A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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In California water news this week …
Sierra snowpack and reservoir capacity gives California positive water news to start April
“Water years in California can be all over the place with massive years immediately followed by major droughts. It’s been described as hit and miss, but rarely do you get a hit-hit-hit situation in one key metric for water in the state: snowpack. Snowpack is highly variable since it’s a component of water and temperature. You can have big snowfalls followed up by warm and dry conditions, then by early spring when snow melt and runoff is most important, some of the snowpack may be already gone. The key metric is the April 1 snowpack numbers. This is often when big significant snow storms start to dwindle and more convective (spotty) and warmer storms start to take over. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
SEE ALSO: California’s snowpack report card is in. What does it mean for the water supply?, from the LA Times
One of California’s biggest reservoirs is about to expand — if it can clear a major hurdle
“Amid rising concerns about California’s water future, the fifth largest reservoir in the state is primed for expansion. A coalition of water agencies, from Silicon Valley to Fresno, has agreed to partner with the federal government to raise the 382-foot-tall dam at San Luis Reservoir, the giant holding pool that looms as a small sea along Highway 152 in the hills between Gilroy and Los Banos. The dam’s enlargement would allow the federally owned reservoir to take in 130,000 acre-feet of additional water, equal to the annual use of more than 260,000 households. This makes the project one of the state’s biggest water-storage ventures in years. The Santa Clara Valley Water District, providing for 2 million people including San Jose, is the top beneficiary, and at least five other urban and agricultural water suppliers as well as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation would be served by the new storage. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
Chino Basin offers lessons in groundwater management
“While the San Joaquin Valley continues to adjust to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, others, like the Chino Basin in Southern California, have long operated under a different system — adjudicated groundwater rights. The Chino Basin in San Bernardino County was one of California’s first groundwater basins to be adjudicated in 1978. Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Director of Regulatory and Economic Affairs at the Milk Producers Council, served on the Chino Basin Watermaster Board for 20 years and explained that before SGMA, managing a basin came down to adjudication. “In the Chino Basin, you know, it became pretty clear already in the 70s that more water was being extracted than was being replenished. And so, [how] an adjudication works is, basically, some entity decides to take responsibility and sues everybody who’s pumping water because collectively that’s causing damage,” Vanden Heuvel said. “So, anybody who’s pumping water is contributing to the damaging of this resource.” … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
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.
California Ag is pioneering a new era of innovation, resilience
William Bourdeau, executive vice president of Harris Farms, owner of Bourdeau Farms, director of the Westlands Water District, and other things, writes, “From the fertile field of the San Joaquin Valley to technology hubs across the state, California agriculture is embracing a vibrant new era marked by innovation, resilience, and promise. Advances in water management, AI-driven analytics, and resource-efficient farming practices are merging to pave the way for growth, continuity and stability. As we confront complex issues such as inflation, regulatory complexity, and hydrologic volatility, the farmers, communities, and local industries of our region have proven their exceptional adaptability and visionary leadership. At the core of the San Joaquin Valley’s success lies an unwavering commitment to optimizing resources and minimizing operational costs. Cutting-edge technologies such as sensor-based irrigation systems, predictive analytics, and proactive equipment maintenance are delivering tangible financial benefits. These advancements strengthen the agricultural supply chain and help stabilize consumer prices by ensuring farms remain profitable and competitive amid market pressures. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
California Senate scales back bill to Trump-proof water protections
“Sen. Ben Allen accepted amendments Wednesday to narrow the scope of his bill meant to protect state waters from Trump administration rollbacks. What happened: The Senate Environmental Quality Committee said it would approve SB 601— which would create the term “nexus waters” to encompass all waters of the state that were under federal jurisdiction before the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA — after Allen agreed to amend it to clarify that it doesn’t apply to agricultural runoff or drinking water. “We are taking amendments to be very clear that we’re only talking about point sources, not non-point source,” said Sean Bothwell, executive director at California Coastkeeper Alliance and author of the bill. Allen also accepted the committee’s suggested amendments to further clarify the definition of “nexus” waters to ensure that they are only giving Clean Water Act protections to waters that had them prior to the Sackett decision. … ” Read more from E&E News (sorrry, subscription required).
In commentary this week …
Many firefighting foams contain dangerous PFAS ‘forever chemicals.’ Have we learned our lesson?
