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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9:30am. The Council will hear presentations from its staff on the 2025 Delta Research Awards and Delta Science Fellowship and from the California Department of Water Resources on the proposed West False River Salinity Barrier Project. The Delta Watermaster will also provide an update on his office’s activities, including commenting on the Delta Adapts Draft Adaption Plan, reporting on the current water year, planning the Delta Measurement Experimental Consortium, and more. Click here for the full agenda.
- MEETING: Salton Sea Management Program Community Engagement Committee beginning at 1pm. The Committee will convene to receive information on the 2025 SSMP Annual Report and discuss upcoming public meetings focused on the Report. An update on the recent work by the Science Committee will be provided and Staff from the State Water Resources Control Board will provide more information on their Annual Salton Sea Workshop. Click here to join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89676437027 Visit www.saltonsea.ca.gov for more information.
In California water news today …
Federal government restores funding for fish that Trump loves to loathe
“The federal government has restored funding for a captive breeding program designed to ensure survival of California’s delta smelt, even as President Donald Trump has sharpened criticism of the endangered fish. A five-year grant for the UC Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory in Contra Costa County, which raises the smelt, expired last month, and many believed the funding would not be reinstated. Eleven of the lab’s 17 employees were let go. This week, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and UC Davis confirmed that the federal funding, which makes up about three-quarters of the lab’s budget, would resume. Why the financing lapsed and why it ultimately returned amid the widespread funding cuts initiated by the Trump administration over the past two months was not immediately clear. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
SEE ALSO: Trump admin approves funding to keep California’s Delta smelt alive, from E&E News
Republican Rep. LaMalfa introduces resolution to repeal longfin smelt listing under the ESA
“Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), along with fellow California Republicans Vince Fong, Tom McClintock, and David Valadao, introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution on March 21 to repeal the Biden Administration’s listing of the longfin smelt as “endangered” under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The longfin smelt is a cousin of the Delta smelt, a fish that has been demonized by President Trump and MAGA Republicans like LaMalfa as a “worthless fish” in the California Water Wars. Both fish species have declined dramatically in recent years, due to massive exports to corporate agribusiness and Southern California water agencies, along with other factors including toxics, pollution and invasive species. The Delta smelt has become virtually extinct in the wild, with the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fall Midwater Trawl Survey finding no Delta smelt in its native habitat for the past seven years. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
California reports progress in supporting healthy salmon populations and habitat
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced today the release of the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future: Progress Report, developed in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) with support from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The Progress Report follows the release of the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future, released in January 2024. California’s salmon populations are struggling to recover from years of drought, climate disruption, and other environmental and human-made challenges. Thriving salmon populations support healthy waterways, habitats, and species, as well as a multi-million dollar fishing economy and the subsistence of California Native American tribes. The actions outlined in the report lay the groundwork for California to restore and rebuild salmon populations, improve salmon habitat, and utilize the best available science and management practices to prepare for the future. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
State Water Board AHO sends email regarding resumption of Delta Conveyance Project hearings after Monday’s disruption
“Dear Parties and Interested Persons: This e-mail is to follow up with next steps about resumption of the hearing on the proposed Delta Conveyance Project on April 3. First, I want to acknowledge that, although the State Water Board’s hearing platform was the direct target of this cyberattack, everyone in the hearing room or viewing the proceeding on YouTube was harmed. In addition to the obvious disruption and the offensive nature of the content that was forced on us, the slurs and other abhorrent words and images seem to have been calculated to intimidate and inflict particular injury on certain groups and individuals. I find this aspect of Monday’s events particularly disturbing, as I believe many of you do as well. No one should have to risk being subjected to this type of visual and verbal assault when they participate in a government process. The AHO hearing room should be a space in which I can assure that each of you will be safe and treated with dignity – and during Monday’s hearing I could not. I sincerely apologize. I also wish to thank those of you who sent correspondence with information and helpful comments with respect to this incident over the last day. … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
Back-to-back storms could drench California. Here’s how much rain to expect
“It’s not time to put away the rain gear just yet. A stormy pattern is set to return to California over the next week. When it’s all said and done, parts of the state will be soaked by several inches of rain, jeopardizing some April rainfall records. Over the next seven days, the state will see multiple shots at significant spring rainfall. The pattern is so persistent with storm activity that it may be hard to distinguish when one storm system ends and a new one begins. Places along the immediate coast like Half Moon Bay could see measurable rain for five straight days from Sunday through Thursday of next week. In parts of the Sierra including Tahoe, snow could fall for multiple days in a row. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
April atmospheric river storm: When heavy rain, wind, snow could impact Northern California
“The KCRA 3 weather team is tracking a potentially significant atmospheric river storm that could impact Northern California to start the month of April. Next Wednesday, April 2, is a KCRA 3 weather Impact Day. Forecast models are highlighting the possibility of widespread heavy rain, gusty winds and high elevation snow. Specific details like timing and precise precipitation totals are likely to shift over the next several days as weather models decipher where the deepest atmospheric river moisture will go. Potential wind strength and snow levels will become clearer starting this weekend. … ” Read more from KCRA.
