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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Delta Conveyance Project water right hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending Petitions for Change of Water Right Permits for the Delta Conveyance Project. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing without participating may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: bit.ly/aho-youtube. DWR is providing brief recaps here. Click here for the meeting notice.
In California water news today …
House Republicans vote to remove California fish from endangered species list
“House Republicans passed a measure Thursday that would repeal the government’s decision to place California’s longfin smelt, a finger-sized fish, on the endangered species list. House members passed the resolution, introduced by California Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), in a 216-195 vote that followed party lines. The resolution now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate. “We want to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s misguided decision to list the San Francisco Bay Delta population of the longfin smelt as being endangered,” LaMalfa, who represents a rice-growing region in Northern California, said before the vote. He said the agency’s decision last year to declare the fish species endangered was “unscientific” and said it’s making it harder to deliver water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to farmers. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
SEE ALSO:
- House OKs repealing endangered listing for longfin Delta smelt, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
- House GOP passes bill to remove endangered species protection for tiny fish in S.F. Bay, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Rep. LaMalfa Celebrates Passage of Resolution to Repeal Longfin Smelt Listing in the ESA, from Congressman Doug LaMalfa
- Congressman Valadao Applauds Passage of Resolution to Repeal Longfin Smelt ESA Listing, from Congressman Valadao
California’s biggest reservoir reaches capacity for third straight year
“California’s largest reservoir, Lake Shasta, reached capacity this week, marking the third straight year it has filled or nearly filled with water. The run of big water years at the reservoir reflects the unusual string of wet winters the state has experienced, and it bodes well for water supplies this year across California. The lake, which stretches across an extraordinary 35 miles in the southern Cascades north of Redding near Mount Shasta, is the cornerstone of the federally run Central Valley Project. Its supplies are sent to cities and farms hundreds of miles away, including the Bay Area. The San Joaquin Valley’s booming agricultural industry is the primary beneficiary. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read via MSN News.
California marks third year of decent Sierra snowpack
“For the third time in as many years, snowfall in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains stood at or above average as the rainy season comes to a close, giving the state a further reprieve from the severe drought conditions that have plagued the West Coast in recent decades. “Overall we have made it to above median in terms of our snowfall this season,” Andrew Schwartz, the director of UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab, said at a presentation Thursday. “Which is fantastic news.” A recent storm not only added another 9 inches of snowfall at the research laboratory located at the Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada this week, Schwartz said, but also slowed the snowmelt that has started already as the temperatures have begun to rise. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: Snow Drought Current Conditions and Impacts in the West, from NIDIS
How California’s farmers can recharge the aquifers they’ve drained
“In parts of California’s Central Valley, so much groundwater has been pumped out of the ground to deal with the region’s persistent drought that the land is starting to sink in. Underground aquifers — layers of sand, gravel, clay, and water — are vital resources that communities can turn to when surface water is scarce. But when more water is pumped out of aquifers than is put back in — as is happening in the southern part of the valley — it can cause the ground to slowly contract, like a drying sponge. After studying this phenomenon, Rosemary Knight, a professor of geophysics at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, became interested in identifying the fastest ways to replenish California’s groundwater using managed aquifer recharge. This technique involves flooding a piece of land with excess surface water and allowing that water to seep through the ground and into aquifers, where it can be stored for later use. Armed with a massive electromagnetic dataset, Knight and a team of researchers set out to analyze sediment types below the surface in the California Central Valley and map out the quickest routes to refilling aquifers. Their research, published last month in the journal Earth and Space Science, found that between 2 million and 7 million acres of land in the Central Valley are suitable for recharge — or between 19 and 56 percent of the valley’s total area. … ” Read more from Grist.
