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On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Senate Environmental Quality Committee beginning at 9am. Click here for the agenda.
- 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. DWR is providing brief recaps here. Click here for the meeting notice.
- WEBINAR: Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Informational Webinar from 10am to 12pm. On or before July 1, 2025, urban water suppliers are required to submit the fourth annual water shortage assessment reports. This is an informational meeting about the fourth round of the Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment and the Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report. Register for the meeting here: https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/oAF_iHdmSISEdTQvq1wgQw
- WEBINAR: California Comebacks! Nature’s Resilience in the Golden State from 12pm to 1pm. As we commemorate Earth Day in perilous times, join us for uplifting stories of nature bouncing back across California. We’ll meet visionary conservationists who are leading the charge to restore rivers, animal populations, and even ecosystems across our state. We’ll hear their stories, gain their insights, and explore what it takes to help people and nature thrive together. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Drinking Water Mitigation – Recharge and Water Quality from 12pm to 1pm. Recharge can be utilized as a solution to support drinking water mitigation by increasing groundwater levels and improving groundwater quality. At the same time, recharge must be done responsibly to prevent contaminants from infiltrating drinking water. Community Water Center (CWC) staff will present guidance on how to protect water quality where recharge projects occur. Since 2006, CWC works toward realizing the Human Right to Water for all communities in California through education, organizing, and advocacy. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Data for Lunch: When Rivers Run Hot from 12pm to 1:30pm. Just as we experience atmospheric heat waves, our rivers and streams face their own version of these extreme events—periods of unusually warm water that can stress aquatic life and alter ecosystem health. New research shows that these riverine heat waves have become twice as common across the nation over the past 25 years, often coinciding with periods of low water flow or drought. Using extensive temperature datasets from monitoring stations across the western U.S., Jonathan Walter investigates how and why these warming events occur simultaneously across different watersheds. Recent findings reveal that large-scale climate patterns drive regional heatwave patterns. Local river networks and water management decisions also influence which waterways might provide cool refuges during hot periods. This information is critical for protecting aquatic species that depend on these temperature-safe havens for survival. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Southern California Water Dialogue: Spilling Reservoirs and Empty Basins – California’s Storage Dilemma from 12pm to 1:30pm. Climate Change is bringing warmer and wetter storms, reducing our snowpack and increasing the need for more storage. At the same time, extended droughts have contributed to over-pumping of our groundwater basins, leaving ample storage space for new water supplies, provided we can get the water to them. How is California managing its water storage dilemma? Please join us to hear from our expert panelists: Jeffrey Mount, Senior Fellow, Public Policy Institute of California; Aaron Fukuda, General Manager, Tulare Irrigation District and Interim General Manager, Mid-Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency; and Timothy Godwin, Technical & Policy Advisor to the Deputy Director, Department of Water Resources. Click here to register.
- WORKSHOP: Utility Wildfire General Order from 1pm to 3pm. The State Water Board will hold a public workshop to provide an overview of the draft Utility Wildfire General Order scope, contents and significant changes compared to prior draft. Oral comments will not be accepted at the public workshop. Comments must be provided in writing as described in the public notice. The live webcast, which does not give viewers the ability to participate or ask questions, will be available at: https://video.calepa.ca.gov/. Registration is not required to view the live webcast. To ask clarifying questions during the workshop, register using the remote meeting registration link(https://forms.office.com/g/fV3QXujLgb). Following registration, virtual participation information will be sent to you one day prior to the meeting. Click here for the notice.
- EVENT: The state of the Yuba River beginning at 5:30pm. Join the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) on Wednesday, April 23 at the annual State of the Yuba address at the Gold Vibe Kombuchary in Grass Valley. State of the Yuba is SYRCL’s free, open to the public report to the watershed community. It’s also an invitation to take action for the river.
In California water news today …
How a new wetland restoration could expedite transforming the Delta from a carbon source to a carbon sink
“Staten Island lies in the heart of California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and exemplifies the woes of this troubled region. More than one quarter of the Delta―about 200,000 acres―is deeply subsided. This extreme soil loss puts stress on the levees encircling the islands. And, because the soil there is peat and so rich in organic matter, subsidence in the central Delta also spews carbon into the air. “It’s like a chimney of greenhouse gases,” says Sydney Chamberlin, project director for Climate & Nature-based Solutions at The Nature Conservancy, which bought Staten Island in 2001. “The Delta is on an unsustainable trajectory if we continue business as usual.” Staten Island has lost so much soil over the last century that its northern end is about 10 feet below sea level. Its southern end is even deeper. “The water is high on one side of the levee and then you look on the other side and it’s about 25 feet down,” Chamberlin says. “It’s mind-boggling.” But Staten Island also offers among the best hope for solving the Delta’s soil loss and greenhouse gas emission problems. The Nature Conservancy is testing ways of halting and even reversing subsidence on the island, and the latest project is a wetland restoration slated to begin as early as this summer. … ” Continue reading this Notebook Feature.