- CW3E AR Update: 26 March 2025 Outlook, from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes
- Potent storm packing wind and rain risk to target Northwest, from AccuWeather
Parts of California severely dry while others are drought free for first time since 2019
“Northern Californians can breathe easy knowing the region is completely out of drought, according to weather experts. The last patches of unusually dry areas — remnants of drought that plagued counties along the Oregon and Nevada borders in 2024, and almost all North State counties from 2020 to 2023 — were wiped out by this year’s wet winter. That’s according to data taken at the end of each March by the U.S. Drought Monitor. That happened in most counties even before places like Shasta County got the 19th wettest February on record, stretching back 131 years, according to the data service, a cooperative of federal agencies that includes the National Drought Mitigation Center. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight. | Read via Yahoo News.
Holistic precipitation models in the age of climate change
“For years, scientists have warned of heightened risks of extreme storms due to climate change, and those storms have already begun devastating communities. Weather forecasting will play an increasingly important role in helping prepare communities for dangerous weather, but how are extreme snow and rain events forecasted? Research by professors Ania Panorska and Tom Kozubowski in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, along with colleagues from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps), provides a new predictive model for extreme rain and snow events as well as the return periods (the average amount of time between events) and return levels (amount of precipitation) of extreme events. The study was published last month in Scientific Reports. Previously, precipitation was predicted using hourly or daily models, which, for heavy precipitation events that last longer than a day, may not be particularly useful or accurate. … ” Read more from UNR Today.
From paper to progress: The $60 million project transforming California’s water rights data
“California is taking a major step forward in transforming how water is managed and monitored with the roll out of a groundbreaking tool aimed at modernizing water rights data. Launching this summer, the State Water Board’s $60 million Updating Water Rights Data for California (UPWARD) project is set to replace the outdated, paper-based system with a streamlined, user-friendly platform. By tackling the inefficiencies of the current system, UPWARD will provide timely, accessible information for better decision-making, especially critical during water shortages and droughts. This innovative effort promises to enhance the state’s ability to safeguard its most precious resource. The overarching goal of the UPWARD project is to create new digital infrastructure and data governance processes to improve the quality and accessibility of water rights data. The project will replace the current eWRIMS system with a modern data system, digitize paper records and make them accessible online, and create the teams, policies, and protocols to properly manage the data into perpetuity. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Water woes, labor limitations and regulatory restrictions put California’s dairy industry at a crossroads
“The California dairy industry, renowned for its significant contributions to agriculture, is navigating a series of challenges that demand substantial adaptation to ensure future success. Water scarcity, stringent labor laws and complex permitting regulations top the list of challenges in the Golden State, the nation’s largest milk producer and home to 1.71 million milk cows. Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, emphasizes the need to support the state’s farmers during these challenging times. “What we would like to do is focus on smart incentives because, over the years, the cumulative effect of so many regulatory agencies is adding to the complexity … as well as the cost of compliance,” Ross said in a one-on-one interview with Farm Journal during the California Dairy Sustainability Summit. … ” Read more from Dairy Herd.
‘Solar canals’: A bright solution for California’s water and energy needs?
“USC is leading a consortium of research universities to test a bold plan to blanket California’s vast network of canals with solar panels, a strategy aimed at tackling two of the state’s most pressing challenges: preserving vital water resources and accelerating the shift to renewable energy without disturbing valuable land. The ambitious project — the California Solar Canal Initiative (CSCI) — could maximize the state’s water and energy for the good of the public — and the planet. Organized by the Public Exchange at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the independent advisory firm Solar AquaGrid, CSCI is exploring how fitting solar panels over the state’s vast canal network could simultaneously conserve water, reduce air pollution and generate renewable energy — all while maximizing the use of existing land and infrastructure. … The goal is to fast-track the deployment of solar power across the state by identifying prime locations and potential community benefits. The team aims to equip decision-makers with the data they need to advance this novel climate solution. … ” Read more from University of Southern California.
