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In California water news this weekend …
California, federal government, Yuba Water Agency partner up in historic project to reopen North Yuba River to native fish
“California is working with state, local, and federal agencies in a historic project to repopulate the North Yuba River with native fish and help protect the state’s waterways and ecosystems. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new historic agreement to help return spring-run Chinook salmon and other native fish species to their historic habitats in the Yuba River was signed today. The collaborative partnership between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Yuba Water Agency, and NOAA Fisheries, will allow salmon, steelhead, lamprey, and sturgeon, some of the oldest fish lineages on the planet, to access miles of habitat in the Lower Yuba River and North Yuba River not accessible for more than 100 years. “In California, we know that water management isn’t a zero-sum game, and we are happy to see that the federal administration is on board with our strategy to safeguard our precious ecosystems. Today, we stand together with our federal partners to restore our waterways and wildlife, including our native fish,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. … ” Click here to continue reading press releases.
Chowchilla may be first San Joaquin Valley subbasin to get do-over on inadequate groundwater plan
“The state Water Resources Control Board will consider sending the Chowchilla subbasin back to another state agency for evaluation of its revised groundwater sustainability plan. If Chowchilla makes it back to the arms of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), it will be the first of seven San Joaquin Valley subbasins considered for enforcement action to have made that full U-turn. The recommendation to send Chowchilla back to DWR will be considered at the Water Board’s June 3 meeting. In an assessment released Friday, Water Board staff said Chowchilla’s four groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) adequately addressed deficiencies. “The GSAs show a greater commitment to protecting drinking water users and improved groundwater management,” the assessment stated. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SEE ALSO: STATE WATER BOARD releases recommendation on Chowchilla Subbasin under SGMA, from SJV Water
Updated operations analysis finds water for more than 3 million people could have been captured if Sites Reservoir were operational today
“The Sites Project Authority (Authority) announced that during this wet weather season, Sites Reservoir could have captured more than 550,000 acre-feet of water from late November 2024 through early April 2025. These results continue to show that there is water available in the Sacramento River that could be diverted in a safe and protective manner, providing new water supplies for dry years. Also, these operations simulations build confidence that the performance of the project can meet funding expectations. “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,” said Fritz Durst, Chair of the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors. “We know California will continue to experience more intense and wetter storms and there will be longer and drier periods that follow, so we need to have additional storage in place to capture water when it comes so it’s there when we need it.” … ” Read more from the Sites Project.
McNerney’s taking on water, Newsom and Trump
“Sen. Jerry McNerney is stepping into the fight over one of the biggest modern-day water projects in California — a tunnel to reroute more water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta south to farmers and cities — just as it’s heating up. Representatives of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region have long railed against the project for its potential impact on the environment and local water supplies. But McNerney, a 22-year veteran of Congress who came to the state Senate last year to represent San Joaquin County, which will bear the brunt of the tunnel’s construction, sees political forces aligning in a way that they haven’t in decades. “It’s going to be more of a challenge for us to keep the discussion to actually the benefit and cost of this thing, as opposed to just the will to get it done,” he said. … ” Read more from Politico.
One part of California is just emerging from years of drought
“For years, the Klamath Basin along California’s remote northern border has been mired in drought, missing out on the string of wet winters that benefited the rest of the state. But not any longer. Officials at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced this week that stormy weather over the past several months was enough, alongside the removal of four dams on the Klamath River and other water projects, to likely ensure sufficient water for farms, fish and wildlife refuges in the region. The federally run Klamath Project, the extensive network of dams and canals that supplies water along the California-Oregon state line, is projected to deliver the most water it has since at least 2019 this year — 330,000 acre-feet — according to the Bureau of Reclamation. “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 Adam Nickels, acting regional director for the Bureau of Reclamation, in a statement. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
The critical role of Airborne Snow Observatory flights in managing California’s water future