Fong votes to pass resolutions tor restore ‘common sense’ to California
“This week, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) voted to pass a series of resolutions to restore common-sense to California by undoing the Biden Administration’s burdensome regulations, lower costs for families, protect consumer choice, and end executive and federal overreach. “These out of touch mandates abused by California should not be imposed on the entire country when it’s contrary to common sense and what the public wanted. We should protect the right of consumers to choose the vehicle that works for their budget and lifestyle, in addition to removing needless barriers that limit water access to our farmers and Central Valley communities,” said Congressman Fong. “As a co-sponsor to overturn these waivers, it is imperative we enact consistent federal rules to reduce confusion, lower costs, and ensure fairness. We should not model national energy policy after California – a state that is completely energy incompetent. Nor should we allow California to withhold water from our producers in the nation’s food capital. It is critical we undo these mandates to ensure Californians, and all Americans, no longer have to bear the financial burden of these terrible state and federal policies.” … ” Read more from the Taft Midway Driller.
Adapting California agriculture: water shortages, solar, and food production
“California’s agricultural landscape is transforming due to water supply challenges and the push for renewable energy. With projections of 500,000 to 1 million acres fallowed in the San Joaquin Valley by 2040, driven by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and decades of environmental water policies curtailing water supplies, farmers face tough choices: grow crops, convert land to solar, or try to do both. California’s agricultural landscape is transforming due to water supply challenges and the push for renewable energy. With projections of 500,000 to 1 million acres fallowed in the San Joaquin Valley by 2040, driven by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and decades of environmental water policies curtailing water supplies, farmers face tough choices: grow crops, convert land to solar, or try to do both. … ” Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition.
Farmers on the front line of Trump’s trade war
“Farmers are concerned and uncertain about what President Trump’s actions will bring on trade, but U.S. agricultural sectors encouraged the conflict and some farmers say short-term pain would be worth long-term gain. Yakima County, Wash., fruit grower Jim Willard said he lost apple sales to India during the Trump trade war of 2018-19. He might get nicked again, but it’s a fight worth having, he said. “We need to bring world trade back in balance.” “My personal view is that this might hurt some, but it is time to straighten out this mess,” Willard said. “The pain can’t get much higher for agriculture than it is right now.” … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
Lawsuit seeks to eliminate new Chuckwalla National Monument
“A third-generation gold miner from Michigan and an off-road organization have sued the federal government to overturn the designation of the sweeping Chuckwalla National Monument in the California desert. Departing President Joseph Biden created the 624,000-acre monument on Jan. 15, stretching from south of Joshua Tree National Park east almost to the Colorado River and Arizona border. The complaint — filed on May 1 in the United States District Court for the eastern district of Michigan by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative, private property rights think tank based in Austin — alleges that Dan Torongo of Brighton, Michigan, whose family has held mining claims since 1978 on land in the Chuckwalla Mountains, will be prevented from mining there in retirement, or from buying or staking additional claims. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
Who’s paying the price for California’s wildfires? ‘Everyone.’
“As a program manager working on power line safety at the California’s public utilities regulator, Koko Tomassian stands on the front lines of state efforts to deal with explosive wildfires and the threat of more to come. And he has news for those who think they aren’t affected, perhaps because they live in low-risk areas or don’t own a home. Who pays for the harms — both financial and health-related — caused by wildfires? “Everyone,” Tomassian said. “In one way or another, whether directly or indirectly, we are all paying.” Tomassian spoke this inconvenient truth at a recent Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) Policy Forum on the economics of wildfires. … ” Read more from Stanford.