Jonathan Sharp, CFO of the Environmental Litigation Group, PC, writes, “Every week the lawyers at my firm talk to civilian and military firefighters whose health has been threatened by the very tool they relied upon to protect other peoples’ lives: aqueous film-forming foams. For decades aqueous film-forming foams were the gold standard in fire suppression. But like many seemingly foolproof solutions, these fire extinguishers bear a dark legacy through the carcinogenic toxic chemicals called per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Since its invention by the U.S. Navy and the 3M company in the 1960s, PFAS-based firefighting foams, especially aqueous film-forming foams AFFF, were promoted as “safe as soap” until PFAS’s hazardous nature came to light. AFFF is highly effective against flammable fuel fires, but the chemicals that make this foam a lifesaver also cause devastating health and environmental damage. … ” Continue reading at The Revelator.
In regional water news this week …
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.
Commentary: Scott Dam, situated on a fault, could fail during a seismic event
Bob Schneider and Chad Roberts, Ph.D. write, “The Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) is surrendering the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for the Potter Valley Project (PVP). PG&E identifies this action as a business decision because of the project’s failure to produce revenues that offset its operating costs, even though PG&E customers pay higher rates for delivered energy than just about everywhere else in the United States. In our opinion, PG&E wants to rid itself of the PVP for a different kind of economic consideration, after determining that the Scott Dam represents an economic liability that the company cannot afford. A key factor in this determination is the increased understanding of the seismic hazards represented by the Bartlett Springs Fault Zone (BSFZ), which runs through Lake Pillsbury approximately 5000 feet east of Scott Dam. As part of the PVP relicensing process, FERC held an auction for potential alternative licensees for the PVP. No takers made offers to accept the ownership of and responsibility for this existing hydropower license, for the same reason that PG&E does not want the responsibility for these existing conditions: a recognition of the outstanding risk that the BSFZ represents for the PVP licensee. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
How will federal cuts affect Russian River forecasts?
“Depending on the season, North Bay residents look for specific details in our weather forecasts, like flood stage height on the Russian River in the winter or wind speeds in the Mayacamas in the fall. These details affect our behavior, whether we hunker down or flee from flood or fire, and they come from as many as a dozen federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA includes the National Weather Service and the California-Nevada River Forecast Center, and their forecasters rely on the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Forest Service as well. So what could happen to our forecasts — and to us — if Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency continues cutting jobs and from those agencies? … ” Read more from NorCal Public Media.
Commentary: Nevada Irrigation District Water Supply update – emergency water shortage means no snowmelt to foothills
Ricki Heck, President, Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors, writes, “This year, we are once again facing an emergency water shortage, not because of drought or lack of precipitation, but because Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has essentially cut off our water while they continue to make repairs to their infrastructure at Lake Spaulding. As president of the Nevada Irrigation District’s Board of Directors, I’d like to address the growing frustration among customers and residents – and NID, as well — regarding the status of our water availability. Foremost, the water situation we face is confusing and complex. We have experienced a wet winter, with snowpack near historical average and NID’s storage reservoirs brimming and even spilling. Snow and water are plentiful in the watershed this year, leading to ample amounts of water in NID’s upper reservoirs. And yet, District projections indicate in a matter of months our foothill reservoirs will be extremely low, potentially worse than when we endure multi-year droughts. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
This Silicon Valley city has the highest coastal flood risk in California
“Redwood City has the highest risk for severe coastal floods of any California city, according to data released Wednesday by Climate Central. The science and communication nonprofit’s report finds over 22,000 people — 27% of the city’s total population — reside in an area at risk of a 100-year flood occurring in the next 25 years. The city, located in San Mateo county, is one of a number of California coastal and bayshore communities that face risks from damaging floods, particularly in the coming decades, as climate change causes sea levels to rise. The terrain in San Mateo County, where an estimated total of 29,000 people are vulnerable to intense floods by mid-century, is low-lying along the bay shoreline. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Should domestic well owners pay Paso Basin water use fees? One district says no
“Domestic well owners should not be charged fees for pumping from the overdrafted Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, according to one water district. “The problem has never been the de minimis users,” Shandon-San Juan Water District Board of Directors president Willy Cunha told The Tribune on Thursday. Farmers are most responsible for dwindling water levels in the basin, so they should be charged the fees — as long as the rates are reasonable, he said. The Shandon-San Juan Water District’s Board of Directors voted 4-0 on March 26 to pass a resolution that opposed charging domestic well owners water extraction fees, water district secretary Stephanie Bertoux said. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune. | Read via Yahoo News.
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.
