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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.
- WEBINAR: Climate Resilience in Action – Healthier Forests, Safer Communities beginning at 10am to 11am. Fire has always been a natural part of California’s landscapes and is vital to maintain healthy ecosystems. However, climate change is bringing more frequent, intense, and destructive wildfires to our cherished lands and communities. Proactive forest management is essential to reducing risk and boosting wildfire resilience to protect California’s watersheds, ecosystems, and people. Join us on Wednesday, April 9 for the second webinar in Sustainable Conservation’s Climate Resilience in Action series – Healthier Forests, Safer Communities. We’ll chat with experts on forest management, fire safety, and cultural burning to discuss how restoration efforts and prescribed fire can help California build a safer, more fire-adapted future. We’ll share insights on how traditional ecological knowledge and modern fire management strategies can work together to strengthen ecosystem health and highlight on-the-ground restoration projects that showcase the power of collaborative land stewardship. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Miles of Delta levees are at risk of floods. Repairs could cost $3 billion
“As winter storms soaked California in early 2023, the Sacramento River swelled toward flood stage. Levees protecting large expanses of farmland and many towns sprung leaks. At one site, response crews drove metal sheets into the earthen berm and lined the levee face with heavy rock. The work cost almost $700,000, paid by local farmers who had to take out a loan. “It was way beyond our means, but we had to do it,” said Daniel Wilson, a farmer near the Delta town of Walnut Grove and trustee of the management agency responsible for the levee. Because the region was declared a disaster zone, funding help was available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But two years later, the money still hasn’t arrived. Other districts in the region also are waiting for reimbursements. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is facing a funding crisis that has bogged down efforts to repair and maintain an aging network of about 1,100 miles of levees that protect the region from floods. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Golden mussels and beyond: How ballast water fuels invasions
“The San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary is often regarded as one of the most heavily invaded estuaries in the world. The Delta has been colonized by at least 185 foreign species, from Asian clams and water hyacinth to nutria and others, with more new species always arriving. According to one estimate, non-native species account for 95% or more of the Delta’s total biomass. Recently, the golden mussel—a non-native freshwater and brackish water bivalve—was discovered in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, marking its first known presence in North America. Likely introduced through ballast water discharged by ships, this invasive species poses a serious threat to ecosystems, as it can clog water infrastructure, disrupt food webs, and outcompete native species. At the March meeting of the Delta Independent Science Board, Chris Scianni, environmental program manager at the California State Lands Commission, provided an overview of ballast water regulations, how they are enforced, the existing barriers and challenges in light of the recent golden mussel detection, and the likely role that ballast water played in their introduction. … ” Continue reading this article from Maven’s Notebook.
Another water district annexes so-called “white lands,” the scourge of complying with California’s groundwater law
“A tiny water district in western Tulare County is poised to nearly triple in size by annexing 13,000 acres of land that has become “the stepchild nobody wants” for its lack of surface water. The Atwell Island Water District, at 7,300 acres, sought the annexation in order to help farmers in the area get access to surface water, said board member Deanna Jackson. Atwell has a small federal contract for water from the Central Valley Project and is a subcontractor for water from the Cross Valley Canal in Kern County as well. Jackson also runs the overarching Tri-County Water Authority Groundwater Sustainability Agency, tasked with bringing the region’s aquifers into balance per the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Atwell is a member agency of Tri-County, which also brought this acreage into its boundaries. Groundwater-only lands, also called white lands, have become pariahs under SGMA as they don’t have surface water to recharge what they pump. So, getting a water district to take them on is typically seen as a benefit. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Statewide team to assist small farms with SGMA
” … SGMA calls for the consideration of the interest of all beneficial uses and users of groundwater. In 2022, UC ANR participated in a study with non-governmental organizations titled “Underrepresented farmers and SGMA” to assess the impact of SGMA on small-scale farmers. The study found that impacts or benefits of SGMA implementation to small-scale farmers had not been adequately considered. Recommendations from the study include provision of technical assistance to help small-scale farmers engage and comply with SGMA implementation. Through funding from the State Legislature through California Department of Water Resources, Underrepresented Communities, California Tribes and Small Farmers Groundwater Technical Assistance (URCTA) Program, UC ANR has established a team of one statewide coordinator and five regional coordinators to provide technical assistance, extension education, policy analysis and outreach to small-scale farmers to understand how SGMA might impact them. … ” Read more from UCANR.
Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback Project shows early signs of success for juvenile salmon
“Since the 1950s, California’s salmon populations have dwindled due to lost habitat from a combination of factors, including human-made barriers such as dams, altered river flows, and climate change. These challenges mean DWR looks for opportunities to support salmon and other endangered species in its projects whenever possible. DWR’s Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback (LEBLS) Project is a multi-benefit project where engineering, flood protection, and supporting nature all come together. While the primary goal of LEBLS is to reduce flood risk, the recently expanded bypass floodplain is producing zooplankton, an energy-rich invertebrate that’s a key part of the juvenile salmon diet. This food production is happening in significant quantities and sooner-than-expected. … ” Read more from DWR.
AG ALERT: Q&A: Wade Crowfoot talks California’s natural resources
“California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot leads efforts to conserve the state’s environment and natural resources—water, air quality, forests, energy and species. Many decisions and regulations that emerge from agency departments affect farmers and ranchers. Secretary Crowfoot responded to questions during an interview with Ag Alert®. The below conversation was edited for length and clarity. Q: What are the agency’s top water infrastructure priorities this year? A: We are focused on advancing key infrastructure that we need to build, including Sites Reservoir and delta conveyance. This includes improving our systems to be more flexible, such as maximizing groundwater recharge during storms and exporting water from the delta, so really building water security given extreme weather. For Sites, if we secure all needed permitting and approvals by the end of 2026, our local partners tell us they anticipate beginning construction by around the same time, or early 2027. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Court reaffirms Constitution’s role in water use disputes
“On April 2, 2025, California’s Fifth Appellate District issued a decision in Bring Back the Kern v. City of Bakersfield (April 2, 2025, F087487) (2025 WL 98443). The Court held the “self-executing” reasonableness requirement in Article X, Section 2, of the California Constitution must be applied “whenever adjudicating a use of water.” This requirement applies even if the relevant statute does not explicitly call for a reasonableness determination. While this decision reaffirms existing law, it quashes any argument that Fish and Game Code section 5937 — which requires that dam owners allow sufficient water to pass through and around dams to keep fish in “good condition” — requires prioritizing water for fish regardless of how allocating water for fish affects other beneficial uses. … ” Read more from Hanson Bridgett.
Key California Assembly committee advances bill to limit ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
“California is one step closer to protecting millions of residents from tap water contaminated by the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. The Assembly’s Environmental Safety and Toxics Materials Committee on April 8 advanced a drinking water bill that includes setting enforceable state PFAS water standards. Assembly Bill 794, introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), would require that the standards be at least as protective as existing federal PFAS drinking water limits. And it would leave the door open to the state setting even stricter standards in the future. “Californians shouldn’t have to worry that their drinking water has been contaminated by toxic ‘forever chemicals’ linked to deadly cancers and other serious health harms,” Gabriel said. … ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group.
UCLA’s Gregory Pierce to lead a new water supply + wildfire research and policy coordination network
“When wildfires swept through Los Angeles in 2025, the flames revealed more than just scorched communities and hillsides — they exposed the increasing intersection between wildfire risk and urban water infrastructure. In response, UCLA’s Climate & Wildfire Research Initiative has launched the Urban Water Supply + Fire working group to tackle this issue head-on. Led by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI) in partnership with the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ California Institute for Water Resources, the working group will serve as a research and policy coordination network focused on developing research and policy solutions to challenges related to water supply infrastructure, resilience, and post-fire recovery. “This partnership couldn’t come at a more urgent time,” said Greg Pierce, co-executive director of LCI and chair of the new working group. “The 2025 wildfires exposed significant vulnerabilities at the intersection of water supply and wildfire resilience.” … ” Read more from the Luskin Center for Innovation.