Federal cuts remove key funding for California coastal bluff erosion
“Orange County, one of California’s wealthiest coastal regions, is missing out on millions in previously promised federal funds this year, part of a complex cost-cutting measure enacted by national lawmakers to avert a government shutdown. The new shortfall amounts to millions of dollars lost for local (and in some cases vital) projects that had previously been given the go-ahead by a bitterly divided Congress. In two specific Southern California cases, needed funds were earmarked to help shore up ongoing coastal erosion and landslide issues — and now, that money has disappeared. The Orange County Register reported this week that Orange County will lose out on more than $68 million in federal earmarks for 2025, money that was previously approved for projects like a community college’s water science laboratory, local park revitalizations and, for Fountain Valley, a new fire station. Those earmarks are a common part of modern politics, used by public officials to flow federal money into local projects such as bridges, roadways and schools. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
ACWA leading coalition opposing SB 601 wastewater discharge bill
“ACWA is urging members to join a coalition opposing SB 601, which would needlessly complicate the state’s wastewater discharge permitting system, potentially lead to frivolous litigation and likely result in higher water bills for Californians. The bill was introduced by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) with the intent of safeguarding California’s water quality protection regime from federal rollbacks. However, its approach would go far beyond simply maintaining the status quo, expanding federal permitting requirements and exposing water agencies to significant liability, ultimately impeding progress toward overcoming the state’s severe housing shortage while answering water supply reliability challenges. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News.
Will this bill be the end of California’s housing vs environment wars?
“For years California has been stuck in a recurring fight between legislators who want the state to turbocharge new home construction and legislators determined to defend a landmark environmental protection law. The final showdown in that long-standing battle may have just arrived. A new bill by Oakland Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks would exempt most urban housing developments from the 55-year-old California Environmental Quality Act. If it passes — a big if, even in today’s ascendent pro-building political environment — it would mean no more environmental lawsuits over proposed apartment buildings, no more legislative debates over which projects should be favored with exemptions and no more use of the law by environmental justice advocates, construction unions and anti-development homeowners to wrest concessions from developers or delay them indefinitely. In short, it would spell the end of California’s Housing-CEQA Wars. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Bills propose “new ways” to improve California’s wildfire response
“Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) was a firefighter in Southern California for 35 years before he decided to run for political office. A former mayor of Murietta, Seyarto was elected a State Assemblymember in 2020 representing the 67th District. In 2022, he won the Senate race for the 32nd District. As a firefighter, Seyarto protected homes and saved lives in neighborhoods around Altadena, Pasadena, the Pacific Palisades, and other areas in Los Angeles County. He retired from the Los Angeles County Fire Department in 2015 at the rank of Battalion Chief. Seyarto says when he found out about the fires in Los Angeles County, including Altadena – one of state’s oldest and most affluent middle-class Black neighborhoods razed during the Eaton firestorm – he felt a particular closeness to the damage and devastation. … ” Read more from San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.
In commentary today …
California government meeting stopped by pornography, racism? Democracy lost
Opinion writer Tom Philp writes, “A state meeting on California’s most controversial water project, attended via Zoom on Monday by dozens of officials and experts, was hijacked by a rogue broadcast of sexual images and audio of racist comments against Blacks and Jews. It was not funny. The State Water Resources Control Board, unable to stop its own webcast, lost control of the meeting. It was canceled. And key testimony is not scheduled to resume for at least six weeks. As the state capital, Sacramento has seen more than its share of political theater over the years. In 2019, a menstrual cup containing human blood was thrown from the state Senate gallery, temporarily interrupting proceedings. Activists opposed to vaccinations for children took civil disobedience to new extremes.But what happened Monday in a complicated regulatory proceeding is something disturbingly new and different. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Trump’s cuts to federal agency NOAA hurt Californians and weaken national security
Tom Ellison, director of the nonpartisan Center for Climate and Security, writes, “As a Sacramento native, the effects of climate change on the state are personal to me. My fondest memories are backpacking in the Sierras and Trinity Alps, places I’ve since returned to and found ravaged by wildfires. As a student, I interned for former Senator Dianne Feinstein, who loomed large in California agricultural and water policy. My parents worked on California energy and environmental issues, and my mom owned N95 masks for wildfire smoke long before COVID made them common. Most recently, the devastating Los Angeles wildfires displaced friends and family. My professional path led me to the intelligence community, where I served for a decade in Washington, D.C., and the Middle East. There, I saw how fires, floods and food aren’t just environmental topics but profound security issues. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In Our View: Columbia River treaty reversal requires explanation