CalEPA increases Chiquita Canyon enforcement orders, threatens fines
“Disputing Chiquita Canyon Landfill’s recent claims that the subsurface reaction is under control, the California Environmental Protection Agency issued its own “expert analysis” Tuesday evening to state the opposite: “Contrary to recent public statements that the landfill operators have made while announcing termination of their Community Relief Program, the data show that the reaction is not under control,” read the statement from CalEPA, sent to The Signal via email by Nefretiri Cooley, deputy secretary for communications for the state agency. “In fact, it has expanded to 90 acres — over three times larger than the 28-acre reaction area claimed by the landfill,” the statement continued. “The reaction now threatens a ‘tank farm,’ a collection of tanks atop the waste mass where the facility treats and stores millions of gallons of leachate at the eastern edge of the landfill’s main canyon.” … ” Read more from The Signal.
California suspends environmental laws to speed rebuilding of utilities after L.A. fires
“In a continued effort to expedite rebuilding after Los Angeles’ devastating firestorms, Gov. Gavin Newsom this week suspended California environmental laws for utility providers working to reinstall key infrastructure. His latest executive order eliminates requirements to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, commonly known as CEQA, and the California Coastal Act for utilities working to rebuild “electric, gas, water, sewer and telecommunication infrastructure” in the Palisades and Eaton fire burn zones. Newsom also continued to encourage the “undergrounding” of utility equipment when feasible, which he said will help minimize the future fire risk in these communities. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Inside the tricky, complicated process of debris removal after LA’s fires
“Fire survivors who lost their homes have until April 15 to decide whether to join a government program to clear their lots, or to opt out and hire a private contractor to do the job instead. FEMA recently extended that deadline, which was March 31, and expanded eligibility to include condos and multi-family homes. The goal is to get people who haven’t yet signed up to do so. County officials are urging everyone who is on the fence to join the program, emphasizing that property owners can always pull out later. And the vast majority of eligible residents have done so — nearly 9,800 out of more than 12,000 eligible land parcels as of the latest count. But questions about cleanup and concerns about insurance money remain for homeowners. … ” Read more from the LAist.
‘God knows what’s in the water’: Los Angeles surfers in limbo as wildfire toxins linger
“Alex Sinunu was used to surfing three or four times a week in Santa Monica Bay – after all, the beach was just a mile from his home and he could ride his bike there with his board. But ever since the megafires that swept through neighboring Pacific Palisades in early January, the ocean has been filled with ash, debris – and endless questions. The massive blaze consumed thousands of homes and other structures, many of them on the edge of the Pacific coastline. Subsequent rainstorms sent tons of debris washing into the ocean, turned the water brown and raised fears about the toxins that could be coming from all the charred remains of buildings and cars – including asbestos, lithium-ion batteries and plastics. … In a city where surfing is a way of life, waiting for the all-clear has been agonizing. Sinunu is part of a local surfing group called the Surfcats, and they are feeling the pain of staying away. The ocean is so close, yet so far. “It would be like living in Mammoth and not being able to ski in winter,” he says, referencing the famous ski town in the California mountains. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Scientists continue their study of the Santa Ana sucker
“The Santa Ana Sucker (SAS) is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Act protects and aims to recover endangered species and their habitats. To support this goal, USGS scientists are researching what is necessary to restore and sustain healthy fish populations. Current USGS research on the SAS began in 2015 when the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District partnered with the USGS to conduct a native fish survey. The goal of the survey was to estimate native fish species abundance within a chosen section of the Santa Ana River designated as critical habitat. In addition to the SAS, the Arroyo Chub (Gila orcutti) was also studied. This was done in support of the Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan. … Recently, USGS researchers investigated the potential for passive integrated transponder tagging (or “PIT tagging”) to be used to identify individual fish and track their movements. … ” Read more from the USGS.
San Diego Water Authority plans to sell surplus water, aims to lower costs
“Despite a few rainy days this week, 2025 has had a drier-than-usual start. However, thanks to decades of strategic planning, the San Diego County Water Authority assures residents that the region has an ample water supply. In fact, officials say they are considering selling or leasing surplus resources — an initiative that could help lower water costs for San Diego ratepayers. The unpredictable nature of San Diego’s climate is becoming more evident, with extreme swings in weather patterns. San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham explains that while the region has been preparing for long-term droughts, recent fluctuations in rainfall have impacted water sales. “We’ve planned for a drier, more arid climate into the future,” Denham said. “This blip we’ve had over the past two years has had a real material impact on sales.” … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Sink or swim time for Salton Sea? Momentum builds for pricey lake restoration
Xavier Mascareñas / CDWR
“The long-delayed restoration of the Salton Sea, the large, ultra-briny California lake almost universally described as an “environmental disaster,’’ could be starting to finally get its sea legs. But don’t jump in and hold your breath yet. The state’s biggest lake, nearly twice the size of the majestic and immensely popular Lake Tahoe, has languished for decades as increased salinity, a sinking waterline and a foul smell have robbed it of past glory. Area residents have been exposed to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases from harmful toxins on dust blown by wind off the growing lake bed. Previous efforts to resurrect what was once a playground to Hollywood celebrities about 50 miles southeast of Palm Springs have fallen short, typically for lack of funding. … ” Read more from USA Today.