Finding the best places to recharge groundwater in California
Groundwater recharge is a key part of securing California’s water supply. But how do we ensure our efforts to store more water underground will work? Stanford’s Rosemary Knight shares new research that could help the state recharge its aquifers faster and more efficiently. Q: Tell us about your project. What problem is it trying to solve, and how? A: In California, our groundwater system is out of balance. More water is going out than is coming in, which is causing a host of problems—falling water levels, domestic wells going dry, land subsidence, ecosystems under stress, and water quality problems. There’s a lot of space in the aquifers after all the groundwater pumping, and natural recharge isn’t filling it adequately. We could supplement with managed aquifer recharge (MAR). That means sending the excess water in wet years to locations where it can move downward and replenish our groundwater systems. Spreading water in a dedicated recharge basin, agricultural field, or floodplain could move it efficiently down below the surface, depending on the geologic characteristics of the site. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
State water official says more work needed as SGMA evolves
“The California State Water Resources Control Board heard an update on implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires local agencies to bring groundwater basins into balance by 2040 and 2042. Under SGMA, critically overdrafted groundwater basins have until 2040 to achieve sustainability. Since 2020, when groundwater agencies submitted their sustainability plans, they have also been required to avoid undesirable results that include lowering of groundwater levels, seawater intrusion, water quality degradation, land subsidence and depletions of interconnected surface water. If the agencies do not have an adequate plan, SGMA gives the state the authority to step in through a state intervention process that lasts until the agencies demonstrate adequate management of their basins. Since 2023, the California Department of Water Resources has determined that plans for seven basins were inadequate. In March 2023, it referred six basins to the state water board for intervention. The state water board may consider probation for the Delta-Mendota, Chowchilla and Pleasant Valley subbasins later this year. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Annual report shows major declines in farmland values
“The value of much of California’s farmland declined from 2023 to 2024, according to figures published last month by the state’s chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Authors of the ASFMRA chapter’s annual Trends report attributed the declines in farmland value to multiple factors, including low commodity prices, high inflation and interest rates, overall high operating costs and regulatory impacts. Since the adoption of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in 2014, appraisers have noted a divergence in the value of farmland with two reliable sources of water and so-called “white area” farmland that depends entirely on groundwater. That trend accelerated last year, according to the report, with white area orchards in parts of the San Joaquin Valley losing more than half their value in the space of a year. The steep drop came as the California State Water Resources Control Board, the enforcement arm of SGMA, held the first probationary hearings under the landmark groundwater law. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
The atmospheric rivers of Water Year 2025: April summary
Click on the graphic to view the full report from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes.
Citizen suits and larger penalties may be the future of California water quality protections
“The California legislature continues to advance Senate Bill 601 (SB 601), the “Right to Clean Water Act,” which aims to safeguard protections for California’s streams and wetlands that lost federal protection under the Clean Water Act (CWA) as a result of the Supreme Court’s 2023 Sackett v. U.S. EPA decision. If approved, SB 601 would expand enforcement to include citizen suits and increase penalties for unpermitted discharges to state waters. Under the CWA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers regulate the discharge of dredged and fill materials to “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS), including their “adjacent” wetlands. In 2023, the Supreme Court limited the definition of “adjacent” wetlands regulated by the CWA to only those wetlands that have a “continuous surface water connection” to “relatively permanent” water bodies such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams that are themselves WOTUS. … ” Read more from the Environmental Law & Policy Monitor.
Bill to reform controversial California environmental law clears first legislative hurdle
“A bill to exempt some housing projects from a controversial California law that pro-building activists blame for slowing down development cleared its first legislative hurdle this week. On Monday, the State Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee approved AB 609, introduced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Berkeley), which would exempt infill housing projects built within existing cities from review under the California Environmental Quality Act. “Why does it take so long to build housing in California? CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act, America’s premier environmental protection law, which for over 50 years has helped slow or stall countless bad projects that would have harmed the environment,” Wicks said during the hearing. “But it’s a very blunt tool. And in that time, it has also helped slow or stall countless good projects as well.” … ” Read more from KQED.