In commentary today …
New MWD policy could be revolutionary
Bruce Reznik, executive director of LA Waterkeeper, writes, “The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California recently adopted what could be a revolutionary policy. Metropolitan’s new Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water will “provide the roadmap that will guide [the agency’s] future capital investments” in this era of climate extremes, potentially upending how we have managed water since William Mulholland famously extorted, “There it is, Take it!” in 1913. Metropolitan is the water wholesaler for 19 million Southern Californians. It’s the 800-pound gorilla in any project that transports water long distances to power the showers, water the lawns, and fill the drinking glasses of residents from the Mexican border north to Ventura County. The agency was formed in 1928 to import water from the Colorado River to support growing southern California communities, later expanding to bring in even more water from Northern California through the State Water Project. … ” Continue reading at Capital Weekly.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
UC adviser helps North Coast vineyards adapt to climate challenges
“The sun is setting behind the rolling hills of one of Lake County’s picturesque vineyards. The postcard-perfect scene wraps up another day at the office for Christopher Chen, University of California Cooperative Extension’s integrated vineyard systems adviser for Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Now entering his third year in that role, Chen often can be found at vineyards across the region, measuring the impact of drought-resistant rootstocks, collecting data on temperature fluctuations and carefully examining the vineyard’s canopy. All these observations and measurements are part of a larger mission – to ensure that the very vines that produce the region’s world-renowned wines can thrive amid the challenges of climate change, wildfires and water scarcity. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Robust water system eases drought concerns
“Jeff Anderson feels good about this year’s water supply for northern Nevada. He’s a water supply specialist with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), where he has worked for more than 20 years, half of which have been in Reno. While a late storm in March helped the water outlook, he said it also poses a risk. “We did see some melt in March at almost all of our SNOTEL [snow telemetry] sites, even the higher elevation ones,” Anderson said. “Which definitely was early for those sites and [we] saw significant melt at lower elevation sites.” Due to winter melting, the region’s peak snow water amount this year is expected to fall below the average. Anderson and water managers use this snow-water equivalent (SWE) measure as a benchmark for the water content in the snowpack. Essentially, SWE is the amount of water in the snow if it were to melt. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Ally.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Corning moving forward on well project absent full funding
“Corning is looking to construct a domestic well on Marguerite Avenue, however, the required funding to complete the project is not currently on the books. This left the town’s City Council with the decision to go forward with what funding it has, or wait until all funding was is in hand before starting the project. The scope of the project includes the design, permitting, installation, and testing of the new community drinking water well and pump station, backup generator, as well as closing a critical water main gap about one mile in length along Toomes Avenue between Fig Lane and Loleta Avenue. “The project aims to improve the City’s water infrastructure by increasing reliability and long-term sustainability through the construction,” said City Manager Brant Mesker. … ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat.
BAY AREA
Marin Municipal Water District pivots on pump station plan
“The Marin Municipal Water District might redesign a pump station overhaul because the utility’s needs could change. Now that the district is pursuing a supply project to convey more Sonoma County water into Marin reservoirs, the future demand on the pump station could be greater than what project plans call for. The pump station is between Kastania Road and Highway 101 in Petaluma. Partial improvements are estimated at $1.5 million, whereas the rebuilding project as designed would be about $5.5 million. It would be more prudent to do partial improvements on the pump station now to meet the near-term demand, and consider the full rebuild design at a later time, staff told the utility’s board at a meeting last week. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Discovery Bay considers water and wastewater rate hike
“Discovery Bay residents may soon face significant increases in their water and wastewater bills. The Discovery Bay Community Services District (CSD) Board is set to vote on a five-year proposed rate increase at a public hearing scheduled for June 18. If approved, water rates will go up 22% for the next fiscal year, then 12% each year after, for four years. Wastewater rates will increase by 6% each year for five years. The proposed rate increase is meant to support a range of capital improvement projects designed to benefit residents, bolster reserves, and fund state-mandated initiatives, according to town General ManagerDina Breitstein. A key project the rate hikes will help finance is the replacement of 18 miles of pipeline in northeastern Discovery Bay, which, at an estimated cost of $4 million per mile, should help prevent costly, large-scale breaks that could disrupt water service for days. … ” Read more from The Press.
