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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: CA Environmental Flows Workgroup from 10am to 12pm. Agenda items include presentations on designing and evaluating functional flows for California’s Central Valley Rivers by Ted Grantham (UC Berkeley) and a method to implement natural flow regimes for regulated rivers by Seth Naman, NMFS. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/db68cbroTUu7dUL33QNb6w
In California water news today …
Uniting the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project would benefit all water users
“An accident of history has left California with two massive, overlapping water projects: the federally operated Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP) operated by the California Department of Water Resources. Maintaining and operating two projects that serve the same purpose is inefficient. Moreover, the projects are often beset by controversy and conflict when state and federal administrations change. California set out to build the CVP in the late 1920s but could not finance it due to the Great Depression. The federal government stepped in and began construction of the CVP in 1935 with Shasta Dam—which created the state’s largest reservoir—as its anchor. In 1960, state voters passed the Water Resources Development Act, which funded construction of the SWP. This project included Oroville Dam, which created its capstone reservoir, and the California Aqueduct, which provides water to southern California. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Coalition files petition for reconsideration after State Water Board denies call to cancel Delta tunnel change petition
“A coalition of thirty-two California Native Tribes, environmental justice organizations, Delta counties, water agencies and other Delta advocates has filed a Petition for Reconsideration with the State Water Resources Control Board, urging the agency to reverse its April 11 decision denying a motion to cancel the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Change Petition for the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). The original motion to cancel the petition — filed earlier this year — was based on DWR’s repeated failure to submit required supplemental information about the State Water Project’s historic water use, as ordered by the Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO). That data is critical to determining whether the proposed Delta Tunnel would initiate a new water right and its potential impacts on existing users and ecosystems. Despite numerous extensions, DWR failed to produce the data. Now, troubling new developments have emerged. … ” Continue reading this press release.
SEE ALSO: State Water Board responds to State Water Contractors regarding Delta Conveyance Project hearing
Dust is a danger to Central Valley health and will likely get worse, researchers find
“People don’t think about dust much until it’s time to clean the house, but a new report by UC researchers could raise awareness of the growing threat of dust and dust storms. “Dust events are a big problem, especially in the Central Valley, and have not gotten enough attention,” UC Merced Professor Adeyemi Adebiyi said. “One of the goals of the report is to highlight that.” … “The future of dust in California is still uncertain. Our report suggests dust storms will likely increase,” Adebiyi said. He said one reason for that is policies such as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires farmers to try to limit the amount of water they use. “One consequence is that Central Valley farmers may have to fallow or abandon about 1 million acres of land to comply with the law. That is a lot of land that can become exposed to wind erosion, resulting in another dust source,” he said. “Another factor is climate change. We are vulnerable to drought and heat waves in the Central Valley, and these climate impacts are predicted to worsen, potentially contributing to more dust emissions.” … ” Read more from UC Merced.
Do not underestimate the dangers of local waterways, experts warn
“When the weather in the Sacramento area starts to warm up and summertime approaches, people get the urge to go swimming to cool off. But the local waterways present unseen dangers, as the water runs fast and cold. Brian Dulgar is the director of the Sacramento State Aquatic Center. He has been a part of the program for over three decades and has learned many lessons from his years spent in and around the water. Dulgar says at this time of year, he and his staff have a heightened awareness of the dangers the water presents. “You need to understand that if you’re in the water and it’s cold, you can only be there for a certain amount of minutes before your body basically just quits functioning,” Dulgar said, referring to the risk of hypothermia. … ” Read more from Capitol Public Radio.
AI data center growth deepens water security concerns in high-stress states – report
“Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in the US are placing increasing strain on water security across the US, according to a recent report from Bloomberg. The report found that close to two-thirds of new data centers constructed or in development since 2022 have been in locations with high levels of water stress. This is especially concentrated in five states, which currently account for 72 percent of all new data centers in locations of acute water stress. The five states pinpointed by the report are: California, with 17 data centers, Arizona with 26, Texas also with 26, Illinois with 23, and Virginia with 67. “Every part of the state is facing this water-energy nexus crisis,” Amy Bush, a hydrologist for RMBJ Geo Inc, told Bloomberg, while reflecting on the Texan market. Texas in particular has seen a huge increase in planned AI data centers, due to its significant energy reserves and lack of state taxes. … ” Read more from Data Center Dynamics.
