A drone view of the Canyon Creek bridge at Lake Oroville in Butte County, California. On this date, the water storage was 3,062,583 acre-feet (AF), 89 percent of the total capacity. Photo taken April 4, 2025 by Nick Shockey / DWR

DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: CA reduces Delta pumping amid ample reservoirs and snowpack; It’s only spring, and SoCal’s drought problem is exploding; Elevated levels of lead found downwind from Eaton Fire burn area; Inside the war over water brewing at the U.S.-Mexico border; and more …

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In California water news this weekend …

California reduces Delta pumping amid ample reservoirs and snowpack. Here’s why

The Harvey O. Banks Delta Pumping Plant lifts water into the California Aqueduct. Photo by Ken James / DWR

“California water managers this week cut in half the amount of water being pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta at the state’s plant near Tracy, saying the main reservoir it serves is nearly full and the water is needed for fish. The reduction is required under the state’s environmental permits for pumping from the fragile Delta, because despite nearly full reservoirs and a robust snowpack, the San Joaquin River watershed had less-than-normal precipitation during the water year which began Oct. 1, said Ryan Endean, a spokesperson for the California Department of Water Resources. The state’s Banks Pumping Plant lifts water from the Delta to canals and reservoirs that serve San Joaquin Valley farms and Southern California cities. But environmental regulations require pumping to be reduced in the spring months of March, April and May to protect fish, including spring-run Chinook salmon, Delta smelt and longfin smelt, DWR officials said in a news release. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee.

SEE ALSO: Changes to Delta operations start today: Balancing water needs for millions of Californians and the environment, from DWR

Drought status update for California-Nevada: Drought persists in central and southern California and Nevada.

“Since the start of the water year, the area of California and Nevada in drought has increased by ~20% and intensified, including new areas of Extreme (D3) to Exceptional (D4) Drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A north-south gradient in drought conditions shows this water year’s drought depended on when, where, and how much precipitation was received.  February and March storms brought some improvements to a record-setting dry start to the water year in southern California and Nevada. Above-normal temperatures are favored over the next two weeks, which will likely impact water resource yields from rapid snowmelt. Similar temperature trends in the Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlooks for April–June suggest high evaporative demand (the “thirst” of the atmosphere) over the summer, which could dry landscapes and vegetation. … ”  Read more from NIDIS.

It’s only spring, and Southern California’s drought problem is exploding

“After a decidedly weird and only occasionally wet winter, California is once again drying out — and fast. New data compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that large swaths of both California and Nevada are facing down a summer of extreme drought, particularly in the southeast corners of those states. And the summer heatwaves haven’t even hit yet.The NOAA report, which was released this week, is stark: Since the start of the water year (that’s October 1, per the California Nevada River Forecast Center), the amount of California and Nevada land that is considered to be in a state of drought has jumped by 25%. What’s worse, those drought areas have seen their dryness intensify, falling further down the U.S. Drought Monitor scale from “abnormally dry” to “exceptional drought.” All told, 44% of California and Nevada combined are in some stage of dryness or drought. … ”  Read more from SF Gate.

Drug pollution in water is making salmon take more risks – new research

““Out of sight, out of mind” is how we often treat what is flushed down our toilets. But the drugs we take, from anxiety medications to antibiotics, don’t simply vanish after leaving our bodies. Many are not fully removed by wastewater treatment systems and end up in rivers, lakes and streams, where they can linger and affect wildlife in unexpected ways.  In our new study, we investigated how a sedative called clobazam, commonly prescribed for sleep and anxiety disorders, influences the migration of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from the River Dal in central Sweden to the Baltic Sea.  Our findings suggest that even tiny traces of drugs in the environment can alter animal behaviour in ways that may shape their survival and success in the wild. … ”  Read more from The Conversation.

