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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Regional Water Board in Fresno beginning at 9am. Agenda items include numerous NPDES and WDR permits. Click here for the full agenda.
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board from 9am to 12:30pm. Agenda items include a discussion on the upcoming climate science symposium, contaminant monitoring review, and a presentation on “Life and Science: the beginning and middle, and what follows” by Jonathan Huang (California Sea Grant State Fellow). Click here for the meeting notice.
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Adopt Resolution 2025-01 for the adoption of the Charter for the Central Valley Flood Protection Board Advisory Committee on Implementation of Habitat-Related Issues Identified in the 2022 Update of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan; Informational Briefing on the Sacramento Weir and Bypass Widening Project; and Approval the FY2023-24 Delta Levee Subventions Program Funding Allocation Plan Amendment. Click here for the agenda.
In California water news today …
Surprise atmospheric rivers, toxic seafood: How NOAA cuts could impact California
“Coast Guard rescue missions failing after running into unexpected currents. Surprise atmospheric river storms flooding downtown San Francisco. Seafood contaminated by unseen algal blooms. California scientists fear these scenarios, and more, are possible under the Trump administration’s recommendation to reduce the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by $1.7 billion. Several scientific programs in California are slated for significant reductions or elimination if the budget proposal is pushed through Congress. Scientists say the cuts would hamper weather forecasting, disrupt critical ocean data collection and decimate climate research. One of the programs at risk is the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System. The association receives roughly $3.3 million annually from NOAA to manage instruments that monitor winds, water levels, ocean currents, heat and other data critical for business, forecasts and safety. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
NASA tracks snowmelt to improve water management
The C-20A aircraft, based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, flies over the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California for the Dense UAVSAR Snow Time (DUST) mission on Feb. 28, 2025. The DUST mission collected airborne data about snow water to help improve water management and reservoir systems on the ground. NASA/Starr Ginn
“As part of a science mission tracking one of Earth’s most precious resources – water – NASA’s C-20A aircraft conducted a series of seven research flights in March that can help researchers track the process and timeline as snow melts and transforms into a freshwater resource. The agency’s Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) installed on the aircraft collected measurements of seasonal snow cover and estimate the freshwater contained in it. “Seasonal snow is a critical resource for drinking water, power generation, supporting multi-billion dollar agricultural and recreation industries,” said Starr Ginn, C-20A project manager at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. “Consequently, understanding the distribution of seasonal snow storage and subsequent runoff is essential.” The Dense UAVSAR Snow Time (DUST) mission mapped snow accumulation over the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and the Rocky Mountains in Idaho. Mission scientists can use these observations to estimate the amount of water stored in that snow. … ” Read more from NASA.
This weekend’s California storm looks different. Here’s why
“A slow spring storm is headed for California this weekend, but it’s missing one key ingredient that typically drives the state’s most intense weather events: the jet stream. Instead, this weekend’s storm system is the atmospheric equivalent of a boat adrift at sea. Meteorologists refer to this as a cutoff low, which is essentially a pool of cold air accompanied by a low pressure center that’s broken away from the main flow of the jet stream. Without the strong upper-level winds to steer it, the storm will drift south along the California coast and linger into the weekend, stirring up light rain, isolated thunderstorms and even some late-season mountain snow in the Sierra. But unlike a classic winter storm, this one won’t bring much organized or widespread precipitation. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
New analysis shows Sites Reservoir’s water-capturing potential
“The Sites Project Authority revealed that the Sites Reservoir could have captured more than 550,000 acre-feet of water from late November 2024 through early April 2025. According to officials, this amount of water capture could have benefited more than three million people. Fritz Durst, Chair of the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors, emphasized the reservoir’s potential. “Once again, we’re seeing how well Sites Reservoir would perform during wet periods if it were operational today, by capturing and storing water for drier periods,” Durst said. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Officials recommend Salmon fishing in California for the first time in years
“Lining up for a boat inspection, lifelong fisherman Mike Popovich recalls fond memories of salmon fishing in California — especially a particular day on the Klamath. “Klamath River, the mouth,” Popovich said. “Just, maybe 20 years ago, incredible. Just as fast as you could cast out, you catch fish. It was amazing. My sons were catching 30 pound salmon.” Popovich, like many others, hasn’t been able to fish for Pacific Chinook Salmon for three years, amid continuing bans in state oceans and rivers from declining populations, because of climate change, water management and habitat loss. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1.