How Trump tariffs could upend California farms, wine businesses and ports
“President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs are putting many California businesses, jobs and the state budget at risk. They’re affecting not only long-term relationships with trading partners, but an intricate web of ecosystems and supply chains. The California business owners and groups grappling with the tariffs — wine shop owners, winery founders, farmers — say the precise effects on their industries are unclear so far. They hope there will be an upside. But for those who have a broad view of trade, things look grim. The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, the busiest ports in North America, both saw first-quarter increases in imports, but declines in exports, year over year. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Wildfire season in US could ‘rapidly escalate’ amid building heat, drought
“Wildfires made international headlines in the opening weeks of 2025 after deadly infernos fanned by extreme winds swept through neighborhoods in Southern California. And the fire threat is expected to rise again in the coming months as heat, drought and the aftermath of destructive weather events set the stage for another busy wildfire season. AccuWeather long-range forecasters say between 7 and 9 million acres will burn across the United States, near to above the historical average. Additionally, 60,000 to 75,000 fires are predicted to ignite, including 7,500 to 9,000 in California alone. While the weather can be conducive to fire development, around 90% of all wildfires in the United States are caused by humans, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. This includes fires sparked by power lines, discarded cigarettes or small fires that become out of control. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Controlled burns reduce wildfire risk, but they require trained staff and funding − this could be a rough year
“Red skies in August, longer fire seasons and checking air quality before taking my toddler to the park. This has become the new norm in the western United States as wildfires become more frequent, larger and more catastrophic. As an ecologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, I know that fires are part of the natural processes that forests need to stay healthy. But the combined effects of a warmer and drier climate, more people living in fire-prone areas and vegetation and debris built up over years of fire suppression are leading to more severe fires that spread faster. And that’s putting humans, ecosystems and economies at risk. To help prevent catastrophic fires, the U.S. Forest Service issued a 10-year strategy in 2022 that includes scaling up the use of controlled burns and other techniques to remove excess plant growth and dry, dead materials that fuel wildfires. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
In commentary today …
Outdated water supply regulations need reform
The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley writes, “Plenty of things change over the course of 25 years. When conditions change and a regulation is delivering limited or no measurable benefits, it’s time to take another approach. That’s the case with water supply limits imposed by a system of regulations called D-1641, emerging again last week when the April 15 to May 15 requirements began restricting water deliveries. Adopted in 1999 by the State Water Resources Control Board, various provisions of D-1641 are intended to provide several benefits, including to protect salmon, Delta smelt, and water quality. Sadly, despite the longstanding implementation of all of D-1641’s requirements, fish populations have continued to decline, leaving biologists…and water users…questioning what, if any benefit this requirement is providing. … ” Read more from the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
Proposition 4: A call to fund multi-benefit floodplain projects
The Northern California Water Association writes, “In November 2024, California voters passed Proposition 4 to fund projects for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands. On behalf of the Floodplain Forward Coalition, we urge the Legislature to fund floodplain reactivation and priority projects through Proposition 4 and other available funding to address the urgent needs of fish and wildlife as well as water resiliency for California’s communities and economy. This important funding will help the state and diverse coalitions like ours continue to implement adaptive management principles to enhance floodplains as natural infrastructure that provides multiple benefits, including improving conditions for threatened salmon, sustaining the vulnerable Pacific Flyway, improving flood protection, and supporting groundwater sustainability. … ” Read the letter at the Northern California Water Association.
California is about to make it easier to dump toxic waste in your neighborhood. Here’s what to do about it
“In Richmond, where I live, we know what happens when hazardous waste is treated as an afterthought. Our shoreline is tainted with the legacy of more than a century of heavy industry — shuttered chemical plants, old oil tanks and hazardous waste sites that still bleed toxins into the soil and San Francisco Bay. California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control is updating the state’s Hazardous Waste Management Plan, a document that’s supposed to chart a safer, smarter future for dealing with our most dangerous industrial byproducts. But buried deep in the current version of the update is a proposal to allow more contaminated soil and toxic materials to be dumped in regular municipal landfills — sites never designed to safely contain hazardous waste. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Perspective: Is now the time to rethink our assumptions about NEPA?
Eric Beightel, Federal Strategy Director for Environmental Science Associates, writes, “It’s no secret that it is difficult to build infrastructure in America. Anecdotes of decades-long planning and permitting for highways, pipelines, mines, transmission lines, and various other “big” things are everywhere. As we acknowledge this challenge, there are numerous theories about how to solve it—generally lumped together under the label “permitting reform.” Congress has a role to play, to be sure, but despite recent bipartisan talks on the topic, a legislative solution is far from certain. The president’s decision to rescind the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) implementing regulations presents a more immediate opportunity. In his “Unleashing American Energy” Executive Order, the President directed the CEQ to rescind the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations that have provided federal agencies with consistency in applying NEPA across government for nearly 50 years. … ” Read more from Environmental Science Associates.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Reclamation announces official full water allocation, water users express mixed responses
“Agricultural irrigators expressed a mix of emotions in response to the Monday afternoon announcement of a full water allocation for the 2025 season. A letter from the Bureau of Reclamation announced a full Klamath Project water allocation as defined by the 2024 Biological Opinion, which totals 330,000 acre-feet of water. “After eight years of dry hydrologic conditions and regulatory challenges, the Klamath Project water users are poised to have a full and successful water year,” said Reclamation Acting Regional Director Adam Nickels. “We are experiencing the wettest hydrologic conditions since 2017, and an extremely positive start to the 2025 irrigation season.” … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
