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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Data for lunch: Sharing Data for Drought Resilience from 12pm to 1pm. Drought resilience in California depends on open and well-documented data. Join us for our May Data for Lunch session to learn how collaboration across state agencies is making drought data more actionable for improved water management decisions. If you’re concerned about California’s drought preparedness, this session offers valuable insights into how newly published datasets can help decisionmakers like you respond to drought. Register now for this important discussion.
- WEBINAR: Flood-MAR: Increasing Groundwater Recharge Capacity in Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District – A Case Study Highlighting Planning, Funding, Constructing and Operating Recharge Facilities Within the District from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. The Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District is expanding its groundwater recharge facilities to enhance its ability to use surface water for replenishing groundwater. Originally supported by the Central Valley Project and the Friant-Kern Canal, the District’s water supply has faced challenges due to reduced CVP reliability and changing delivery schedules. In response to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014, the District aims to develop 1,000 acres of recharge facilities over several years. This presentation will cover the District’s progress, including completed recharge sites and plans to convert vineyard land into spreading basins. To join the session, use this link.
In California water news today …
Study finds that subsidence, groundwater over-pumping could limit future water State Water Project deliveries if no action is taken
“A recently released technical report concludes that the sinking of land in the Central Valley due to over-pumping of groundwater, referred to as subsidence, has restricted the amount of water the State Water Project (SWP) can deliver in a year by 3 percent. By 2043, if no action is taken, the current trajectory of subsidence, combined with climate change, could reduce deliveries by 87 percent. The SWP, one of California’s primary water storage and delivery systems, helps supply water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland and businesses throughout the state. The technical report, an addendum that builds on the Delivery Capability Report (DCR) released in 2024, analyzed the capability of the SWP to deliver water under both current and potential future conditions in the year 2043. The new findings underscore the importance of eliminating groundwater overdraft in the Central Valley and repairing existing damage to the state’s main water-delivery arteries…. ” Read more from DWR.
Kings County farmers upbeat about SGMA lawsuit against state
“More than 30 people gathered recently in Hanford to hear about the progress of the Kings County Farm Bureau’s lawsuit to hold off state-ordered groundwater pumping fees, reporting requirements and other sanctions. The April 30 event was the Farm Bureau’s second Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) informational meeting to discuss its lawsuit against the state Water Resources Control Board. … Ference was confident the Farm Bureau would win after Kings County Superior Judge Kathy Cuiffini issued a preliminary injunction pausing the probationary sanctions and stating the state’s actions were not transparent. “We will prevail,” Ference said. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Agricultural water practices critical to California’s success
“In late April, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the state the fourth-largest economy in the world at a nominal gross domestic product of $4.1 trillion. He additionally called it top in the nation for agriculture. Indeed, California had $59.4 billion in receipts for agricultural products in 2023 (most recent complete data). The state also claimed over three-quarters of all cash receipts for fruits and nuts throughout the nation and almost half for vegetables and melons. “California isn’t just keeping pace with the world — we’re setting the pace,” Newsom said in news release. “Our economy is thriving because we invest in people, prioritize sustainability, and believe in the power of innovation.” But there is no agriculture in California without water, and water is a precious commodity in the mostly arid and frequently drought-parched state. … ” Read more from The Packer.
Landsat at work: Satellites help with complex crop and water issues
“Groundwater is a crucial source of water for California, especially for its $59 billion agriculture industry. But even when the water is underground, Landsat satellites that observe the Earth’s land surface can still help growers monitor it. In just one example of the benefits of monitoring, growers in a 100,000-acre area of California—an area about the size of Bakersfield—saw a 13% reduction in groundwater pumping in the first year of using information derived from Landsat and other sources. That resulted in savings of roughly $40 million. Supplies of groundwater for irrigation are more predictable than surface water, which can fluctuate with drought, but groundwater is not infinite. If too much groundwater is pumped out, wells can go dry and land can sink, leading to infrastructure issues. Monitoring groundwater use can help prevent problems like these. … ” Read more from the USGS.