DWR partners with communities on turf replacement projects to improve local climate resilience
“To celebrate Earth Week, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is rolling out a new program to work with local communities on multiple turf and landscape replacement projects that will save water and help combat against future droughts and climate change. What makes this innovative partnership unique is the focus on replacing turf at businesses and institutions rather than solely residential sites. In collaboration with Watershed Progressive, DWR’s Turf Replacement Pilot Program provides direct assistance to replace ornamental turf with drought-tolerant and water-efficient landscaping in California’s frontline communities. Supported by the Budget Act of 2021, the program is investing $35 million in communities that are on the frontlines of climate change, lack reliable water supplies, and need support with restoring natural environments. The program will provide hands-on support with lawn removal and direct installation of water-wise alternatives for residential, commercial, and institutional landscapes at no additional cost. … ” Read more from DWR News.
How (and when) can you get your hands on California’s climate bond?
““I think this is breaking my Teams right now,” said Evyan Borgnis Sloane, deputy executive officer for the California State Coastal Conservancy. She was starting a webinar, and some 600 people had flooded the online waiting room—an unusual crowd for a standard agency webinar on funding processes. It spoke to how thirsty people have been for information on Proposition 4’s $10 billion bond, approved by California voters in November 2024, to fund climate adaptation work across the state. During the campaign, proponents touted it as a critical down payment to offset the worst (and accelerating) state-wide costs of climate change. But as Trump has cut or threatened federal climate funding, “everyone is hoping to get Prop 4 money,” says Robert Mazurek, the executive director of the California Marine Sanctuaries Foundation. … ” Read more from Bay Nature.
In commentary today …
Central Valley farmers need a fighting chance to survive. This bill will help
Robin Singh, of Madera and owner Singh Farms, writes, “I’ve owned farmland and grown almonds here in Fresno County for nearly two decades, including for the last eight years in Cantua Ranch, a beautiful stretch of land that has been the backbone of my operation and my family’s livelihood. But now, the land I’ve poured years of labor and love into is at risk – not because we lack the knowledge, equipment, or will to farm it, but because these fields are drying up. That’s the reality for growers like me across the Central Valley. In 2014 California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a well-intentioned law to protect California’s water future. I support the need for sustainable water use. But as SGMA implementation rolls out, farmers like me are being told we may have to drastically cut back groundwater pumping, so much so that we might only be able to farm a fraction of our land. In my case, projections suggest I could be limited to putting just one-sixth of my land into permanent crops. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
The California ESA and habitat protection
Eric Biber, a specialist in conservation biology, land-use planning and public lands law, writes, “Following up on my prior post about the proposed changes to the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations that protect against habitat modification, what might California do to protect the species within its border? California currently has 140 federally listed animal species, and 182 federally listed plant species, 19% of the 1684 species listed under the ESA in the United States. California also has its own endangered species law, the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), which provides substantial protections for listed species independent of the federal ESA. Thus, California can provide an important backstop for protection of endangered species within its borders, regardless of what happens under the federal ESA, and because of the number of listed species in California, California’s efforts would make a significant impact in protecting biodiversity. … ” Read more from the Legal Planet.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Commentary: Understanding ‘full allocation’ for Klamath farmers
Gene Souza, Klamath Irrigation District, writes, “The term “full allocation” is central to discussions about water rights for farmers on and off the Klamath Reclamation Project, but its meaning is often misunderstood. For the more than 220,000 acres of farmland in the Klamath Reclamation Project, a “full allocation” of water is not a single number but a range of measurements tied to contracts, legal adjudications, and the practical needs of crops. As poor federal policy continues to strain the region’s water resources, clarity on this term is essential for informed, on-farm decision-making. According to some contracts, such as the 1905 contract entered into by the Klamath Irrigation District, and for Tule Lake Irrigation District, which cover more than 100,000 acres within their borders, a “full allocation” is defined as water sufficient for beneficial use without waste. That number is unknowable …but able to be roughly estimated as exceeding 300,000 acre-feet for these two districts in an average year. … ” Continue reading at the Herald & News.