After years of drought, Klamath Basin farmers get long-awaited water relief
“Water managers in the Klamath Basin say, for the first time since 2019, there will be enough water to meet everyone’s demands this year. An unusually wet winter has been a relief after a tough drought period. The Bureau of Reclamation released its annual operations plan on Monday, allocating 330,000 acre-feet of water to farmers from Upper Klamath Lake. Water is prioritized first to protect endangered species in the lake and river. Next, water is allocated to farmers, and finally, it can go to wildlife refuges. Elizabeth Nielsen is the executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association, which represents farmers and ranchers. She said her group still has concerns about new procedures the agency is using to determine water allocations. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
Coldwater fish in warm waters: Redband trout in the Upper Klamath Lake
“Despite the warm, algae-filled waters of the Upper Klamath Lake in south-central Oregon, native redband trout are not just surviving – they’re thriving. This surprising behavior of a ‘coldwater’ fish is the focus of ongoing Northwest CASC research projects as scientists aim to understand how disease, invasive species, and climate change are restructuring fish habitats across the region. As environmental pressures shift with climate change, understanding how native fish use both cold and warm water habitats is essential for making effective conservation decisions. Unlike their invasive counterparts – brook trout and brown trout – redband trout appear to tolerate the warm nutrient-rich conditions in the lake, even though brown trout were previously thought to be more tolerant of warm water. One possible reason for this is that redband trout have co-evolved alongside a local freshwater parasite, Ceratonova shasta. … ” Read more from the USGS.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Irrigation season begins amid ongoing Spaulding repairs, PCWA calls on all customers to conserve water
“With the 2025 irrigation season now underway, the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) is implementing seasonal conservation measures in response to ongoing limited water deliveries from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Repairs at PG&E’s Lake Spaulding facility have halted flows into the Drum Canal and Bear River, cutting off the normal supply of water into Rollins Reservoir—a primary source for PCWA’s canal system. To recap, PG&E reported critical damage to its Spaulding Powerhouse No. 1 in March of 2024 and cut off releases from Spaulding Reservoir during the summer of 2024 while it completed the first phase of repairs. The second phase of repairs is currently underway. PG&E reported that the repairs remain on track and are expected to be completed by early August. In the meantime, PCWA is using alternative supplies to help meet demand and is asking all customers to continue using water wisely. … ” Continue reading from Placer County Water Agency.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Combined and compromised: How climate change is testing Sacramento’s sewer system
“In Sacramento, even an inch of rain can lead to a much more complicated problem underground. The city is one of only two in California and four on the West Coast still operating a combined sewer system—a century-old design where stormwater and sewage flow through the same pipes. As climate challenges intensify, modernizing and maintaining the system is a 24/7 job. Sacramento’s combined sewer system (CSS) stretches across 7,500 acres in neighborhoods like downtown, east Sacramento, Oak Park and Land Park. The system serves 300,000 residents, at least ten times the population when it was built. “These systems were never meant to keep up with the type of rainfall we’re seeing today,” said Carlos Eliason, a spokesperson for the city’s sewage operations. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water Board approves wholesale water rate adjustment to fund critical infrastructure
“The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) Board of Directors on Tuesday approved a wholesale water rate adjustment for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to address aging infrastructure, rising operational costs and the need for continued investment in water system reliability. The new rates will result in an increase of 8.68 percent for Santa Rosa Aqueduct customers, 10.76 percent for Petaluma Aqueduct customers and 7.60 percent for Sonoma Aqueduct customers. For most households, this adjustment is expected to translate to an increase of $0 to $3 per month, depending on location and water usage, if fully passed through by local water retailers. Actual impacts may vary, as wholesale rates are only a portion of the total cost to consumers. Revenue from the rate adjustment will support essential operations and maintenance, continued implementation of projects required by the Russian River Biological Opinion, construction of critical hazard mitigation infrastructure projects and allows Sonoma Water to maintain a prudent reserve. … ” Read more from the County of Sonoma.
BAY AREA
Marin water board explores Russian River pipeline
“Marin County’s water supply could get a healthy boost during wet years if a pipeline project initiated this week by the Marin Municipal Water District Board comes to fruition. On Tuesday, the board voted to approve a contract for design and engineering work on the Atmospheric River Capture Project, or ARC. “In the 2021 drought our reservoir levels went really low, so we’ve spent the last four years doing a strategic water supply assessment,” said Lucy Croy, water quality manager for the district. During the drought, and with only about six months of water left in its reservoirs, the district began to focus on ways to improve water storage capacity, conservation, groundwater banking and, among other things, bringing in additional supplies from the Russian River. … ” Read more from NorCal Public Media.
Complaint filed against SFPUC for water mismanagement
“[Yesterday], the Tuolumne River Trust filed a formal complaint alleging that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is engaging in unreasonable use of Tuolumne River water, harming both the environment and Bay Area ratepayers. At the heart of the issue is the SFPUC’s outdated and overly conservative drought planning model—known as the “Design Drought”—which has led to environmental degradation, inflated infrastructure investments, and skyrocketing water bills. “The SFPUC’s planning is based on a drought that is 72% worse than any California has experienced in the last 1,100 years. That’s not responsible management—it’s hoarding water based on fear, not fact,” said Peter Drekmeier, Policy Director for the Tuolumne River Trust (TRT). … ” Read more from the Tuolumne River Trust.
Solano Supes hear shipyard presentation
“The Solano County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation on the area zoned for Water Dependent Infrastructure near Collinsville at the afternoon session of the Tuesday meeting. Supervisors called for this item to be agendized at a meeting earlier this month, responding to news and speculation regarding California Forever’s efforts to place a shipyard in the area. “There’s a lot of talk and a lot of chatter out there, so I want people to be able to read some truth out there,” Chair Mitch Mashburn said. Director of Resource Management James Bezek said the area is zoned as a strategic site. The 1,400 acres have deep water channel access, and include 182 acres in the Montezuma Wetlands west of Collinsville. … ” Read more from the Times-Herald.
