Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
In California water news today …
For the first time since 2022, the recreational Chinook salmon fishing window will open.
“Few fish species are as emblematic of the freshwater-to-saltwater connection as the Chinook salmon, who start their lives in rivers and streams before migrating out to the ocean to feed, and then travel back to the river to spawn. It’s a dramatic journey, one imperiled by many hazards and predators (humans among them), as well as the impacts of climate change. So it’s perhaps no surprise that, for the third consecutive year, California’s beloved commercial Chinook salmon fishery has been canceled. Chinook are one of the largest salmon in the Pacific, and face growing threats from low river levels, wildfires, harmful algal blooms and more. Drought years are especially devastating: warmer summers heat shallow rivers, effectively cooking vulnerable salmon eggs without the insulating buffer of deeper, cooler water. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
California weather whiplash: Hottest days of the year so far could give way to rain
“Friday and Saturday are shaping up to be the hottest days so far this year across much of Northern California. Just two days later, valley and coastal rain and Sierra Nevada snow could be back in the forecast. It’s part of an unsettled spring weather pattern that continues across the West Coast, with gradually climbing temperatures interspersed by a couple of days of wetter and windier conditions. The storm track continues to weaken and migrate north for summer, but its last gasp during spring can send enough energy toward California for briefly turbulent weather. Here’s what to expect for the next few days across Northern California as the weather pattern goes from warm to potentially wet. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Protecting protected land from pesticides
“A new paper in Science of the Total Environment, co‑authored by researchers from several USGS Mission Areas and Centers, including the California Water Science Center, finds fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides at every sampling site across five Sacramento Valley wildlife refuges. Because levels stayed high even far from crops, scientists are probing what this means for pollinators. Nestled within the interior wetlands, grasslands, and riparian habitats of California’s northern Sacramento Valley, the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) embodies the core mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System: protecting wildlife, native vegetation, and the habitats they depend on for the benefit of present and future generations. Established in 1937, the refuge spans approximately 10,819 acres, providing essential habitat for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway, the western migration path for millions of birds each year. … ” Read more from the USGS.
America’s largest cities, including San Francisco, are quietly sinking
“The slow sinking of the nation’s biggest metropolitan areas — including parts of San Francisco — poses a growing hazard with vast socioeconomic consequences, researchers said in a new study. Because the sinking areas are usually in the densest parts of cities, as many as 34 million people could be affected and 29,000 buildings could be at high risk of damage, according to the study published this week in the journal Nature Cities. Using satellite data from 2015 to 2021, the authors looked at 28 U.S. cities with populations over 600,000 and found that in every one, at least 20% of urban areas are sinking — but in 25 of the cities, at least two-thirds of their area is subsiding. This phenomenon, often caused by overpumping groundwater, can increase flood potential. … ” Read more from KQED.
SEE ALSO: Across America, Big Cities Are Sinking. Here’s Why, from the New York Times
House Democrat starts ‘abundance movement’-inspired caucus
“House Democrats are getting Ezra Klein-pilled. A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) is launching a new roughly 30-member bloc that’s claiming inspiration from the “abundance movement” championed by the liberal commentator Klein. “This is a moment that has been building for a while,” said Harder. “I think there’s been a lot of simmering interest in permitting reform and making sure that things are built faster, better, cheaper. But now, I think over the past year or so, it’s really reached a boiling point on both sides.” It’s the latest sign that some Democrats see the abundance movement’s ideas — something that sprung up around Klein’s book “Abundance” co-authored with Atlantic writer Derek Thompson — as a solution to the party’s woes. … ” Read more from Politico.