“California’s water supply hinges heavily on its snowpack—often called the state’s natural reservoir. Snow that accumulates in the Sierra Nevada during winter slowly melts in spring and summer, feeding rivers and reservoirs across the state. This snowmelt supports the natural environment, agriculture, powers hydroelectric generation, and provides drinking water to millions. But to manage this precious resource, accurate data on how much snow is in the mountains—and how much water it represents—is essential. That’s where the Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) flights come in. Operated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in partnership with state and local water agencies, ASO flights use advanced LiDAR and spectrometer technology to measure snow depth and to calculate snow water equivalent (the amount of water stored in the snowpack) with unprecedented accuracy. … ” Read more from Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
CDFW Beaver Restoration Program to host project proposal application workshop
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Beaver Restoration Program invites you to an informational meeting outlining the process for developing and submitting a Beaver Restoration Project Proposal. The meeting will be held virtually via webinar on Monday, May 12, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. This meeting is intended for landowners and land managers, including but not limited to Tribal, Federal, State, Local, or private, who are interested in receiving translocated beavers on their property for the purposes of re-establishing local beaver populations and facilitating restoration of the ecosystem. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
This California town has a breathtaking waterfall — and no legal way for the public to get there
“Less than a half a mile from the city limits of this Northern California railroad town is a natural wonder so enchanting that locals compare it to geologic features in Yosemite or Yellowstone. “The most beautiful waterfall I’ve ever seen,” said Stephen Decatur, who works in disaster preparedness for the city of Dunsmuir. City Manager Dustin Rief agreed, adding: “And I’ve traveled all over the world.” … Fed from glaciers on Mount Shasta’s majestic slopes, Mossbrae Falls cascades out of lava tubes and down mossy cliffs into the Sacramento River in ethereal curtains of mist, sending rainbows dancing in all directions. There’s just one hitch: Though Mossbrae Falls sits less than 2,000 feet from Dunsmuir city limits, there is no easy — or legal — way for the public to access its watery splendors. And for decades, every attempt to create legal access has foundered on the rocky shoals of property rights and lumbering bureaucracy. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
How Gavin Newsom is balancing the fight against Trump with Los Angeles fire relief
“Three months into President Donald Trump’s second term and the recovery from the firestorm that devastated Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom finds himself at a precarious juncture. The olive branch that Newsom extended to Trump in January, as Los Angeles reeled from multiple fires and the president threatened to withhold disaster aid, has yet to deliver on its early promise. Once a leading voice in the anti-Trump resistance, Newsom traveled to Los Angeles and then Washington, D.C. to meet with the president and lobby for federal assistance. Trump rewarded his outreach with a détente — ceasing reference to the governor as “Newscum” and publicly promising that an “L.A. fire fix” was coming. But amid ongoing battles over government funding, Congress has to date ignored Newsom’s request for $40 billion to rebuild Los Angeles. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
SEE ALSO: Gavin Newsom urges more federal investment as wildfire aid hangs in balance, from the Sacramento Bee
In commentary this weekend …
Will the ‘abundance’ agenda make California great again?
Steven Greenhut, western region director for the R Street Institute, writes, “Up until the 1970s, California was a state known for its commitment to boundless opportunities, with the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown governorship reflective of the can-do spirit that drew people here from across the world. Given the degree to which modern California is noted for its ineffectiveness, wastefulness, and regulatory sclerosis, it’s difficult to imagine a California that took its Golden State moniker seriously. Brown “envisioned a future in which economic growth would be driven by a network of state-of-the-art freeways to move people, reservoirs, and canals to capture and transport water and intellectual capital from low-cost institutions of higher education. He sold that vision to the public and, in doing so, as the late historian Kevin Starr wrote, putting California on “the cutting edge of the American experiment,” per a Hoover Institution retrospective. The state grew dramatically as a result. The Brown administration built most of the State Water Project in less time than it would take to complete an Environmental Impact Report these days. … ” Read more from Reason.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Passings: Harrison ‘Hap’ Dunning
“Harrison (“Hap”) Case Dunning died at midnight on March 31, 2025, at Alta Bates Summit hospital in Oakland, at age 86. He passed away peacefully, holding hands with his two children. A longtime resident of Davis, Hap was professor of law at UC Davis. He was born on July 27, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Harrison Freeman Dunning and Kathleen Mulligan Dunning. He graduated from Swarthmore High School (1956), where he was a National Merit Scholar; Dartmouth College (1960), where he was valedictory speaker; and Harvard Law School (1964), where he was active in civil rights work. … Upon joining the faculty at UC Davis, Hap initiated a course in water law, which became his passion and the focus of the rest of his professional career. In the late 1970s, he served as executive officer of the Governor’s Commission to Review California Water Rights Law. Hap was given the Defender of the Trust award from the Mono Lake Committee in 2014 “for his extraordinary work defending the public trust and protecting the public’s natural heritage at Mono Lake and its tributary streams.” … ” Read the full obituary at the Davis Enterprise.