CalTrout acquires key Elk River land parcels, returns historic site to Wiyot Tribe for cultural restoration
“CalTrout, in partnership with the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), announced today the acquisition of four key parcels of former ranch land (175 acres) along the Elk River in Humboldt County, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to protect and restore the Elk River estuary. Three of these parcels will eventually be transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) existing Elk River Wildlife Area (ERWA) for continued stewardship and ecological restoration, while the fourth parcel, of special cultural importance to the Wiyot Tribe, was returned to the Tribe for its ancestral ownership. The Elk River, the largest tributary to Humboldt Bay, supports sustainable local agriculture, is a hub for essential fish habitat, and flows through several residential communities. However, years of intensive land uses for timber harvest and agriculture have caused significant changes across the landscape, shifting the balance away from functional ecosystems and native fish populations. … ” Read more from CalTrout.
New study of Lake Mendocino water storage launched
“A group of officials who are keenly interested in the amount of water stored in Lake Mendocino met in Ukiah recently to celebrate the launch of another study that could eventually lead to increasing the storage capacity of the reservoir. “Inaccurate storage in this reservoir is actually a threat to people and wildlife and our economy,” said Rep. Jared Huffman (D – San Rafael), who secured $500,000 last year for the latest feasibility study, officially called the Coyote Valley Dam General Investigation Study, while speaking April 11 near the dam. “And those threats are going to be exacerbated, potentially, by uncertainties with Pacific Gas and Electric’s removal of the antiquated Potter Valley Project system, but there’s also an opportunity here: if we work together, doing some of the things we need to do with the Two-Basin Solution, and then raising this dam that we’re standing on, which can make that Two-Basin Solution so much more effective, and so much more reliable.” … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Update: Winter weather advisory affecting the Greater Lake Tahoe Area until Sunday midday
“At 1:22 a.m. on Friday, the National Weather Service issued an updated winter weather advisory valid from 5 p.m. until Sunday, Apr. 27 at 11 a.m. for the Greater Lake Tahoe Area. “Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches above 7000 feet with up to 10 inches along the highest peaks. 1 to 3 inches at lake level. Ridge winds gusts up to 60 mph,” can be anticipated according to the NWS Reno NV. “Heaviest snowfall expected Friday night and Saturday morning. Snow will struggle to accumulate on roadways during the daytime hours, though isolated heavy snow showers may bring greater accumulations Saturday afternoon.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Tahoe Valley Stormwater and Greenbelt Improvement Project underway
“The Tahoe Valley Stormwater and Greenbelt Improvement Project includes multi-benefit stormwater treatment based on natural systems (native plants and infiltration into soil) and drainage solutions for localized flooding. This process will spread, treat, infiltrate, and retain urban runoff from roadways, commercial areas, and other high-priority, directly connected urban areas to protect the clarity of Lake Tahoe. It also includes benefits requested by the community and stakeholders, including public space, new naturalized play structures, and improved active transportation paths. After a planned winter shutdown, construction activities are now back underway and expected to continue through the 2025 construction season. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Sutter County, Yuba City work together to clean up riverfront encampments
“The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Yuba City and other agencies to get the banks of the Feather River cleaned up. In just four days over the last two weeks, the sheriff’s office and its partners have removed hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash from in and around Yuba City. The main goal is to tackle homeless encampments along the Feather River. Some are abandoned, some are not. The sheriff’s office said that the folks living there are offered services before being given an abatement notice. “We will be doing this type of work all summer long, and largely that is fueled by feedback from citizens of the county. They want to feel safe down here, they want to use the area for recreational purposes,” said Andre Licon, community response officer with the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
BAY AREA
A unique San Francisco Bay marine lab faces closure. It has days to raise millions.
“Ecologist Katharyn Boyer must shutter the beloved marine research center she manages on the San Francisco Bay’s shores — unless she can raise millions of dollars by next week. Scientists, conservationists and community members statewide have rallied to save the Estuary and Ocean Science Center since San Francisco State University announced earlier this year that it could no longer afford to keep the doors open on its 53-acre Tiburon campus. University representatives told KQED this week that $10 million would allow them to keep the lab open at least in the short term. Boyer, the center’s interim executive director, is still scrambling to convince donors to pledge the money before the start of May. Otherwise, San Francisco State will start phasing out the center’s operations over the next six months. “It’s very little time and a lot of money, and I am starting to lose hope,” Boyer said. “There are some folks that are interested in supporting us. Whether that can happen fast enough is a really big question.” … ” Read more from KQED.
