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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.
In California water news today …
A conservation footprint for multiple species of wildlife in California rice
“Picture a farm. Only one crop type is grown over a vast field stretching to the horizon. Signs of modern agriculture are everywhere— tractors slowly driving by, fields engineered in neat squares, with millions of precisely spaced plants. All cues indicate much food will be harvested from this modern, industrialized farm. But you probably do not expect to see wildlife. Neither do most conservation biologists. Indeed, farming is a main cause of the global biodiversity crisis, largely because it has intensified and expanded to cover more than 40% of Earth’s land surface. In California’s Central Valley, farming has drained >90% of our wetlands and replaced them with farms. Recognizing this, many conservation practitioners have spent several decades exploring how to mitigate agriculture’s impact on wildlife. We now know that many species can persist in farmland, sometimes even as many as in nearby natural habitats. That is, provided farmers implement practices that support ecological benefits. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
Under Trump, Texas firm pushes to restart Santa Barbara oil drilling. Is it skirting California laws?
“More than 50 years ago, a catastrophic oil spill along Santa Barbara’s coastline served to galvanize the modern environmental movement and also helped to usher in one of the state’s strongest conservation laws: the California Coastal Act. Now, as the Trump administration seeks to encourage oil and gas production within federal lands and waters, that watershed conservation law is being tested along the same stretch of coastline — and in a way it never has before. … Ten years after another spill brought oil production here to a halt, Sable Offshore Corp. has begun repairing and upgrading the network of oil pipelines responsible for that 2015 spill, without Coastal Commission approval and ignoring the commission’s repeated demands to stop its work, officials say.“This is the first time in the agency’s history that we’ve had a party blatantly ignore a cease and desist order like this and refuse to submit a permit application,” Cassidy Teufel, deputy director of the California Coastal Commission, told a packed town hall recently. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
New court case reasserts reasonableness as a limitation on water use
“On April 2, 2025, the Court of Appeal for California’s Fifth Appellate District issued its decision in Bring Back the Kern v. City of Bakersfield, 2025 S.O.S. 909. That case held that courts must apply the reasonableness requirement for water use that is found in article X, section 2 of the California Constitution “whenever adjudicating a use of water.” This case is focused on the Kern River, which has a complex set of agreements governing use of water. It was brought by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) against the City of Bakersfield. Water agencies that could be impacted by any court order were joined as “necessary and indispensable parties.” The complaint alleged that Bakersfield’s operation of some of the weirs in the river violated the law, including Fish and Game Code § 5937. That provision requires dam owners to allow sufficient water to pass through/over/etc. the dam “to keep in good condition any fish that may be planted or exist below the dam.” … ” Read more from California Water Views.
Changes in nature’s dance: How pollutants shape bird flocks and fish schools
“As seasons change, migratory birds and fishes flutter and dart toward seasonal habitats, each species moving with instinctive flow. Despite never crossing paths, birds and fishes share similar collective behaviors that help them survive in their environments. Flocks and schools are intricate social structures that are products of an animals’ ability to sense and respond to a variety of signals from their groups and habitats. Recent studies examining the long-term exposure of fishes and birds to pollutants in the air and water raised concerns about how these pollutants disrupt key behaviors and structures. These disruptions are especially troubling because they affect the important signals used to navigate, communicate, and coordinate with others. Signals like vocalizations, chemical cues, physical group behavior, Earth’s magnetic field, and scent play crucial roles in the daily lives of birds and fishes. … ” Read more from FishBio.