Passings: Remembering David ‘Chicken’ Nesmith, who kept water flowing down American, Mokelumne rivers for outdoor recreation
“David Nesmith, a champion for San Francisco Bay waters and wetlands and California’s rivers, died on March 26, ending decades of dedicated activism balanced by time playing and mentoring others on the rivers of the Western United States. Nesmith was born Aug. 11, 1944, in Chicago to Claire Nesmith and Gladys Mae McAllister. The son and grandson of Methodist ministers, David was a charismatic leader and community builder dedicated to social justice, the environment, mentoring young people and engaging people with nature. He passed away in Oakland after a week of visits and messages of love and appreciation from many of the thousands of people whose lives he touched. … David was the conservation director of the San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club for 17 years, where he fought to protect the health of the Bay, particularly its wetlands, which were threatened by development. He served as director of Save the Bay, and later helped found the Environmental Water Caucus, a coalition of 30 groups advocating for California water policies that led to sustainable water use and ecosystem restoration. He also served on the board of Restore the Delta. … ” Read more from Berkeleyside.
Podcasts …
THE DELTA DISPATCH – From Snowpack To Spigot
Water is a BIG topic. Not only is it absolutely essential to all life, its also something that people can base entire careers in, from researching quality to managing our supply of the stuff. In fact, an entire half of the state’s Coequal goals for the Delta revolve around our supply of water! Follow the journey of California’s water supply in this episode of the Delta Dispatch, as we talk to guest experts Anthony Navasero (California Department of Water Resources) and Jofil Borja (Sacramento Area Sewer District). Along the way, find out what “water supply” means, why the movement and distribution of water is important, and how the wastewater that flows down your sink might be a key to a more reliable and sustainable future.
THE DELTA DISPATCH: Restoration, Reciprocity
If you had the ability to influence the story of an ecosystem as it was being penned, how would you write it? This is the core question behind this episode of the Delta Dispatch that discusses the history and future of the Delta’s many natural environments. As a region that has seen dramatic change, we discuss the need to restore ecosystems that have been lost, the role of restoration projects in doing so, and how all of that ties to the ultimate idea of stewardship. Join our guests Dylan Chapple (Delta Science Program, Delta Stewardship Council) and Don Hankins (CSU Chico) as we discuss our relationship and responsibility to the Delta’s natural lands – as well as the adventures we undertake to restore them.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Asking the Hard Questions
I remember a very grounded conversation that I had with the late Bill Jennings around 2009. The farmers of the Central Valley were in free fall over the minimal water that was available from the Delta. Decisions had been made in the spirit of protection but many did not feel very protected. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in the complexities of a situation that we miss the forest for the trees. The plight of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is one of those situations that has caused us to spin our wheels with no clear direction in sight. Water is a Many Splendor ’ed Thing and Conversations brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
THE BUZZ: It’s dry out there: What one of the driest winters ever means for Arizona
To say the recently ended winter was dry would be a bit of an understatement. The Tucson area experienced its second driest winter ever, with about a quarter of an inch of rain. That’s roughly a 10th of the area’s average. Mountain snowpack around the state isn’t proving much better. This week, we look at how this extremely dry winter will affect Arizonans.
ECONEWS REPORT: Reviewing Trump’s first 100-ish days
President’s often set a “first 100 days” agenda, when fresh from their inauguration, they have the most political power and influence in their term. The first 100 days is not only a benchmark to measure success but a preview for how they hope to govern for the rest of their four years. We are at day 95, close enough to measure Trump’s impact on the environment. Instead of a long list of all the rollbacks and deregulation, guests Scott Grecean of Friends of the Eel River and Matt Simmons of EPIC discuss what the first 100 days reveal about the President’s agenda and what it foretells moving forward.
RIPPLE EFFECT: Air-to-Water Canada – Atmospheric Water Harvesting
Ryan Mozi, Sales Director, from Air-to-Water Canada, joins us to discuss their atmospheric water harvesting generators and business model. This is a great discussion about the status of the industry, the various applications and uses for atmospheric water harvesting, and the role of water sovereignty. Super fun and enlightening discussion about a very practical technology for an ever changing world.
WATER SHELF: “Too Good to Be True” by Paul Brown
Paul Brown joins the Water Shelf Podcast to discuss his unique, trailblazing, and entertaining book, Too Good to Be True: Scottsdale and Privatization in the 1980s (2020). His detailed account of a water treatment plant public-private partnership evokes both a specific time and place and larger themes of professional development and learning from your mistakes. Mr. Brown is President of Paul Redvers Brown Inc., having previously served for 37 years at CDM Smith, including as Executive Vice President and Board Member. He is a Fellow of the International Water Association, a member of the Urban Water Institute’s Board of Directors, and previously served on the Boards of Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, and the Council for Watershed Health.