CENTRAL COAST
Breaking down barriers: A Central Coast creek is cleared so endangered fish can reach spawning areas
“In a major environmental restoration project, two barriers were removed from Jalama Creek, allowing Southern Steelhead to swim up the creek. We’re next to a beautiful stream on the Central Coast. Jalama Creek looks as pristine as any waterway found in a remote, undeveloped area. But it hasn’t flowed this freely in decades. A unique project removed two manmade barriers on the creek. Researchers hope it will set the stage for endangered fish to return to this critical breeding habitat. … ” Read more from KCLU.
Montecito sanitary, water special districts revive consolidation talks
“Montecito’s water and sanitary districts are talking about consolidation again. The special districts ordered a study to explore the pros and cons of joining forces, but the effort stalled in 2023 shortly after that report came out. At the time, consultants determined there wouldn’t be a financial upside to consolidating districts, but having one governing board would give a “unified approach” to water and wastewater policy. The Montecito Sanitary District Board of Directors decided not to move forward in October 2023, ending the discussion, until it was revived this year. In late March, a different board voted 3-2 in favor of consolidation. … ” Read more from Noozhawk.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Patterson: Residents urged to contact officials as water termination deadline approaches
“Western Hills Water District had a public meeting Saturday to discuss the termination of water service to the Diablo Grande community they are currently facing and other viable water source options. WHWD Board President Mark Kovich said they have had discussions with Patterson Irrigation District on what would have to happen in order to purchase water through them instead of Kern County Water Agency, whom they owe more than $13.5 million to. Kovich said the good thing about working with PID would be that they would not have to purchase a minimum amount of water like they do with Kern County Water Agency, because of the State Water Project, and they will sell the district water at market price, only selling what the district uses. While that is a great long-term option, Kovich said it does come with challenges. … ” Read more from the Patterson Irrigator.
Atwater residents warned of water contamination
“Two wells providing drinking water in Atwater have tested positive for two contaminants that may pose specific health and environmental concerns. Residents were notified of the presence of Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid (PFHxS) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) in the water system in their April city utilities bill. The City also has posted information on its website under the Public Works Department page, with a comprehensive fact book on the substances. According to Linda Geddes, writing for The Guardian in 2024, the contaminants are part of a group of chemicals used in manufacturing products since the 1950s. Both have been referred to as “forever chemicals” and “persistent organic pollutants.” … ” Read more from the Merced County Times.
Bakersfield poised to send notices of proposed water rate hike following disastrous sewer fee proposal
“Bakersfield residents still reeling from a notice that their sewer fees were proposed to go up by more than 300% will likely get another notice in the mail next week of a proposal to boost their water rates by nearly 51%. While it appears the sewer rate increase proposal may be pulled back after outraged residents lit up social media, council members’ emails and city phone lines, the water rate increase proposal process is, for now, still underway. On March 26, the City Council approved conducting two separate Proposition 218 elections; one for the proposed sewer rate hike and another for a proposed water rate increase of 50.8% over the next five years. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
April showers in Southern California? Here’s the latest forecast
“A cool, wet weather pattern will probably bring some April showers to Southern California over the next few days. The dreary trend is forecast to kick off Friday morning, with the possibility of a “patchy drizzle” developing from a deep marine layer over much of the region, according to National Weather Service forecasts. The Los Angeles area could see more significant rainfall Saturday as a low-pressure system moves in. “It’s going to be cooler, cloudy and wet on Saturday,” said Carol Smith, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Oxnard. “It’s a late-season storm.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Debris removal progress yields some answers, but yet more questions
“On April 15, city staff and consultants met for a second time with homeowners whose beachfront properties burned down, reviewing debris removal progress, addressing policies that apply to most, if not all beach lots, and providing answers to detailed questions unique to various lots. Noting that the first beachfront homeowners meeting occurred five weeks previously, Yolanda Bundy, environmental sustainability director for the City of Malibu, showed a video demonstrating that there has been significant improvement in debris removal on beachfront lots. “It’s a sign of hope and that we are moving forward and that you will be rebuilding your homes,” Bundy said optimistically, adding that the city and its residents owe, “a big debt of gratitude to the Army Corps and the contractors who are helping with removal for those who opted in as well as those who opted out of having the Army Corps of Engineers remove their debris.” … ” Read more from the Malibu Times.