Trump admin declares emergency in California’s federal forests
“A memo from the secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture released last week outlines the Trump administration’s plans to quickly expand logging operations in the country’s national forests, which could dramatically reshape the landscape of popular recreation areas in California. A month after President Donald Trump released an executive order calling for the “immediate expansion of American Timber Production,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has laid out what steps the U.S. Forest Service will take to do so. This includes lifting protections on more than half of the land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, expediting the process for logging in these areas. “The United States has an abundance of timber resources that are more than adequate to meet our domestic timber production needs, but heavy-handed federal policies have prevented full utilization of these resources,” Rollins wrote in the memo, dated April 3. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
California lawmakers urge Trump to spare state’s hydrogen energy project
“A bipartisan group of California lawmakers is calling on the Trump administration to preserve $1.2 billion in federal funds for a hydrogen energy project to help wean the state off planet-warming fossil fuels. The action follows reports in The Times and other news organizations that the administration is poised to defund nearly 300 Department of Energy projects across the country, including four of seven nascent “hydrogen hubs.” Among them is ARCHES, or California’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems, which was awarded $1.2 billion in federal funds by the Biden administration as part of a nationwide effort to develop hydrogen energy. ARCHES also plans to bring in an additional $11.2 billion from private investors. In a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright dated Monday, the lawmakers said ARCHES “plays a critical role in securing American energy dominance, advancing world-leading energy technology, creating new manufacturing jobs, and lowering energy costs for American families.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Trump declares war on state climate laws
“President Donald Trump is throwing the weight of the Justice Department against the last bastion of U.S. climate action: states and cities. In a sweeping executive order signed late Tuesday, Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to “stop the enforcement of State laws” on climate change that the administration says are unconstitutional, unenforceable or preempted by federal laws. The order names California, New York and Vermont as specific targets, while also listing a broad range of state policies that the administration would seek to nullify — from cap-and-trade systems to permitting rules. The executive order also targets the array of lawsuits that mostly Democratic-led states, cities and counties have brought against oil majors, seeking compensation for the ravages of climate change, such as rising tides and more frequent wildfires. … ” Read more from E&E News.
In commentary today …
Farmers, not bureaucrats, deserve control of California’s water: a farmer’s call for stability
Rodney Cheyne, a fifth-generation farmer and president of the Klamath Irrigation District, writes, “Farmers are at the heart of California’s water wars, but you wouldn’t know it from reading The New York Times. A recent feature on the removal of dams from the Klamath River highlighted environmental and tribal perspectives—yet it failed to incorporate the perspective of farmers like me who are directly affected by these decisions. This omission is part of a broader trend in media coverage, where agriculture communities are sidelined in debates over conservation and land management, despite being on the front lines of these issues. The reality is, farmers aren’t just stakeholders—we are stewards of the land, providing food for the nation while navigating the shifting political and regulatory landscape that controls our water supply. Thankfully, President Donald Trump has made it clear: Business as usual is over when it comes to California’s water crisis. … ” Read more from The Daily Signal.
Harvard — hands off California’s water
Kayla Springer, contributing opinion writer at the Harvard Crimson, writes, “While fires burned in Los Angeles this winter, accelerated by drought and global heating, water continued to be extracted from Harvard-owned lands. Just 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, in California’s Cuyama Valley, an exploratory oil drilling project is moving forward on Harvard’s 6,565-acre vineyard. This project is the latest in a series of Harvard’s grabs on natural resources in the region that have worsened a critical drought of groundwater and endangered the area’s many local farmers and ranchers. To repair these harms, the University must, to the extent that it is able, put an end to extractive groundwater pumping and oil drilling in the area and instead invest in building sustainable agricultural practices that prioritize — rather than threaten — a human right to water. … ” Read more from the Harvard Crimson.
