore it
write, “We’re concerned about Zone 7 General Manager Valerie Pryor’s recent comments in the article “State Water Board Now Looking at Fire Training Facility as Possible PFAS Source”. We believe her support of Zone 7 proceeding with new production water wells in southwest Pleasanton would further the spread of dangerous PFAS chemicals in Pleasanton’s drinking water. The article points out that PFAS was detected beneath the Fire Training Facility in Pleasanton at levels nearly a thousand times higher than what could be considered as safe. Ms. Pryor, who is neither a hydrogeologist nor geologist, says that there’s a physical barrier in the subsurface that prevents movement of the PFAS plume from the Fire Training Facility (and other areas with high PFAS groundwater concentrations) to the planned wells in southwest Pleasanton. We’ve asked Zone 7 for their evidence of such a barrier, but they have provided none. We’ve found no such evidence ourselves. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
CENTRAL COAST
M1W official named to key post at Monterey Peninsula water district
“A seasoned official who has worked on Monterey Peninsula water issues for more than a decade has been named assistant general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. Mike McCullough, the current director of external affairs for Monterey One Water, will begin his new post at the water district on April 4. McCullough worked at M1W for the past 13 years. His focus was to bring the Pure Water Monterey water recycling project online. He helped secure low-interest loans from the State Water Resources Control Board and the Environmental Protection Agency. He pursued various funding opportunities for Pure Water Monterey – Northern California’s first indirect potable reuse project – ultimately resulting in $80 million in state and federal grants. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
County testing continues at Moss Landing plant, headway made in battery delinking
“County officials reaffirmed there is currently no risk to public health in the air, water or soil as phase one of the cleanup process continues at the Moss Landing Battery Storage facility, following the Jan. 16 fire. The battery delinking process, or disconnection, for the accessible batteries burned in the initial January fire was completed March 13, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This was part of the first phase of hazard mitigation to reduce the risk of thermal runaway, re-ignition and fire propagation. Officials with the EPA have warned that while delinking the batteries reduces the risk of large fires, there is still a chance for additional flare ups like the one that occurred on Feb. 18. Crews are continuing work with the expectation of another flare up. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Arroyo Grande revamps ordinance after a two-year domestic well fight
“Months after prospective Arroyo Grande resident Michael Harris fought to secure a permit to drill a water well on his property, the city’s changing its well-permitting rules. “During hearings associated with the consideration of the Harris well application in 2024, the City Council and staff noted that the existing ordinance would benefit from an update and clarification of the well permit process, definitions, and other modifications to provide a more simplified and clear framework for the community and decision makers,” Arroyo Grande Community Development Director Brian Pedrotti told New Times. The City Council unanimously voted at its March 11 meeting to introduce the ordinance amending Arroyo Grande’s municipal code regarding water wells. Currently, the City Council considers approval of new or replacement wells. The proposed ordinance modifies that process and brings initial review of such wells before the city Planning Commission. … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Manteca: Basic sewer, water rates jump $18.39 monthly on May 15
“Manteca households will pay $18.39 more a month for basic water and sewer charges starting with the May 15 billing cycle. Also increasing are water use rates that vary significantly on consumption. The end result of the action the City Council took Tuesday implementing the first sewer and water rates in 14 years will mean by mid-2028 the basic charge for the two municipal services will be $107 a month. That reflects a $36.55 increase by July 2028 from the current basic combined rate of $60.45. The rates will be bumped up on an annual basis with the biggest jump this May. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Cemex expanded mining operations will not happen in San Joaquin River
“Editor’s note: The following statement was provided by a Cemex representative in response to The Business Journal’s previous web poll question, “Do you approve of Cemex’s plan to mine a 600-foot pit in the San Joaquin River in Fresno?” A correction will be issued in the March 28 edition to clarify the mine is located along the river, not in it. In December 2024, the County of Fresno Department of Public Works and Planning released the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) on Cemex’s proposed plan to modify its existing Rockfield aggregate operation on Friant Road (Modification Plan) and received public comments through March 10, 2025. Cemex submitted its application for the Modification Plan in 2019. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), state and local agencies are required to evaluate the environmental impacts of proposed projects with appropriate mitigation measures and allow for public comment before a final determination of approval. … ” Read more from The Business Journal.