More state and local attention to financing can advance sustainable groundwater management

“In 2014, California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a law that establishes a statewide framework for advancing the long-term availability of the state’s groundwater resources. SGMA’s framework provides local government with relative flexibility to manage its groundwater resources, but gives state agencies oversight authority and the right to intervene. SGMA requires local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs)to develop groundwater sustainability plans (Plans) to chart a path for achieving sustainable groundwater management by 2040.  Implementing Plans will cost money. However, generating new sources of revenue and repurposing existing ones can be complex. Without careful attention to these challenges, the revenue generation process can be protracted and vulnerable to failure–a concern that early signs of litigation and opposition to GSAs’ efforts to generate revenue suggest. … ”  Read more from Legal Planet.

California court clarifies CEQA tribal consultation duties in first published AB 52 decision

“On March 14, 2025, the California Court of Appeal for the First District issued the first published opinion interpreting Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52), the law governing tribal consultation procedures under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In Koi Nation of Northern California v. City of Clearlake (Cal. Ct. App., Mar. 14, 2025, No. A169438) (Koi Nation), the court held that a city’s failure to engage in “meaningful” consultation with a California Native American tribe violated AB 52, resulting in the invalidation of project approvals for a hotel and roadway development. The ruling significantly elevates the expectations placed on lead agencies and developers with respect to documenting and conducting tribal consultation under CEQA. … ”  Read more from Allen Matkins.

Rogers’ Klamath stopgap water bill advances

“Earlier this week, Assemblymember Chris Rogers’ (D-Santa Rosa) water bill made it out of a committee.  If passed, AB 263 would extend minimum flows set for two Klamath tributaries, the Scott and Shasta rivers, that were established during an emergency drought declaration four years ago. These emergency regulations would be kept until 2031, under the bill.  The premise of the bill is to keep minimum flows in place for fish while waiting for the State Water Board to set permanent rules for the rivers, a process expected to take multiple years. Until then, there’s uncertainty for farmers who use water in Siskiyou county to grow crops such as alfalfa, who have been ordered to reduce their water take as part of the regulation. It’s also precarious for the fish who need water to spawn and swim in it along the rivers, alongside people who catch and eat the salmon downstream, like those part of the Karuk and Yurok Tribes who have supported the bill. … ”  Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.

Padilla, Western senators introduce bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act to combat wildfires

“U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, and Senators John Curtis (R-Utah), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation to combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. The comprehensive bill reflects months of bipartisan negotiations to find consensus on how to best accelerate and improve forest management practices, streamline environmental reviews, and strengthen partnerships between federal agencies, states, tribes, and private stakeholders.  The American West has long been prone to wildfires, but climate change, prolonged drought, and the buildup of dry fuels have increasingly intensified these fires and extended fire seasons. Wildfires today are more catastrophic — growing larger, spreading faster, and burning more land than ever before. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231 percent increase. … ”  Read more from Senator Alex Padilla.

Trump’s order to expand U.S. timber production includes all of California’s national forests

“California’s national forests are on the chopping block — literally — in the wake of the Trump administration’s April 5 order to immediately expand timber production in the United States.  Last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued an emergency declaration that ordered the U.S. Forest Service to open up some 112.5 million acres of national forestland to logging.  The announcement included a grainy map of affected forests, which did not specify forest names or the amount of impacted acreage in each. However, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have confirmed to The Times that the order will touch all 18 of the Golden State’s national forests, which collectively span more than 20 million acres.  “The USDA Forest Service stands ready to fulfill the Secretary’s vision of productive and resilient national forests outlined in the memorandum,” the agency said in a written statement. “In alignment with the Secretary’s direction, we will streamline forest management efforts, reduce burdensome regulations, and grow partnerships to support economic growth and sustainability.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

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Podcasts …

ECONEWS REPORT: Coastal Commission under attack

Do you like to go to the beach? Do you appreciate having a beach to go to? Are you happier when that beach has clean ocean water, thriving ocean life and isn’t covered by rocks, seawalls or houses intruding on the public sand?  If the answer to any/all of those questions is, “Yes!,” that means you’re a fan of the California Coastal Act, a law passed in 1976 following a 1972 public uprising to defend the coast from development threats. The Coastal Act, as it’s commonly known, protects two key rights: public beach access and coastal preservation – but now those rights are under attack as the Trump administration and California’s own Governor Gavin Newsom seek to weaken or eliminate the agency charged with upholding them, the California Coastal Commission.  Guest Jennifer Savage of Surfrider Foundation joins the show to discuss the movement to protect the Coastal Commission from attacks from the left and right.