The Columbian editorial board writes, “Because Washington shares a 427-mile border with Canada, it is not surprising that President Donald Trump’s bizarre feud with our neighbors to the north has a large impact on our state. … Trump’s tariffs upon goods from Canada — and Canada’s countertariffs — have drawn much attention. So have his musings about Canada becoming our 51st state. But perhaps his most counterproductive move regarding our neighbors involves the Columbia River Treaty. The treaty dates to 1961, defining flood mitigation practices throughout the Columbia River basin — an area roughly the size of Texas. Negotiations to modernize the treaty began in 2018, and last year the Biden administration announced a tentative agreement. Now, however, the Trump administration has paused the continuing negotiations. This comes from a president who has said that tapping into the Columbia River could solve water shortages in California. … ” Read more from The Columbian.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Inside the decades-long battle to restore the Klamath River
“Last year, Indigenous tribes in California and Oregon realized a longstanding dream: the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River. It was the largest such environmental restoration project in U.S. history, opening the way for salmon to return home to the Klamath and for tribes and other advocates to begin restoring the ecosystem that once flourished there. And last week, Grist’s Jake Bittle and Anita Hofschneider published a five-part, 14,000-word feature delving into the decades-long history of how it all happened. In their story, they describe the dam removal as “the result of an improbable campaign that spanned close to half a century, roped in thousands of people, and came within an inch of collapse several times. Interviews with dozens of people on all sides of the dam removal fight, some of whom have never spoken publicly about their roles, reveal a collaborative achievement with few clear parallels in contemporary activism.” Over many months, Bittle and Hofschneider interviewed dozens of people — tribal leaders, activists, farmers, former members of Congress, and beyond — about the battle to remove the dams. “It’s hard to do a call on this topic that’s, like, less than two hours long,” Hofschneider said. They paired these in-depth interviews with archival newspaper research to piece together the story as it had unfolded across decades, in many cases rebuilding scenes from years ago. … ” Read more from Grist.
Rising costs, expanding membership: The future of water in Ukiah Valley
“At the March 6, 2025, Ukiah Valley Water Authority (UVWA) meeting, the Board welcomed its newest member, the Calpella County Water District, and swore in two new representatives. The discussion quickly turned to potential expansion, as several small mutual water companies expressed interest in joining. The Board also voted to approve a $147,750 comprehensive rate study that could pave the way for regional water consolidation, while tackling future challenges like PG&E’s plan to abandon the Potter Valley Project. As the Board works to secure water for the future, the weight of rising costs and strained resources looms large. The UVWA Board welcomed new JPA member Calpella County Water District. New Board Members representing Calpella, Steven Bogart and Tami Baarsch Bogart, were officially sworn in. … ” Read more from MendoFever.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
PG&E conducts snow survey in Lassen Volcanic National Park to determine snow melt potential for hydroelectricity
“On Tuesday, a crew from Pacific Gas & Electric took to the skies in a helicopter to access a remote part of the Lassen Volcanic National for their snow survey. PG&E, which is dependent on the snow melt to help generate hydro-electricity around the state of California, conducted the survey to help predict just how much snow melt is expected in the coming months. “The Northstate is a beautiful place and to be here in the Lassen Volcanic National Park, almost in winter when people can’t get in this far, is fantastic,” said Paul Moreno, spokesperson for PG&E. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Placer County Water Agency continues to address water delivery challenges following PG&E powerhouse damage
“At its March 20 meeting, the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors received an update on the ongoing efforts to address water supply challenges caused by damage to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Lake Spaulding Powerhouses and its impact on water deliveries. A second repair to the Spaulding Powerhouse No. 1 owned and operated by PG&E is now underway 24/7 as reported by PG&E, and expected to be completed this summer. During these repairs, releases from Lake Spaulding to the Drum Canal and Bear River will be cut off, requiring PCWA to implement measures similar to last summer to offset the reduction in PG&E deliveries. The resulting five-month disruption will significantly impact PCWA’s water deliveries. “It is deeply concerning that PCWA customers are again facing a reduction in water deliveries,” said Gray Allen PCWA Board Vice Chair, who also noted higher costs for pumping water from the American River. “We understand the challenges this places on our community, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to
conserve water.” … ” Read more from the Placer County Water Agency.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
International students tour Shasta County, express awe at Shasta Dam
“A group of 29 international students from the International House at UC Berkeley have been exploring Shasta County this week, courtesy of the Redding Rotary Club. Their itinerary included skiing at Mt. Shasta, paddle boarding on Shasta Lake, and a comprehensive tour of Shasta Dam. The students, hailing from countries such as China, India, and Pakistan, were given an in-depth look at the dam, from its towering heights to its base, along with a lesson in local history. The experience left a lasting impression on the visitors. Nakul Srikanth expressed his amazement, saying, “This is so cool… so much history, it has been around for like, 100 years almost. I learned a lot about the Hoover Dam to see that this was constructed exactly the same way, with the same engineers… it is so amazing.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
NAPA/SONOMA
Napa Valley grapegrowers seminar reviews best irrigation practices, ways growers can volunteer to conserve groundwater
“The importance of healthy soils and irrigation management as well as understanding and monitoring your irrigation system—because as one expert put it, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure”—were some of the top components emphasized for working to achieve better water management and in turn, better sustainable groundwater management in Napa Valley. These and other sustainable irrigation topics were discussed during Napa Valley Grapegrowers Smart Irrigation and Water Conservation seminar on March 26 at the Napa Valley College. … ” Read more from Wine Business.