CENTRAL COAST
Atascadero may raise sewer rates to fund water plant upgrades. ‘Gotta pay to flush’
“Atascadero residents could soon see their sewage bills go up after the state mandated the city undertake a costly plan to upgrade its water treatment plant. To help fund the project — currently expected to cost upwards of $173 million — the city is considering a sewage service rate increase of 18.5% to go into effect this year, followed by a potential increase of the same amount again in 2026. A single-family household would pay over $100 more every year, according to the staff report from the April 22 city council meeting. But there is still a chance the rate increase might fail. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
San Luis Obispo County identifies bacteria contaminating water in Five Cities area
“The water contaminant that prompted a boil water alert across the Five Cities area of San Luis Obispo County has been identified. According to San Luis Obispo County Public Works public information specialist Shelly Cone, the bacteria detected in the Zone 3 distribution system is a coliform bacteria. In an email, Cone said the detection of coliform bacteria in the environment is an early indication of a potential E. coli contamination. Cone said the level of coliform bacteria detected in the Lopez distribution system was “unprecedented” in the water supply and could affect as many as 50,000 people. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
The story behind Friant Dam
“Few developments in local history have changed the Valley more than Friant Dam. From providing flood control and irrigation water to the east side of the Valley, to drying up huge portions of the river, and destroying the salmon population, the scale of the dam’s impact is undeniable. Today on KVPR’s Central Valley Roots, we explore the dam’s history. California leaders originally envisioned the Central Valley Project as a state funded effort as early as 1919. But amid the Great Depression, the state couldn’t sell the bonds necessary to fund construction. Instead the state turned to Washington. In 1935 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt approved the construction of Friant Dam. … ” Read more from KVPR.
Fresno-area groundwater agency makes it mandatory: Register your wells
“Following a year of voluntary registration, the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) has introduced a requirement to register all wells by a Nov. 30, 2025, deadline. Beginning May 1, all wells within the agency boundaries must be registered to avoid a $100 late registration penalty fee per well. This includes agricultural, industrial, private domestic (household), school district and public water system wells. The North Kings GSA was formed in December 2016 through adoption of a joint powers agreement by the following public agencies: Fresno Irrigation District, the County of Fresno, the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis, the City of Kerman, Biola Community Services District, Garfield Water District and International Water District. The policy was unanimously adopted at the April 24 North Kings GSA Board of Directors meeting. … ” Read more from The Business Journal.
Kern County races to revise groundwater plan ahead of state deadline
“Kern County water officials are working to revise their groundwater sustainability plans by June 20 to avoid state intervention and meet long-term goals. Kern County’s groundwater basin is severely overdrafted, prompting urgent revisions to sustainability plans. Local agencies are collaborating to avoid state-imposed probation under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Key focus areas include improving groundwater monitoring, water levels, and water quality. Agencies have until June 20 to submit revised plans, with a state hearing scheduled for September 17. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
Residents brace as City of Bakersfield proposes 34% water rate increase
“Some residents may have been concerned about sewer rate increase but get this now there’s a proposal for water rate increases. JD Foreman says,”If I don’t like California water or Bakersfield water what’s my choice none.” Foreman is a Bakersfield native and has been living in the Seven Oaks area for 6 years. He says he’s been getting notices of rate increases, and wants to see changes. Foreman explains his concerns to 23 ABC, “It makes you wonder what’s happened with all the things we’ve done in the past water reduction everything in your sinks, showers, everything’s reduced in the state of California so you can’t use as much water as we used to.” … ” Read more from Channel 23.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Cold weekend weather expected in Southern California with chance of rain, thunderstorms
“A significant cooldown is expected this weekend as a late-season storm pushes into Southern California, bringing wind, cloudy skies and a slight chance of rain. Starting Friday, the dramatic cooling trend could hit the region with colder-than-average temperatures and a 10 percent chance of thunderstorms forecast for Los Angeles County. Temperatures will be roughly 10 degrees colder than average for the county, where highs are normally in the mid to low 70s for areas including downtown Los Angeles. Temperatures could drop another 10 to 15 degrees this weekend, starting with highs in the 70s and 80s on Friday and reaching the mid to low 60s on Sunday. Mountain and desert communities could see up to a 30-degree drop in temperature, officials said. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Malibu opinion: Let’s talk about the ‘S’ words: sewer and septic
“In Malibu, few words clear a room faster than “sewer,” “developer,” or “septic.” They’re dirty, controversial, and loaded. But they’re also part of how we became a city in 1991 — when residents rose up to fight sewer-driven mega-development. That fight protected our identity. I honor it. I fell in love with it. I’m grateful for it. But it’s 2025 now. I’m not talking about bringing in hotels or shopping centers — let me be clear. I’m asking if we’re ready to have a real conversation about infrastructure, sustainability, and resilience. Do we want to keep rebuilding the past, or are we willing to imagine a better version of our future? I think it’s time we look for them — together. Let’s rewind. … ” Continue reading from the Malibu Times.