Rebuilding requires reimagining environmentalism
Edward Ring, Director, Water and Energy Policy at the California Policy Center, writes, “Helping thousands of victims of the wildfires in Los Angeles rebuild is an urgent concern, prompting, among other things, efforts to streamline the building permit process and expedite insurance claims. But this disaster and its aftermath must also prompt us to question environmental policies we’ve accepted as beyond debate, policies that have effectively rationed the supply and inflated the cost of land, water, energy, and building materials. While motivated by environmentalist values, they disproportionately harm low and middle income Californians, and in many cases don’t help the environment. For decades, state and local laws and ordinances have promoted “infill” and discouraged suburban “sprawl.” But the construction cost per square foot for multistory, multifamily dwellings exceeds the cost to build single family detached homes, as is the cost per acre to build on urban land. And in a stark contradiction of the conventional wisdom, there is no shortage of land. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local officials to discuss next steps for Redwood Creek Estuary Restoration at today’s community meeting
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
More Sacramento-area lakes tighten boat rules to block invasive golden mussels’ spread
“Faced with the rapid spread of golden mussels across California waterways, state and federal officials are imposing strict new measures at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine to prevent the invasive species from taking hold. Beginning Monday, all trailered or motorized boats at the two popular Sacramento-area lakes will be required to undergo inspection and a mandatory 30-day quarantine before launching. “California State Parks is working with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and numerous state agencies to take critical steps to prevent golden mussels from infesting Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine,” said Mike Howard, superintendent of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. “We thank boaters for their understanding as we implement the new procedures and are working to make the inspection processes as efficient as possible.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
National Weather Service’s Sacramento office cutting back on social media channels
“The National Weather Service office in Sacramento announced Tuesday it would reduce monitoring and postings on its widely followed social media accounts, cutting back on real-time weather updates used by thousands. “Going forward, this account will have limited monitoring and posting,” officials wrote in a brief statement online. “We always recommend having many ways to receive hazardous weather watches and warnings!” The cutback would affect its presence on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook. The weather service office has roughly 97,000 followers on the former and more than 165,000 followers on the Meta-owned platform. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
BAY AREA
Legendary California beef rancher fears for the future of Point Reyes
“Bill Niman has lived through a lot of changes since he first started ranching in Point Reyes in 1969. And what especially irks him is seeing areas that were once grassland dotted with cattle now choked with coyote brush. “That’s how quickly the land can go back,” said Niman, co-founder of the sustainable meat company Niman Ranch, as he drove past acres of brush that he said hadn’t been grazed since the National Park Service took it out of agricultural use in the late 1980s. Niman and his wife, Nicolette Hahn Niman, raise beef cattle and chickens within the Point Reyes National Seashore. In February they sued the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service over the agencies’ decision to almost eliminate ranching in the park. The changes were made in January, after the Nature Conservancy brokered a settlement between the park service, several environmental groups and 12 ranchers and dairy farmers who agreed to leave by next spring, involving a buyout estimated at $30 million. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Over 1,000 acres treated to reduce wildfire risk near Los Gatos, Saratoga
“The Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative is celebrating completion of fire safety and forest health treatment of over 1,000 acres of open space across the South Bay after several years of work. The collaborative is consists of several public and private entities and nonprofit organizations, including the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Santa Clara County Parks, San Jose Water and the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council. The collaborative aims to restore healthy forest ecosystems and reduce the severity of potential wildfires, enhancing the safety of surrounding communities and protecting watersheds that provide drinking water to the region. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Real estate values and agricultural transitions in the Central Valley
“In California’s Central Valley, the value of farmland is closely tied to agricultural production, which relies on water. Cropland prices can range from less than $10,000 per acre to over $60,000 per acre. These values vary based on many factors, such as soil suitability, the types of crops grown, and water availability. Location is important and can account for development pressures. Microclimates and proximity to markets or production facilities can influence profitability. Land sales also fluctuate with changing economic trends in real estate or the agricultural sector. If commodity prices fall, there can be reduced demand for production from current fields. Land prices can also be influenced by longer-term changes in water scarcity and environmental factors. For instance, implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), passed in 2014, will likely require reductions of intense agricultural production in areas of long-term groundwater overdraft. If less irrigation water is available, how will cropland production be affected, by acreage and the types of crops? Are long-term regulatory changes being incorporated into farmland values currently in the state? Parsing out these influences from the many factors affecting farmland values requires lots of data, especially to detect both spatial and temporal trends. … ” Read more from UCANR.