Officials declare ‘urgent’ threat as invasive species never before seen in North America is discovered: ‘A serious challenge’
“A tiny invasive species no bigger than a paper clip is causing concerns across Northern California’s waterways. Golden mussels, never before seen in North America until October, have been discovered clinging to equipment in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, reported SFGate. These caramel-colored mollusks from China and Southeast Asia were likely introduced by international shipping vessels and have already spread to multiple California water bodies, including the San Luis Reservoir. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released a plan to stop these little invaders, calling them an “urgent invasive species threat.” “The discovery of golden mussels in California is a serious challenge that requires coordinated action and a long-term commitment,” CDFW Director Charlton Bonham said in a news release, per SFGate. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Almond farmers predict 2.8-billion-pound crop in 2025
“The first of two forecasts from the California almond industry points to the possibility of a 2.8 billion pound crop this year, slightly more than what growers harvested last year. The subjective forecast is a survey of 500 randomly selected farmers spread across the state. It is the first of two projections published annually by the Almond Board of California on what the upcoming crop will look like. The forecast precedes the annual objective survey performed by the USDA that statistically samples trees to come up with what some say is a better prediction of crop output. This year’s subjective forecast is based on a projected average yield of 2,010 pounds per acre, 30 pounds higher than what was seen from the 2024 forecast. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
SEE ALSO: USDA Forecasts Slightly Larger Almond Crop, from Cal Ag Today
Federal funding cuts could worsen wildfire season
“As warmer weather dries out the landscape, wildfire threats spike… and there are added concerns this year as federal funding cuts may make conditions worse. Sonoma County supervisors have declared May as Wildfire Community Preparedness Month, and county spokesperson Matt Brown says the dry season comes earlier and earlier each year. “We were starting this in July, and then June, and now it’s May, and we’re already starting to think about wildfire season,” said Brown. “So wildfires can happen any time a year now as the climate changes. We want people to be prepared and get ready for the season ahead.” … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media.
In commentary today …
Newsom announces hatchery upgrades as he promotes salmon-killing Delta Tunnel, Sites Reservoir
Dan Bacher writes, “In an apparent effort to boost his increasingly tarnished environmental image, California Governor Gavin Newsom on May 8 announced upgrades to 21 state fish hatcheries to “boost salmon populations” — at the same time that he is promoting water policies that have driven Central Valley salmon populations closer and closer to extinction. A statement from the Governor’s Office claims, “California continues to support and build its salmon and trout populations, with new upgrades to 21 trout and salmon hatcheries.” “The project helps build the California salmon and trout supply, which are central to the health of California’s biodiversity but also indigenous peoples, communities, and the state’s multimillion-dollar fishing industry,” Newsom explained. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
What is a just land transition?
Amanda Fencl, Director of Climate Science, Climate, and Energy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, writes, “For many reasons, California’s agricultural regions are in a state of flux. A fundamental land use transition is underway, motivated in part by the passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act more than a decade ago and market forces, such as changing crop prices and tariffs, which are currently hitting the agricultural sector hard. What we know is that the future will not look like the past. And that could be a good thing. For much of the 20th century, if not earlier in some instances, a pattern of large-scale farm consolidation continually privatized the profits and socialized the harms. Large landowners, like financial investors, multi-billion-dollar farming companies, and individuals like the wonderfully infamous Stewart Resnick benefit from the status quo. And just to be clear, the status quo is that in the fourth largest economy in the world, we have some of the poorest and most polluted communities barely making it. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Operations soon to end at the Mad River Fish Hatchery
“After decades of efforts to boost Humboldt County’s threatened steelhead trout population, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is ending operations at the Mad River hatchery. The property will remain open for public access to the river, facilities will be repurposed for office space, and trout stocking in inland waters will continue. Officials state it’s a combination of aging infrastructure, significantly costly repairs and maintenance, modernization needs and low fish production and returns. “It operates on about $730,000 annual budget, we estimate it needs one million dollars immediately, and the annual operating cost just to keep the status quo. We’re looking at 10 million in immediate repairs that need to be tackled, and long term to make it a reliable hatchery going forward, we need about $30 million,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife information officer, Peter Tira. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Mendocino Water leaders clash over future of Scott Dam