VIC BEDOIAN: Public lands in California at risk

State environmental leaders are raising alarms over the Trump administration’s sharp reduction in staffing on federal lands—and how those cuts could strain California’s parks. A panel convened by the state’s Natural Resources Agency also voiced concern over the potential sale of public lands to private interests. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.


WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Conversations Dr. Ben Santer

Growing concerns in California are building regarding recent water management decisions being made at the Federal level. Recognizing that water is plentiful but not readily available across America is what has resulted in the water conveyance systems and their management guidelines that we use today. We have been relying on these systems for out entire lives. Today, the uncertainties are increasing because our current infrastructure and behaviors have not considered changes developing in the hydrologic cycle.

I share with you today some ground truthing insights from a conversation that I had at the Lawarence Livermore National Laboratory many years ago. I share this story because our collective response to seeing significant changes will require long-term water projects and a retraining of the American public on their manner in using water. My conversation with Dr. Ben Santer, Climatologist, points out the absence of a grounded understanding of these new conditions. Decisions that are fair and prepare us for reduced availability of water are needed now. My hope is that someone with political infrastructure will hear this conversation and take steps to direct a focused attention on messages to America and our water managers that help us avoid water calamities. Water is a Many Splendor ’ed Thing and Conversations brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.   Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co  530-205-6388



CENTRAL VALLEY DAILY: A judge ruled the Kern River can go dry in some places. What does that mean?

We speak with Lois Henry, editor and CEO of the news website SJV Water, about the judge’s ruling and what lies ahead for those who have a stake in the Kern River’s water.Plus, the latest news headlines: Rep. Vince Fong introduces legislation to protect sequoias, and the White House’s DOGE team cuts funding for a Central Valley history program.


WATERLOOP: Centering people first in water policy: With Radhika Fox

Radhika Fox has spent her career at the intersection of people, policy, and infrastructure.  In a conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., the former head of EPA’s Office of Water shares how she helped lead the largest federal investment in U.S. water infrastructure, advance PFAS regulation, and expand environmental justice efforts.  Radhika reflects on her path to leading federal water policy, shaped by experience at the San Francisco PUC and the US Water Alliance. She explains how EPA launched $500 million in technical assistance to help more underserved communities access federal funding.  Radhika also discusses the creation of EPA’s first agency-wide PFAS strategy and the importance of holding polluters accountable. Plus, she shares what she’s working on now—from sector disruption and AI to impact investing and democracy renewal.


WATER VALUES: Water use in data centers and microelectronics manufacturing with Rod McNelly

Rod McNelly, Vice President and General Manager of Water Solution and Services Segment for North America with Xylem, shares insights on water use in data centers and microelectronics manufacturing gleaned over his 38 years in the industrial water industry. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the recently released American Society of Civil Engineers infrastructure grades for water, wastewater and stormwater in our Bluefield on Tap segment.


TALKING UNDER WATER: A splash of reality: Breaking down the ASCE 2025 Infrastructure Report Card

In this episode of Talking Under Water, the hosts dive into the results from the American Society of Civil Engineers 2025 Infrastructure Report Card. Overall, the country received a “C,” which is its highest grade ever. The hosts zoom in on the drinking water, stormwater and wastewater grades, all of which received the same grades as 2021, and discuss the overlap in goals from ASCE on raising the grades in the future, including asset management, resiliency and funding.

Sunday video …

Dos Rios: A Story of Renewal feat. Ethan Peck

After reading about the impactful work of the non-profit River Partners in the news, Ethan Peck travels to California’s new state park at Dos Rios in the San Joaquin Valley to learn more. His journey leads him to discover the importance of healthy rivers for California’s future, how ecosystem restoration is bringing healing to the nearby community of Grayson, CA, and the critical connection between the environment, Native California peoples, and their culture. “I came here expecting to find a restoration project addressing just the biology, the vegetation, the plants, the animals. I wasn’t expecting it’s also a restoration of culture.” – Ethan Peck “Dos Rios: A Story of Renewal” was an official selection for the 2025 Wild and Scenic Film Festival.