CV-SALTS: Nitrate Control Program hits 5-year milestone and Drinking Water Program expands to new areas
“This year marks several significant five-year milestones for CV-SALTS and its efforts to address salt and nitrate challenges in the Valley. The program has expanded its geographical reach and local networks significantly in the first quarter of 2025. With the launch of the Priority 2 Management Zones (MZs), the Nitrate Control Program now covers all basins with high nitrate concentrations in the Central Valley. The Priority 1 MZs continue to conduct well testing, deliver safe drinking water, and work with local communities to explore long-term drinking water solutions. The Salt Control Program has selected a second case study location and is beginning to model salt management scenarios. … ” Continue reading from the CV-SALTS program.
EASTERN SIERRA
Fishmas is here! Opening day of regular fishing season set for April 26
“Get ready to cast your lines! Eastern Sierra locals and visitors alike are celebrating “Fishmas,” the official start to the regular fishing season on April 26, 2025. This highly anticipated day marks the beginning of a season filled with angling excitement across Mono County’s pristine lakes, streams, and reservoirs. “The Eastern Sierra is home to some of the best fishing in the country, and we’re excited to welcome anglers to Mono County for Fishmas and the 2025 fishing season,” said Board of Supervisors Chair, Lynda Salcido, District 5. This year promises abundant opportunities, with Mono County investing $100,000 to stock 18 local bodies of water with potentially 40,000 pounds or more of rainbow trout. Following a robust winter and mild spring, anglers can expect healthy water levels and mostly ice-free conditions, providing ideal environments for a successful opening day. On April 1, California’s snowpack in the Sierra Nevada measured 96%. This Is the third straight year the state has had near-average or above-average amounts of snow. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Possible record-breaking heat on tap for Southern California next week
“It’s time to test out those summer outfits because Mother Nature is turning up the heat in Southern California with possible triple-digit temperatures in some areas next week. After a chilly start to spring and rain in some locations this week, the mercury will rise rapidly over the weekend bringing summer-like weather to Southern California. Temperatures will reach the 70s along the coast and 80s farther inland by Sunday in Los Angeles County. After a very slight cool down on Monday, more toasty temperatures are on tap for the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service. By Wednesday, it’s expected to be in the 80s along the coast and into the 90s in the valleys. Some locations in the San Fernando Valley could break the 100-degree mark and possibly topple daily heat records, said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Metropolitan Water District adopts groundbreaking framework to adapt to climate change
“To ensure Southern California has a reliable supply of water amid hotter temperatures, more extreme droughts, less snowpack and rising sea levels, Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors adopted today a groundbreaking strategy to adapt to climate change. The implementation strategy of the Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water, developed over the past two years through an extensive process involving water leaders from across the region, provides a roadmap to guide future investments and decision-making on proposed water projects and programs. “This is an unprecedented approach to building climate resilience,” board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. said. “Metropolitan has a long history of successfully planning for Southern California’s water future, but we’ve never done anything like this before; no one in the country has.” … ” Read more from the Metropolitan Water District.