Sea lions are attacking people in the waters off California’s coast. Here’s why
“Along some 70 miles of Southern California coastline, usually curious and playful sea lions are attacking humans in the water. The animals are being poisoned by the ocean they live in, experts say, citing reports of sick sea lions at unprecedented levels. And many are dying. Pheobe Beltran, a 15-year-old girl in Long Beach, was swimming on March 30, when a sea lion attacked her right arm. “I was just so scared, so shocked, but I still felt the immense pain on my arms, like, over and over again,” Beltran, who was finishing up a 1,000-yard swim during tryouts to become a junior lifeguard, told CNN affiliate KCAL. … ” Read more from CNN.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
‘The Evergreen’: A year after undamming the Klamath, two dams still remain
“On “The Evergreen,” we’ve talked about the history behind the largest dam removal project in the United States: the long fight over water in the Klamath basin between Tribes and farmers, the process of getting the dams out, and what dam removal means to the Tribes along the river. Today, we’re bringing you up to date. What’s on folks’ minds now that all the dams are out a year later — and what still needs to be done to piece this basin together again? Cassandra Profita is an editor and reporter at OPB. She’s been covering the Klamath Dam removal for years and joins us to talk about the challenges that remain to repair salmon habitat. Profita also produced a documentary about the Klamath Dams for OPB’s “Oregon Field Guide.” Check it out.” Listen to the podcast at Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Locals up in arms about Potter Valley Water Project
“If you haven’t heard any of your neighbors talking about the Potter Valley Project up in Humboldt County yet, that may soon change — especially in the Geyserville-Cloverdale area, sometimes called “Healdsburg North,” where the fiercely independent ag ethos is strong and distrust of big government is baked into local culture. Cloverdale Mayor Todd Lands has been trying to warn everybody about this project for a while now, and his fervent opposition to the current plan finally seems to be catching on. Mayor Lands hosted a lively town hall on March 20 that drew at least 200 people, by my count. Cloverdale’s local veterans building was packed to the gills that Thursday night — to the point of standing-room-only — with community members worried about their future water supply and angry about the Potter Valley plan signed last month by reps from seven different entities with competing interests. (Including state agencies, county governments, tribes and other orgs.) … ” Read more from the Bohemian.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Third straight year with Lake Tahoe and Sierra snowpack near average, or better
“The winter of 2025 hasn’t measured up to 2024 and is far short of the records set in 2023. Despite that, the Eastern Sierra. Northern Nevada and Northern California are still in good shape as we move into snowmelt season. April 1 is considered the date when the snowpack reaches its highest snow water total before melt begins. The measurement of the snowpack at Phillips Station near Sierra-at-Tahoe and the rest of the west slope gives a picture of water heading to California this spring and summer. The measure of the snowpack at Mt. Rose and other points in the Lake Tahoe Basin gives a picture of water heading to Nevada through the Truckee River. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Sacramento could soon get permanent live salmon feed, similar to Big Bear’s eagle cam
“Nature cameras are becoming a popular way to check out wildlife. A bald eagle camera in Southern California has more than 600,000 YouTube subscribers. Now, Sacramento County could soon have its own permanent wildlife feed. Alan Friedman is the man behind Sacramento’s salmon cam. “Technology has been amazing to assist us in observing wildlife,” he said. It’s a first-of-its-kind project along the American River Parkway. The live camera is designed to catch a glimpse of Chinook salmon as they swim up the American River at the end of their long journey from the Pacific Ocean. “It’s very, very impressive,” Friedman said. “There are literally hundreds of them and sometimes they actually come up on the gravel shoreline and spawn. It’s spectacular to watch them; they are incredible animals.” … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
CENTRAL COAST
Los Osos officials approve increase to town’s water rates
“The Los Osos Community Services District’s (CSD) Board of Directors approved an increase to the town’s water rates at a meeting Thursday evening. Officials voted to move forward with a 3% inflation rate each year over the next three years. The change means that, during the first year, people using a minimal amount of water will be paying $7.21 on top of the $77 base fee. That amount would increase to $8.04 in the third year, pushing the 3-year average upward by 4.58%. … ” Read more from KSBY.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Broken hydrants slowed firefighters at Stockton recycling plant blaze. It’s a citywide problem
“Three inoperable fire hydrants that hindered Stockton firefighters responding to a massive blaze at a recycling plant last week are symptoms of an ongoing problem in the city, authorities said. Fire crews arriving at Zarc Recycling on south California Street on Wednesday night tried to tap into hydrants but quickly discovered they couldn’t plug in their hoses. The problem wasn’t a lack of water, Deputy Fire Chief Brandon Doolan said. It was being able to access the hydrants. To get water on the fire as quickly as possible, firefighters had to bring in water tenders — trucks filled with huge amounts of water — from other departments. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
Kings County Farm Bureau to host 2 meetings on groundwater laws
“The Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB) will host two meetings to discuss the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). “The KCFB invites you to an important informational meeting to learn how the probation status and pending lawsuit may affect your business,” a flyer for the meetings provided by the bureau stated. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Recycled water helps a California community adapt to worsening droughts
“In Orange County, California, wastewater from people’s homes is not considered waste. Instead of treating it and sending it to the ocean, Orange County purifies its wastewater with an additional three-step process. Each day, the county treats about 130 million gallons until it’s safe enough to drink. Patel: “And then we take that highly treated, recycled water, and we surface-spread it in a series of lakes or ponds and then let it naturally seep or percolate down and replenish the aquifer.” Mehul Patel is with the Orange County Water District. He says the aquifer is a key source of water for people who live in the area. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
SEE ALSO: Turning Wastewater into a Resource: The Key to Water Sustainability, from Environment & Energy Leader
SAN DIEGO
Biggest beach sand restoration yet planned by SANDAG
“San Diego County’s next regional beach restoration project will be its largest yet, delivering three times the sand previously pumped onto the coastline and at 10 times the cost, planning officials said. “The time is right to do another regional sand project,” said Keith Greer, deputy director of regional planning at the San Diego Association of Governments, the lead agency for the project. In 2001, the agency spread a total of 2.1 million cubic yards of sand at 12 different spots along the eroding shoreline from Oceanside to Imperial Beach at a cost of $18 million. A smaller project in 2012 generated about 1.5 million cubic yards for $26 million. State and federal grants paid for most of both projects. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Padre Dam water rates likely rising again
“There’s no doubt that customers of Padre Dam Water District, already paying among the highest rates in the nation, will pay even more for the coming year. It’s just a matter of how much. At its April 2 meeting, PDWD’s board of directors heard from the San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham about all the various reasons his agency will probably increase what it charges for the water it imports from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metro), the Los Angeles-based agency that transfers water south from both the Colorado River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. In short, Denham told the local water board his hands are tied. When Metro raises its rate on the water it transports, then the CWA is forced to pass on those higher costs to its members. The CWA has 22-member water agencies, including Padre Dam. … ” Read more from East County Magazine.