“Water politics took center stage at the Ukiah Valley Water Authority’s May 1 meeting, as tensions surfaced over conflicting strategies for the future of the Potter Valley Project. Committee members grappled with competing priorities among local agencies, raising questions about alignment, accountability, and the direction of long-term regional water planning. After the meeting call to order and approval of the March minutes, the Committee members turned to item 4.a. “Consideration of Statement of Policy Regarding Support for Inland Water and Power Commission.” There was an elephant in the room that had to be addressed. The UVWA Executive Committee Chair Adam Gaska is also the Executive Director of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau. Gaska is also the Board President of the Redwood Valley County Water District, which is a member agency of both the UVWA and the Mendocino County Inland Power and Water Commission. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
“We are transforming these mountains in a way humans have never seen”: The future of the Sierra Nevada, John Muir’s range of light
Karl Ford writes, “John Muir called the Sierra Nevada the “Range of Light” in his 1894 book, The Mountains of California, writing about the exceptional quality of light there, calling it “the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain-chains I have ever seen.” I can’t top his poetic description, but for me, the contrast of the glowing beige peaks, indigo sky, emerald lakes, and green forests is unique in my Triple Crown and lifetime of hiking. I have hiked the John Muir Trail twice and am going back again this summer. This trip may be the last time for me, as my lifetime hiking window is closing. And I intend to revel in it. As an environmental scientist, I see big changes in store for Muir’s Range of Light. If you haven’t hiked the Sierra or visited Yosemite or Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, go now if you can. Take people you love. These treasured mountains are a microcosm of the great global changes that will occur in our own lifetimes. What does the future hold for the Sierra? … ” Read more from The Trek.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Army Corps of Engineers inspect levee
“A group of 15 specialists met Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to evaluate the condition of the levee that runs along the south side of the Feather River from the Montgomery Street roundabout to Ophir Road in Oroville. Geotechnical experts from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers were joined by representatives from the California Department of Water Resources, the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency and flood-modeling specialist consultants long with Oroville city engineers, administration and the mayor conducted “an in-depth evaluation of the levee, which has safeguarded our community since its original construction in 1913,” said Oroville Mayor Dave Pittman. “This collaborative effort (will provide) the city with valuable technical insights and critical recommendations to enhance the levee’s performance and resilience,” said Pittman. “The visit reflects our ongoing commitment to public safety, infrastructure integrity and proactive planning in the face of changing environmental conditions.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
BAY AREA
San Jose police help Valley Water cite, arrest homeless residents
“Santa Clara County’s largest water agency can’t cite or arrest homeless people creating pollution or trespassing on its property — but the police unit it contracts with can. It’s part of Valley Water’s Stream Stewardship Law Enforcement program, where San Jose Police Department officers from the street crimes unit go out to homeless encampments along Coyote Creek, Guadalupe River and other waterways every other week to serve warrants, write citations and make arrests. Since 2023, police have issued at least 120 citations and made more than 100 arrests under the program, according to SJPD data. Valley Water has spent more than $760,000 on the program since it first contracted with SJPD in 2019, a water agency spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the program is meant to remove violent criminals from encampments. But multiple homeless people said police often harass them, taking their food and clothes in addition to citing and arresting them. … ” Read more from the San Jose Spotlight.
CENTRAL COAST
Young pelicans are turning up starving in Santa Cruz County; scientists are working to understand why
“This time last year, brown pelicans were making headlines after showing up in odd places, such as Coasters Bar & Grill across from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The disoriented birds were starving and in search of food. Brown pelicans are once again in trouble. Since April 13, Native Animal Rescue in Santa Cruz has rescued at least 47 pelicans. The Northern California International Bird Rescue Center in Fairfield has taken in 80 birds since March. The birds are being rescued from Monterey to Mendocino, with the majority coming from the Monterey Bay area, said JD Bergeron, CEO of International Bird Rescue. While the rescue groups are finding far fewer birds than they had this time last year, when Native Animal Rescue had 114 birds, experts say there is a noticeable difference in these events. This year, they are rescuing juvenile birds. … ” Read more from Lookout Santa Cruz.
