Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Delta Conveyance Project water right hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending Petitions for Change of Water Right Permits for the Delta Conveyance Project. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing without participating may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: bit.ly/aho-youtube. Click here for the meeting notice.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Water Infrastructure and Planning Workgroup from 2pm to 3:30pm. The Department of Water Resources established a standing drought and water shortage interagency task force in coordination with the State Water Board and other relevant state agencies to facilitate proactive state planning and coordination for pre-drought planning, emergency response, and post-drought management, consistent with Senate Bill 552 (Chaptered in 2021). The Task Force, called the Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners Collaborative (DRIP Collaborative), will serve as a public forum with state and non-state agency members to advance our drought strategies and continue building resilience to the increasingly arid conditions California faces. Remote participation will be conducted via a Zoom platform. Register here.
In California water news and commentary today …
How much toxic heavy metal is in that bright red fire retardant? The LAist had it tested to find out
“Not long after the Palisades Fire broke out Jan. 7, firefighting aircraft began drawing bright red lines with fire retardant across the Santa Monica Mountains, in an effort to slow and contain the flames. By the time the fire was out about three weeks later, the MD-87s, S-2Ts and mammoth DC-10s had performed more than 280 drops across 20 square miles, according to data from Cal Fire obtained via public records requests. LAist partnered with researchers at USC to test samples of the fire retardant gathered from fire zones in the weeks after the Palisades, Eaton and Franklin fires where it remained on the ground. Those tests found toxic heavy metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium and chromium, which can accumulate in the environment and pose risks to humans and wildlife, according to federal and state environmental agencies. A product called MVP-FX, a variant of Perimeter Solutions’ Phos-Chek, was the primary aerial retardant dropped on the Eaton and Palisades fires, according to the company. … ” Read more from the LAist.
California’s first solar-over-canal project now generating electricity
“Project Nexus: California’s first solar-covered canals. The initiative that’s been years in the making is now generating electricity while conserving the state’s water supply. The solar panels sit over Turlock Irrigation District canals in Central California. “This location is about 1400 linear feet and we have two different directions so the solar panels are facing south in one direction and west in the other so we’re able to figure out what site generates the most power,” director of external affairs for Turlock Irrigation District, Josh Weimer explained. … ” Read more from Channel 30.
Fast-track dredging to save the Delta
“Governor Newsom’s priority constituency is now located outside of California and shaded purple, and a new team occupies the White House that is as red as red can be. So it is probably safe to say that even here in deep blue California, many of the policies governing energy and water are about to be reviewed and revised. One of these policy shifts, we may hope, will be to fast track expanded dredging operations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Compared with most water project proposals, the price tag to resume dredging in the Delta is surprisingly low. At about $10 million per mile, dredging 75 miles of Delta channels comes in at $750 million, and these days, any big water project that comes in under $1.0 billion is a bargain. The immediate benefit of dredging choke points throughout the Delta is more reservoir storage. Most of California’s reservoirs are never filled, in order to always leave them with the capacity to absorb heavy rainfall or rapid snow melt to prevent downstream flooding. But if dredging were to restore the capacity of the Delta channels to safely allow heavier storm and snowmelt flows to make it into the San Francisco Bay without breaching the levees, California’s reservoirs could retain an additional million acre feet per year. In terms of construction cost divided by annual yield, at $1,000 per acre foot, nothing comes close. The financial case for dredging is compelling. … ” Read more from Edward Ring.