Land IQ: Mapping all crops, everywhere, all the time
“Understanding what is happening on the surface of the ground is important to a range of groups including local and state governments, water managers, commodity organizations, and growers alike. As a firm deeply rooted in land-based science, Land IQ realized more than fifteen years ago that there was a significant gap in available data to understand just this. At that time, the only resources available were the Department of Water Resource’s (DWR) County Crop Reports, which were not conducted statewide or on an annual basis, or the United States Department of Agriculture’s Cropland Data Layer, which does not consider California’s diverse cropping patterns. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Finding new uses for farmland in the heart of ag country a daunting task
“Pressure is mounting to find new uses for an estimated 70,000 acres – or 20% – of farmland in southern Tulare County that will likely be taken out of production to reduce groundwater use by 2040. With nearly 15% of Tulare County’s workforce employed in ag and ag-related industries, according to Data USA, that kind of farmland reduction could be devastating to residents. “When I hear about farms closing, it makes me sad,” Earlimart resident Maria Contreras said through an interpreter at a meeting to discuss other uses for farmland. “Those are jobs we are losing. I would love to hear more from farmers at future meetings about how we can all help each other.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
California farmland value depreciating
“California farmland value is not good. Nick Foglio from Foglio Commodities says farm ground is depreciating because 90% of the commodities you farm today don’t produce enough cash flow to service. The debt and farming cost are so high like fuel, labor, insurance, fertilizer, and pesticides among others. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
State infusion into federal hatchery aims to bring back salmon population in Sacramento River
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced May 5 that they were releasing millions of fall-run chinook salmon into the Sacramento River to help a nearby federal fish hatchery with the decrease in salmon population. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Coleman National Fish Hatchery in Shasta County asked the CDFW for assistance after not seeing enough returning salmon, said Peter Tira, a CDFW spokesperson. In mid-April, fish and wildlife introduced into the river 3.5 million young fall-run chinook and provided 10 million salmon eggs to the federal hatchery, Tira said. The move comes after years of declining salmon populations. Drought and warming waters are among the contributing factors to fewer fish, but with recent wet winters helping water recovery, the salmon habitats have recuperated, Tira said. … ” Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News.
Wetlands and streams face a new threat from the Trump administration
“The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA significantly weakened the Clean Water Act (CWA) by stripping away federal protections for millions of acres of wetlands and streams. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Trump is pushing to further erode safeguards for these vital water bodies by narrowing the definition that determines which waters are protected. This not only threatens the wildlife, businesses, and people who depend on these waters, but also puts nearby communities at greater risk of flooding, water pollution, and water shortages—all to benefit corporate interests that prioritize profits over protecting these waterways. Shortly after announcing the proposed changes to the government’s definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS), the EPA and the Department of the Army opened a 30-day written comment period to gather feedback on the proposal. I submitted comments on behalf of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and our more than 500,000 supporters, which you can read here. We also joined our partners in the Clean Water for All coalition to submit a joint response. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
California’s SB 601: Protecting water quality in a Post-Sackett world
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA (2023) significantly narrowed the scope of regulatory authority under the federal Clean Water Act (“CWA”). This ruling redefined “waters of the United States” to include only relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing water bodies forming geological features ordinarily described as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes. This change curtailed federal protection for many of California’s streams and wetlands. To preserve pre-Sackett water quality protections for California’s streams and wetlands, including “adjacent” wetlands, the Right of Clean Water Act, Senate Bill 609 (“SB 601”) was introduced and continues to advance in the California State Legislature. This bill amends the Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act (“Porter Cologne Act”) to restructure the state’s water quality regulatory framework so that California continues to regulate streams and wetlands that lost protection under the CWA due to Sackett. California may regulate the quality of waters of the state as a matter of state law. … ” Read more from Atkinson Andelson Loyo Ruud & Romo.
PFAS tap water protections for almost 19 million Californians at risk if EPA weakens limits
“Nearly 19 million Californians could lose critical protections against the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in their tap water if the Environmental Protection Agency rolls back its science-based PFAS drinking water standards, according to a new Environmental Working Group analysis. The EPA’s landmark national standards for six PFAS in drinking water, finalized in 2024, set limits of just 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS – two of the most well-studied and notorious PFAS. But these safeguards are now under threat as polluters and industry groups seek to dismantle them. “Rolling back these vital protections would put the health of millions of Californians at serious risk,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG’s California senior vice president. “If the EPA succumbs to polluter pressure, families across California – from San Diego to Fresno — will be stuck drinking water laced with toxic PFAS. … ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group.