SEE ALSO: Democrats see ‘abundance’ as a path to renewed prosperity, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Valley reps back bill to streamline wildfire prevention efforts
“Most of the Congressional delegation from the Central Valley is supporting a new bill that would help protect California from devastating wildfires. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R–Richvale) led representatives from across the state in introducing the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2025, officially known as H.R. 3300. The big picture: The Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act would ensure that aerial fire retardant is available for wildfire suppression without being tied up in Clean Water Act permitting delays. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath River fund grants $1.2 million to support Klamath Basin restoration
“The Klamath River Fund is a grant program associated with the Humboldt Area Foundation and Wild Rivers Community Foundation. It supports projects and initiatives that demonstrate river restoration as an investment in the region’s future. The $1.2 million in grants were awarded to 12 organizations across the Klamath Basin. The grants invest in various organizations and projects, including sustainable agriculture along the Sprague River at the Klamath’s headwaters in Oregon. One of the grant recipients is the Klamath Drainage District, which focuses on the Pacific Flyway, raptors, and various birds. According to the organization manager, Scott White, they received around $15,000. As White describes, a few of their ideas on how to use the money. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Celebrating community and connection at the Eel River expo
“The Eel River watershed has always been a source of inspiration, resilience, and collaboration—and nowhere was that clearer than at this year’s first ever Eel River Expo: A Source to Sea Community Celebration, hosted by CalTrout in collaboration with Rotary Club of Eureka. It wasn’t just any old event; it was a celebration of the people and partnerships working toward a shared vision: a healthy, abundant, and free-flowing Eel River for generations to come. Artist Obi Kauffman created incredible illustrations of salmon and the watershed for the event posters and banners. You can view more of his artwork and the Eel River Vision Book below. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Confusion follows Mendocino water contamination notice
“On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) and the County of Mendocino released a boil water public advisory intended for three businesses west of Highway 1 in the village of Mendocino. Restaurants and other public use facilities, such as inns, are required by the state to regularly test their groundwater sources for contaminants such as bacterial pathogens and excessive metals that exceed safe levels. Because many of the local food service facilities rely on multiple wells, the DDW “reviews water quality data from each source.” Although the three businesses had found no notable level of contamination in their own most recent tests, the state’s water testing agency found unacceptable levels of E. coli and possibly fecal coliform. These results triggered a water advisory from the county which was released to all residing or conducting business in Mendocino. Mendocino County Director of Environmental Health, Marlayna Duley, described the intention of the county’s initial advisory as “educational and intended to be proactive.” … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Representative Kiley secures crucial funding for Lake Tahoe utility districts to fight wildfires
“Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) secured millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for Lake Tahoe Utility Districts, helping them complete necessary infrastructure projects that will benefit all its residents and improve its wildfire response capabilities. North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD) received $1.25 million in community project funding, which will be used for the Kings Beach Watermain Replacement Project. The project will provide an overhaul of its wildfire resistance program by adding new fire hydrants and upgrading and replacing waterlines. That project will break ground in early June and will be completed before October 15, which is the end of Lake Tahoe’s construction season. … ” Read more from the Placer Sentinel.
Moccasin among fish hatcheries receiving upgrades
“Governor Gavin Newsom says 21 fish hatcheries in California will be updated to help boost salmon and trout populations. Included is the Moccasin Creek Hatchery in Tuolumne County. The state reports that Moccasin produces Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and a small number of Golden Trout. A study completed for the project notes, “The annual production goal at the Moccasin Creek Hatchery is 400,000 pounds of fish released. However, ongoing maintenance of the Moccasin Reservoir, the water supply for the hatchery, has reduced annual production goals to 200,000 pounds of fish.” … ” Read more from My Mother Lode.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Shasta Lake nears full capacity for third year, boosting local businesses this summer
“Shasta Lake is nearing full capacity for the third consecutive year, bringing excitement to local businesses. The lake’s water levels have benefited from recent wet winters and atmospheric rivers, leading to an accumulation of water and snowmelt in the region. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, the lake’s water elevation was 1,061 feet above sea level at 12 a.m. on Wednesday night, making it 96% full. A full lake is considered to be at about 1,067 feet above sea level. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Ranch featuring one of California’s prettiest waterfalls listed for $1 million
“The land surrounding one of Butte County’s most scenic hiking destinations is up for sale. This week, a 277-acre ranch in the Table Mountains in Oroville called Silver Ridge Stables was listed for $988,000. It features “160 acres on a volcanic plateau that brims with wildflowers and waterfalls in the spring,” according to the listing from California Outdoor Properties. Most notable perhaps is that the ranch encompasses Phantom Falls, a striking seasonal phenomenon noted as “one of the prettiest (falls) in California” on AllTrails.com. From atop a sheer basalt canyon, a seasonal stream plunges 166 feet down to a small pool backed by a grotto, or a cave recession at the base of the canyon. The falls are a major draw for hikers and photographers, who are able to reach them along a 2-mile trail that passes through North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve as well as part of the private property up for sale. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
BAY AREA
Pacifica can keep its controversial seawalls, California agency says — for a limited time only
“Pacifica can use new and existing seawalls to bolster parts of its shoreline for at least 20 years, the California Coastal Commission ruled Thursday — a decision that angered both opponents and supporters of using the walls to defend against storms and sea level rise. The armoring will be allowed in two locations, Beach Boulevard near Pacifica Pier and Rockaway Beach, but only for a limited period, in order to give the city time to develop longer-term strategies to prepare for the impacts of climate change. There is already a seawall at Beach Boulevard, and Rockaway has rock revetments, or boulders. They can be replaced and expanded under the plan, even to protect new development, as part of an update to a state-mandated local coastal program that included preparations for sea level rise. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
A water agency’s perspective on fighting wildfires
David McNair, the General Manager of Scotts Valley Water District, writes, “Cal Fire is observing Wildfire Preparedness Week from May 4-10, 2025. This week is an opportunity to build awareness around the measures that individuals, communities and local agencies can take to prepare for wildfire. As a water agency, our staff here at Scotts Valley Water District sees firsthand the vital role water plays in every aspect of life—from meeting daily needs, such as cooking, cleaning and bathing, to irrigating parks and protecting communities during crises. The wildfires that devastated Southern California earlier this year have underscored the critical importance of water. Our hearts go out to those affected communities, as we also remember the Paradise Fire in 2018 and the CZU Lightning Complex fires in Santa Cruz County in 2020. … ” Read more from the Press-Banner.