Anticipating the next drought: DWR’s plans for rapid drought barrier construction
“California frequently experiences multi-year droughts, a natural aspect of our highly variable climate. However, climate change intensifies both the frequency and severity of these droughts, making them a significant concern. Over the past 15 years, the state has endured 11 droughts, increasing the likelihood of another occurring within the next decade. In response to the growing prevalence of severe droughts, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is actively working to secure permits for the rapid deployment of the next drought salinity barrier at West False River when the conditions require it. Ibraheem Alsufi, Project Manager for the West False River Drought Salinity Barrier Project, briefed the Delta Stewardship Council on the project at its March meeting. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Northern Sierra snowpack exceeds average, south lags behind
“California’s Sierra snowpack provides nearly a third of the water for California. This water builds during the winter and melts as the weather warms, helping to fill reservoirs downstream. The water year in California begins October 1 and runs through the following year, ending on September 30. April 1 is an important date for state water managers as it’s the date when mountain snowpack historically peaks and begins melting. California Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducts periodic snow surveys through the year to verify what remote sensors are collecting. The location for the snow survey is Phillips Station, which is in the American River basin and is a low point in the spine of the Sierra Mountains. The late March/early April snowstorm gave a little boost to the snowpack numbers. As of April 1, the statewide snowpack sat at 96% of average. There are some variations from north to south which will factor into water supply storage. … ” Read more from ABC 10.
Shasta Lake only 16 feet from the top after multiple winter storms helped fill reservoir
“After the winter season brought many storms to our region, we wanted to check in on water levels at California’s biggest reservoir. Since January 1st, Shasta Lake has risen more than 22 feet, with current inflows to the lake at 22,000 CFS, and outflows at 7,500 CFS. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, February’s atmospheric river events brought 200% more rainfall than usual into Shasta Lake. “So, if we get a ton of rain, we may have to look at releasing more water. If we don’t get anymore rain, hopefully we’ll see it go all the way to the top” Shasta Dam Public Affairs Specialist Michael Burke said on Wednesday. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
SEE ALSO: Lake Shasta rises 18 feet in March, as Redding area sees abundant rain this water year, from the Redding Record Searchlight
A single dry winter decimated California’s salmon and trout populations
“A single severely dry winter temporarily, but dramatically, altered the ranges of three fishes — Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout — in California’s northern waterways. In a new study, published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, biologists found that the unusually dry winter of 2013-2014 caused some salmon and steelhead to temporarily disappear from individual tributaries and even entire watersheds along the northern California coast. “California is at the southern end of the range for several species of salmon and trout, and because of a whole host of impacts, from colonization and engineered control of western rivers to climate change, these populations have been decimated,” said study lead author Stephanie Carlson, the A.S. Leopold Chair in Wildlife Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. “Our findings provide a glimpse into how an individual extreme event can trigger the widespread and sudden collapse of multiple populations and species and potentially result in longer term range shifts.” … ” Read more from UC Berkeley.
SGMA’s local control: The cost and pain points
“With the recent celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA), it seems appropriate to look back at one of the fundamental elements on which it was founded: local control. Many fought for local control when the legislation was being developed prior to its passage in 2014, arguing groundwater management is best accomplished at the local level. This is contrary to how new state regulations are implemented, from the top down. This foundational concept of local control captures the essence of SGMA: granting first authority to locals to create and maintain sustainable groundwater conditions. From the formation of groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) to developing the groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) to completing projects and implementing management actions, the onerous effort is put on the locals. Of course, SGMA accounted for and includes a state back-stop, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board), for when the locals struggle and need temporary oversight through the probationary process. … ” Read more from the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
Researchers coin ‘thirstwaves’ as new term for prolonged periods of atmospheric thirst
“Most people have heard of heatwaves: extended periods of abnormally hot weather. But researchers from CIRES and the University of Idaho have coined a new term to describe extended periods of atmospheric thirst. Studying these ‘thirstwaves’ can help farmers better manage their water resources and improve crop yields, according to the researchers. Evaporative demand refers to how ‘thirsty’ Earth’s atmosphere is, or how readily it sucks up moisture from plants, soil, and bodies of water. A combination of factors drives evaporative demand, including temperature, wind speed, humidity, and sunshine. Mike Hobbins, a CIRES researcher in NOAA’s Physical Sciences Laboratory, and Meetpal Kukal, a research hydrologist at the University of Idaho, define thirstwaves as periods where evaporative demand is elevated for extended periods. They describe the new term and examine past United States thirstwaves in a new paper published today in Earth’s Future. … ” Continue reading from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.