BAY AREA
New hazard mitigation plan prepares Berkeley for the unknown
“Earthquakes, flooding, wildfires and extreme heat are among the list of about a dozen hazards Berkeley is preparing for in its updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The five-year document, recently adopted by the city council and developed by city staff, builds upon areas of concern identified in previous iterations. “We know how important disaster preparation is. All of us in different ways see it in our districts,” Councilmember Brent Blackaby said during a March 18 council meeting. The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan specifically identifies earthquakes, wildlife-urban interface fires, extreme heat, rainfall-triggered landslides, poor air quality, high winds, sea level rise, flooding, utility interruptions, hazardous material releases and infectious diseases as all likely to occur up to once in the next 50 years. Tsunamis are another hazard listed as possible to occur up to once in the next 51 to 100 years. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
DOGE targets two Santa Barbara waterfront leases for termination
“Amid all the tumult surrounding major cuts proposed by the Trump administration targeting the National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are a couple of properties NOAA currently leases from the City of Santa Barbara. Should these leases be terminated as proposed, the NOAA offices at 113 Harbor Way — a 452-square-foot space rented by the agency since 1997 ― will be open for new tenants as of May 31, 2026. Likewise for the 2,160-square-foot slip in Marina 4-B that NOAA has leased from City Hall to berth its 65-foot research vessel, the Shearwater, since 2008. The Harbor Way offices are occupied by two longtime research employees. One focuses on efforts to bring Santa Barbara’s steelhead trout population — a federally endangered species ― back from the brink of extinction; the other has been more focused on efforts to reduce the number of boat strikes on whales in the Santa Barbara Channel. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
Toxic algae blooms killing scores of Central Coast marine mammals
“Waves of poisoned animals are washing up across the Central Coast, marking the fourth year in a row that toxic algae blooms have led to a mass die-off of marine mammals. Domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin produced by algae, has been killing sea lions and dolphins along California’s coastline for years. However, large toxic algal blooms are becoming more frequent, causing recent spikes in domoic acid deaths. Reports of animals suffering from domoic acid poisoning on Santa Barbara County beaches are flooding local marine wildlife organizations — including the Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) and the Channel Islands Cestacean Research Unit (CICRU). These animals, if alive, exhibit symptoms such as disorientation, foaming at the mouth, and seizures. One “feral” sea lion even attacked a surfer off Ventura County on Friday, according to the L.A. Times. The surfer, RJ LaMendola, said the animal bit him and dragged him off his surfboard. When he later contacted CIMWI, they told him it was likely due to domoic acid poisoning. … ” Read more from Santa Barbara Independent.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Fresno lawmaker steps in to block billion-dollar blast mine on San Joaquin River
“A billion-dollar blast mine planned along the San Joaquin River’s prime salmon spawning habitat is facing its first major political challenge after months of diplomatic silence from Fresno leaders. Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula introduced new state legislation last week aimed directly at stopping global mining giant CEMEX from blasting a crater twice as deep as Millerton Lake along the San Joaquin River’s planned parkway near Fresno. “I am committed to preserving the San Joaquin River and find deeply troubling the mining proposal that could adversely impact the river,” Arambula told Fresnoland in a statement, becoming the first elected official to publicly oppose the project. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
SEE ALSO: Arambula proposes bill to block CEMEX’s controversial quarry expansion in Fresno County, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Communities are rebuilding after L.A. fires despite lack of soil testing for toxic substances
“In Altadena and the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of L.A., reconstruction has begun despite the fact that the soil on affected properties has not been tested for toxic substances. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s controversial decision to forgo soil testing in communities burned in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires sparked pushback Wednesday as California lawmakers questioned whether the practice will prevent residents from knowing if there are toxic substances on the land before rebuilding begins. Federally hired cleanup crews have been removing ash and debris, in addition to a 6-inch layer of topsoil, from buildings burned by the wildfires. But, asked last month by The Times, FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed they won’t test the soil at these properties after they finish their cleanup, breaking with a long-standing practice that was intended to ensure that homes and schools don’t still contain excessive levels of harmful chemicals after environmental disasters such as a wildfire. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Should Malibu fire victims rebuild their coastal homes when the ocean is advancing?