Contra Costa County’s $19-million EPA grant abruptly canceled by Trump administration
“The Trump administration has abruptly canceled more than 100 EPA Community Change grants nationwide, including a $19.1 million grant to Contra Costa County for community projects that were already approved by the EPA in January. What we know: The grant awarded to Contra Costa County was slated to fund some eight projects as part of the North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative (NRCRI), to transform the area into a model for climate resilience. Those projects include: adding shade trees and gardening for students at Verde K-8 school, converting abandoned Las Deltas public housing into livable, green affordable homes, energy-efficient home improvements, e-bike lending, Wildcat Creek trail flood prevention, a North Richmond Urban Tilth farm disaster response center, and watershed tree-trimming and flood mitigation. … ” Read more from KTVU.
EPA sanctions two California water treatment plants for chemical safety deficiencies
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken enforcement action against ten facilities across California for violations of the Clean Air Act’s chemical safety requirements, including two public water treatment plants. The Benicia Water Treatment Plant, located in Benicia, and the Cement Hill Water Treatment Plant in Fairfield were both cited for failing to comply with the federal Risk Management Program (RMP), which is designed to prevent hazardous chemical accidents. According to the EPA, the Benicia Water Treatment Plant failed to submit its Risk Management Plan and update emergency contact details in a timely manner. Meanwhile, the Cement Hill Water Treatment Plant neglected to submit its required Risk Management Plan report altogether. Each facility agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,800 and $800, respectively, and has since taken steps to return to compliance. … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
CENTRAL COAST
In the wake of Moss Landing battery fire: ‘We’re all trying to figure out what to do with this.’
“A community group of about 30 gathered last week at Prunedale Grange to share their frustrations about what they feel is a lack of information in the aftermath of the Moss Landing battery plant fire. The grassroots group of residents, calling themselves “Never Again Moss Landing,” are fueled by concerns over environmental and health impacts of the fire that broke out Jan. 16 at the Vistra Energy lithium-ion battery storage facility near the Moss Landing Harbor. “We’re all trying to figure out what to do with this,” said Never Again Moss Landing co-founder Brian Roeder. “We’re not alone.” “We are not against battery storage, we’re against the way it was done,” said Tonya Rivera, a co-founder of Never Again Moss Landing. At last week’s meeting, Rivera and Roeder asked attendees to break into smaller groups to talk about their experiences after the fire. “We are here to serve each other,” Roeder said. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Arambula Town Hall will examine CEMEX Mining Plan for San Joaquin River
“Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula will lead a town hall meeting about the proposed CEMEX mining expansion along the San Joaquin River on Thursday evening. The event is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the River Center Barn, 11605 Old Friant Rd. in Fresno. Arambula, D-Fresno, will lead an in-depth discussion of AB 1425, which is the legislation he authored to protect sensitive river habitat, public health, and access to open space. “I believe AB 1425 will protect and preserve the San Joaquin River’s unique wildlife and natural habitat, which many people in our community are concerned could be greatly harmed and damaged by the mining proposal,” Arambula said in a statement to GV Wire. … ” Read more from GV Wire.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles River restoration could face setback due to climate change, wildfires
“A new movement is happening to revitalize the Los Angeles River with life, but the recent wildfires have put the progress at risk. Amid the concrete flood channels are rare green pockets within the LA River are proving essential not just for the wildlife but for the city’s resilience. The natural spaces are helping LA adapt to a hotter, drier and more unpredictable future. Long before the freeways and skyscrapers, the LA River sustained the Tongva people and Spanish settlers. Currently, it faces threats from pollution and climate change. “It’s really critical for us to understand that the river is LA’s origin story,” said Candice Dickens-Russell, the CEO of Friends of the LA River. “LA is where it is because the river is where it is and all roads lead to the river when it rains, everything finds its way here.” … ” Read more from CBS LA.
Steelhead trout rescued from Palisades fire spawn in their new Santa Barbara County home
“Wildlife officials feared critically endangered steelhead trout rescued from the Palisades fire burn scar might not be up for spawning after all they’d been through over the last few months. After their watershed in the Santa Monica Mountains was scorched in January, the fish were stunned with electricity, scooped up in buckets, trucked to a hatchery, fed unfamiliar food and then moved to a different creek. It was all part of a liberation effort pulled off in the nick of time. “This whole thing is just a very stressful and traumatic event, and I’m happy that we didn’t really kill many fish,” said Kyle Evans, an environmental program manager for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which led the rescue. “But I was concerned that I might have just disrupted this whole months-long process of getting ready to spawn.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Judge who oversaw Camp fire settlement now suing LADWP after losing home to Palisades blaze
“Jay Gandhi, a retired federal judge who served as the mediator in settlements with Pacific Gas & Electric, related to the Camp, Butte and North Bay fires, is joining a lawsuit against Los Angeles’ Department of Water and Power. Gandhi also mediated settlements with Southern California Edison after the Woolsey, Thomas and Koenigstein fires, and Montecito debris flows. Though he is experienced in mediating wildfire settlement negotiations, this time, it is more personal – Gandhi and his family lost their home in the Palisades fire in January. He is joining the lawsuit’s legal team, focused on getting the city to take accountability for his family, neighbors and friends that have been affected by the fire, he said. “It was a sense of security and safety that went up in smoke on January 7,” Gandhi said Tuesday, announcing his participation against the backdrop of his charred property. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
CSO Rita Kampalath on LA County resilience planning
Rita Kampalath, LA County CSO, in this TPR interview shares LA County’s evolving approach to addressing climate resilience and disaster recovery. Emphasizing the urgency of climate action and the need for a comprehensive strategy to build resilience in the face of challenges such as wildfires, extreme heat, flooding, and drought, Kampalath also highlights the importance of leveraging lessons learned from past climate events to shape LA’s recovery and long-term resilience efforts. She confirms the county’s commitment to integrating climate resilience into regional planning, the role of the newly appointed climate resilience officer, and the need for greater coordination across departments to address complex climate issues. Q: Rita, when we last interviewed your predecessor, the County was just rolling out its first sustainability plan. Update and share what progress LA County has made on achieving that Plan’s stated goals. A: Thanks for that question. Amazingly, it’s been over five years since the plan was adopted. Since 2019, when it was adopted, we switched pretty quickly to looking at implementation and what we could do first. I’m proud to say that we’re at a point of revising the plan … ” Continue reading at The Planning Report.