Needles gets safe drinking water, thanks to state investment
“After years of struggling with poor water quality and aging facilities, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the completion of a new water system for the City of Needles in eastern San Bernardino County. This system will ensure reliable access to safe drinking water for Needles’ 5,000 residents. Today’s announcement of the new clean water system in Needles furthers the state’s goal to provide all Californians with clean and safe drinking water. Since 2019, thanks to state efforts, the number of Californians without safe drinking water has been reduced by half, from 1.6 million to about 800,000 people. “I’m proud of the state’s work to expand clean water access to more Californians than ever before. With today’s announcement, the City of Needles now joins the 98% of Californians served by clean drinking water systems – and we won’t stop until we achieve safe water for all.” … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
Along the Colorado River …
Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez accepts appointment to the Colorado River Forum
“On April 7, Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) (Vice Chair, Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee) issued the following statement upon being recommended by California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to serve on the Colorado River Forum, a key program of The Council of State Governments West (CSG West), for the 2025-26 biennium: “I am truly honored to have been recommended by Speaker Robert Rivas to serve on the Colorado River Forum, an opportunity that I take with great pride and responsibility. The Colorado River is not only a vital resource for California but for the entire Western United States, and I am excited to contribute to meaningful conversations that will shape the future of water policy in our region. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
UCLA Study: Wastewater reuse could offset Colorado River water crisis
“A new report by the UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability and Natural Resources Defense Council found that wastewater recycling could mitigate demand on the Colorado River. Noah Garrison, environmental science practicum director at the UCLA Institute, is an author of the study. He said that the West is facing a two and four-million-acre-feet-per-year shortage on the River for water that is divided up among the seven Colorado River Basin states. “We’re going to have to develop new resources and new sources of water supply in order to make up that shortage,” Garrison said. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
From waste to water: How Yuma helps protect the Colorado River
“Here in Yuma, we rely on the Colorado River, but instead of looking upstream for solutions, experts say we should also look at the water we’ve already used. UCLA environmental science practicum director, Noah Garrison says the Colorado River is facing a 2 to 4 million acre feet shortage projected for future years. A new report from UCLA and The Natural Resource Defense Council says wastewater recycling could help solve the west’s water crisis. “If were facing a shortfall on the Colorado River, creating additional water supply based on municipal wastewater can really offset that loss were facing.” … ” Read more from Channel 11.
Here’s why 3 decent winters in a row still isn’t enough to fill Lake Powell
“Over the last three years, the Colorado River Basin has experienced three relatively healthy winters. But that decent snowpack, after melting, hasn’t filled reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell as much as water users across the West might like, due to years of drought and overuse. Recent forecasts show Lake Mead and Lake Powell will remain roughly one-third full after snow melts down from the mountains across the West into the Colorado River and its tributaries this year. “Everybody keeps hoping that the only way we’re going to really rebuild storage is if we have another ridiculous, gangbuster year like 2023,” said Jack Schmidt, a watershed sciences professor at Utah State University and Director of its Center for Colorado River Studies. But, he continued, “that’s highly unlikely.” … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Rocky Mountain snowpack is contaminated by mercury and other metals, study finds
“A new study reveals snow in the Rocky Mountains is contaminated with mercury and other metals, and that pollution has historic causes. The Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nev., examined snow samples from nearly 50 sites in the Rocky Mountains. Researchers melted down the snow and found mercury, zinc, cadmium, and antimony in the water. Mountain snowpack acts as a frozen reservoir that supplies water to communities, and it “serves as a recorder of what’s in our atmosphere,” said Monica Arienzo, an associate professor in hydrologic sciences at the institute who led the study. … ” Read more from Boise State Public Radio.
Exclusive: Water looms as new front in Mexico’s trade negotiations with the US
“Mexican officials are scrambling to come up with a plan to increase the amount of water the country sends to the United States because of growing concern that President Donald Trump could drag a dispute over an 81-year-old water treaty into trade negotiations, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Under a 1944 treaty that outlines water sharing between the two countries through a network of interconnected dams and reservoirs, Mexico must send 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the U.S. from the Rio Grande every five years. The current five-year cycle is up in October, but Mexico has sent less than 30% of the required water, according to data from the International Boundary and Water Commission. Put another way, Mexico owes enough water to supply a mid-sized city for around 30 years. … ” Read more from Reuters.