Commentary: The government must act now to address Tijuana River pollution
Rosario Nozagaray, Fay Crevoshay and Serge Dedina with WILDCOAST write, “Tijuana’s Los Laureles Canyon, on the highway to Playas de Tijuana, is the kind of place where stereotypes about impoverished colonias on the U.S.-Mexico border ring true. More than 50,000 people live crammed into a narrow canyon in everything from concrete houses to plywood shacks buttressed by old tires to stop mudslides. Illegal pig and dairy farms operate clandestinely in offshoots of the canyon. Even for us, with decades working in Tijuana’s most remote and dangerous neighborhoods, there are certain parts of Los Laureles that due to security concerns, are off limits. Sewage, trash, waste tires (many that originate from California) and toxic waste flow down the concrete storm drain in the middle of Los Laureles into Border Field State Park on the U.S. side of the border. Over the years pollution from Los Laureles has been a major cause of pollution-related beach closures from Imperial Beach to Coronado. Uncollected refuse in the Tijuana River Valley is also a vector for disease, rats, and gases that contribute to climate change. All of these challenges make it imperative to clean up Los Laureles, a major sending area of pollution into the Tijuana Estuary and border beaches. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Warning issued over Lake Mead, Lake Powell water levels
“Water officials have raised concerns about the water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, following a disappointing winter snowpack that threatens to stall progress made during last year’s wetter-than-average season. These lakes are crucial for water supply across the Southwest, and while gains have been made in previous years, storage remains a concern due to ongoing drought impacts and high water demands. The Colorado River also irrigates some five million acres of land. The latest government data reveals that water levels in both reservoirs remain below critical thresholds, reinforcing long-term challenges facing the Colorado River Basin. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Editorial: Other states must follow Nevada’s lead on water re-use
The Las Vegas Review Journal editorial board writes, “The seven Colorado River states have only a few weeks left to submit a comprehensive plan for water management going forward. A new study by UCLA researchers should further inform the negotiations as they enter the late stages. The states continue to discuss a framework for cooperation over the river’s precious water supply when the current deal expires at the end of 2026. … An agreement among the states would provide a guideline for federal officials as they seek to replace the Colorado River Compact, first signed in 1922, with a new arrangement. If the states don’t produce a deal by May, the federal government may impose its own standards that could lead to states, including Nevada, experiencing cuts in their annual allocations from the river. The discussion would be best served by considering who is doing what to make the most of a scarce resource. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Arizona recycles more water than most Colorado River states, study finds
“Arizona is growing fast, but its water supplies are not, so to stretch every drop, cities capture and use water even after it runs down sink and shower drains. The result: Arizonans reuse about half of all their wastewater, the second-highest rate of any Colorado River basin state, according to a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles. And if all seven basin states reused as much of their wastewater as Arizona does, the researchers found that the states could recycle a combined 1.3 million acre-feet of water each year, roughly 10% of the Colorado River’s average annual flow. The number doesn’t account for any potential losses from reusing water that would otherwise flow back to the river, though the authors expect that number to be small. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
A group of Colorado communities were awarded $25.6M for water projects. Then Trump took office.