Salton Sea Management Program 2024 annual report submitted to State Water Board
“The California Natural Resources Agency has submitted its 2025 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) to the State Water Resources Control Board, prepared in compliance with Order WR 2017-0134. The report provides specific updates on the SSMP’s activities in 2024 and planning for future projects, ongoing partnerships to help the SSMP meet its goals, community engagement, and next steps. English and Spanish versions of the report can be found at home page of the SSMP website, www.saltonsea.ca.gov under the Featured Documents heading. Work to expand the Species Conservation Habitat Project began in 2024 and continues into 2025. The State’s Salton Sea restoration and management efforts continued to show significant, demonstrable progress in 2024 — achieving key milestones and accelerating the pace of critical project delivery functions. Completing major construction at the first 4,100 acres of the largest restoration project at the Sea and with new federal funding, the SSMP broke ground to expand it by an additional 750 acres. Further expansion is being initiated to suppress dust and restore habitat on up to 9,000 acres at the south end of the Sea. … ” Continue reading from the Natural Resources Agency.
Imperial Valley: After the first year of fallowing, did it work?
“After the southwest experienced the longest drought in decades, in 2024, the Imperial Irrigation District’s Deficit Irrigation Program (DIP) paid farmers $300 per acre-foot to not water alfalfa and other forage crops to conserve water in Lake Mead from IID’s yearly Colorado River entitlement. The program was funded by the federal government to mitigate Lake Mead’s water elevation levels above dead pool. This truncated DIP, which ran from Aug. 13 – Sept. 30, 2024, “involved 154,145 acres of alfalfa, Bermuda grass, and Klein grass that were not irrigated for a 49-60 day period, yielding 182,226 AF of conservation at-River with conservation payments of nearly $50 million to participants,” according to IID. According to IID’s website, “DIP incentivizes deficit irrigation practices to be performed voluntarily by farmers on land that is cultivating either alfalfa, Bermuda grass or Klein grass to reduce IID’s consumptive use of Colorado River water and create System Conservation Water.” … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Report: As Colorado River shrinks, states fail to tap an accessible water source
“States across the Colorado River Basin are squandering a critical opportunity to ease the region’s historic water crisis, according to a new report by UCLA and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The sweeping analysis reveals that just 26% of treated municipal wastewater is reused across the seven states that depend on the overdrawn river, which supplies water to more than 40 million people. While Arizona and Nevada recycle more than half of their wastewater, the others — California, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming — lag far behind, with several recycling less than 4%. “We’re facing a hotter, drier future, and we need to pursue water recycling aggressively if we’re going to ensure a sustainable, resilient water supply for the Colorado Basin,” said author Noah Garrison, a water researcher at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. “Even recycling 40% of our wastewater could make a dramatic difference, and we have two states already above 50%, showing this is an entirely feasible solution.” … ” Read more from UCLA.
More water recycling could help fix Colorado River shortfall. California has a ways to go, report says
“California isn’t recycling nearly enough water, according to a new report by UCLA researchers, who say the state should treat and reuse more wastewater to help address the Colorado River’s chronic shortages. Analyzing data for large sewage treatment plants in seven states that rely on Colorado River water, the researchers found California is recycling only 22% of its treated wastewater. That’s far behind the country’s driest two states: Nevada, which is recycling 85% of its wastewater, and Arizona, which is reusing 52%. The report, based on 2022 data, found other states in the Colorado River Basin are trailing, with New Mexico recycling 18%, Colorado 3.6%, Wyoming 3.3% and Utah less than 1%. The researchers said that California and other states, with support from the federal government, should scale up investments in water recycling facilities to help as the region faces demands to dramatically reduce water use in order to prevent the river’s reservoirs from falling to critically low levels. They said the Southwest needs to prioritize water recycling to adapt as droughts grow more intense and long-lasting with global warming. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
NOTICE: Opportunity to comment on revised draft Utility Wildfire General Order
Lake Oroville update: Flood control releases ongoing, Oroville Wildflower & Nature Festival, Feather River forks open, Fish stocking, and more …