California water agencies argue for change of current in Kern River legal battle
“Environmental groups clashed Thursday with California water districts before a state appeals court over water flows in the Kern River in central California, buoying their arguments on seemingly conflicting laws and supposed failures of the trial court. Groups like the North Kern Water Storage District last year appealed a preliminary injunction requiring enough flows to keep fish in good condition. They argued that it’s improper to interpret state fish and game code as favoring fish over all other needs, adding that a balancing test must occur. They want the injunction and related implementation order shelved, with instructions relayed to the lower court from the Fifth District Court of Appeal on next steps. No ruling occurred Thursday but the three-judge panel took the matter under submission. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Recent storms boost stormwater capture in LA County
“A series of late-winter storms brought much-needed rain to the region last week, raising the total volume of stormwater captured by Los Angeles County to 11.9 billion gallons just weeks before the end of storm season on April 15. To date, Downtown Los Angeles has received only 6.5 inches of rainfall since Oct. 1, 2024, less than half the annual average of 15.4 inches. By contrast, downtown LA received 21.2 inches of rain last year, enabling the County to recharge its groundwater aquifers with more than 117 billion gallons of stormwater—enough to meet the needs of nearly 2.9 million people for a year. This unusually dry winter underscores the need for continued investments in stormwater management and water conservation, said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. “While recent storms have boosted our local water supply, dire drought conditions persist. Now more than ever, we must increase water agency coordination and the resiliency of our local water supply through the LA County Water Plan,” Supervisor Horvath said. … ” Read more from the LA County Dept. of Public Works.
SEE ALSO: LA County captures 11.9 billion gallons of stormwater amid unusually dry winter, from NBC 4
DWP has fixed the vast majority of fire hydrants flagged for repairs last year
“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has fixed or replaced the vast majority of fire hydrants flagged for repairs in last year’s inspections after a long delay by the L.A. Fire Department in forwarding the inspection results, officials confirmed this week. The LAFD — which is contracted to annually inspect 66,000 fire hydrants across the city — had identified at least 1,350 hydrants in need of repair, according to its 2024 inspection. But the department did not properly transmit the data to DWP in August, a lapse that came to light only after the Palisades fire when LAFD shared its year-old inspection data with KCBS-TV. DWP finally received the data Feb. 14. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Toxic algae off SoCal coast killing marine animals at increasing rate, marine biologists say
“Scientists say sea life off the coast of Southern California is in danger of being wiped out. They say climate change is a major factor in the heightened risk. Marine biologists say a toxic algal bloom has been occurring off the coast of California more often than before, killing sea lions, dolphins and other marine mammals at an alarming rate. “These blooms, they used to happen every so often — maybe four to seven years. But now we’re seeing an increase,” said Dave Bader, a marine biologist at Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro. A harmful algal bloom occurs when algae grow at a rapid rate in a body of water. The algae may produce toxins, which can harm marine ecosystems and, in some cases, humans. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Salton Sea adventure: Endurance activist runs around the shrinking Salton Sea to expose an unfolding environmental crisis
“California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea, is drying up, taking with it vital ecosystems and presenting a public health crisis to surrounding communities. To document this loss, ultra-endurance athlete and activist Iröndäd runs its shoreline annually, tracking the water’s retreat mile by mile. On March 21, 2025, he will embark on his third consecutive run. In 2023, Iröndäd became the first person to run around the lake without stopping, covering 96 miles in 36 hours. The following year, his route measured 92 miles. This year, he anticipates running fewer than 90 miles as the shoreline continues to recede. In doing so, he aims to draw attention to the impact of the reallocation of Colorado River water from one of the most impoverished regions in California to more affluent coastal cities. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
SAN DIEGO
Could our region run out of water in a major wildfire, as happened when L.A. fire hydrants ran dry? Helix water shares information with La Mesa’s city council
“The city of La Mesa is being proactive on educating residents on emergency situations for water needs in case of out-of-control wildfires such as the January blazes that devastated Los Angeles County. Concerns about fires and lack of water to fight them led to elected officials in the city of La Mesa to have Helix Water District share insight and information about protection in a presentation at the March 11 City Council meeting. Reports are still coming in, but the fires earlier this year in Los Angeles are thought to have caused an estimated $250 billion in total damages, with more than 18,000 homes and structures destroyed. While the fires were aided by drought conditions, low humidity, a buildup of vegetation and hurricane-like winds, part of the equation also included local infrastructure issues, troubles tapping into water, and empty fire hydrants and reservoirs. … ” Read more from the East County Times.
This is the next border fight — and it’s a stinker
“Trump administration officials have been pressuring Mexican counterparts to reduce the flow of migrants and drugs over the border. Now they’re turning their attention to the flow of something more scatalogical. Sewage. More than 100 billion gallons of raw sewage, trash and stormwater have flowed into San Diego since 2018 as the city of Tijuana’s aging and failing wastewater system has been overwhelmed by a booming population. San Diego-area beaches are frequently closed due to the toxins, including one shoreline that was shuttered for more than 1,000 days straight. Navy SEALs training in nearby waters have also fallen ill. The issue grabbed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s attention earlier this month when a construction incident in Mexico sent untreated sewage into the Tijuana River. … ” Read more from Politico.