‘Liberation Day’ comes for California almonds
“President Donald Trump’s trade wars are putting California farmers and ranchers, happy with his promises to deliver more water, back into financial — and political — limbo. Trump announced a universal tariff of 10 percent on imported goods today, with higher rates for some of the United States’ top trade partners, including 20 percent on European Union goods. Looming retaliatory tariffs could hit California farmers hard, with a cost ranging from hundreds of millions of dollars to the billions, according to one University of California, Davis study — potentially surpassing the cost of California’s last big drought in 2021. California’s agricultural industry, the largest in the nation, has lobbied Congress and the White House to avoid harm from tariffs, just like other business groups. But it’s treading carefully to not appear ungrateful for the White House’s promises on water. … ” Read more from Politico.
Water panel a key at California Dairy Sustainability Summit
“A well-attended panel discussion on water for dairy operations was part of the program for the California Dairy Sustainability Summit, held March 25 in Visalia. Over 500 attended the conference, including dairy producers and processors along with a wide range of dairy agri-service personnel, university Extension staff and students. This fifth annual conference was hosted by leading statewide dairy organizations. One of three breakout sessions in the final hour of the morning was entitled Tackling Water Scarcity: Evolving policies & strategies for improving water availability. A standing room audience of over 80 heard panel moderator Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Milk Producers Council Director of Regulatory & Economic Affairs, lead a discussion with David DeGroot, water engineer and dairy producer, and Thomas Harter, PhD, head of the hydrologic sciences group and Distinguished Professor at UC Davis. … ” Read more from Water Wrights.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to California’s wildfire challenges
“Wildfire is an inescapable part of life in California. We saw that, in a stark and heartbreaking way, back in January, when a combination of wildfire, dry vegetation, and high winds resulted in the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, among others. Californians are increasingly finding themselves in harm’s way. Recent analysis shows that development in or near wildland areas has grown: statewide, approximately 1 million acres of residential neighborhoods were built in or near wildland areas between 1990 and 2020, with roughly a third of them in Southern California. The recent fires and evidence of growing fire risk has sparked a statewide conversation about reducing the impact of wildfire on our landscapes and communities. But there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to reducing wildfire impact in California. Wildfires occur throughout the state in vastly different ecosystems, and each ecosystem demands a different set of tools. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Salmon return to the Klamath’s Oregon waters, but the river’s headwaters are still blocked
“Klamath tribal member and fish tech Charlie Wright coached dozens of young hatchery spring chinook as she poured them out of a bucket into a tributary of the upper Klamath River in Southern Oregon in November 2023. “They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s cold!‘” she said as the fish swam away from the bucket and changed color in their new environment. “Look how pretty green they turn here. They look like happy babies.” A lot of hope was pouring into the river along with those fish as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Klamath Tribes entered the beginning stages of starting a new run of spring chinook salmon. Those hatchery fish were the very beginning of what could be the first run of spring chinook to survive in the upper Klamath Basin since the early 1900s. … ” Read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Tribes celebrate historic Trinity River water agreement
“Today, leaders of the Hoopa Valley and Yurok Tribes signed an agreement to share 50,000 Acre-Feet (AF) of federal water from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Trinity Reservoir near Lewiston, CA. The Tribes’ rights to that water come from a 1955 federal law under which Reclamation dammed the Trinity River and diverted most of the water it stored to the Central Valley, and a 1959 contract between the Bureau of Reclamation and Humboldt County for a portion of the reservoir supply. Congress awarded the water to Humboldt County and the Tribes to ensure their opportunity for economic development with Reclamation’s water supply and to mitigate Trinity Dam’s impact on the downstream communities. The ceremony took place at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers on the border of Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribal homelands. … ” Read more from the Hoopa Valley Tribe.