How UCLA research, policy studies and community outreach are aiding L.A.’s wildfire rebuilding efforts
“As the January wildfires neared UCLA’s Westwood border and impacted the lives of students, faculty, staff and large parts of Altadena and Pacific Palisades, the Bruin community sprang into action. From donating space at Research Park for the Disaster Recovery Center to staff members working to preserve trees in Altadena, faculty and students in nearly every field, from environmental studies and urban planning to medicine to psychology and biology, have been providing expert analysis, guidance and hands-on assistance. And the work continues. Trail cameras placed by researchers after the fires show bobcats, coyotes, owls and other animals returning to the Chaney Trail Corridor northwest of Eaton Canyon. Faculty members and students from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering are developing research aimed at mitigating future wildfire devastation, including soil testing and hazardous waste safety. A new Urban Water Supply + Fire working group has been launched to strengthen water supply infrastructure, resilience and post-fire recovery. To commemorate Earth Day and Earth Month, Newsroom is taking a look back at the people, places and rebuilding efforts that have aided the region’s recovery in the months following the fires. … ” Read more from UCLA.
What’s in the water? Domoic acid poisons marine mammals along Southern California coast
“Over the past few weeks, Santa Barbara County’s typically serene shoreline has transformed into a scene of gruesome marine mammal suffering due to a widespread toxic algal bloom sweeping the coastal waters of Southern California. The algae is Pseudo-nitzschia and it produces domoic acid, a compound that is neurotoxic to mammalian systems. Since late March, beachgoers have encountered hundreds of washed-up animals suffering from domoic acid poisoning with symptoms that include seizures, erratic and dangerous behavior and comas. Alyson Santoro is an oceanographer and marine microbiologist, as well as a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology. She heads UC Santa Barbara’s Santoro Lab, which concentrates on the study of microbiology in the deep ocean and oversees the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System’s (SCCOOS) Santa Barbara shoreline monitoring station for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). … ” Read more from the Daily Nexus.
Volunteers set to restore an acre of Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
“Gary Kosman and Talia Arnold wanted an activity that engaged their children and they stumbled upon an opportunity with the nonprofit group Friends of the Los Angeles River, who fights to protect and improve the 2,000-acre Sepulveda Basin’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Every fourth Saturday of the month, the family joined other volunteers to remove invasive plants, an effort led by Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR), the California Native Plant Society, and the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society. And with Earth Day earlier this week, the Kosman family is again getting ready to do their part by joining the cleanup on Saturday hosted by FoLAR, the nonprofit that launched the movement that brought the L.A. River back to life. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego County water rate hikes won’t be as painful as feared
“Wholesale water rates — a key driver of the water bills of residents and businesses across the county — are not expected to rise nearly as much next year as previously thought. County water officials on Thursday lowered their projected wholesale water rate hike for next year from 18% to 12%, thanks primarily to higher projected water sales to local agencies over the next three years. The higher sales projections are based partly on the particularly dry winter and spring San Diego has experienced, which has increased demand for irrigation water from farmers and people with large lawns. Higher sales help the finances of the water authority because it is contractually obligated to buy more water than its member agencies typically need, forcing it to raise rates to cover its built-in costs. But the dry winter has pushed the expected demand from member agencies for next year about 10% higher than was estimated just last month — from 300,000 acre-feet to 327,000 acre-feet. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
NOAA collaboration provides backbone for global environmental intelligence
“Since late February, many hundreds of California sea lions, dolphins, whales, and seabirds have stranded themselves along Southern California coastlines. The sea lions appear dazed, listless, and sometimes acting erratically. The diagnosis — domoic acid poisoning — is caused by a neurotoxin produced by a commonly found marine plankton in coastal waters. Domoic acid can cause illness and death in marine mammals, and be dangerous or fatal to humans if they consume contaminated seafood. This event, still underway three months later, marks the fourth consecutive year that a toxic algae bloom has caused marine mammal and seabird mortality events in Southern California. These blooms, which cost the U.S. economy $50 million each year through damage to public health, fisheries, and coastal recreation, are tracked in a myriad of ways, with the support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a federal agency currently impacted by federal staffing cuts and threats to long-term funding. … ” Read more from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Mexico shares insight on meeting with EPA