Altadena water companies grapple with future, as Eaton fire renews debate over consolidation
“The mammoth Eaton fire has rekindled a long-running debate over whether to consolidate Altadena’s decades-old cluster of water companies. Three mutual water companies, Las Flores, Lincoln Avenue and Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association serve customers, who are also shareholders in the companies. Pasadena Water and Power services a small portion of Altadena, and the Kinneloa Irrigation District is a special district that operates water service for the Kinneloa Mesa neighborhood. The diversity in types of water providers is reflected in their varying perspectives on the best way to move forward post-disaster. As the area recovers after the mammoth blaze, differing positions stem from incentive structures and operations that no two companies share. Whether to consolidate the separate water companies into one water authority for the town is a familiar one in Altadena, where the question has simmered for years. But it has resurfaced in the days after the human and structural toll of the Eaton fire, and as leaders and residents plan a rebuilt town. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News (gift article).
LA County to DIY-burn property owners: Clear land by June 30 or pay abatement cost
“Los Angles County is bringing down the hammer on unincorporated property owners with uncontrolled debris on their land from the January fires to book a private contractor to clear their land by June 30 or expect a bill from Los Angeles County for the work. The urgency abatement ordinance was approved by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors by a 4-0 vote on Tuesday, April 29. This order applies only to those property owners — mostly in the unincorporated community of Altadena hit by the Eaton fire ,where some 9,414 structures were destroyed by the devastating conflagration on Jan. 7-Jan. 8 — who did not allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform the cleanup work. These property owners who “opted out” of that no-cost service were required to manage their own debris removal, property clearance and disposal of ash, soil and other materials themselves, out of pocket. For the “non-responsive” properties that have not yet completed this work, the debris presents a health hazard to the community and can damage the natural environment, said federal officials. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
Rescued SoCal steelhead spawn new life after Palisades Fire. Here’s how to visit them
“The Southern California steelhead trout that were saved from localized extinction after debris from the Palisades Fire inundated Topanga Creek are doing much better than expected in their new home. Kyle Evans, environmental program manager for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told LAist he’s surprised there’s already about a hundred newly hatched trout after they started to spawn the next generation in Santa Barbara County’s Arroyo Hondo Preserve — and he thinks that could be an undercount. “These fish are incredible, and they’re incredibly resilient,” Evans said. “They just need a little bit of help, you know, when it comes to the recovery of these species.” … ” Read more from the LAist.
Tiny bubbles create big ripples in Lake Elsinore
“Dustin Thompson has been running along the shores of Lake Elsinore several times a week for the past eight years. Over time, he noticed the water getting murkier and murkier. Then, about a year ago, he was able to see aquatic life under the water’s surface. “It was so sad to see the water quality go downhill,” he says. “So, it has been wonderful to see the sizable improvement in the water quality over the last year or so.” The water clarity Thompson noticed is the result of years of concerted effort by the city of Lake Elsinore. Climate change has significantly warmed the largest freshwater lake in Southern California, causing toxic algae blooms and health advisories for humans and pets. In recent years, the city began exploring ways to restore its crown jewel that once attracted Hollywood celebrities like Steve McQueen. … ” Read more from Western City.