“Water and environmental groups in southwestern Colorado have not heard a peep from the federal government since their $25.6 million grant got caught up in a widespread funding freeze, officials say. Southwestern Water Conservation District pulled together a unique collection of partners in 2024 to tap into an immense stack of federal cash for environmental projects in the Colorado River Basin. The partners were “ecstatic” Jan. 17 when they found out their application to fund 17 projects was accepted, Steve Wolff, district manager, said. Three days later, President Donald Trump paused spending, and the district’s partnership has been in limbo ever since. Other Colorado groups are in the same boat with millions of dollars of awarded grant funding on the line. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
EPA chief hopes a change to what’s protected under the Clean Water Act can win over farmers
“On National Agriculture Day in March, newly-appointed Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin laid out a lofty goal during a visit to a farm outside of St. Louis. “I would love to see, ‘I love EPA, I love Trump EPA,’ t-shirts on everybody,” Zeldin joked. The room of Missouri agriculture leaders echoed with laughter at the idea of farmers wearing the shirts. “But we have to earn that trust,” Zeldin continued. “We have to earn that respect.” The round-table discussion covered many agriculture issues that overlap with the EPA, like ethanol fuel standards and pesticide approvals. But one issue was at the center of Zeldin’s effort to win over farmers — rewriting the rule that defines which bodies of water are protected under the Clean Water Act. … ” Read more from KCUR.
Trump officials quietly move to reverse bans on toxic ‘forever chemicals’
“The Trump administration is quietly carrying out a plan that aims to kill hundreds of bans on highly toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” and other dangerous compounds in consumer goods. The bans, largely at the state level, touch most facets of daily life, prohibiting everything from bisphenol in children’s products to mercury in personal care products to PFAS in food packaging and clothing. If successful, the public would almost certainly be exposed to much higher levels of chemicals linked to a range of serious health issues such as cancer, hormone disruption, liver disease, birth defects, and reproductive system damage, the plan’s opponents say. The Trump Environmental Protection Agency move involves changing the way the agency carries out chemical risk evaluations, which would also pre-empt state laws that offer the one of few meaningful checks on toxic chemicals in consumer products. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
NOAA halts upkeep of critical weather satellites
“NOAA has begun to limit the work it devotes to maintaining a pair of polar weather satellites — putting at risk the accuracy of both weather forecasts and extreme storm predictions, say former agency officials. The move, outlined in a memo obtained exclusively by POLITICO’s E&E News, calls on the agency to take a “minimum mission operations approach” to the two probes. The satellites are part of the Joint Polar Satellite System, which serves as the backbone of three- and seven-day forecasts and early warnings for hurricanes and tornadoes. The order means NOAA won’t do much to upkeep the satellites, which orbit the Earth’s poles 14 times a day. The March 28 memo calls for the deferral of discretionary activities including “modernization product maturation, flight software updates, decommissioning planning, ground system sustainment deployment(s), special calibrations, etc.” … ” Read more from E&E News.
NOAA websites won’t go dark, agency says
“NOAA websites about extreme weather research and other topics that were expected to go dark this weekend will remain online, the agency said Friday afternoon. The announcement came hours after news reports about two internal NOAA documents that warned about a shutdown at midnight Saturday because Trump administration officials had canceled the agency’s cloud usage contract. The websites are connected to NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. “There will be no interruption in service. All NOAA Research sites will remain online,” an agency spokesperson said in an email to POLITICO’s E&E News. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Changes to NEPA may limit public oversight of environmental projects
“For decades, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has governed how projects done by federal agencies must assess their impacts, and how the public is informed about these projects. But how does this legislation actually work in practice? And what changes are coming down the pike from the Trump administration? NEPA was signed into law by Pres. Richard Nixon on January 1, 1970. It’s considered by many to be the “Magna Carta” of environmental law in the United States. Basically, it comes into play whenever a federal agency wants to take an action that may have environmental impacts. Chris Winter is the director of the Getches Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment at CU Boulder’s School of Law. He says NEPA represents a shift in thinking at the time, from unregulated industry to more concern about the environment. … ” Read more from KSJD.
USDA cuts hit small farms as Trump showers billions on big farms
“Anna Pesek saw a federal program supporting local food purchases as much more than a boost to her Iowa pork and poultry farm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture grant program that allowed schools and food banks to buy fresh products from small farms helped her forge new business relationships. It allowed her to spend more with local feed mills and butchers, and was starting to build a stronger supply chain of local foods. But now that the Trump administration has yanked the funding, she worries that rural economic boost might end too. “With the razor-thin margins on both sides, those partnerships are just really hard, if not impossible, to sustain,” she said. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