“Dean and Denise Wenner were sweet on the Cape Cod-style home from the moment they found it in 2019. It had five bedrooms spread over three levels, with decks that hung over Santa Monica Bay. When the tide was up, you felt almost like you were on an ocean liner, with views that swept from Palos Verdes to Point Dume. Now the Wenners are among more than 300 families along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu who lost their homes in the January firestorms, all of them facing even greater hurdles than their inland neighbors in trying to rebuild homes that most never planned to leave. The reason for extra anxiety along Pacific Coast Highway? The very qualities that made the houses so special — their precarious toehold on the Pacific coast — will now make them particularly challenging to rebuild. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Regenerate LA: Creating beautiful, fire-resistant landscapes
“Fueled by weather whiplash, hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, and dense, dry vegetation left over from the previous winter, the fires spread quickly, forcing more than 200,000 people to evacuate and destroying over 18,000 homes and structures. By the time the fires were contained at the end of the month, entire neighborhoods had been destroyed, and thousands of Angelenos were left wondering how to rebuild—not just their homes, but their landscapes and communities. In the aftermath, one question has become more pressing than ever: How can we better safeguard our homes against future climate disasters? For years, the standard advice has been to remove as much vegetation as possible, cover everything in gravel, and hope for the best. But here’s the truth: a bare landscape isn’t a fireproof one. In fact, stripping away all plant life can make fires worse by increasing heat and creating conditions that allow flames to spread even faster. … ” Read more from LA Waterkeeper.
More than 200 acre-feet of runoff captured this year by San Fernando infiltration system
“In February and March, heavy rainfall fell in Southern California. That was good news for the City of San Fernando, as it captured 220 acre-feet of runoff, thanks to its groundwater infiltration system. “Typically, a household uses about a quarter acre-foot of water [annually],” Wendell Johnson, director of Public Works, explained. “Essentially, the amount of water about 800 households on an annual basis has been infiltrated.” While certainly a large amount of water, Johnson said it’s still only about half of their goal of capturing 450 acre-feet for the year – enough for 1,800 households. … ” Read more from the San Fernando Valley Sun.
California’s coast and the Los Angeles River flow in art on display at Hilbert Museum
“One of California’s most precious resources flows through two new exhibitions at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University. Water is captured in “California’s Golden Coast: Selections from The Hilbert Collection” and “The Los Angeles River: An Unexpected Beauty,” both now on view in Orange, through Aug. 9. “We have so many paintings, drawings and prints that have to do with the coast,” said Mary Platt, director of the Hilbert Museum. “Whether it is people having fun on the beach, little villages and towns and cities on the waterfront or people sailing on the water.” Platt worked closely with museum founder Mark Hilbert to curate “California’s Golden Coast” and the result is more than 40 pieces in both watercolors and oils, painted from the 1930s to today that reflect life and leisure on the coast and the way it has changed over the years. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Mesa Water opens education center to show students, residents what goes into getting water to taps
“Until now, much of what the fifth graders at Page Academy in Costa Mesa learned about water came out of a book. But during their visit to the new Mesa Water Education Center in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, March 25, the students could see, touch and even taste water and get an up-close look at the infrastructure connected to delivering the precious natural resource to faucets. Situated within the Mesa Water District‘s facility on Geisler Avenue, the 2,400-square-foot education center features more than 20 visual and interactive exhibits providing an informative – and even entertaining – A-to-Z lesson on where water comes, how it arrives at the faucet, where it winds up after going down the drain and every step in between. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SEE ALSO: Mesa Water District officials hope new learning center for kids has a trickle-down effect, from the LA Times
Coastkeeper Chronicles: Expanding to the Inland Empire
“Water knows no boundary; it flows freely across city lines, county borders, and even state and national divides. When addressing water quality issues, such as debris, stormwater pollution, or ecosystem health, it’s crucial to look at things from a watershed perspective rather than a political one. That’s why, in 2005, we founded Inland Empire Waterkeeper. Orange County and the Inland Empire are deeply connected through culture, industry, and, most importantly, water. Spanning 2,650 square miles, the Santa Ana River watershed is the largest watershed in Southern California, encompassing areas of Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Expanding our mission into the Inland Empire allows us to link the upper and lower sections of the watershed, tackling water quality issues from source to sea! In this installment of Coastkeeper Chronicles, we’re shifting the focus away from Orange County and onto our neighbors to the northeast. Over the past 20 years, IE Waterkeeper has grown to be the leading voice for clean water in the upper Santa Ana River watershed. … ” Read more from the OC Coastkeeper.