Wildfire Outlook for the Northwest & California
“Jim Wolman of the National Interagency Fire Center has issued a warning about the increased potential for wildfire activity this summer across the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. While forecasting models leave some uncertainty, current trends indicate a warm and dry spring, which could set the stage for dangerous conditions. Experts are particularly concerned about areas that have accumulated significant snowpack over the winter. In normal circumstances, snow helps delay fire season by keeping vegetation moist for longer. However, if spring temperatures remain unusually high and precipitation events fail to materialize, snowpack could dry out faster, exposing fuels such as dead grass, shrubs, and trees much earlier than expected. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
In commentary today …
A public-private partnership might be the answer to address California water scarcity
Emilio Tenuta, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer of Ecolab, and Jason Morrison, president of the Pacific Institute and head of the CEO Water Mandate, write, “The California Department of Water Resources’ final snow survey showed that the state’s water supplies got a much-needed boost from an exceptionally wet March. Still, this is just a drop in the bucket compared to the state’s long-term water challenges. State scientists warn that California is on track to lose 10% of its water supply in the next 15 years due to warmer weather — a crisis that threatens our communities, businesses and ecosystems. Not only does this mean less reliable water for growing food and running businesses, water scarcity increases our vulnerability to natural disasters. As extreme weather intensifies, securing and sustainably managing water resources will be critical to mitigating the impacts of prolonged drought, wildfire and flooding. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath River awards $1.2 million to support climate resilience and restoration
“The Klamath River Fund, a program of Humboldt Area Foundation and Wild Rivers Community Foundation (HAF+WRCF), today announced $1.2 million in grants awarded to 12 organizations working across the Klamath Basin. These grants mark a significant step in the Fund’s 10-year commitment to invest in and amplify community-led climate resilience and restorative justice efforts following the unprecedented removal of four dams on the Klamath River in 2023 and 2024. The Klamath River Fund is dedicated to supporting projects and initiatives that demonstrate how river restoration is a vital investment in the region’s future. This includes locally driven restoration projects that make the region more resilient in the face of climate change, collaborations between agricultural and fish dependent communities, and community education. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
Community rallies in attempt to save Mad River Fish Hatchery as closure looms
“A grassroots petition to save the Mad River Fish Hatchery is gaining momentum, with nearly 2,000 signatures collected as of Tuesday afternoon. Launched by local fishing guide Tyler Belvin on Change.org, the petition calls on state officials to reverse the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) decision to shut down the hatchery this summer. Located just outside of Blue Lake, the Mad River Fish Hatchery has been part of the North Coast community for more than 50 years. Belvin’s petition describes the hatchery as “a cornerstone of our community,” emphasizing its role in steelhead conservation, local recreation, and environmental education. “Its closure would not only disrupt these crucial activities,” the petition reads, “but would also significantly impact recreational fishing and local traditions linked to our river heritage.” … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
City of Ukiah may give another $84,000 to Potter Valley Project work
“At its next regular meeting Wednesday, the Ukiah City Council is expected to consider approving the contribution of another $84,000 to another local entity for ongoing work related to the Potter Valley Project. According to a staff report on the item prepared for the May 7 meeting, the City Council will be asked to approve a “financial contribution in the amount of $84,000 to the (Mendocino County) Inland Water and Power Commission for consulting and legal services related to the Potter Valley Project, and approve a corresponding budget amendment.” To explain the significance of the PVP to the city of Ukiah, Seth Strader, Administrative Analyst, writes that “the Potter Valley Project (owned by Pacific Gas & Electric) resulted in the diversion of Eel River water into the Russian River throughout the year. These diversions supplement Russian River flows stored in Lake Mendocino, which supplies surface water to water users in Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties.” … ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe boating season kicks off with stronger protections
“Lake Tahoe watercraft inspection stations, boat launches, and marinas are opening for the 2025 boating season and aquatic invasive species management agencies are encouraging boaters and paddlers to stay up to date with strengthened procedures to protect the lake from the spread of aquatic invasive species. Changes this year include mandatory decontaminations and additional processing time for motorized boats traveling from other areas, as well as more roving non-motorized inspectors at popular recreation areas. As of May 3, all three regional watercraft inspection stations, at Meyers, Calif., Spooner Summit, Nev., and Alpine Meadows, Calif., are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Due to longer inspection times, boaters are encouraged to take advantage of the optional appointment system, at TahoeBoatInspections.com/appt. Walk-ins and appointments are accepted until 4:30 p.m. to allow adequate time for decontamination. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD), which manage the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program, have enacted the mandatory decontaminations in response to the discovery of invasive golden mussels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California, just a few hours from Lake Tahoe. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Yubans bet big in 1961, and Yuba Water Agency shepherds the legacy
“Floodwaters devastated Yuba County in 1950, 1955, 1986 and again in 1997 — disasters that left a lasting mark on the region. In the decades since, Yuba Water Agency transformed from a flood control and surface water supply agency into a multifaceted public agency tasked with managing the extremes of drought and deluge while safeguarding the county’s future. From operating one of the tallest dams in the country to generating carbon-free hydropower, Yuba Water’s work impacts nearly every aspect of life in the region, all while staying rooted in its original mission: water conservation and flood risk reduction. … ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat.