PG&E plans to restart its Moss Landing battery facility by June 1
“PG&E has informed Monterey County it plans on reactivating its Elkhorn Battery Storage Facility in Moss Landing by June 1 after turning it off in January in response to a fire at the nearby Vistra battery plant. In a letter addressed to Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Lopez dated May 7, PG&E detailed the steps it has taken to improve safety measures at its battery facility in preparation to return it to service. “The Elkhorn Facility, as constructed, allows for efficient storage and use of power,” PG&E said in the statement. “As summer approaches, it helps strengthen the reliability of the California power grid and protects PG&E’s customers from power limitations and related impacts. Accordingly, PG&E believes it is appropriate to return Elkhorn to service by June 1 to support grid reliability and that it is safe to do so.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Regulator ruling a boost to Cal Am’s desal project
“A California regulator on Friday issued a proposed ruling siding with California American Water Co.’s estimate of water demand along the Monterey Peninsula by 2050, a ruling that could have implications for the utility’s desalination project down the road. The CPUC decision was made by Administrative Law Judges Robert Haga and Jack Chang. While the ruling didn’t directly address desalination, Josh Stratton, Cal Am’s external affairs manager, said Monday that it affirms that the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project, the full title of the desal project, is needed. He called desal project a “part of a balanced and resilient supply for California American Water customers. The proposed decision projects a water supply deficit … of 2,528 acre-feet per year by 2050.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
A fish story that’s no fish story
“Once upon a time, and for thousands of years, steelhead trout gamboled and bred in the dancing creek of Arroyo Hondo on the Gaviota Coast. By 1919, a tall train trestle and a beautiful open-spandrel arch bridge rose high above the stream bed near the ocean. Below these towering roadways, the trout continued traveling merrily to the sea and back again. Then, in 1949, a gigantic earthen berm, punctured by a large culvert, was built to carry four lanes of an improved Highway 101. The poor trout faltered. They had trouble swimming up the culvert and their numbers declined. Their frantic efforts to reach their spawning pools were foiled by the slick base of the long culvert. In 2002 a shoal of fairy godparents, made of up of state and local agencies, raised money to build a series of baffles through the culvert. When these fish baffles were completed ten years later, the steelhead trout returned and once again frolicked in the creek running through the sylvan landscape of Arroyo Hondo Preserve. But then, on the afternoon of October 11, 2021, a terrible fire erupted on the mountain ridge behind the Preserve. … ” Continue reading from the Montecito Journal.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Shaver Springs residents facing a 300% water and sewer rate increase
“A small community in the Fresno County foothills is facing a 300 percent increase in its water and sewer rates. Shaver Springs near Auberry has not seen an increase in 18 years, but the county-managed water district says it needs to raise the rates to make ends meet. The average water rate right now is about $49 a month. That will go up to $85 a month. The sewer rate is just $25 now, but it will go up to $110 a month. The county says the increases are necessary to keep up with operating costs – the people who live here say they just can’t afford it. “Adding these things up, it just starts to become – which straw is going to break the camel’s back?” Shaver Springs resident Michael Davidson said. … ” Read more from ABC 30.
As water dries up, solar moves in across the Central Valley
“AB 1156, a bill designed to help Central Valley farmers navigate water challenges and embrace clean energy solutions. AB 1156 legislation aims to help Central Valley farmers manage water scarcity and boost clean energy. Water scarcity significantly impacts agriculture in Kern County, affecting crop yields and sustainability. The bill is seen as a game-changer for farmers dealing with groundwater limitations under SGMA. Challenges include regulatory hurdles and financial barriers that hinder farmland conversion to solar energy sites. The initiative supports the dual goal of agricultural resilience and renewable energy production. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
After the wildfires: Rebuilding and protecting Los Angeles
“Los Angeles has long ranked high on ASCE’s annual list of the Best Places for Civil Engineers, which generally focuses on such criteria as salaries, cost of living, and job availability. Tragically, while the 2025 Best Places data were still being analyzed, the Los Angeles County region suffered an unprecedented series of wildfires that raged for more than three weeks during January, killing at least 29 people, burning more than 49,000 acres, and destroying more than 16,000 structures. Civil Engineering spoke with more than a dozen wildfire experts in the design industry, academia, and public policy to explore the critical role that civil engineers will play in the rebuilding of the built environment in and around LA County, as well as ways to better protect the region from future fires. In these efforts, many disciplines will be involved, including those educated in fire science, forestry, architecture, and community resilience, among other fields. … ” Read more from ASCE’s Civil Engineering Magazine.