‘Unprecedented’ toxic algae bloom continues to kill Southern California wildlife
“Southern California could be dealing with its worst toxic algae bloom ever. Domoic acid toxicosis associated with a bloom off the Southern California coast is responsible for killing brown pelicans, sea lions, and now potentially a minke whale. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration confirmed Tuesday that tests show the whale had high levels of domoic acid in its urine when it died, although officials cannot say for certain that was the cause of death. Domoic acid is a neurotoxin that affects the brain, nervous system and organs. Dave Bader, marine biologist with the Marine Mammal Care Center, told LAist rescuers have been receiving thousands of calls about animals that are sick and need help. “ We have a unprecedented harmful algal bloom off the coast of Los Angeles, actually off the coast of Southern California, right now,” Bader said. “It’s the fourth year in a row of a bloom like this … and then the fact that it’s lasted nine, almost 10 weeks, is longer than we’ve seen in the past.” … ” Read more from the LAist.
SAN DIEGO
NOAA’s stranding team responds to a dozen dead or dying San Diego dolphins
“The stranding team from NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center recovered 16 dead dolphins from San Diego beaches on Sunday, April 20. These deaths add to the likely toll of a domoic acid outbreak produced by a harmful algae bloom off Southern California. Most of the dolphins were already dead when responders arrived, or died shortly afterwards. None survived long enough for treatment. Most were adult male long-beaked common dolphins with a few short-beaked common dolphins. Two were pregnant females. The Sunday toll brings the total dolphins collected by the San Diego team since the first impacts of the domoic acid event were seen in March to more than 50. The details provide a snapshot of how the ongoing harmful algal bloom is affecting one of the most popular stretches of the Southern California coastline. Of the 14 dolphins tested so far, 11 have had high levels of domoic acid. One showed both domoic acid and saxitoxin, a different neurotoxin produced by another marine microorganism that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning. … ” Read more from NOAA.
EPA chief urges Mexico to help deliver ‘100% solution’ to clean up polluted Tijuana River
“U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on Tuesday called for Mexico and the U.S. to develop a “100% solution” to stop the flow of raw sewage from Tijuana that has polluted the Tijuana River and left communities near the border coping with foul odors and beaches that are often closed because of high bacteria levels. “Americans on our side of the border who have been dealing with this for decades are out of patience,” Zeldin said during a news conference in San Diego. “They want action and they’re right.” Zeldin visited the river north of the border and met with Mexican government officials as well as local officials in San Diego County. He said the Trump administration is seeking “max collaboration and extreme urgency to end a crisis that should have ended a long time ago.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
EPA visits Tijuana River
“South County’s seemingly endless sewage crisis in the Tijuana River got some high-level federal attention on Tuesday. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin spent the day touring the river and conferring with local leaders, following a high-level meeting with Mexican officials the previous evening during which Mexico’s environment secretary assured Zeldin that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum “is fully committed to resolve this issue” once and for all. Flanked by local elected officials from both political parties at a Tuesday morning press conference in San Diego, Zeldin said Americans are “out of patience” with the sewage crisis. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
SEE ALSO: EPA chief demands that Mexico stop Tijuana sewage from flowing into California, from ABC News
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River Basin states have just weeks left to agree on plan
“During a tour of the Western Slope last week, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said he was frustrated with the pace of negotiations that could determine how the Colorado River is shared in the future and that the Upper Basin states may be pushing back too hard. A deal should have been reached last summer, he said. “Colorado should have a right to keep the water that we have been using the way we’ve been using it, and I don’t think we should compromise that,” Hickenlooper said. “But there are a lot of things we could do to give a little to be part of the solution to the Lower Basin and get to a collaborative solution. Again, I’m frustrated by our lack of progress.” The remarks came during a Q&A with reporters April 15 after a roundtable in Glenwood Springs with Western Slope water managers, many of whom spoke about their projects that were promised funding through the Inflation Reduction Act, which was earmarked for environmental and drought issues. That funding has since been frozen by the Trump administration. … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
This artificial wetland is reusing wastewater to revive a lost ecosystem
“In the arid region south of Mexicali, where the pale desert dominates the landscape, the Las Arenitas wetland feels like a mirage. But it is real, and is an oasis for endemic and migratory birds that cross the Colorado River delta. Here, just south of the US-Mexico border, used water from the city of Mexicali gets a second life. Half of it goes to the nearby Hardy River, in an attempt to revive ecosystems that were thought to be irrecoverable. Historically, waterways here have been flushed full of sewage—particularly the New River, which runs off from the Colorado River northwards, crossing from Mexico into the United States and ending in the Salton Sea in California. For many years, this water course received untreated sewage from Mexicali, rendering it one of the worst-polluted rivers of its size in the US. In the 1990s, American and Mexican authorities could no longer ignore how bad the problem had become, and they began collaborating on infrastructure to lessen the pollution. And so, in 2007, south of Mexicali, the Las Arenitas treatment plant began operations. … ” Read more from Wired.