SAN DIEGO
The value of water: Ensuring reliability despite climate challenges
“For more than 80 years, the Water Authority and its 22 member agencies have worked together to deliver safe and reliable water to sustain our economy – from biotech and farming to tourism and outdoor sports. Despite climate challenges and a limited local water supply, strategic investments ensure that water continues flowing to support our homes, businesses, and economy. What most people don’t know is where that water comes from. The region relies on a diversified water supply to ensure long-term reliability. The majority—about 61%—comes from the Colorado River, secured through conservation efforts in the Imperial Valley, where water savings from farms and canals are transferred to San Diego. … ” Read more from Coast News.
1st dolphin, 8 more sea lions reported dead from toxic algae bloom off San Diego
“Dozens of marine mammals — including dolphins — have been sickened by a toxic algae bloom off the San Diego’s coast, according to SeaWorld. Although scientists have recorded domoic-acid blooms every year recently, the number of cases this year has already surpassed the last two years. Jeni Smith, the curator of the SeaWorld San Diego rescue program, said that, despite their team’s lifesaving efforts, nine of the sea lions they’ve taken in died and “SeaWorld has responded to two dolphins. One dolphin went back into the water; one dolphin we rescued and unfortunately didn’t make it.” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is reporting at least 100 sea lions and dolphins have died off the SoCal coast this year. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
Padilla secures commitment from EPA nominee to help combat Tijuana River pollution crisis
“Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) secured a commitment from Jessica Kramer, nominee for Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to help address the ongoing Tijuana River transboundary pollution crisis and its harmful environmental and public health impacts. During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee nominations hearing, Padilla highlighted the hundreds of millions in federal funding he secured along with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and the San Diego Congressional delegation to expand and upgrade the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) to address harmful sewage flows. Kramer echoed Senator Padilla’s characterization of these transboundary pollution flows as a “crisis” and emphasized the importance of federal infrastructure investments to combat the crisis. Padilla and Kramer agreed that collaboration and communication, with both Mexico and federal partners like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department, is essential to address these harmful cross-border flows. … ” Read more from Senator Alex Padilla.
Along the Colorado River …
‘Such a relief!’ What is looks like when water returns to an AZ canyon after a dry winter
“Tucson’s Sabino Canyon, and all the animals and plants living in it, endured the second-driest winter on record in 2024 and 2025. For Joseph Cyr, a high school teacher who takes award-winning nature photos in the canyon with his iPhone, it was the first time the canyon had not sung with water for so long. After months with almost no precipitation, the mountains above the canyon got a shock of rain and snow in early March. Cyr, who hikes Sabino often, heard that another hiker had seen water high in the canyon. On March 15, he set out to see for himself. “I decided to go to the canyon, but I thought it would still be dry, since it can take quite a bit of time for the flowing water to arrive in the lower elevations,” Cyr told The Arizona Republic. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Bipartisan Arizona bill would help fund project bringing water to 215 Navajo Nation homes
“A bipartisan bill that would put state funds toward a water pipeline project on the Navajo Nation passed the state Senate on Tuesday. SB 1579 would allocate $340,000 to help with the design, planning and construction costs for the Ganado Chapter Waterline Extension Project. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Arizona groundwater protection bill advances, but rural residents say it still doesn’t do enough
“Republican state lawmakers advanced an Arizona rural groundwater protection bill in the House on Tuesday, but rural stakeholders say the bill doesn’t do enough. Groundwater aquifers are running low in rural areas of the state, but Democrats and Republicans haven’t been able to come to an agreement on a conservation plan. The GOP management plan is in the form of a bill pushed by Sen. Tim Dunn (R-Yuma). It advanced out of a House committee on party lines Tuesday, despite the concerns of speakers and several lawmakers. The main sticking point is the amount of water use the plan would allow. In Dunn’s bill, SB 1520, water users would have to cut up to 10% of their use. Opponents say that isn’t enough. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Bridging the gorge: The forgotten footbridge of Glen Canyon
“On Tuesday morning, November 12, 1957, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced the completion of a suspension-type footbridge, spanning the Colorado River gorge at the Glen Canyon dam site. The news spread quickly with follow-up stories about the footbridge appearing in most Utah newspapers. The Salt Lake Tribune ran the news of its completion on the top front page, above photos of President Kennedy during a recent interview. The article playfully warned it was no place for anyone with acrophobia, but did mention it offered an excellent view of the Colorado River – 700 feet straight down. The Southern Utah News in Kanab, Utah offered more technical information about the footbridge and its construction, accompanied by a Reclamation photo showing the expanse of the bridge and its “bird’s eye” view of the Colorado River. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Southern Colorado’s “dismal” snowpack has water managers praying for big storms this spring