CENTRAL COAST
Additional testing, community sampling starts at Moss Landing Battery Plant
“Monterey County officials will kick off additional community sampling near the site of the Moss Landing Battery Plant fire. Additional community sampling began Thursday, focusing in areas flagged by community members, where visible fire debris was reported and spots where residents have shared their own sampling data. In addition to the extra testing, county officials will be launching a geographical information system map that will offer a more user-friendly experience when looking at testing results and sampling. “The community sampling plan will help create a health assessment for the county, and give us more information on the impact of the (Jan. 16) incident,” said Environmental Health Bureau Director Ric Encarnacion. “This is information that needs to be studied, and it may or may not yield anything new, but we will follow up if any issues are found.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
EASTERN SIERRA
Golden mussel could threaten Eastern Sierra
“While it has yet to be detected in the Eastern Sierra, officials are warning the public about an invasive species that could have a devastating effect on the local economy. Bishop Chamber of Commerce Director Tawni Thomson said the organization is working with other organizations to spread the word about the golden mussel, an aquatic invader that has been detected in waterways throughout the state during Monday’s city council meeting. “They are very detrimental to the trout population because they compete for food, but also they can just create havoc with the infrastructure,” she said. “So we’re all working really hard to just remind people to clean, drain and dry their boats before they launch.” … ” Read more from the Mammoth Times.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
L.A. County finds high lead levels in soil on properties already cleaned by Army Corps
“New soil testing by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has found high levels of lead and other toxic metals at homes destroyed by January’s catastrophic wildfires and cleared by federal cleanup crews. The county health department hired Roux Associates Inc. to conduct soil sampling at 30 homesites that had been cleaned up by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — the federal agency leading debris-removal operations for the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. The Army Corps and Federal Emergency Management Agency have said crews would clear wildfire debris and up to 6 inches of topsoil in ash-covered portions of the property. In the Eaton burn scar, in the areas scraped by federal cleanup crews, around 27% of the Roux soil samples still had lead levels above California’s state standards for residential properties (80 milligram per kilogram). In samples taken from parts of those properties where soil was not excavated, nearly 44% had lead levels above the state benchmark. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Lead, other toxins present on destroyed parcels after Eaton, Palisades wildfire debris, soil removal, from the LA Daily News
Edison hit with lawsuit saying Eaton fire exposed people to toxic substances
“Southern California Edison was hit with another lawsuit in the wake of the Eaton fire Wednesday, with lawyers claiming families living in or near areas devastated by the Eaton fire may have suffered from dangerous levels of lead, asbestos and other toxic substances. The Los Angeles County Superior Court suit claims Edison’s negligence in maintaining its infrastructure triggered the Eaton fire, exposing people nearby to the fallout of lead, asbestos and other toxic substances. The lawyers cited an investigation by The Times in which the testing of soil samples at two home sites found toxic heavy metals in excess of California standards even after federal crews removed ash and topsoil. Edison officials have acknowledged that their equipment may have ignited the devastating fire, but have cautioned that the cause remains under investigation. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
7 On Your Side: What changes and tools could help prevent water issues seen in Palisades Fire?
“Water pressure issues during the Palisades Fire in January revealed many vulnerabilities in our water system and the ability to save property and lives. If the demand for water overpowers the system, what are the solutions? 7 On Your Side Investigates is talking to experts about ideas and innovative tools that could help in our next wind-driven fire. “No, it should not. With what is paid into the city, into the state, we should have everything at our disposal,” Palisades Fire victim Tom Dorann replied when asked if the water should run dry. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) says they never ran out of water in the Palisades, but demand was the problem, which reached four times normal use. … ” Read more from KABC.