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In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

New workforce training network to empower youth, restore ecosystems in the Klamath Mountains

“In the wake of historic dam removals and amid the profound healing of the newly free-flowing Klamath River, a new force for restoration and resilience is emerging.  The Bigfoot Trail Alliance, in collaboration with regional nonprofits, educational partners, and local Tribes, proudly announces the launch of the Klamath Mountains Workforce Training Network (KMWTN). This place-based initiative will equip young people with tools, mentorship, and technical skills to care for their bioregion and ancestral landscapes and chart meaningful career paths in conservation and ecological restoration.  With financial support from the Klamath River Fund: Community Impact Grant 2025 of the Humboldt Area Foundation and Wild Rivers Community Foundation, the KMWTN will serve underrepresented youth (ages 15–24) across Humboldt, Siskiyou, and Trinity Counties, where opportunity is often scarce but ecological need is profound. … ”  Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost.

Arcata residents might be facing higher water rates — or are they?

“Arcatians who pay for water! At some point in the future, probably around January, you may see your water rates go up — but your total water-related bills will likely stay about the same.  It’s a little convoluted, but basically it stems from a recently approved $12 million steel waterline replacement project that would fix 33,600 lateral feet of old water main, hundreds of valves and laterals, and 700 meter boxes.  However, the city needs to loan $3.5 million of its own money from the wastewater fund into the water fund to pay for the project, and this is where things get strange. According to Arcata Finance Director Tabatha Miller, cities aren’t allowed to “gift” money from one fund into another. It violates the general accounting principles that guide government accounting, and the State Controller’s Office hates it when cities do that.  So to ensure that the wastewater fund is still well-funded and can still function the way it’s supposed to, the city has to repay the “loan” from the wastewater fund with interest tacked on. … ”  Read more from The Lost Coast Outpost.

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Protecting our wildlands: How we can stop the spread of invasive plants

“At the South Yuba River Citizens League, we’re committed to protecting the Yuba River watershed—and one of the biggest threats to its health is something deceptively simple: invasive plants.  These plants don’t just look out of place. They disrupt wildlife habitat, alter fire behavior, degrade soil health, and damage water systems. Invasive plants like Scotch Broom, Medusahead grass, Parrot’s Feather, and Reed Canary Grass can take over entire landscapes, from lowland floodplains to high alpine meadows.  But here’s the good news: not spreading invasive plants is the most effective—and cheapest—way to protect our lands. … ”  Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.

CENTRAL COAST

PG&E wanted to build artificial reef from Diablo Canyon ‘junk.’ Here’s why

“When flying over something from the air, or photographing from a distance, it is easy to lose track of the scale. Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant is that kind of big. Large protests, payroll, property tax contributions, everything about the big scale is something that is hard to wrap the mind around. In a Feb. 15, 1973, story, Elliot Curry wrote: “It is the third largest construction project ever built in California and PG&E now estimates the cost at $665 million.” Curry doesn’t elaborate, but it would be a fair guess that water projects in California would be the only construction on a larger scale. The California State Water Project cost was estimated in news articles at $2 billion when it got underway. … ”  Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

Estrella-El Pomar-Creston Water District Board advocates for excluding domestic water users from extraction fees

“In a pivotal decision on April 2, the Estrella-El Pomar-Creston Water District (EPCWD) Board of Directors voted 3-1 to oppose imposing groundwater extraction fees on de minimis water users in the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. This decision came during a broader discussion about recommendations to the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority (PRAA) regarding a rate study, which was reviewed at the Authority’s April 7 meeting.  De minimis water users, as defined by the EPCWD, are those who extract two acre-feet or less of groundwater annually. The board believes these users should be exempt from fees that could place an undue financial burden on local residents.  EPCWD Board President Dana Merrill explained, “Since agriculture is the largest consumer of groundwater in the region, it makes sense that larger users should play a key role in funding sustainable water management. … ”  Read more from the Paso Robles Press.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