“The pressure is on: Colorado’s average snowpack statewide masks worrisome water conditions in the south, where water providers are banking on more storms to boost water supplies before snowmelt begins in April. Much of Colorado’s annual water supply is stored in its winter snowpack, which builds up until early April when it melts and flows into soils, streams and reservoirs. Statewide, Colorado is headed toward that April 8 peak with 92% of its normal snowpack for this time of year. But conditions vary widely from north to south and within individual river basins, leaving some water experts concerned about drought, wildfires and reservoir levels, officials said during a Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meeting Tuesday. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
US Supreme Court hears arguments over where environmental challenges should be heard
“U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case that could allow states to challenge federal environmental rules in more favorable courts. The case could determine whether certain U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations are reviewed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — which has more liberal judges — or in regional courts, where certain states and industry groups would prefer to make their arguments. The dispute centers around EPA’s decision that 21 states’ plans for ozone pollution failed to meet federal Clean Air Act standards. Oklahoma and Utah challenged that disapproval in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which spans six Western states. The federal agency argued the challenge should be heard in the D.C. Circuit. … ” Read more from Stateline.
The EPA plans to cut hundreds of environmental grants. Democrats say it’s illegal
“California lawmakers this week joined a chorus of outraged Democrats demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency reverse plans to terminate hundreds of grants geared toward clean air and water — a move they are calling illegal. Internal EPA documents released by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works include a list of about 400 grants targeted for elimination, 62 of which are in California. The grants are aimed at reducing childhood lead poisoning, improving air quality and mitigating health risks from extreme heat and wildfires, among other purposes. The termination of the grants in question violates a number of court orders and escalates the Trump administration’s attempts to “impound Congressionally-appropriated, legally-obligated funds protecting clean air and clean water and powering domestic investment in low-cost clean energy,” read a March 25 letter signed by the nine Democratic senators on the committee, including Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla of California. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
NOAA cuts weather balloon launches due to staff shortages after DOGE layoffs
“The National Weather Service is reducing the number of weather balloons it launches across the country, an early tangible decrease in services offered in the wake of cuts by the Trump administration. The NWS, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, announced last week that it was halting or reducing weather balloon operations at 11 locations, citing staffing shortages. The NWS uses these weather balloons, until recently launched twice per day from 100 total locations, to gather temperature, wind, pressure and other data from the ground up to approximately 100,000 feet. The results are compiled along with data from satellites, radar stations, surface weather stations, buoys and aircraft to build weather models and forecasts that are public and freely available. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Trump halts historic orphaned well-plugging program
“The billions of dollars approved by Congress to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells have been frozen as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts to government spending, creating concerns that the cleanup will be halted just as it’s getting started. President Trump’s barrage of executive orders included a January directive called “Unleashing American Energy,” which, among other provisions, ordered that federal agencies stop distributing money appropriated by President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Trump administration titled this section of the order “Terminating the Green New Deal.” But in freezing this congressionally approved spending, the administration halted a program that paid for plugging and reclaiming so-called “orphaned” or abandoned oil and gas wells. … ” Read more from High Country News.
SEE ALSO: The economics of America’s aging oil wells, from KVPR
FEMA on the chopping block
“Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has privately voiced support for dramatically shrinking the Federal Emergency Management Agency, six people told POLITICO’s E&E News. Noem told Trump administration officials in a meeting Tuesday at Department of Homeland Security headquarters that she wants to eliminate FEMA’s role in funding long-term rebuilding efforts and halt multibillion-dollar grant programs that help communities prepare for disasters. No decisions have been made, and it is unclear if certain FEMA functions would be removed from the federal government or be relocated to another agency or department. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO: Local disaster officials prepare for ‘a world without FEMA’, from E&E News