After Trump administration denied Mexico water request, it pushes out top water official
“The head of the federal agency that oversees water-sharing agreements between the U.S. and Mexico was pushed to resign this week by the Trump administration. Maria Elena Giner helped manage Mexico’s portion of the Colorado River. Giner ran the International and Boundary Water Commission, or IBWC for nearly four years. During that time, she signed an agreement to reduce Mexico’s take on the shrinking Colorado River. Seven U.S. states are working with Mexico to come up with new rules for sharing its water by 2026. In a post on LinkedIn, Giner said her role at the IBWC was the hardest job she ever had, but the most rewarding. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Dust is depleting snow runoff into the Colorado River, study shows
“A study led by University of Utah researchers found that mountain dust is accelerating snowmelt, leading to depleted snowpacks in the Colorado Basin. “A lot of people assume air temperature is what controls the rate of snowmelt in the Spring, but it’s actually the amount of sunlight that’s absorbed,” said Professor McKenzie Skiles from the University of Utah. The study largely focused on water levels originating from snowmelt in the Upper Colorado River Basin, a region with large amounts of dust that regularly blows onto mountain snowpacks. Researchers say dusty snow absorbs more sunlight, leading to a faster snowmelt. “That additional energy that’s being absorbed accelerates the melt rate,” Skiles told ABC4.com. … ” Read more from ABC 4.
Utah: Plan to pay farmers not to grow crops could help the Colorado River and Utah politically
“A pilot project to help the Colorado River is seeing some farmers signing up. The Colorado River Authority of Utah, which manages the mighty river for the state, has launched the “Utah Demand Management Pilot Program,” which pays farmers as much as $390 an acre foot to fallow crops or enact other conservation measures. The water then goes downstream to Lake Powell. “To me, it’s just no different than taking a crop out and replacing it with a different crop. We’re just not putting that crop in the ground,” said Kevin Cotner, a Price area farmer who told FOX 13 News on Tuesday that he is inclined to sign up with the program. … ” Read more from Fox 13.
Lake Powell water levels expected to remain “relatively steady”
“Water levels at Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah and Arizona are expected to remain “relatively steady” this summer, according to the park’s superintendent, who expects most boat ramps will remain open this summer. Fluctuating water levels on the reservoir have created havoc with some boat ramps being left high and dry in recent years. The lake’s water level Monday was at 3,558.46 feet, possibly the low point for the off-season. Current projections have it rising to 3,587 by early July. “Water levels are expected to remain relatively steady with previous summer water levels this year, we anticipate that all ramps open last summer will remain open this summer season,” Superintendent Michelle Kearns wrote in her April newsletter to park partners. … ” Read more from National Parks Traveler.
Colorado lacks snow in a big way as ‘abnormal dryness’ creeps upward before summer
“After what may have been the state’s last heavy snow of the season, Colorado’s statewide snowpack sits at about 71 percent of what’s typical for April 21 according to the USDA. This past weekend, a snowstorm rolled through Colorado, dropping totals of about 18 inches in some parts of the state with the central and southern mountains getting hit the hardest. As expected, this provided a slight bump to the state’s snowpack numbers, though after a warm Sunday, that snowpack has started to decline once again. With the National Weather Service calling for a drier-than-normal and warmer-than-normal spring of 2025, this likely means that the snowpack will drop off relatively quickly. Projections for the most-average scenario show this snowpack mostly gone by June 10. … ” Read more from Out There Colorado.
Colorado: Scientists use cosmic rays to study the snowpack
“Cosmic rays come from outer space. These high-energy particles, which emanate from the sun but also from beyond our galaxy, travel across the universe, nearly at the speed of light, to reach Earth. Our atmosphere and magnetic field shield us from cosmic rays, but secondary particles shower down and reach ground level. These particles are harmless to us, but some of them interact with water at the Earth’s surface and can provide important data on how wet or dry the local conditions are. For years, cosmic rays have been employed to measure soil moisture. Now, high in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, scientists have been investigating how to use cosmic ray neutron sensors to calculate the water content of the snowpack, known as snow water equivalent (SWE). SWE (pronounced “swee”) is of keen interest to water managers, irrigators, rafters and many others downstream from these high-country frozen reservoirs, which serve like mountain water towers but are vulnerable to warming temperatures due to human-caused climate change. … ” Read more from the Water Desk.