Northern California town hall erupts over PG&E’s ‘dangerous’ reservoir plan
“A packed veterans hall in the northern Sonoma County city of Cloverdale became the latest battleground in Northern California’s escalating water war. On March 20, Cloverdale Mayor Todd Lands hosted a town hall that brought together community members from across the region to discuss the future of the Potter Valley Project. For over a century, this water diversion system — including multiple dams and Lake Pillsbury — has channeled water from the Eel River into the Russian River, maintaining its year-round flow. That steady water supply has fueled the growth of agricultural communities in Mendocino and Sonoma counties, as well as the region’s thriving wine, tourism and recreation industries. Now, with PG&E moving forward with decommissioning plans, fear is mounting that the region faces a future of corporate-driven water scarcity. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Should Nevada ban small plastic water bottles to protect Lake Tahoe? Lawmakers are considering it
“A new bill in the Nevada legislature aims to reduce plastic pollution around Lake Tahoe by banning the sale of small plastic water bottles. If passed, Nevada businesses surrounding the lake would no longer be allowed to sell, offer for sale, or distribute bottled water in plastic containers holding less than four liters. Supporters say the bill is a necessary step in protecting Lake Tahoe. Volunteers with the League to Save Lake Tahoe conducted more than 400 cleanups on the Nevada side of the lake in 2023 and 2024, said Noa Banayan, government affairs manager for the league. They removed more than 2,000 plastic water bottles and 4,000 plastic bottle caps, Banayan said. … ” Read more from KUNR.
Incline board approves new water rights purchases
“Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) board met on March 26 to discuss the procurement of residential water meter registers, Water Management Plan updates, a new Budget and Recreation meeting time and selection of an auditor for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Trustees unanimously voted to approve an update to the district’s Water Management Plan, which includes the purchase of 8.81 acre feet of water rights for $140,961 by Incline Hotel LLC, which owns the Hyatt Regency at Lake Tahoe. Trustees suggested raising the rate of water rights fees, as the current rate has not been adjusted since 2008. “I would support this item but with a directive to staff to look at raising the water rights fee and come back to the board at a later date,” said Trustee Dave Noble. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Marlette Lake to get dam replaced, water to be resupplied by other outlets during project duration
“A dam project at Marlette Lake, which will draw down around 20 feet of water at the lake and temporarily close a number of nearby hiking trails, is set to get underway this spring. The $20 million rehabilitation project will replace a section of dam and outlet pipes, which haven’t been worked on since 1956, said Jason Crosby, project manager of Nevada Division of Public Works. “It has to be done. It is a necessity because of the condition of the dam. It is a high risk dam that needs to be maintained and brought back up to good condition. There is no question that it has to be done,” said Crosby. Due to the construction, Nevada State Parks announced Tuesday that many trails leading up to the lake will be closed. … ” Read more from Carson Now.
News 4 story prompts lawmakers to step in after raw sewage spill goes unreported in river
“A significant spill that sent more than 2 million gallons of sewage into the Truckee River which went unreported in 2022 and 2023 has prompted legislative action in Nevada. A new bill, Senate Bill 276, introduced by state Senator Ira Hansen in Carson City, aims to prevent similar incidents by requiring that downstream users be notified in the event of a spill. Chairman Steven Wadsworth of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe expressed frustration over the lack of notification regarding the spill, which originated from an apartment complex. “Unbelievable how this could happen and even worse than that how could we not be notified,” said Wadsworth. … ” Read more from Channel 4.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte Water District rates increasing
“A vote was taken at the Butte Water District (BWD) March 31 public hearing to raise water rates and implement a new Groundwater Management Fee. The rate increases are within the parameters of the five-year plan outlined in the 2024 Cost of Service Study. Butte Water District Manager Donnie Stinnett told the Gridley Herald in February that copies of the study and the meeting notice were previously prepared and mailed out to all landowners in the district in accordance with Proposition 218, passed in 1996. By this law, California water districts are required to obtain an independent cost-of-service study, with a projected five-year plan in place, specifying maximum amounts of increase for each year. Any potential fee increases must be within those limits and a public meeting must be held. … ” Read more from the Gridley Herald.