Nearly 700 trees on American River threatened by flood project, organization says
“American River Trees (ART), a grassroots organization based in Sacramento, arranged a walk Sunday morning to protest a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) erosion project. The USACE project, which aims to alleviate flood risk, threatens the destruction of nearly 700 trees and miles of habitat in the American River Parkway, according to ART. The group walked during its protest a two-mile stretch of trail from the Kadema Drive River Access to Larchmont Community Park. ART says many trails, beaches and access to the river’s edge will be lost, and USACE hasn’t sufficiently looked into or incorporated less destructive alternatives. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
NAPA/SONOMA
California wine country traffic jam fuels fight over endangered mice, marsh birds
“During his eight years on the Santa Rosa City Council, Chris Rogers spent hour after tedious hour in local transportation meetings discussing a proposal to reduce congestion on one of the main traffic arteries into the Napa-Sonoma Valley corridor. That’s why Rogers, now a rookie Democratic assemblymember, said he had to chuckle when environmental groups complained that a bill making its way through the Legislature was somehow “fast-tracking” the long-stalled Highway 37 widening project in the North Bay. “When you’re talking about a project that was started or at least conceived before you were born … and somebody’s calling it ‘fast tracking,’ it just doesn’t track,” Rogers said at a committee hearing last week. “The project should have been done already.” Assembly Bill 697 by Lori Wilson, a Democrat from the Fairfield area, would allow state highway officials to potentially harm three protected bird species and endangered mice as workers add new lanes to a stretch of Highway 37 to wine country. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
BAY AREA
Crews remove 4,000 pounds of trash from Richardson Bay, once home to dozens of boat dwellers
“A shopping cart, an electric keyboard, two small boats, a PlayStation and an electric foot massager — these were among the 4,000 pounds of trash removed from Richardson Bay last week as part of a weeklong marine debris removal project. The cleanup came months after most of the dozens of anchor-out boats were removed from the bay, capping off a long, contentious battle the Richardson Bay Regional Agency had with boat dwellers who had refused to leave. The agency, along with partners, cleaned up about one acre of the waterway between Sausalito and Tiburon. Workers also removed garden tools, batteries, outbound engines and portable generators, anchors and anchor chain and tarps. “Sadly, I am not surprised at the amount of debris and discarded items that we removed from the Bay floor, below where vessels were at anchor for years,” the agency’s executive director Brad Gross said in a statement. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Residents in unincorporated neighborhood of Pleasanton left without water
“Residents who live in the Remen Tract neighborhood — an unincorporated plot of land located within Pleasanton — have depended on temporary fire hoses connected to fire hydrants for months as their main source of water for their homes. These temporary connections, according to neighbors and a city spokesperson, were installed as a remedy for a main waterline that broke in August 2024. After previously notifying the residents, the city removed its fire hose connections last Wednesday — mainly due to safety concerns regarding the rest of the city’s water supply — leaving those six homes and residents without water. “You can’t wash your dishes, you can’t flush your toilet, can’t take a shower, which doesn’t sound that bad but then when you have no way of flushing a toilet, it’s pretty gross,” Rob Schurhoff, a Pleasanton resident since 2003 who moved into the Remen Tract neighborhood in 2019, told the Weekly. … ” Read more from Pleasanton Weekly.