California Democrats invite EPA head to witness cross-border sewage crisis firsthand
“California Democrats are urging newly confirmed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to visit a fraught wastewater treatment plant that has been struggling to contend with a cross-border sewage crisis. Reps. Scott Peters and Juan Vargas and Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff wrote a letter to Zeldin this week, inviting him to come witness firsthand the public health hazards affecting the southernmost residents of California. “As you know, decades of underinvestment in cross-border wastewater infrastructure have led to the flow of untreated sewage into San Diego,” the letter stated. “EPA served as an important advocate for this issue in the last Trump Administration and we hope the agency will continue to do so once again.” … ” Read more from The Hill.
Along the Colorado River …
US rejects Mexico’s request for water as Trump opens new battle front
“The United States has refused a request by Mexico for water, alleging shortfalls in sharing by its southern neighbor, as Donald Trump ramps up a battle on another front. The state department said on Thursday it was the first time that the United States had rejected a request by Mexico for special delivery of water, which would have gone to the border city of Tijuana. “Mexico’s continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture – particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley,” the state department’s bureau handling Latin America said in a post on X. The 1944 treaty, which governs water allocation from the Rio Grande and Colorado River, has come under growing strain in recent years due to the pressures of the climate crisis and the burgeoning populations and agriculture in parched areas. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
SEE ALSO:
- Wrecking ball report: blowing up 25 years of productive US-Mexico collaboration on the Colorado River, from the Inkstain blog
- US refuses water request for Mexico in new battle line, from The Straits Times
Snowpack reaches 97% of normal, but drought hanging on in desert Southwest
“Recent snowstorms in the Colorado Rockies have helped elevate snowpack levels as the calendar turns to spring. About two weeks remain to build up snowpack ahead of what climate experts say will be another dry year in the desert Southwest. A report released on Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a greater-than-50% chance that the drought will persist through the end of June. The affected area includes Southern Nevada, Southern California, Southern Utah, all of Arizona, an southwest Colorado. Gauges in the Upper Colorado River Basin indicate snow water equivalent (SWE) levels have risen to 97% of normal over the past week. That’s a big improvement since March 3, when snowpack was at its lowest level of the year at 85%, according to maps updated daily by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. … ” Read more from KLAS.
SEE ALSO: Drought Status Update for the Intermountain West, from NIDIS
AZ Senate leader asks Trump administration to reverse Biden-era policies
“A top Arizona Republican said he had productive meetings with federal officials but that President Donald Trump’s administration made no promises to help advance his agenda. Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) traveled to Washington, D.C., last week and met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Attorney General Pam Bondi to talk about his priorities for Arizona. That includes having the Department of Justice rethink their position in several ongoing court cases, like a dispute over requirements for showing proof of citizenship to vote, and another over a law intended to ban transgender girls from girls sports. Petersen also asked for an overall reversal of some of the former administration’s actions. For example, he wants the federal government to do away with the recently created Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Renewed push for nuclear poses risk to Phoenix drinking water
“The mountains east of Roosevelt Lake, known as the Sierra Anchas, are home to more than one dozen uranium mines, which operated in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, those mines are dormant. Some have entrances that are wide open. Others are boarded shut. But there are still remnants of their radioactive past. Forest Service signs warn visitors not to camp overnight because of low levels of radiation remaining in the rock, soil, and water. At some point in the not so distant future, miners may return to some of those pits and caves or drill new ones, as nuclear energy experiences a revival in the United States. “We think it’s really critical and exciting,” said Bobby Olsen, who is the associate general manager sustainability executive at SRP. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
In national water news today …
Corps permitting developments under a second Trump term
“Just two months into President Trump’s second term, project applicants are navigating a series of changes to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permitting. Upon his inauguration, President Trump issued a suite of Executive Orders (EOs) targeted at permit streamlining, particularly for traditional energy projects, with multiple EO sections focused on the CWA 404 permitting program that cuts across the permitting needs of many industry sectors. Section 4(a) of Trump’s EO entitled “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” specifically directs the Corps to identify within 30 days permit actions that would facilitate the Nation’s energy supply for expedited permitting under the nationwide permit program and emergency provisions of the CWA. In support, Section 5(d) of the EO “Unleashing American Energy”, titled Unleashing Energy Dominance through Efficient Permitting, directs the Secretary of Defense (and peer resource agencies) to “undertake all available efforts to eliminate all delays within their respective permitting processes, including through, but not limited to, the use of general permitting and permit by rule,” i.e., the general permit approach of the nationwide permit (NWP) program. … ” Read more from Nossaman.