“The EPA’s visit to the South Bay to see the sewage crisis firsthand is something both the U.S. and Mexican governments are calling productive, vowing together to finally accelerate a plan to solve the problem affecting people for decades. New video posted on X (formerly Twitter) gives us an inside look at the meeting between EPA administrator Lee Zeldin and his counterpart, Alicia Bàrcena, the Mexican Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources. Bàrcena says Mexico has made an enormous effort on its part, stating that it has just finished construction on the San Antonio de Los Buenos wastewater treatment plant in Tijuana. She says that was a $38 million investment that will allow for more than 800 liters of wastewater to be treated per second. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Along the Colorado River …
Senator raises alarm as major Lake Mead water deadline looms
“As the deadline to renegotiate Colorado River water use agreements approaches, Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper says he is “frustrated” with the lack of progress on a consensus between the seven basin states. “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 after a roundtable in Glenwood Springs with Western Slope water managers on April 15, according to Aspen Journalism. “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.” … ” Read more from Newsweek.
ASU scientists monitoring growing algae concern across Arizona as resources decline
“As algae blooms in our canals, it can reduce the efficiency of water flow, create odors, and cause taste issues. However, algae growth was historically only an issue in the warm summers, that is, until now. ABC15 Meteorologist Justin Hobbs explains why algae blooms are increasing year-round in our state and why state and federal help is vital.” Watch video at Channel 15.
New rules open doors for more Arizona cities to recycle wastewater into drinking water
“Arizona has taken another step forward in securing the future of water in the desert. New rules for turning wastewater into drinking water have been approved. The purification process is one that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality said more local utilities could adopt. An oversight council has just approved the new advanced water purification rules. ADEQ said the rules create a regulatory framework ensuring safe and reliable purification of wastewater for drinking. With the new steps, Arizona cities and water providers can apply for a permit to use advanced water purification. By doing that, ADEQ said it creates a crucial tool for managing water resources amid ongoing drought and increasing demand. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
Utah Gov. Cox issues drought executive order, urges Utahns to conserve water
“With Utah facing a drier year, Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties due to drought conditions. The counties covered by the order include southern and rural areas of Washington, Iron, San Juan, Kane, Juab, Emery, Grand, Beaver, Garfield, Piute, Millard, Tooele, Uintah, Carbon, Sevier, Sanpete and Wayne counties. The governor’s executive order comes after the Drought Response Committee recently recommended he act due to drought conditions. “We’ve been monitoring drought conditions closely, and unfortunately, our streamflow forecasts are low, particularly in southern Utah,” Cox said in a prepared statement. “I urge all Utahns to be extremely mindful of their water use and find every possible way to conserve. Water conservation is critical for Utah’s future.” … ” Read more from Utah News Dispatch.
Utah paying farmers millions to protect Lake Powell water
“Utah has launched a financial initiative to pay farmers not to grow crops as part of an effort to conserve water from the Colorado River and help stabilize Lake Powell, one of the West’s most-vital reservoirs. The water preserved through this program will not be consumed locally but rather left in the Colorado River system to bolster Lake Powell, which hit historically low levels in recent years due to high demand and drought. The Colorado River system supplies water to some 40 million people. The initiative comes amid increasing pressure from neighboring states and federal agencies for basin states to reach agreements on water management. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Dust is speeding up snowmelt in the Colorado River, University of Utah study finds
“Researchers at the University of Utah recently published a first-of-its-kind study that measures the impact dust has on melting snow in the Colorado River basin. Dust has long been credited to accelerating snowmelt in the Intermountain West. Blowing from arid regions and settling in the mountains, the dust darkens the snow, lowering its albedo — essentially, darker snow doesn’t reflect the sunlight as well, leading to more heat absorption and speeding up the melting process. It’s particularly prevalent in the Colorado River basin, with large mountain ranges like the San Juans, La Sals and Maroon Bells pushed up against dry expanses of desert. As drought continues to impact the region, dust events have worsened, depleting the snowpack at faster rates and complicating an already precarious situation for the Colorado River and the 40 million people who get their drinking water from it. … ” Read more from Utah News Dispatch.