CENTRAL COAST
PV Water’s first Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program workshop a success
“The Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program (PRWRP) led by PV Water and funded by the California Department of Water Resources to help California’s watersheds better prepare for the impacts of a changing climate, held its first of five public meetings on March 10th, 2025, at the Aromas Community Grange. A group of 75 participants representing key areas for the Pajaro River Watershed attended the meeting. Our region faces challenges as we plan for climate change. Ilse Lopez -Narvaez, Associate Planner at the City of San Juan Bautista, shared the flooding and fire concerns that city residents are facing. “With two functioning wells, flooding that’s still visible in our most vulnerable neighborhoods, and fire services without a long-term plan, the City of San Juan Bautista is on the front lines of climate risk. Our residents, many of whom already pay some of the highest water rates in the state—cannot shoulder these burdens alone. Resilience planning isn’t just important; it’s essential to protect our history and our future.” … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News.
SLO County to temporarily change water disinfection after Five Cities contamination
“The San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Works is temporarily changing how it disinfects water in the South County after residents were put under a boil water notice late last week. Around 50,000 residents in the Five Cities area were told on April 30 to boil their water before use after a sample from the Lopez Lake water system tested positive for E. coli, the county said. It was the first time such a sample had prompted a boil water notice for the distribution system, which feeds much of the South County region. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Central Valley water tour provides “firehose” of water information
“A tour bus filled with water experts, agency directors, biologists, engineers and one news reporter traveled through the Central Valley this spring, stopping at key infrastructure sites where the San Joaquin Valley’s water is collected and shipped to farms and cities. The tour offered a wealth of information on water structures and districts covering about 20,000 square miles of the southern valley. The three-day tour was put on by the Water Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides information and education on California’s byzantine water world, from April 23 – 25. Starting in Sacramento, the tour moved south to the San Luis Reservoir, which stores water for both the state and federal systems. Along the way, water managers and experts shared crucial information about how the systems operate. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Housing developer files lawsuit against Patterson over ‘water shortage’
“The developer of the Keystone Ranch housing project in Patterson filed an amended lawsuit Friday challenging a City Council vote in April that rejected the company’s subdivision map. Keystone Corp. has brought a series of lawsuits against the city since April 2024, when Patterson’s concern about the adequacy of fees nearly stalled the 1,297-acre Zacharias-Baldwin Master Plan annexation. Part of the Zacharias plan in northwest Patterson, Keystone Ranch proposes 719 dwellings, park space and bicycle paths on 95 acres. “What we would like is the city offer conditions that are reasonable and will allow us to build housing,” said Evette Davis, a spokesperson for Keystone. The lawsuit charges that the April 1 council decision was unlawful and included an illegal demand for a supplemental environmental impact report on the Zacharias plan. The suit also alleges the city did not comply with public notice and disclosure requirements and didn’t furnish evidence for its demands on development. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Well owners in northern Fresno County face deadline, possible fines, to register wells
“One northern Fresno County groundwater agency is attempting to register approximately 7,000 wells within its boundaries by November 30. The North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency board of directors issued the mandatory registration policy at its April 24 board meeting. It requires all wells, whether agricultural, domestic, industrial, school district or public water system wells, to be registered with the GSA. Those who miss the deadline face a $100 fine per well. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Tulare County supervisors approve contract to help East Orosi residents
“In one more slow step forward for the residents of East Orosi, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an amended contract that will allow county staff to run the community’s beleaguered wastewater treatment system. Tulare County Resource Management Agency already administers East Orosi’s drinking water system. The amended contract with the state Water Resources Control Board means funding will increase by more than $408,000, giving the county enough money to also run the community’s wastewater system through March 2027. “Their wastewater system is in just as much disarray as the water system was,” said Denise England, Tulare County’s grants and resources manager. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Proposed groundwater adjudication bills spark debate in Kern
“During a special meeting of the Kern County Board of Supervisors on May 5, a heated debate on two proposed assembly bills regarding groundwater adjudications took center stage, prompting agriculture groups and Indian Wells Valley interests to make their voices heard. By the end of the meeting, First District Supervisor Phillip Peters’ motion that the board formally adopt a letter of support for two groundwater adjudication bills died without a second. The crux of the matter is that two bills — AB 1413 and AB 1466 — would aim to influence how groundwater adjudications interact with locally developed groundwater sustainability plans under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. While the directive was for the supervisors to discuss the proposed legislation and provide direction, draft letters of support were included in the packet for the Board’s consideration. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