Why an OC beach city is on the hunt for ‘Goldilocks’ sand
“San Clemente will begin searching offshore from Dana Point to Camp Pendleton for some “Goldilocks” sand it can use to replenish its own shorelines — or risk losing its reputation as a beach destination. Coastal erosion over the years has left some of the city’s beaches with only a narrow strip of sand — cutting off public access in some areas and threatening to interrupt the beach-front train service that connects Los Angeles County and San Diego County. Beach access is also a major reason why people visit San Clemente, fueling the local economy. San Clemente city leaders gave the green light last week to the group Coastal Frontiers Corporation to begin using a dredging tool — a bit like a lawnmower — to sweep the sea floor at various locations south of the city in a bid to find a perfect sand match. … ” Read more from the LAist.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Sen. Padilla calls for unity, cooperation at Salton Sea conference
“California State Sen. Steve Padilla urged community members and stakeholders to set aside “petty historic differences” during his keynote speech at the Imperial Valley Salton Sea Conference, held Friday, May 9, at Imperial Valley College. The event, co-hosted by Los Amigos de Comunidad Inc., Imperial Valley College, and the Pacific Institute, marked the first major conference focusing on the Salton Sea from an Imperial Valley perspective. The conference brought together regional leaders, environmental advocates, scientists and state officials to discuss both the challenges and opportunities presented by the deteriorating lake. Padilla’s call for unity came as he reflected on decades of political and community division that he said have stalled meaningful progress for the Salton Sea and surrounding communities. … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
SAN DIEGO
‘Unbelievable’ turnaround: San Diego water officials have fixed notoriously bad hold times, billing errors
“San Diego’s notoriously bad customer service and billing for sewer and water customers is dramatically improving thanks to new software, more employees and shifting priorities. Hours-long customer-service hold times have shrunk to a record-low 69 seconds on average, while significantly fewer customers are getting hit with surprise cumulative bills as high as $2,000. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
San Diego County warns Imperial Beach sewage smell may get worse before it gets better
“For years, residents in San Diego’s South Bay had to deal with strong odors linked to an ongoing sewage crisis. San Diego County officials say it will get a bit worse before it gets better. Home to more than 370 bird species — including six that are endangered — the Tijuana Estuary’s beauty is undeniable. The estuary is the largest coastal wetland in Southern California, according to the California State Parks. The wetland begins near Interstate 5 at the border and runs west to the ocean, and every year, billions of gallons of pollution flow from Tijuana into San Diego and out to sea, according to San Diego Coastkeeper. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Mead water warning issued: ‘Painful summer’
“New data suggest that a disappointing snowpack could result in less water than previously thought for America’s two largest reservoirs.Lake Mead is a vital water source for millions of people across Nevada, Arizona, California, and parts of Mexico. Its declining levels potentially jeopardize municipal water supplies, agricultural irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation.Officials previously raised concerns about the water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, following a lacking winter snowpack that threatened to stall progress made during last year’s wetter-than-average season. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Releases from Davis Dam temporarily reduced
“In late May, the Bureau of Reclamation will temporarily reduce water releases from Davis Dam to support local community efforts to decrease the local caddisfly population. On May 20 and 21, Reclamation will reduce releases to approximately 2,300 cubic feet per second from midnight to 4 a.m. MST. Two additional reduced releases of 2,300 cfs will also occur on May 27 and May 28 from midnight until 4 a.m. MST. During these special operations, the water levels below Davis Dam will drop, exposing the caddisfly pupae and larvae living on the banks of the river channel to drying effects and predation by birds and bats. River users should exercise extra caution during these times as lower river flows may temporarily expose or create hazards such as sandbars and unstable riverbanks. Floating or submerged debris or other unfamiliar obstacles may also pose potential hazards until the river returns to normal flow release levels. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Nevada tribe stripped of $20M water grant