IEUA RESPONDS: Setting the record straight: IEUA’s commitment to transparency and collaboration

Marco Tule, President, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, writes, “As President of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) Board of Directors, I believe it is necessary to respond to the recent press release issued by the City of Ontario.  The press release makes egregious and unfounded accusations about IEUA’s rate setting process and the Chino Basin Program, a widely supported series of projects that will add tremendous value to all of the jurisdictions that overlay the Chino Groundwater Basin serving nearly one million people.  It is important to first note that IEUA has maintained transparency throughout the rate setting process through a series of public meetings beginning on March 5.  In fact, we were commended by a citizen of the city of Ontario for how transparent we have been through this process, in comparison to Ontario’s budget process.  IEUA’s Board of Directors will consider adoption of the proposed rates on April 16 to ensure that its customer agencies have time for their Proposition 218 processes.  While our Board of Directors certainly does not prefer to increase rates, it is critically important that we balance the protection of our community’s public health and safety, the responsible maintenance of the region’s sewer system, the development of vital local water supplies, and rate affordability with escalating costs of doing business and the growing and evolving needs of our community. … ”  Read more from IEUA.

Dark, ashy wildfire sediment still sits on L.A beaches. But there’s no health risk, officials say

“As warmer days approach, many Angelenos eager to once again spread their toes in the sand may find an unwelcome sight along the shoreline: dark, ashy sediment still sitting on beaches from the devastating January firestorm.  But residents need not fear the detritus, which is composed of fine ash that swirled together with sand and washed ashore, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced.  Tests performed by the L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board found that the charred silt does not contain wildfire-related chemicals at levels considered to be dangerous to human health, the health department concluded. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

LAist: Elevated levels of lead found downwind from Eaton Fire burn area

“Soil samples taken in and around the Eaton Fire burn area show elevated levels of lead downwind, public health officials announced Friday, prompting calls for concerned residents whose properties were affected by the January firestorm to consider getting their own testing done.  Lead exposure poses serious health risks, particularly for children. It has the potential to cause behavioral and learning problems. Headaches, hearing problems, memory problems, seizures and death have also been associated with exposure.  The samples were taken in early March across 780 parcels in and around the Eaton and Palisades fire burn areas. L.A. Department of Public Health officials said they tested for heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins — which are commonly associated with wildfires — including on parcels with little to no damage, and with no planned cleanup activity. The tests were limited to 1 mile south of the burn areas. … ”  Read more from the LAist.

L.A. County soil testing near Eaton, Palisades fires shows significant contamination

“After months of questions in the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has finally shared preliminary results from soil testing in and around the burn areas. The publicly available data are still somewhat vague — but they do show concerning levels of lead on properties downwind of the Eaton fire, as well as isolated “hot spots” of contamination in the Palisades.  The results were revealed during a virtual community meeting Thursday evening and offer the first glimpse at the lasting fallout from January’s devastating firestorm.  Roux Associates, a private testing firm hired by the county, collected samples from 780 properties in both burn zones over four weeks from mid-February to mid-March. It analyzed those samples for 14 toxic substances commonly found in the wake of wildfires, including heavy metals such as arsenic and lead; polyaromatic hydrocarbons such as anthracene and napthalene; and dioxins. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

CA Agriculture: Urban wildfire impacts water, soil and wildlife

As residents clean up after the Los Angeles County wildfires, the aftermath will continue to impact water and natural resources in and beyond the fire areas, according to water experts at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR).  Urban wildfires have grown more frequent and intense in the past decade. Record dryness and high winds created conditions capable of enormous heat and destruction; in these types of wildfire events, infrastructure systems — including water supply and electricity — may be affected.  For example, high heat created in urban wildfires can damage or destroy parts of a water distribution system, which disrupts supplies and introduces risks.  “Volatile organics and carcinogens can enter drinking water through compromised parts of the system that get melted by fire,” said Erik Porse, director of the California Institute for Water Resources. “When distribution systems are damaged or face heavy demands, pipes can lose pressure, allowing bacterial growth,” he added. … ”  Read more from UC ANR.