Long Beach is getting 156 acres of new wetlands; work begins to convert oil field into public space
“After more than a decade of navigating approvals from over a dozen state and federal agencies, officials Thursday celebrated the beginning of work to return 156 acres of coastal land to the public. The land near Trader Joe’s just north of Second Street, where it meets Studebaker Road, is owned by Synergy Gas & Oil and has been used for decades as an active oil drilling site that straddles the Long Beach-Seal Beach line. The Long Beach company has already capped about half of the 39 oil rigs that operate there as it plans to grade and clean the land by the end of this year or early 2026. It will then move operations to a much smaller 7-acre parcel across the street on Pacific Coast Highway known as the “pumpkin patch” site because it has hosted seasonal pumpkin farms. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Post.
SEE ALSO: Long Beach oil field to be restored to public wetlands, from CBS News
Toxic algae threat eases along Southern California coastline
“Southern California’s coastline may finally be seeing relief as domoic acid—the toxin recently devastating marine life—begins to subside. The rescue team at SeaWorld San Diego is finally starting to catch their breath after weeks of responding to calls about sick or disoriented sea animals at some of our local beach communities. “They’re eating fish, they’re gaining weight, we haven’t seen signs of seizures,” said Jeni Smith, rescue program curator at SeaWorld San Diego. The road to recovery looks good for these sea lions thanks to Smith and her team at SeaWorld. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Along the Colorado River …
‘A painful summer’: Lake Mead at risk of reaching crisis levels with new projections
“Forecasters are confident it’s a particularly bad water year for the Colorado River, worrying some about a likely return to record low levels in reservoirs that are reminiscent of 2022. Las Vegas is almost entirely dependent on Lake Mead, the country’s biggest reservoir, for its water supply. Flows into Lake Mead come from Lake Powell, the future of which is less than rosy, according to projections released on Wednesday. Though snowpack wasn’t even close to normal this year, it will translate to even less water than previously thought, with scientists predicting runoff into Lake Powell at 55 percent of average, according to the National Weather Service’s Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. Previous estimates were at 67 percent of average. “It’s going to be a painful summer, watching the levels go down,” said Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Resource Network that advocates for water security in Nevada and Utah. “We’re getting to those dangerous levels we saw a few years ago.” … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Despite strong start to winter and a ‘Miracle March,’ runoff into Lake Powell forecasted to be lowest in years
“This year’s predicted spring runoff into Lake Powell has decreased yet again as the impacts of a dry winter begin to show. Hydrologists at the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center said Wednesday that the amount of water flowing into Lake Powell between April and July this year is expected to be 55% of average. “Average,” in forecasting, refers to the average runoff between 1991 and 2020. That prediction follows a decline in forecasted flows since the start of winter. In December, hydrologists said Lake Powell’s runoff would be 92% of average. That forecast fell to 81% in January and even further to 67% in February. The prediction ticked up to 70% in March due to heavier precipitation before dropping to the current forecast of 55%. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Lawmakers aim to rethink excessive water use penalties in Southern Nevada
“The Las Vegas Valley Water District implemented a water rate structure two years ago that imposed hefty levies on the valley’s biggest residential water users. Now state lawmakers are seeking to reexamine those fees following years of community pushback. Residential water use accounts for 60 percent of the water consumed in the Las Vegas Valley. The excessive use fee was designed to affect the 10 percent of single-family residential customers who are the largest water users, and slow the flow of the valley’s diminishing water resources. But critics of the excessive use fee say the measure does not consider the lot size of properties subject to the fees and disproportionately impacts those living in the City of Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County. The cities of Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City do not have excess use fees. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current.
Trump proposes deep budget cut to Utah water project, potentially impacting millions
“The Trump administration is proposing a jaw-dropping $609 million cut to the massive Central Utah Project, which supplies water to millions of people in northern Utah. The Central Utah Project was specifically called out in a list of spending cuts sent from the White House to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the chair of the Senate appropriations committee. “The Budget provides $1.2 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project. The Budget reduces funding for programs that have nothing to do with building and maintaining water infrastructure, such as habitat restoration. Instead, the Budget focuses Reclamation and the Central Utah Project on their core missions of maintaining assets that provide safe, reliable, and efficient management of water resources throughout the western United States,” the reduction item says. … ” Read more from Fox 13.