LA County to release results from final stage of soil sampling study
“The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Thursday, May 8, will be releasing results from the final stage of a soil sampling study from areas around the Eaton and Palisades fire areas. Last month, the county released preliminary findings which have led to subsequent testing and concern about what danger remains now four months out from both fires. Public health’s website includes various other water, air and soil studies that have been conducted in the aftermath of the fire. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
As toxic algae harms more marine life, LA County looks to develop a long-term plan
“The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion Tuesday to help address a growing crisis of toxic algae sickening and killing sea life. Over the last three months, hundreds of pelicans, sea lions, dolphins — and even some whales — have been sickened or killed by domoic acid poisoning, a toxin that occurs naturally in certain types of algae. Experts say it’s likely Southern California’s worst toxic algae outbreak ever. Not only is the outbreak devastating for the ecosystem, but it can make animals more aggressive, prompting public safety concerns. The crisis has gotten so bad, rescuers are struggling to keep up with the numbers of sick sea animals. “Year after year after year, having this type of stranding event is a real strain on resources,” said Dave Bader, a marine biologist with the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Marine Mammal Care Center gets more funding amid unprecedented number of sick, dead sea lions
“With an unusually high number of disoriented marine mammals sickened by a toxic algae bloom being found along Southern California’s coast, the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro will be getting more funding, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday. The nonprofit will received $100,000 for medical services it provides while rescuing and treating dozens of sick seal lions this year, with an additional $600,000 possible. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who authored the motion to boost funding for the Marine Mammal Care Center with Supervisor Janice Hahn, said this year has been worse than 2023. John Warner, CEO of the Marine Mammal Care Center, also told NBC Los Angeles that 2025 may be the deadliest year yet as an algae bloom appears to be more intense and widespread this year. … ” Read more from NBC 4.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Inaugural Salton Sea conference highlights Imperial Valley’s challenges and opportunities
“Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Inc. will co-host the inaugural Imperial Valley Salton Sea Conference: Challenges and Opportunity on Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Imperial Valley College. The daylong event aims to address the environmental, economic and public health issues facing the region as the Salton Sea continues to recede. This marks the first major Salton Sea-focused conference to be held in Imperial County, where the impacts of the shrinking lake are most severe. While previous summits have taken place in Riverside County and the Coachella Valley, organizers say Imperial Valley residents have not had the same opportunity to engage with key decision-makers on the issue. The event will also spotlight the region’s potential economic future, particularly around the emerging lithium extraction industry, often referred to as “Lithium Valley.” … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
SEE ALSO: Imperial Valley hosts first Salton Sea conference, from the Desert Review
Imperial Irrigation District helps educators understand Valley water issues
“The Imperial Irrigation District and its partners, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California Project WET (Water Education Today), hosted a climate change and water workshop for educators, Saturday, May 3, in IID’s Condit Auditorium. Teachers working with students in grades 3-12 attended to learn how climate change is allegedly linked to floods, droughts, and water quality. Educators learned how the changing climate may impact California’s water resources, and Imperial Valley’s water in particular. They also discussed activities to help students understand how they can adapt to the region’s changing environment. The 11 a.m. conference session was titled “Adaptation and Mitigation of Changing Climate” and began with a video about carbon dioxide levels in the earth’s atmosphere steadily rising during the last century. These heightened levels of CO2 supposedly prevent heat from escaping, thereby warming the planet and increasing its temperature. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
Pollution from the Tijuana River is a complex, decades-old issue. For Fox News it’s simple: Mexico is to blame.
“Every year, billions of gallons of sewage and toxic industrial waste flow down the Tijuana River, across the U.S.-Mexico border, and into the Pacific Ocean. It is a complex, decades-old, transjurisdictional issue that environmentalists and governments at the local, state, and federal level have been grappling with for years. Recently, entities on both sides of the border have made some progress, but experts agree that more has to be done to address the international pollution crisis. But viewers watching Fox News would have scant understanding of the complexity of this issue, the shared responsibility for its resolution, or the progress that has been made in both the U.S. and Mexico. According to Fox and new EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the issue is simple: Mexico is to blame. … ” Read more from Media Matters.