SEE ALSO: New Guidance for Defining the ‘Waters of the United States,‘ from Goldberg Sagalla
‘Caught off guard’: EPA proposes to fire hundreds of scientists
“The mood was grim at a town hall meeting called by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday. The gathering came one day after The New York Times reported a bombshell — Lee Zeldin, the agency’s administrator, plans to dismantle its Office of Research and Development, eliminating 50 to 75 percent of its 1,500 or so chemists, toxicologists, biologists, and other experts. The department, which conducts essential research to inform federal policies, plays a critical role in the agency’s mission to safeguard public health and the environment. Laying off most of its staff, many of whom are career scientists, would leave the EPA without the independent and rigorous science needed to develop effective regulations. No one consulted the office’s leaders about the plan. Maureen Gwinn, who leads the Office of Research and Development, or ORD, is not a political appointee, and her team learned about the specifics of the proposal when they read about it in the Times. Managers quickly set up an all-hands with the department staff to discuss it. … ” Read more from Grist.
Lawmakers introduce bill to amend water conservation tax rebates
“Earlier this month, Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), along with Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-Calif.) introduced legislation that would amend federal tax law to exempt homeowners from paying income tax on rebates received from water utilities for water conservation and runoff management improvements. The Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act encourages homeowners to invest in water-saving and flood-prevention improvements by ensuring they are not penalized with unexpected tax burdens. Companion legislation in the Senate has been introduced by Sens. John Curtis (R-Utah), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.). Public utilities and state and local governments across the country are increasingly offering rebates and incentives to homeowners who invest in water conservation and stormwater management improvements to reduce water use, limit stormwater runoff and ease the strain on public infrastructure. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
NOAA cuts more key weather data gathering after layoffs
“The National Weather Service is reducing weather balloon launches at six more locations in the U.S. and temporarily suspending them at two more places due to staffing shortages, the agency announced Thursday afternoon. Why it matters: Weather balloons, typically launched twice per day at NWS local forecast offices, provide crucial data for weather forecasting. The suspensions and reductions in balloon launch frequency come on the heels of other cuts made to at least three locations in the wake of NOAA layoffs and buyouts carried out beginning on Feb. 27. The weather agency, which is part of the Department of Commerce, announced it is suspending weather balloon launches at Omaha, Nebraska, and Rapid City, South Dakota, “due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office (WFO) staffing.” … ” Read more from Axios.
1,000 park workers who were fired in DOGE cuts are reinstated
“Park rangers fired from the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Channel Islands National Park heard Thursday that their jobs will soon be reinstated. The nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Assn. said in a news release Thursday that as a result of recent court orders, “the National Park Service is authorized to fully reinstate 1,000 previously terminated probationary employees at national parks across the country.” Fired workers included rangers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and other critical personnel, the group said. “The American people love our national parks and want them protected for future generations,” Theresa Pierno, the group’s president and chief executive, said in a statement. “It’s time the administration listened. We won’t stop fighting until these attacks on our national parks come to an end.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Summer is coming for national parks. Will there be enough workers?, from the Washington Post
EPA’s Zeldin emerges as Project 2025 frontman
“EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has launched a brazen assault on regulations, canceled environmental grants and eliminated the agency’s environmental justice wing — all in less than two months. The policies are in lockstep with President Donald Trump’s plan to “power the great American comeback,” lower the cost of cars and slash federal spending, Zeldin has said. The actions also closely mirror Project 2025, the conservative blueprint from the Heritage Foundation that Trump once claimed to know nothing about. Zeldin announced a deregulatory blitz last week, targeting over a dozen rules on water pollution, air quality and planet-warming emissions. He also said EPA would reconsider a 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and the environment, one of many recommendations in Project 2025.But while an EPA spokesperson said Zeldin has not read Project 2025, environmental advocates said they aren’t surprised to see the blueprint taking shape at the agency. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Trump wants to log more trees. He’ll need states’ help.
“Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed a pair of executive orders to increase logging in national forests and on other federal lands. Trump’s orders direct federal agencies to set aggressive targets for timber harvests and to circumvent environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act that protect critical habitats. State officials and forestry experts say Trump’s plan relies heavily on state land management agencies to carry it out. Most states say they’ll cooperate to some extent — especially to boost wildfire prevention projects. But most states also are concerned that federal workforce cuts will undermine their goals, and some worry about loosening environmental standards. “It’s 100% dependent on state partnerships,” said Dallin Brooks, executive director of the National Hardwood Lumber Association trade group. “It really is contingent on the states going in and helping. The states have the expertise, the manpower, the local desire, and they’re less likely to face battles on the environmentalist front.” … ” Read more from Stateline.