Sunday video …
The Nature Conservancy’s BirdReturns turns 10!
BirdReturns is turning 10! In the last decade BirdReturns has partnered with 200 growers and wetland managers in the Central Valley to convert 180,000 acres into temporary wetlands for migratory birds. It’s a win for the birds as they make their way from the Arctic to the Equator and a win for the growers and wetland managers who have received $6 million in direct payments for their participation. See the birds and hear from program participants, TNC staff, our partners at Audubon California and Point Blue Conservation Science, and more to find out what BirdReturns brings to California and where it’s going next!
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Bay Area company linked to near ‘disastrous’ dumping off U.S. 101
“A string of illegal hazardous waste dumps along Highway 101 in Mendocino County has been tied to a now-defunct Bay Area construction business, according to Caltrans officials. The agency is working with the California Highway Patrol to investigate, and they’re asking the public for help. On Monday, 19 barrels containing hazardous waste were removed from an embankment south of Leggett, near the Empire Camp Rest Area, Caltrans said in a news release. The cleanup cost is estimated at $30,000. “Luckily, we’ve avoided any major environmental hazards thus far,” said Caltrans District 1 Hazardous Materials Manager Danny Figueiredo in the press release. “At the cleanup site on Monday, the materials were only 10 feet away from dropping over a cliff with a drop of about 50 to 75 feet right into the creek. The creek has fresh running water, with fish, and that would have been disastrous.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
BAY AREA
Marin Water’s planned pipeline would be its largest water supply project in over 40 years
“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 Local News Matters.
Marin Municipal Water District outlines $328M in capital investments
“The Marin Municipal Water District is planning to spend $328 million over the next five years on capital improvements. The draft expenditure plan presented this week continues a trend of accelerated investments spurred by a rate hike approved nearly two years ago. The program anticipates spending more than $64 million each year through the fiscal year ending 2030, nearly tripling annual project investments made between 2015 and 2024. Between the fiscal years ending 2016 through 2025, the district spent a total of $249 million, said Elysha Irish, engineering manager. “So this is a significant increase in our rate of investment into our capital program, which is something that we should all be pretty excited about,” Irish told the district board at a planning committee meeting Tuesday. … ” Read more from the Marin Municipal Water District.
East Bay Regional Park District tightens watercraft inspections to keep invasive mussels out
“The East Bay Regional Park District is changing how it inspects watercraft to better fight off invasive mussel species. The district has long required inspections to prevent the spread of unwanted species into local lakes and reservoirs. For frequent visitors, staff use tamper-proof bands placed between the craft and trailer when the boat leaves the lake, serving as proof the vessel hadn’t launched in other waters. Boats returning with an intact band didn’t require re-inspection before entering a park district lake. That’s about to change. … ” Read more from Pleasanton Weekly.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Facing possible state action over groundwater, farmers in small west Fresno district vent frustrations, accusations
“The grim reality for agriculture under the state’s new groundwater law has pitted farmer against farmer in several regions, including the Pleasant Valley subbasin. An April 22 meeting of the Pleasant Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) erupted in accusations of conflict of interest as some farmers demanded the resignation of GSA General Manager Brad Gleason. “I do not want you making decisions for my farms or my family. The leadership is not there anymore,” grower Jim Anderson said. He accused Gleason of acting in his own best interests and outside the scope of his authority as president of the Pleasant Valley Water District and manager of the GSA. Specifically, Gleason was accused of signing a $25 million loan application without board approval. The alleged application was with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a proposed pipeline that would bring surface water to the subbasin where Gleason has land, according to a letter sent to the board by grower Phillip Christensen. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Bakersfield water board discusses consolidation, annexation of failing water systems
“The Bakersfield Water Board held a special meeting the morning of April 23 to discuss a pending consolidation of two smaller, failing water systems south of Independence High School. The State Division of Drinking Water issued a mandatory consolidation order for Bakersfield to take on the Old River and South Kern mutual water companies, which serve a combined 82 people. Both water companies serve disadvantaged communities and have consistently failed to provide clean quality water for their communities. Cost for the consolidation is expected to be $7.7 million but the state is expected to fully reimburse the city. Costs so far, including legal fees, engineering and consultant fees, have been paid by the state. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Underground water monitoring project sheds light on water quality
“The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) broke ground on a groundwater monitoring wells installation project to support water reliability for local disadvantaged communities (DACs) near Banning, in partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Starting April 17, the drilling and construction will be concentrated near 1220 Dysart Drive in Banning. Residents can expect the project to last 10 to 15 business days, with operating hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Local homes will not be directly impacted, and SGPWA and USGS will take all possible measures to minimize disruptions to the public’s daily routines. “Groundwater is essential for the San Gorgonio Pass area,” said SGPWA Board President Mickey Valdivia. “We are committed to ensuring all residents, especially those in disadvantaged communities, have access to safe, clean, and affordable water. We will continue safeguarding these vital resources for today, tomorrow and into future.” … ” Read more from the Yucaipa News-Mirror.