Wildlife is returning to the Altadena foothills after the Eaton Fire. Yes, that’s a mountain lion

“Wildlife is returning to the areas burned by the Eaton Fire — and scientists are working to study their return to better understand how nature recovers after fire.  Since July 2024, Kristen Ochoa and a group of volunteers and a biologist have been documenting wildlife in the Chaney Trail corridor, a wilderness area northwest of Eaton Canyon, via a network of trail cameras and other methods. … Ochoa and her group organized — they set up trail cameras and partnered with a UCLA biologist to document bats and other plant and animal life in the area, including deer, owls, black bears, bobcats and mountain lions. They have thousands of observations now on iNaturalist.  The sports complex development plan has since been abandoned. But the data Ochoa and her group collected now serves as an important baseline to understand wildlife recovery in the Altadena foothills after the Eaton Fire.   ”We are pretty excited about what we can potentially learn about nature coming back,” Ochoa said. … ”  Read more from the LAist.

Mystery deepens as another dead whale washes ashore in Southern California

“A dead 50-foot gray whale washed ashore in Huntington Beach on Friday, according to officials with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.  The cause of death of the young adult female is not yet known, said Glenn Gray, chief executive of the Laguna Beach-based nonprofit. Employees of the center performed a necropsy of the body on Saturday morning.  The whale had no signs of physical injury, Gray said. Such marks are typically seen if a whale is struck by a boat, bitten by a shark or entangled in fishing gear.  Samples from the body have been sent to a lab for testing.  “It may take a couple weeks,” he said. “We’ll share with the public what we know.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

SAN DIEGO

Toxic algae bloom sickening sea lions and other animals with no end in sight

“Experts say what makes this year’s algae bloom significant is that it has sickened different animals compared to years past.  “It does not look like we are close to seeing the end of this bloom yet,” Clarissa Anderson with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography said.  Anderson said the algae bloom was first reported in late February.  “I actually have a truck out right now that is headed to Coronado to rescue an animal we believe has Domoic Acid toxicity,” Jeni Smith with SeaWorld San Diego said.  Since then, Sea World said they’ve rescued 47 sea lions, 30 birds, and one dolphin. … ”  Read more from Channel 7.

Editorial: EPA chief’s weighing in on sewage crisis is welcome. But there’s a twist.

The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “For two decades, visitors to San Diego have expressed bafflement about the U.S. government’s response to one of our region’s worst problems: the billions of gallons of raw sewage that regularly flow north from broken infrastructure in Tijuana, fouling the water and air from San Ysidro to Coronado and beyond.  They ask, “Why won’t the feds demand Mexico fix its own problem?” Good question. Directly inflicting environmental damage on a neighboring nation for years at a time is a hostile act under international law. Whether the damage results from belligerent policies or incompetence is of limited relevance.  But when visitors are told that Washington’s reaction has largely been bureaucratic and indifferent, their incredulity only grows. For whatever reason, the default federal approach has been to assume that U.S. taxpayers should help pay for any efforts needed to slow the sewage onslaught from Tijuana.  Yet it wasn’t until April 1 that a key U.S. official rejected this assumption. … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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Along the Colorado River …

Inside the war over water brewing at the U.S.-Mexico border

“This week, President Trump threatened Mexico with new tariffs for failing to deliver billions of gallons of water under a 1944 treaty governing the dispersal of three rivers that run through both countries.  “Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas farmers,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, warning that “we will keep escalating consequences, including TARIFFS and, maybe even SANCTIONS, until Mexico honors the Treaty, and GIVES TEXAS THE WATER THEY ARE OWED!”  Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her country has not lived up to its treaty commitments because of a relentless drought that has plagued farmers and ranchers in northern Mexico and left a major industrial city with dry taps.  On Friday, Sheinbaum vowed Mexico would soon deliver “a significant amount” of what it owes, and said her government has been meeting with U.S. officials on the matter for months. … ”  Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.