In national water news today …
RFK Jr. tells CDC to change its guidance on fluoride in drinking water
“Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to change its fluoridation recommendation for drinking water, the agency said Monday, disturbing public health experts and dentists, who say the longtime practice is critical in fighting tooth decay. Most Americans drink fluoridated water. The CDC for years has recommended that small amounts of fluoride be added to community water systems to prevent cavities. But Kennedy has assailed the practice of community water fluoridation, alleging that it can harm brain development and bones. In an email on Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services said it “is reconvening the community preventative services task force to study and make a new recommendation on fluoride.” … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
MAHA sinks its teeth into EPA
“EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin credits one man for his agency’s decision to review new science on fluoride in drinking water: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “If this is as important as it is to Secretary Kennedy,” Zeldin said at a Monday event in Utah with the Health and Human Services chief, “then it is top of the list for the Environmental Protection Agency.” Indeed, getting fluoride out of drinking water has been a priority of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement spearheaded by Kennedy. According to Zeldin, Kennedy “instantly reached out” after being nominated to discuss reviewing the science around fluoride — a natural mineral that has been added to drinking water for decades to improve dental health. Since giving up his own presidential campaign and endorsing President Donald Trump in August, questions have swirled around just how much influence the prominent environmental attorney-turned anti-vaccine-advocate would have over EPA’s regulations. Monday’s fluoride announcement is the first sign that at least some of Kennedy’s MAHA priorities have taken hold at the environmental agency. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO: Why water fluoridation, long considered a public health success story, is under scrutiny, from SF Gate
NOAA contracts are being reviewed one by one. It’s throwing the agency into chaos
“The secretary of commerce is personally reviewing all contracts with commitments above $100,000 at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, causing backups and uncertainty in the agency that is responsible for the country’s weather forecasts, marine fisheries management and coastal management. NOAA is housed within the Department of Commerce. Howard Lutnick is reviewing all NOAA contracts above $100,000, according to three agency employees who spoke anonymously out of fear of retribution at work. There are hundreds of such contracts across the agency that need to be reviewed each year and several that have been paused or otherwise impacted by the secretary’s review, according to an agency employee familiar with the contracting process. … ” Read more from National Public Radio.
NOAA staffing cuts threaten years of salmon harvests
“In Washington State, April is when millions of young Chinook salmon are released from hatcheries, where they started as tiny, pink globes, to swim downstream and rebuild the salmon population. They are part of an ecosystem that affects tribal, commercial, and recreational fishing and are a main source of food for endangered killer whales. But this year, almost a dozen hatcheries in the Puget Sound region are in limbo because a single employee from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was terminated in February, a casualty of cuts made by billionaire Elon Musk’s advisory group known as the Department of Government Efficiency. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Revealed: Big tech’s new datacentres will take water from the world’s driest areas
“Amazon, Microsoft and Google are operating datacentres that use vast amounts of water in some of the world’s driest areas and are building many more, the non-profit investigatory organisation SourceMaterial and the Guardian have found. With Donald Trump pledging to support them, the three technology giants are planning hundreds of datacentres in the US and across the globe, with a potentially huge impact on populations already living with water scarcity. “The question of water is going to become crucial,” said Lorena Jaume-Palasí, founder of the Ethical Tech Society. “Resilience from a resource perspective is going to be very difficult for those communities.” … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Growing risk of ‘thirstwaves’ as the planet warms
“The atmosphere is getting thirstier. A new study finds that warming is leading to more frequent bouts of hot, dry weather that cause soils to lose large volumes of water to evaporation. The growing number of “thirstwaves” poses a challenge to farmers, researchers say. “As these pressures grow, there’s less and less room for guesswork in irrigation, so if you are under limited water conditions, you’ve got to do a better job at really tracking your water,” said lead author Meetpal Kukal, of the University of Idaho. Researchers define a “thirstwave” as three days in a row of unusually high “evaporative demand” — that is, when hot, dry, sunny conditions cause the atmosphere to draw more water from plants, soils, and waterways. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