In national water news today …
How your showerhead and fridge got roped into the culture wars
“Efficiency standards for home appliances were once the conversational equivalent of beige — neutral, but aggressively uninteresting. But as political polarization has deepened, dishwashers, laundry machines, showerheads, and other household staples have begun to take on a new charge. With Republicans now in control of the White House and both houses of Congress, rules that quietly save Americans money on utility bills while conserving energy and water are suddenly at risk. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump doubled down on his long-standing complaint about low-flow showerheads taking too long to clean his “beautiful hair.” He ordered his administration to repeal a rule, revived by the Biden administration, that aimed to save water by restricting flow from the fixtures. A White House fact sheet promised the order would undo “the left’s war on water pressure” and “make America’s showers great again.” … ” Read more from Grist.
Meteorologists say NWS cuts degraded forecasts during recent storms
“The National Weather Service’s reduction in weather balloon launches left forecasters on shaky ground last week as the central U.S. got hammered with hail and tornadoes, outside meteorologists told NBC News. Severe storms brought dozens of tornadoes to the central U.S. starting Thursday, snarling Easter weekend travel. Twisters were reported in Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska, and the storm system brought several inches of snow to parts of Colorado and baseball-sized hail to Wisconsin. The storms were one of the first tests of weather forecasts during severe weather since balloon releases were cut back in places like Grand Junction, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and Green Bay, Wisconsin, among other sites. … ” Read more from NBC News.
Farm Bureau calls for clarity in WOTUS
“The American Farm Bureau Federation asked for changes to the “Waters of the United States” rule to bring it in line with the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court ruling, which called for more clarity in water regulations. AFBF submitted comments in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s request for recommendations. “Considering drains, ditches, stock ponds, impoundments, irrigation ditches, and low spots in farm fields and pastures as jurisdictional ‘waters’ opens the door to regulation of ordinary farming activities that move dirt or apply products to the land on those lands,” AFBF stated in its comments. “Everyday activities such as plowing, planting, or fence building in or near ephemeral drainages, impoundments, ditches, or low spots could result in enforcement action triggering the (Clean Waters Act’s) harsh civil and criminal penalties unless a permit was obtained first. Bear in mind that permitting under CWA requires the investment of significant amounts of time and money. Most farmers and ranchers have neither of those in abundance.” … ” Read more from Morning Ag Clips.
EPA continues to dismantle environmental justice office, announces plans to terminate nearly 300 employees
“The Trump administration has taken another step toward stripping the government’s ability to tackle environmental pollution and its dangerous health effects in historically disadvantaged and overburdened communities. In a notice issued to employees late Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said 280 staffers who work in the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights in Washington or who do that work in regional offices would be laid off at the end of July. An additional 175 employees who “perform statutory functions or support the agency’s core mission were reassigned to other offices,” an agency spokesperson said. The notices follow the agency’s decision in February to place nearly 170 employees in the office—which it intends to close—on administrative leave. The agency did not clarify if these 170 employees, some of whom were recalled back into the office in March, were among those affected by Monday’s notices. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Draft strategic plan for Trump’s Interior Department would boost extractive industries, cut protections
“The nation’s largest land management agency is gearing up to squeeze revenue from the federal estate, opening up new lands to drilling and other extractive development while reducing federal land holdings and slashing environmental regulations, with its top goal being to “restore American prosperity,” according to a draft strategic plan that Public Domain obtained. The internal Interior Department document, dated April 21, lists four strategic goals for President Donald Trump’s second term: 1) Restore American Prosperity, 2) Ensure National Security Through Infrastructure and Innovation, 3) Enjoy Our Natural Resources While Ensuring They Remain Sound And Sustainable, and 4) Collaboration and Coordination Results in Better Outcomes for the Nation, States, and the People. The document, written as a string of bullet points, remains broad and vague. But taken as a whole, much of it reads like an industry wish list, with pride of place given to boosting oil, gas and coal production and opening lands to development. Nowhere does the document mention climate change. … ” Read more from Public Domain.
Trump is stripping protections from marine protected areas – why that’s a problem for fishing’s future, and for whales, corals and other ocean life
“The single greatest threat to the diversity of life in our oceans over the past 50 years, more than climate change or plastic pollution, has been unsustainable fishing practices. In much of the ocean, there is little to no regulation or oversight of commercial fishing or other human activities. That’s part of the reason about a tenth of marine plant and animal species are considered threatened or at risk. It’s also why countries around the world have been creating marine protected areas. These protected areas, covering over 11.6 million square miles (30 million square kilometers) in 16,000 locations, offer refuge away from human activities for a wide variety of living creatures, from corals to sea turtles and whales. They give fish stocks a place to thrive, and those fish spread out into the surrounding waters, which helps fishing industries and local economies. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
Earth’s landmasses lost trillions of tons of water this century
“Earth’s landmasses are holding onto a lot less water than they used to — and this loss is not just due to melting ice sheets. Terrestrial water storage, which includes water in underground aquifers, lakes, rivers and the tiny pore spaces within soil, declined by trillions of metric tons in the early 21st century, researchers report in the March 28 Science. This sharp decrease in freshwater stores is driven by rising temperatures on land and in the oceans, which in turn are linked to an increased global incidence of drought. And given the projected warming of the planet, this trend isn’t likely to change any time soon, say geophysicist Ki-Weon Seo of Seoul National University and colleagues. … ” Read more from Science News.