Dust on snow accelerates melt across the Upper Colorado River Basin, according to a new study
“Dust that settles on snowpack makes that snow darker, which absorbs more heat, speeding up snowmelt and runoff in the spring. Now, for the first time, a new study quantifies the impact of dust on snow across the entire Upper Colorado River Basin. Using satellite data, the study found that over 23 years, the impacts of dust on snow were greatest in the central and southern Rockies, but no area in the Basin was dust-free. In high-dust years, researchers found that snowpack disappeared weeks earlier than in low-dust years. McKenzie Skiles is a hydrologist at the University of Utah, and the director of the Snow Hydrology Research to Operations, or SnoHydRO, Laboratory. She was one of the lead researchers on the study. … ” Read more from KSJD.
Mexico ‘not in full control of its water,’ ex IBWC commissioner says
“Mexican diplomats say climate change has hindered them from settling a massive water debt to the United States, which is bringing economic hardship to South Texas farmers. But a former U.S. federal official on Thursday offered a different explanation. “One of the issues that we see is that domestic problems in Mexico are affecting what’s happening in the United States,” said Maria Elena Giner. “Water is owned by the (Mexican) government, yet they really don’t have good control of the reservoirs. The states are becoming much more active in opposing any water deliveries.” … ” Read more from the Border Report.
In national water news today …
Trump’s 2026 budget cuts: What will they mean for the water industry?
“On May 2nd, a letter to Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins revealed that President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for FY2026 calls for a sweeping $4.2 billion in total funding reduction for the U.S. EPA. $2.46 billion of this will be taken from the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, or SRFs — slashing 89% of the FY2025 funding. The Clean Water SRF (CWSRF) program provides funding for water infrastructure projects such as stormwater runoff mitigation, decentralized wastewater treatment systems, and water reuse. Similarly, the Drinking Water SRF (DWSRF) program is dedicated to supporting and protecting water supply projects. The DWSRF is designed to help communities finance the maintenance of safe drinking water — significantly, replacing aging pipelines. After the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) issued in October 2024, the importance of distribution system investment has become even more paramount. … ” Read more from Water Online.
Interior staff braces for impending layoffs
“Interior Department employees are preparing for notices of layoffs as soon as next week, as the Trump administration appears to ready further cuts at bureaus and agencies that have already seen hundreds of employees voluntarily leave their posts. Interior indicated in mid-April that it would pursue staff reductions — continuing efforts initiated by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency to slash executive branch agencies — when it issued staffers a list of “competitive areas” that could be subject to cuts. Those offices or units where staff will be required to compete to retain jobs include the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Office of Renewable Energy, Interior’s civil rights division in Denver, the Bureau of Land Management’s communications office at Interior headquarters, and a host of BLM state offices and directorates, according to documents obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News last month. … ” Read more from E&E News.
EPA research center shutters lab activities
“EPA’s political leaders have hedged on reorganization plans for its stand-alone research office, but the office’s managers are already warning staff of halting lab research and reassigning key duties. In an email sent Thursday morning to all staff in the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, one of the Office of Research and Development’s four research centers, center Director Wayne Cascio and deputy Kay Holt wrote, “Lab research will wind down over the next few weeks as we will no longer have the capability to acquire supplies and materials.” “ORD is shutting down their laboratory activities,” the email continues. “We are unsure if these laboratory activities will continue post-reorganization. Time and funding would be needed to reconstitute activities.” … ” Read more from E&E News.
Lawmakers may reset the Congressional Review Act clock to reverse EPA waivers
“Congressional Republicans are coming to the 60-day deadline Thursday in their rush to roll back Biden administration environmental regulations, but they might be resetting the clock in some cases. The 1996 Congressional Review Act typically gives lawmakers 60 days to enact joint resolutions of disapproval nullifying rules. The law allows the Senate to pass the joint resolutions with simple majorities, avoiding the risk of filibuster. But the clock starts again in a new session of Congress, as it did on Jan. 24 for the 119th Congress, according to the Senate staff, giving lawmakers 60 legislative days to act. That look-back period allows the current Congress to reverse rules going back as far as Aug. 16, 2024. Thursday marks the end of the 60-day look-back period. … ” Read more from Roll Call.
NOAA will stop updating database tracking costliest weather disasters
“Federal scientists will no longer update a list of weather disasters that cause billions of dollars in damage, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday. The list had been growing dramatically in recent years, a sign of both extreme weather and increasing development across the country. It is on a growing list of scientific datasets that NOAA says scientists will no longer update or that the administration will decommission entirely. The agency said the existing disaster records, stretching from 1980 through 2024, will remain accessible. Without updates to the database, it could become harder for the country to assess the ways climate change, building patterns and population trends are exposing Americans to weather hazards. The numbers of billion-dollar disasters have surged from just a handful per year in the 1980s to an average of 23 per year from 2020 through 2024. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