What to know about the toxic algae bloom killing marine life in Southern California
“An “unprecedented” toxic algae bloom has overrun the coast of Southern California, sickening marine animals and staining the shoreline, according to marine scientists. The toxin it produces is domoic acid. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began seeing an uptick in domoic acid toxicity cases in Los Angeles County in February, Jeni Smith, a rescue supervisor at SeaWorld San Diego, told ABC News. Other West Coast marine mammal stranding facilities — which rescue and rehabilitate marine animals — have reported seeing the same. Since then, the algae blooms have been spreading to San Diego County, Orange County, Santa Barbara County and beyond. Toxic algae blooms have always been a been a naturally occurring event in the region, but more regular occurrences began in 1998, Smith said. … ” Read more from ABC News.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego County Water Authority faces existential crisis
Scott Lewis writes, “This week, San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera said it may be time for the city to begin discussing leaving or dissolving the Water Authority. It was a dramatic substantive follow-up to what seemed like radical, off-hand comments I wrote about a month ago from Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert, who was frustrated by the water rate increases city staff was asking her to approve. The city of San Diego has been the steward of the Water Authority. City appointees have essentially controlled it for decades. They drove it to take on the massive debts, deals and projects that are forcing such high rate increases now. The suggestion that the city would now consider leaving it seemed ludicrous. One of the mayor’s top aides is the chair of the Water Authority and the city sponsored successful legislation to make it much harder for agencies to leave the Water Authority. But now the city leaving the Water Authority is apparently a thing. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Column: Zeldin takes diplomatic approach toward Mexico; locals want to hold big stick
Michael Smolens writes, “Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin was very direct this week in urging Mexico to expedite action — and spending commitments — on plans aimed at resolving the decades-long cross-border Tijuana sewage spills “once and for all.” Far from lashing out, Zeldin took a diplomatic approach and later said he had a “promising” outlook after pressing a sense of urgency upon Mexican officials to follow through on their government’s agreements with the U.S. At least in his public comments here on Tuesday, there wasn’t the hot tone of some of Zeldin’s earlier social media posts on the issue, nor did he embrace threatening actions against Mexico proposed by some local officials, such as limiting cross-border commerce or withholding water transfers to Tijuana if a resolution doesn’t happen soon. But he was adamant that Mexico live up to its commitments and didn’t rule out consequences if it doesn’t do so. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
A modest Colorado River proposal
“A group* of my Colorado River collaborators has put together what we hope can be a useful set of foundational principles as the basin states and federal leadership search for a path toward a negotiated agreement for post-2026 Colorado River management. They’re based on a number of key premises: The Colorado River Compact will remain the foundation of the river’s management, but we have to find a way past the deep disagreement between Upper and Lower basin states on what the Compact actually says. Colorado River Basin tribes must be essential partners in crafting the next set of guidelines, including through compensation for foregone water use. Shared pain is essential. The path toward a sustainable river system requires everyone to contribute to the solution to the problem of the river we all share. … ” Read more from the Inkstain blog.
SEE ALSO: Essential Pillars for the Post-2026 Colorado River Guidelines, from University of Colorado-Boulder
Commentary: Colorado River: The sky is falling, again
Greg Walcher, president of the Natural Resources Group, writes, “Every year for the past 25, at least, negotiating teams for the seven states on the Colorado River have worked to overcome a new crisis, invariably driven by two entities: the state of California and the federal Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). For a quarter-century, those teams have responded to federal pressure based on the dubious theory that an ongoing drought, and a resulting decline in the river’s flow, somehow changed the law and gave BOR authority to ignore the Interstate Compact. Not once has the federal agency ever acknowledged the government’s own role in reducing the river’s flow, by neglecting to manage thirsty invasive species like tamarisk, and especially by allowing national forests to become so overgrown that much of the snow never makes it to the river. It is easier simply to demand that everyone use less water. But that assumes an authority BOR does not have, under any law, to make such demands. Yet here we are again, the states trying to reach yet another agreement, with an arbitrary May deadline imposed by BOR, to replace the current drought plan that expires in two years. … ” Read more from the Daily Sentinel.