As domoic acid kills wildlife, officials issue shellfish alerts, quarantine for humans’
“As untold numbers of sea mammals and birds suffer and die from exposure to toxic algal blooms along California coastlines, including Orange County, state officials urge residents to exercise caution with their shellfish consumption. Each year, California’s Department of Public Health, in conjunction with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, implements an annual quarantine on recreationally harvested mussels, due to the rise of potentially harmful levels of biotoxins during warmer months. Commercially available shellfish from state-certified harvesters or dealers is not impacted by the quarantine, health officials assured in an April 24 release. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
CVWD says it will refund past customers nearly $18 million after court loss
“The Coachella Valley Water District will refund past non-farming customers nearly $18 million for fees they paid between March 1, 2018, through June 30, 2022, a spokeswoman said Thursday. The repayments will come as a result of California’s Supreme Court ‘s April 30 decision not to hear the water district’s appeal of lower court rulings, which found it had overcharged non-agricultural customers for Colorado River water delivered via the Coachella Canal. “The District regrets the outcome of this challenge regarding its rates for deliveries of raw water for irrigation from the Coachella Canal. CVWD is working with legal counsel to comply with the court’s ruling to refund non-agricultural canal water customers who paid those fees,” spokeswoman Lorraine Garcia said in an email. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
Along the Colorado River …
Rapid snowmelt threatens US West water supply outlook
“Rapid melts across the U.S. West have caused snowpack to disappear up to four weeks early in some areas — wreaking potential havoc on the region’s water supply, federal meteorologists warned Thursday. These conditions have particularly affected parts of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, causing some basins to shift from above-average snowpack to “snow drought,” according to an update from the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). That transition occurred in under a month, with snow disappearing one to four weeks earlier than usual, the NIDIS updated stated. … ” Read more from AOL News.
Reclamation staff losses could threaten dam safety, critics say
“Regular dam safety inspections and repairs could end up jeopardized by the significant staffing losses across the Bureau of Reclamation and other agencies, federal officials and outside advocates are warning. One former Reclamation official said the departures of key staff — along with additional cuts forecast across the Interior Department in the coming weeks — could also trigger delays in major projects like the expansion of the B.F. Sisk Dam in California. The Bureau of Reclamation has lost 25 percent of its staff, or about 1,400 people, in recent weeks as the Trump administration has sought to shrink federal agencies through a combination of its “deferred resignation program” and early retirement or voluntary separation payments. … ” Read more from E&E News.
In national water news today …
Water losses cost U.S. utilities US$6.4 billion annually
“Nearly one in five gallons—19.5%—of treated drinking water in the U.S. is lost before it reaches customers or is improperly billed. This growing challenge, commonly known as non-revenue water (NRW), results in more than US$6.4 billion in uncaptured revenues annually for utilities, according to a new report from Bluefield Research, a leading global water market data and insights provider. A major contributor to these losses is a vast and aging distribution network that spans more than 2.2 million miles across the country. Water main breaks are estimated to occur every two minutes, placing significant financial, operational, and infrastructure burdens on utilities and their stakeholders (residential, commercial, and industrial). … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
Microplastics persist in drinking water despite treatment plant advances
“Tiny pieces of plastic are an increasingly big problem. Known as microplastics, they originate from clothing, kitchen utensils, personal care products, and countless other everyday objects. Their durability makes them persistent in the environment – including in human bodies. Not only are many people on Earth already contaminated by microplastics, but we’re also still being exposed every day, as there is minimal regulation of these insidious specks. According to a new literature review, a significant portion of our microplastic exposure may come from drinking water, as wastewater treatment plants are still not effectively removing microplastics. Roughly 9 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced globally since plastic production began, much of which has progressively degraded into ever-smaller fragments without truly breaking down, forming a fine plastic dust that now pervades the planet. … ” Read more from Science Alert.