CENTRAL COAST
New lawsuit challenges plans to restart oil drilling off Central California coast
“Environmentalists filed yet another lawsuit on Wednesday to prevent the restart of a group of aging oil platforms off the coast of Central California that have been mothballed since a disastrous spill caused by a corroded pipeline in 2015. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Wishtoyo Foundation sued the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management claiming it is violating the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act by purportedly allowing the platforms’ owner, Sable Offshore Corp., to begin production as soon as this spring without updating the “woefully outdated” development and production plans for the facilities. Those development and production plans, the plaintiffs argue, mostly date back to the 1970s and 1980s, when the three offshore platforms and an onshore processing facility were built and didn’t contemplate the platforms operating beyond their expected production timeline of 25 to 35 years. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Conserving the lands and waters of California’s heartland
“Within the vast expanse of the southern San Joaquin Valley region live a mosaic of landscapes stretching from the tree-clad Sierra through the rambling foothills and across the farms and prairies of the valley plain. Natural terrains have been transformed or buried under the strata of concrete, asphalt, wood and metal that characterize modern human development. Scattered around the largely commercialized and residential domain are still places that are reminders of vintage landscapes. Some are preserved by public or government agencies as parks for their natural or historical value, others by private groups dedicated to a particular place or landscape. One such group of locals has had the foresight and wherewithal to save a wide range of local natural treasures to enlighten and delight people now and in the future. Sequoia Riverland Trust (SRT; sequoiariverlands.org/) is on a mission to conserve the lands and waters of California’s heartland. … ” Read more from the Fresno Alliance.
Kings watershed snowpack measures less than last year
“The Kings River snow survey revealed lower water supplies for the April 1 peak than last year. The Kings River Water Association announced Wednesday that the snowpack in the Kings River’s watershed is at 79% of average for April 1, the date California’s snowpack is typically at its greatest. The big picture: This year, the snow survey revealed that the average snow depth is 60 inches, down from 70 inches in an average winter. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Newman Council takes next step in conservation project
“The Newman City Council has officially marked a milestone in its ambitious Newman Community Conservation Area plan. During Tuesday’s meeting, the council adopted Resolution No. 2025, declaring the Newman Wetlands Project complete and authorizing City Clerk to record a Notice of Completion with Stanislaus County. This step allows City Manager Michael Holland to initiate the release of retention funds to Rolfe Construction, Inc., 35 days after the notice is recorded. “We’re completing some projects, which is pretty exciting,’ said City Public Works Director Thomas Spankowski. … ” Read more from Westside Connect.
FEMA to fund sediment removal and infrastructure repairs at Los Banos dam area
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intends to fund a project aimed at addressing sediment accumulation and infrastructure damage in the Los Banos Dam Area. This initiative is a response to the severe impacts of the 2023 winter storms, which caused significant sediment buildup and structural issues in the region. The 2023 winter storms brought unprecedented rainfall to California, leading to excessive runoff that overwhelmed various water control structures in the Los Banos Dam Area. This resulted in the accumulation of sediment in drainage basins and culverts, as well as erosion and damage to access roads. These issues have compromised the functionality of the water management infrastructure, posing risks to both the environment and local communities. … ” Read more from the Los Banos Enterprise.
Order that had kept water in the Kern River reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal
“In a wide-ranging ruling that could have larger implications for public interest lawsuits throughout California, the 5th District Court of Appeal reversed a preliminary injunction that had required water in the Kern River through the heart of Bakersfield. “It was a gut punch,” said Kelly Damian, spokesperson for Bring Back the Kern, one of the plaintiffs that had sought the injunction to keep water in the river. “While we are disappointed, we are not dissuaded. This is life when you’re fighting for the environment. Get ready for a lot of losses.” … ” Continue reading about SJV Water.