Along the Colorado River …
Water groups press Trump administration to stop Colorado River water waste
“National water conservation groups filed a legal petition Tuesday asking the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to stop downstream Colorado River users from wasting water. The petition requests that the bureau ensure that all deliveries to Colorado River Lower Basin users — those in California, Nevada and Arizona — are “reasonably required for beneficial uses” and that water transfers are not “unreasonable.” The bureau is able to use its legal authority to restrict deliveries to prevent such waste, according to the petition, submitted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and represented by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Frank. G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic. … ” Read more from The Hill.
SEE ALSO:
- Waterkeepers and Groups File Legal Petition to Save the Colorado River, from the NRDC
- ‘Something dramatic needs to be done’: Water use needs federal oversight, nonprofits say, from the Las Vegas Review-Journal
New report by Food & Water Watch reveals Big Ag is draining Colorado River dry
“The environmental organization Food & Water Watch last week published a new analysis exposing the impact of Big Ag on the Colorado River. The impact of Big Ag in California has been particularly egregious, leading to the dewatering of the once thriving Colorado River Delta where the region’s Indigenous Peoples have fished, hunted and farmed since time immemorial. … “Protecting the Colorado River – which supplies water for nearly 40 million Americans every year – is more vital than ever now, as President Trump’s administration’s decisions are putting our water resources even more at risk, according to the group,” the group reported. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
Dust is causing snowpack to melt too soon. That’s a problem for the Colorado River water supply
“Snowmelt and the runoff from it are critical to water supplies in the Valley and across the region. But new research suggests another part of the ecosystem, dust, can have a negative impact on that. McKenzie Skiles — an associate professor in the School of Environment, Society and Sustainability at the University of Utah and director of the Snow Hydrology Research-to-Operations Laboratory — joined The Show to talk about this research, which looked at more than two decades-worth of satellite data. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Water deliveries to Mexico resume
“The United States resumed water deliveries to Mexico after initially denying the request for the emergency transfer from the Colorado River, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Under a 1944 treaty, Mexico is expected to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to South Texas every five years. This five-year period ends in October, and so far, Mexico has delivered 530,730 acre-feet. President Donald Trump last month posted on Truth Social, “I will make sure Mexico doesn’t violate our Treaties, and doesn’t hurt our Texas farmers.” … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Commentary: This Arizona water source is about to be wiped out. It may never come back
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “A key portion of Arizona’s Colorado River supply has evaporated. And the state says that water can no longer be counted toward Assured Water Supply designations. Obviously. If water isn’t there for users consistently — or at all — it would be dumb to claim that it is available to meet their needs for the next 100 years, which is the point of the designation. But this commonsense decision could have wide-ranging impacts on metro Phoenix, particularly over time. And especially when replacement water sources aren’t exactly growing on trees. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Southern Utah could see more wildfires this year
“Below-normal rain and snowfall in southern Utah, combined with increased drought and high temperatures, could lead to more wildfires in the area this year. Right now, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that portions of southwest Utah are experiencing extreme drought. And half of the counties in Utah monitored for snowpack by the USDA are below 50% of the state’s 20-year median snowpack average. “Much of Utah has seen below normal precipitation as we’ve gone through winter and the early spring months,” said Scott Jensen, Senior Meteorologist at Rocky Mountain Power. “Our northern mountains did manage to finish near normal or even slightly above normal in our snowpack values, but unfortunately the southern half of our state finished significantly below average in precipitation and snowfall,” he said. … ” Read more from KSL.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife looking for invasive mussels in Colorado River
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife is on the lookout for invasive species in the Colorado River, following the discovery of zebra mussel veligers in the river last July. The agency said it has begun conducting weekly shoreline and water sampling along sections of the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and the Utah border as part of increased aquatic nuisance species sampling efforts. CPW said its ANS technicians — along with wildlife officers and state park staff — will also be engaged in increased invasive species education efforts during boat launches over the summer between Palisade and Loma. … ” Read more from Channel 31.