Irrigation districts look to EPA for crystal clear WOTUS rule
“With the political winds at their backs, farm groups and irrigation districts are seeking to ensure the Clean Water Act definition of “waters of the United States” excludes irrigation canals and ditches. Irrigation districts have not fallen under the act’s jurisdiction in the past, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett v. EPA decision supports keeping it that way, said Greg Morrison, executive vice president of the National Water Resources Association, whose members include irrigation districts in Washington, Oregon and other Western states. “We think that irrigation infrastructure is exempt now, but we see these see-saw interpretations depending on the administration,” he said. “Ideally, it would be wonderful to get it codified in statute by Congress, but that’s a huge lift.” … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
EPA funding cuts target disadvantaged communities, analysis shows
“As the nation marked the 55th anniversary of the environmental movement on Earth Day, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin declared a renewed commitment to “clean air, land and water for all Americans.” But as he spoke, the EPA was choking off the funds that had promised to bring clean drinking water to a rural Black community in Maryland, to farmworkers in California and to tribal villages in Alaska. The money was also meant to tackle cancer-causing radon gas seeping into rural homes in Utah and help monitor air pollution in communities wracked with respiratory illness in Louisiana’s petrochemical corridor. All had received grants from EPA programs that have emerged as the prime targets of the budget-cutting knife under President Donald Trump: those devoted to environmental justice. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
EPA staff braces for Friday reorganization announcement
“Political leadership at EPA has told employees with at least two program offices to expect reorganization announcements Friday. According to multiple people with knowledge of senior-level meetings, EPA has scheduled an all-hands meeting late Friday with Office of Research and Development employees. There, agency leaders are expected to inform staff that some functions will be restructured or absorbed into other offices, but ORD will no longer exist as a stand-alone program, said one source with knowledge of the plan and granted anonymity to speak due to fear of retaliation. American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, a union representing EPA employees, has been invited to attend the 4:30 meeting, said union President Marie Owens Powell. The union has not received information on why the meeting was scheduled or what it is about, Powell said. … ” Read more from the EPA.
What EPA’s reorganization could mean for its climate staff
“EPA hasn’t yet started furloughing or laying off the agency’s climate staff en masse. But that may be coming. The agency is expected to release its reorganization plan Friday afternoon, according to three EPA sources granted anonymity to discuss internal plans. It’s not clear whether that will give clarity about the scope of coming reductions. But EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has said he aims to cut the budget by two-thirds, and agency leaders told employees with at least two program offices to to expect to hear more tomorrow at agency town halls. Zeldin has promised he won’t fire employees who are needed to meet his agency’s “statutory obligations.” But the agency is trying to change those obligations to exclude the regulation of climate pollution. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO: US EPA research in limbo as scientists brace for massive job cuts, from Reuters News
Research organizations to keep US climate report alive in new journal
“Two major U.S. scientific associations on Friday called for submissions for a special compilation of research that would have fed into the National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive report on climate change impacts across the United States that was effectively canceled by the Trump administration. The American Geophysical Union (AGU), the largest association of Earth and space scientists in the world, and the American Meteorological Society (AMS), called for the research as part of an effort to “sustain the momentum” of the sixth NCA, whose 400 authors and staff were dismissed by the Trump administration last week. The two organizations said the new collection will not replace the NCA but create a vehicle to enable the work to continue. “It’s incumbent on us to ensure our communities, our neighbors, our children are all protected and prepared for the mounting risks of climate change,” said AGU President Brandon Jones. … ” Read more from Reuters.
An insurance crisis compounded by climate change threatens the broader U.S. economy
“A trifecta of crises—accelerating climate change, a scarcity of affordable housing and escalating insurance rates—are threatening the one place where people usually feel secure: their homes. “The cost of property insurance was a topic most people ignored, but it’s now a kitchen table economic issue for many families, and a risk factor for the housing market,” said Sarah Edelman, former deputy assistant secretary for single family housing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Edelman was among five climate financial risk experts who spoke to reporters Thursday about the unsustainable pace of insurance costs—costs that will likely continue to increase as climate change-fueled disasters become more frequent and intense. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