SEE ALSO: California appeals panel reverses Kern River injunction, from the Courthouse News Service
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Clarita Valley Water Board votes to approve water rate increases
“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Board of Directors voted to approve a significant water rate increase that will impact all customers, with rates set to rise by 10% beginning July 1, 2025. SCV Water customers will see higher monthly bills due to increases in both fixed charges and water use charges, with a greater impact on those who use more water. The Santa Clarita Valley Water Board made this decision during its regular meeting on April 1, 2025, to address financial shortfalls and cover rising operational costs, including expenses related to PFAS contamination. The board addressed the need for a 10% water rate increase due to lower-than-expected revenue, rising operational costs, and unforeseen expenses, such as PFAS contamination. “The approved rate proposal will help ensure SCV Water meets its financial obligations so it can continue to provide high-quality water to customers,” said SCV Water Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Rochelle Patterson. … ” Read more from KHTS.
Desperate for money while fighting a massive landslide, Rancho Palos Verdes plans to make its case in Washington
“Sometimes you have to spend money to make money — an expression Rancho Palos Verdes is betting on as it continues to hemorrhage millions of dollars in its fight to contain a massive and destructive landslide. Accelerated by historic rains in recent winters, the historic landslide has been ripping the Portuguese Bend neighborhood apart, forcing residents from their red-tagged homes, bending roads and changing the area’s topography. Trying to minimize the damage hasn’t been cheap — the city is close to spending as much as it takes to run the entire government for a year just on efforts to shore up the land movement. The city has already spent around $29 million of the $36.3 million allocated for the landslide complex this fiscal year. The city’s entire annual budget is around $39 million. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Donald Trump’s NOAA cuts criticized amid huge sea lion deaths in California
“Hundreds of dead sea lions have been washing up on California shores for months because of a toxic algae bloom, and ocean conservation advocates are claiming that President Donald Trump’s staff cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could worsen the problem. … Since Trump took office in January, numerous federal agencies, including the NOAA, have announced thousands of job cuts. In mid-March, the NOAA announced another 1,000 jobs as part of an effort by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce federal spending. The cuts to NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS) have sparked concerns that storms could become more deadly without the proper staff to issue forecasts and warnings. … ” Continue reading from Newsweek.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District board amends budget, OKs water forbearance agreement
“The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors on Tuesday, April 1, approved the first-quarter amendment to the 2025-2026 biennial budget, significantly increasing the Energy Department’s capital spending from the original allocation of $813 million in 2025 to approximately $970 million. The 2026 Energy budget was similarly raised to around $1.2 billion. “This is the first amendment of the ’25 and ’26 budget, which is basically — it’s driven by the multi-year power rate adjustment that happened on Jan. 21,” said IID Chief Financial Officer Belen Valenzuela. “To support the Energy Department’s Power Department infrastructure modernization, progressive advancement and capital transformation initiative, or short, IMPACT Capital plan.” … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
CNRA releases positive report on Salton Sea mitigation
“The California Natural Resources Agency recently filed its annual report on the work at the Salton Sea, highlighting future projects. In 2024, the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) made significant strides in restoring and managing the Salton Sea, marking it as a year of notable progress and increased funding, the report said. Key achievements included breaking ground on an expansion of the largest restoration project in the Sea’s history, the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project, which aimed to suppress dust and restore habitat across up to 9,000 acres. Over 1,300 acres along five miles of shoreline were planted with native vegetation to mitigate dust over the long term. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
Legislative package protecting the Tijuana River watershed clears critical committees
“Recently, two critical policy committees passed Senate Bills 10 and 594, authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego). SB 10 would expressly authorize funds from the new toll road to be used for water treatment, environmental mitigation, and restoration of the Tijuana River Valley and SB 594 would give communities across the state with existing environmental pollution burdens the opportunity to voice their concerns in a publicly noticed hearing when a new landfill development is proposed as is the case in the River Valley. … “Communities in and around the Tijuana River Valley have suffered enough,” said Senator Padilla. “The last thing we need is for a billionaire jamming an unnecessary landfill into one of the most polluted watersheds in the country with literally no public input.” … ” Continue reading from State Senator Steve Padilla.