The snow in Colorado’s mountains melted too fast. It could mean worse wildfires this year
“Layers of snowpack melted rapidly in Colorado in April, which could lead to less water supply in the summer and higher wildfire potential, according to data from the National Integrated Drought Information System. The federal data, released on May 1, indicate that “substantial and rapid” snowmelt occurred throughout broad swaths of Colorado between April 10-17. Several weather stations maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture logged record snowmelt during that week, compared to the same period in prior years. Snow disappeared up to 4 weeks early in parts of Colorado compared to previous years, federal data show. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
In national water news today …
Coming this summer: Record-breaking heat and plenty of hurricanes
“With less than a month to go until summer, weather forecasters have been dropping some troubling news about what might be in store. AccuWeather had already predicted an especially active season — which begins June 1 — with up to 10 hurricanes out at sea, and its meteorologists are now forecasting a hotter-than-normal summer on land. Last week, the company warned that the three months could bring “sweltering heat, severe weather, intense wildfires and the start of a dynamic hurricane season” — an echo of last summer, which was the hottest on record. In some places, like coastal cities along the Gulf Coast, those hazards could combine into dangerous “compound disasters,” with heat waves and hurricanes arriving back to back. … ” Read more from Grist.
Heat and drought are quietly hurting crop yields
“More frequent hot weather and droughts have dealt a significant blow to crop yields, especially for key grains like wheat, barley, and maize, according to a Stanford study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The analysis finds that warming and air dryness – a key factor in crop stress – have surged in nearly every major agricultural region, with some areas experiencing growing seasons hotter than nearly any season 50 years ago. The study also pointed to two important ways that models have missed the mark in predicting impacts so far. … ” Read more from Stanford News.
Bankruptcies show stress in farm economy
“After a four-year downward trend, U.S. farm bankruptcies are on the rise again, and with uncertainties about the impacts of U.S. tariffs on export trade, there’s growing concern that the financial health of farms across the country will continue to falter. A total of 216 U.S. farms filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy last year, up 55% from 2023. With 17 filings, California led the nation. Peter Fear, a bankruptcy attorney in Fresno, said he has seen an uptick in farmers seeking consultations on debt relief during the past year and a half. He cited three major factors pinching California farmers: lower commodity prices, especially for crops such as tree nuts and winegrapes; increased operating costs, including higher wages for employees; and elevated interest rates, which have increased borrowing costs and further strained farmers’ cash flow. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Why the true water footprint of AI is so elusive
“As the tech industry has grown, so too have data centers. Data centers are enormous buildings filled with hundreds of thousands of computers that store cloud data and power artificial intelligence. To keep up with computing demands, data centers use electricity and sometimes chilled water to keep those computers cool. The result? A surge in energy and water use that has caught the attention of scientists and lawmakers. Under the Biden Administration, Congress commissioned a report on data center electricity consumption. Led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report forecast that by 2028, U.S. data centers could consume as much as 12% of the nation’s electricity. … ” Read more from NPR.
Trump’s plan to merge ESA offices could be a hard sell
“Businessman Howard Lutnick provided a seemingly straightforward answer when a Democratic senator asked him earlier this year whether he was considering moving NOAA Fisheries out of NOAA. “No,” Lutnick said. Strictly speaking, Lutnick’s written answer to a question posed by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) still holds up. Since his confirmation as Commerce secretary, Lutnick has not proposed a wholesale relocation of NOAA Fisheries. But as part of its new fiscal 2026 budget proposal, the Trump administration revived a proposal to move to the Interior Department the NOAA Fisheries office that handles Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act issues. The partial merger has been floated before, but it’s never gone very far. If the Trump administration is serious about pursuing the idea now, it will confront entrenched bureaucracies, congressional turf conflicts and a lot of very serious questions, former officials and advocacy organization leaders predict. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Scientists are reviving climate and nature research efforts in the wake of Trump cuts
“The first few months of the Trump administration have been marked by deep cuts to funding and staffing for scientific research. Among them: two major government reports that would have offered a pulse check for nature and climate in the country, and how changes could impact people and the economy. Now, scientists are resurrecting these efforts—without the government’s help. Less than a week after volunteer researchers who were working on the congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment were dismissed from compiling it, the American Geophysical Union and American Meteorological Society pledged to offer a new home for the work. Meanwhile, scientists who were compiling the first-ever government National Nature Assessment have banded together to finish it. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Shake-up at EPA threatens Energy Star, climate offices
“A proposal by the Trump administration to reorganize the Environmental Protection Agency targets divisions that house its climate change offices as well as Energy Star, a widely popular program designed to help lower energy costs for American households. A chart of the proposed reorganization reviewed by The Times on Tuesday showed plans for vast changes to the Office of Air and Radiation, where the programs are currently held, among several other divisions. “EPA is delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure that will directly benefit the American people and better advance the agency’s core mission, while Powering the Great American Comeback,” the agency said. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