Climate weirdness hits the Colorado Plateau
“According to my grandfather, “Only fools and newcomers try to predict the weather around here.” in the American Southwest. And, should anybody try to predict the weather, he’ll remind us that we aren’t newcomers, leaving only one other option. But, I’ve learned over time that his advice largely applies to short-term predictions. While the weather can turn fast on any given day, the kind of weather you can expect in any given month has always been pretty stable. What little winter we get only comes between November and about February. The weather quickly warms up almost to summer temperatures in the spring, but we can expect lots and lots of wind and dust. Summer gets hot early, often starting in early May, but summer rains don’t arrive until around the Fourth of July. Once the rains stop in August or September, we get a short fall in October before falling back into winter temperatures. … ” Read more from Clean Technica.
In national water news today …
Every drop counts: Navigating water challenges in manufacturing and data centers
“On April 10th, Cleantech Group hosted the panel “Every Drop Counts: Navigating Water Challenges in Manufacturing and Data Centers,” in Palo Alto, California. Sponsored by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the panel featured Chris Spain of HydroPoint, David C. Thompson of ChemTreat, and Jim Oliver of Black & Veatch. Data centers were the focal point of the conversation. As OpenAI, Facebook, and Google require millions of gallons of water to cool their data centers, municipalities are running extreme risk of devastating water supplies for residents and commercial businesses alike. Data centers currently draw water from 90% of U.S. watersheds, increasing their total withdraws by 35% since 2018. Cities, states, and countries across the globe are committing to this unprecedented water use without clear foresight on what the consequences will be. Every Drop Counts was organized to help identify some pathways forward through this uncertainty. Each speaker touched on the realities of resource constraints, public engagement, waste management, and partnerships as the key pillars on which successful data center projects are built. While it is impossible to summarize the brilliant discourse between the speakers, I will distill some key takeaways on each point. … ” Read more from the CleanTech Group.
Cost of good manners: Why saying ‘please’, ‘thank you’ to ChatGPT is costing billions in water, electricity bills
“OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that saying please and thank you to ChatGPT costs millions of dollars in energy. He mentioned that being nice to the AI chatbot requires a lot of computation power, which ultimately raises electricity and water costs. Altman in a cheeky online post noted that the polite prompt are actually expensive and impact the cost of energy. Responding to a curious user on X (formerly Twitter) about the energy cost of polite prompts, Altman said, “Tens of millions of dollars well spent, you never know.” … ” Read more from TNX.
Interior plan slashes environmental reviews to 1 month
“The Trump administration’s plan Wednesday to tap into emergency authorities to fast-track some energy projects drew a mix of industry praise and warnings of legal fights to come. The move to expedite environmental reviews would only apply to certain projects, such as mining and oil and gas drilling. Wind and solar energy would be excluded, according to the Interior Department. Interior laid out a strategy for truncating the environmental reviews — an ambitious goal that arrives as the Trump administration fires staff across the federal bureaucracy and offers voluntary buyouts and early retirements. While the administration’s plan drew immediate praise from industry, including the mining sector, conservation groups and legal experts blasted the directive as an unnecessary attempt to push through energy projects with rushed reviews. … ” Read more from E&E News.
‘Russian roulette’: Why Trump’s bid to trim NEPA could backfire
“President Donald Trump’s move to cut environmental reviews down to a month or less could push his administration into murky legal ground and even hand environmental groups more ammunition to challenge federal approvals of mines and fossil fuel projects in court. The Interior Department unveiled a plan Wednesday to reduce the length of reviews for some coal and hardrock mines, oil and gas drilling, geothermal development and biofuel projects on public land — while excluding wind and solar energy — from a year or more to a maximum of 28 days. The department premised the shift on Trump’s invocation of an energy emergency in January. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Petitions for Temporary Urgency Change Petitions for Sonoma County Water Agency
NOTICE of Petitions for Temporary Urgency Changes for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