Along the Colorado River …
How Western states can save the Colorado River
“A new report from the UCLA Institute of Environment & Sustainability and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) demonstrates the importance of wastewater recycling for the mitigation of the outsized and much-litigated water demands placed on Colorado River. Recycling treated wastewater is a safe, reliable, sustainable, cost-effective key for ensuring a climate- and drought-resilient future in the West. But while certain states, such as Arizona and Nevada, lead the charge in wastewater reuse, most other basin states have yet to meet the moment. Increasing temperature and aridity has led to less and less water available for extraction from the Colorado River each year, a trend that jeopardizes the natural ecosystems and 40 million people across the seven basin states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) that rely on its supply. Consequently, the practice of large-scale wastewater recycling in these states has never been more important. … ” Read more from the NRDC.
On water recycling, Nevada is leagues ahead of other states, study shows
“When it comes to recycling the most precious resource in the Colorado River Basin, Nevada blows the other six states out of the water, a new report has confirmed. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, combed through often-inaccessible wastewater data to show that Nevada leads the seven states with a rate of 85 percent reuse of its wastewater. With no standardized reporting across the country, that often meant calling individual treatment plants and asking for data. “It’s not every day that Nevada has some serious environmental bragging rights,” said Mark Gold, a UCLA professor and director of water scarcity solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Study shows groundwater gains in Arizona yet climate risks still threaten water supply
“A combination of water management practices has contributed to notable groundwater gains in Central Arizona despite the region dealing with long-term water stress, according to a study led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and collaborators in Arizona and Colorado. Since 1980, Central Arizona has been working to recharge its depleted aquifers. Much of that recharge depends on water from the Colorado River of the southwestern United States. That water, which accounts for 36% of Arizona’s water supply, is brought to the state from over 300 miles away via the Central Arizona Project’s system of aqueducts. Some of the state’s policies incentivize farmers to use surface water from the river rather than tap into groundwater. Other policies channel the river water directly to aquifer recharge zones, where it can seep down to the groundwater. … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
Colorado River’s role in Arizona’s groundwater recharge
“What influence does the Colorado River have on resupplying Arizona’s groundwater shortage over the last few years? This is what a recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment hopes to address as a team of scientists investigated the natural processes that could help replenish, and continue to deplete, Arizona’s groundwater supply. This study has the potential to help researchers, climate scientists, and the public better understand steps that can be taken to improve water supplies around the country, especially facing an uncertain future with climate change. … ” Read more from Labroots.
In national water news today …
Microplastics and your water supply: What your family needs to know
“Statistics show if that if you’re not filtering your water the right way, your family is likely consuming microplastics. An overwhelming 94% of U.S. tap water is contaminated with fragments of plastic pollution called microplastics, and bottled water does not fare much better —microplastics are found in 93% of 11 popular water bottle brands around the world. Microplastics found in drinking water are not just an environmental hazard — mounting evidence indicates that they are also a potential human health hazard. So what can you do to help make your drinking water safer? Investing in the right water filter is a great start. Be sure to choose one that meets internationally-recognized testing standards and is backed by independent testing. For example, all of LifeStraw’s water filters feature a membrane technology capable of filtering out microplastics and a host of other contaminants, such as bacteria and parasites. … ” Read more from the Hi-Desert Star.
Federal policy uncertainty lowers farmer sentiment
“Producer sentiment surged with the election of President Donald Trump, but dipped in March due to rising policy uncertainty regarding U.S. exports and trade, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Still, confidence remains relatively high compared to the past decade and much stronger than before the election. The barometer hit 140 in March, down from 152 in February, as farmers’ view of the future was less optimistic. “That was still 25 points higher than it was back in October,” said James Mintert, Purdue emeritus professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, in an online breakdown of the report. Falloffs in key crop prices since mid-February also were an important factor in farmers’ sentiment change. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