Is Phoenix sustainable? Experts tell SEJ conference the region plans for heat, drought
“As a major city in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix has been in the spotlight in the debate over the sustainability of urban development, so much so that it’s gained the reputation for being an “uninhabitable hellscape.” But some on a panel at the 2025 Society of Environmental Journalists conference on April 25 argued that while Phoenix has its fair share of environmental and sustainability concerns — notably extreme heat and water shortages — a habitable future is still in reach. Water remains a major concern over the sustainability of Phoenix, especially on the Colorado River, and by extension, the Central Arizona Project. The CAP is a system of pipes, tunnels and aqueducts designed to bring water from the river to Indigenous communities and populous regions of the state. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Arizona’s new water plan: Treating wastewater to tackle drought
“From April 2020 to March 2025, Arizona has endured its fourth driest stretch of drought on record, underscoring the urgency of water conservation efforts across the state. With water resources strained and climate conditions remaining unpredictable, both state agencies and residents are being urged to take proactive steps in managing water use. “Just be conscious of your water use,” Jonny Malloy, a meteorologist with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, told AZFamily. “I think it can be taken for granted.” His words highlight the need for increased awareness as Arizona faces ongoing environmental challenges. In response, the state is embracing innovative water management strategies. One of the most promising developments is the approval of new regulations that allow for the treatment and reuse of wastewater as potable, or drinkable, water. These forward-thinking rules pave the way for municipalities to convert treated wastewater into a safe, sustainable water source. … ” Read more from Water Online.
Pitkin County pledges $1 million to Shoshone water rights purchase
“Pitkin County on Wednesday joined 29 other Western Slope counties, cities and towns, irrigation districts and water providers in financially backing a plan to buy a critical Colorado River water right. Pitkin County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Shoshone Permanency Project and pledging $1 million toward the campaign to keep the water rights associated with the Shoshone hydropower plant in Glenwood Canyon on the Western Slope. Pitkin County’s Healthy Rivers Board recommended the $1 million contribution from its fund at its regular meeting April 17. The Colorado River Water Conservation District plans to purchase the water rights from Xcel Energy for nearly $100 million. The water rights are some of the biggest and oldest non-consumptive water rights on the mainstem of the Colorado River, and ensure water keeps flowing west to the benefit of downstream cities, farms, recreation and the environment. … ” Read more from Vail Daily.
In national water news this weekend …
Trump denies disaster aid, tells states to do more
“In the wake of recent natural disasters, state leaders across the country are finding that emergency support from the federal government is no longer a given. Under President Donald Trump, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied federal assistance for tornadoes in Arkansas, flooding in West Virginia and a windstorm in Washington state. It also has refused North Carolina’s request for extended relief funding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. While it’s not uncommon for the feds to turn down some requests for disaster declarations, which unlock federal aid, state leaders say the Trump administration’s denials have taken them by surprise. White House officials are signaling a new approach to federal emergency response, even as Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threaten to shut down FEMA altogether. “The Federal Government focuses its support on truly catastrophic disasters—massive hurricanes, devastating earthquakes, or wide-scale attacks on the homeland,” Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council, which advises the president on issues of national security, said in a statement to Stateline. … ” Read more from Stateline.
When the F-word is ‘fluoride’
“Florida is poised to become the second state to ban the long-standing practice of adding fluoride to public water systems. State senators have already cleared a bill that would prohibit community water fluoridation, and Florida’s House is expected to vote on a similar bill in the coming week. The word “fluoride” isn’t found anywhere in the Florida Farm Bill, but it would be included because the legislation aims to ban “the use of certain additives in a water system” throughout the state. If Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signs the bill, Florida will become the second to ban fluoride from water supplies. Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox, also a Republican, signed a bill in late March that prohibits any person or government entity from adding the cavity-fighting mineral from the state’s water systems. The Utah rule will go into effect on May 7. … ” Read more from NBC News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING: Onsite Treatment and Reuse of Nonpotable Water