Mexico to send water to Texas farmers as US treaty threat grows

“Mexico will make an immediate water delivery to Texas farmers, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday, to help make up its shortfall under a treaty that has strained U.S. relations and prompted tariff threats by President Donald Trump. Mexico is looking for alternatives to comply with the 81-year-old water sharing treaty with the U.S., Sheinbaum said in her regular news conference. A proposal had already been sent to U.S. officials, she said.  Mexico’s failure to keep up with its water deliveries has sparked a diplomatic spat with its largest trading partner. A day earlier, Trump said he would escalate consequences, including tariffs or sanctions on Mexico. Texas Republicans have also publicly accused Mexico of flagrantly ignoring the treaty, harming farmers who depend on the water deliveries. … ”  Read more from the Arizona Daily Sun.

SEE ALSO:

Lake Mead will only receive a fraction of this year’s snowpack. Here’s why

“Every year, when snow from the Rocky Mountains melts into water, it finds its way into Lake Powell, the country’s second-biggest reservoir. But with each passing season, less snowmelt becomes reservoir water that 40 million people can use to drink, plant crops or satiate their lawns.  Runoff into Lake Powell has a direct tie to how much water can be sent downstream to Lake Mead, from which Southern Nevada sources roughly 90 percent of its water.  “Warming puts an additional demand on the system,” said Russ Schumacher, Colorado’s state climatologist and a professor at Colorado State University. “The thirstier the air is for water, you’re going to lose more of that water to that thirst.” … ”  Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

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In national water news this weekend …

As NOAA cuts continue, ocean researchers worry about monitoring programs

“Political storm clouds darkened the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration again this week as the weather and climate agency fired more than 1,000 workers for the second time within five weeks.The first mass firings started in mid-February and were deemed illegal by a federal court in California on March 13. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned that decision this week, leading to the renewed terminations.  At the same time, several news organizations reported Friday that the White House will soon ask Congress to make big cuts to NOAA and NASA’s climate research programs. The suggested cuts were outlined in communications between NOAA and the White House Office of Management and Budget.  Rachel Cauley, OMB communications director, said, “No final funding decisions have been made,” in response to questions about NOAA’s funding from Inside Climate News. … ”  Read more from Inside Climate News.

New Trump administration directives to repeal environmental regulations en masse make ‘no sense,’ legal experts say

“Environmental lawyers say two new White House directives—designed to greatly expand executive power to strike down federal energy and environmental regulations—are not likely to hold up in court and represent an attempt to move far beyond the established boundaries of presidential authority.  “I do not think this even comes close to passing the test for legality,” said Andres Restrepo, a senior attorney in the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program, of the April 9 executive order, “Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy.”  This executive order directs the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy and other key federal agencies to “incorporate a sunset provision into their regulations governing energy production.” Once inserted, the provision would repeal that regulation within one year unless an extension is granted. Among those targeted are rules authorized under the Endangered Species Act. … ”  Read more from Inside Climate News.

To protect the climate, we need to protect mature and old growth forests

“A new study, published today in the peer-reviewed journal Biological Conservation and co-authored by scientists from Woodwell Climate Research Center and Wild Heritage, finds that greater protections of mature and old-growth forests in the United States are critical to meeting global commitments to forestall the climate and biodiversity crisis. The research underscores why safeguarding the nation’s carbon stockpile in older forests needs to be a focus of U.S. policy to reduce emissions from commercial logging and burning of fossil fuels.  Using a new approach combining remote sensing of forest structure with ground data from the federal Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, the research team analyzed younger, mature, and old-growth forests across the contiguous U.S., looking at their size and carbon stocks, as well as ownership (public or private) and protection status, to examine how much additional carbon could be protected if stricter regulations were in place to curb commercial timber harvesting. … ”  Read more from Woodwell Climate Research Center.

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Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

NEPA DOCS: 2026-2027 North to South Water Transfers Draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Study

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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.