“A Nevada tribe has lost a $20 million grant, which would have better guaranteed water access on the reservation, in the Trump administration’s purge on what it calls excessive federal spending. The grant, which has been in limbo since President Donald Trump took office this year, would have been the funding the tribe needed to finish a water infrastructure project that would have increased reliability of supply and allowed for construction within the boundaries of the 325,000-square-acre reservation about 100 miles southeast of Reno. It would have built a community resilience hub on the reservation, too, adding a nutritional wellness building to the reservation’s food pantry and serving as a space for tribal members to gather during emergencies or to use as a cooling center during bouts of extreme heat. The hub was planned to have solar energy and battery storage, as well. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
New rules for using purified wastewater give Arizona cities more options
“With dwindling water supplies, cities throughout Arizona are exploring multiple ways to meet residents’ water needs. In March, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality gave municipalities a new tool: Wastewater treated by advanced purification can now flow directly from local water systems into residents’ taps. For years, cities have used advanced purified water as an indirect potable source, recharging it into aquifers or other water supplies, and later extracting it for purification and human consumption. The new regulations enable cities to use advanced purified water immediately for direct consumption. Advanced purified water is wastewater that has undergone a multi-step process to remove impurities and meet state drinking water standards. The treatment uses ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light disinfection and advanced oxidation. Together, they strip out contaminants and pathogens, creating a product that experts say is safe and cleaner than many traditional water sources. … ” Read more from Cronkite News.
Video: Improving Arizona’s water infrastructure to combat drought
“Almost all of Arizona is currently under a drought condition. Some cities are asking residents to conserve water. Water infrastructure for cities encompasses all the systems that move, store, treat, and dispose of water within a city. This includes everything from drinking water supply systems and wastewater management to stormwater drainage and flood control. Essentially, it’s the network of pipes, dams, treatment plants, and other facilities that ensure clean water for consumption and disposal of wastewater. Shawn Bradford, who is a Senior VP Regulated US Water at EPCOR joined “Arizona Horizon” to take closer look at what constitutes infrastructure, ways to improve or repair infrastructure, and also how improving infrastructure makes it easier for businesses and residents to conserve water or make it less likely that we’ll use more water than we need.” Watch video at Arizona PBS.
In national water news today …
Taking stock of the stormwater sector
“Earlier this school year, my son brought home his report card and had a few Bs in classes that I knew he could get As in with his best effort. I challenged him and said, “is this really the best you can do, or can you do better than this?” My son agreed he was a better student and has since turned those grades around and is performing at a level closer to his actual potential. To make this turnaround, he had to take stock of how he was performing and make changes. We can do the same and take stock of how our sector is doing and reflect on our capacity to improve. The National Urban Runoff Program that ran from 1978 to 1983 provided the first definitive information that urban runoff pollution was a significant issue, and these findings led to the development of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program to be established as part of the 1987 Clean Water Act amendments. … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions.
The EPA will likely gut team that studies health risks from chemicals
“In early May, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would split up the agency’s main arm devoted to scientific research. According to a report from NPR, scientists at the 1,500-person Office of Research and Development were told to apply to roughly 500 new scientific research positions that would be sprinkled into other areas of the agency—and to expect further cuts to their organization in the weeks to come. … ” Read more from Wired Magazine.
Study finds antibiotics from human use are contaminating rivers worldwide
“Millions of kilometres of rivers around the world are carrying antibiotic pollution at levels high enough to promote drug resistance and harm aquatic life, a McGill University-led study warns. Published in PNAS Nexus, the study is the first to estimate the scale of global river contamination from human antibiotics use. Researchers calculated that about 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics – nearly one-third of what people consume annually – end up in river systems around the world each year even after in many cases passing through wastewater systems. “While the amounts of residues from individual antibiotics translate into only very small concentrations in most rivers, which makes them very difficult to detect, the chronic and cumulative environmental exposure to these substances can still pose a risk to human health and aquatic ecosystems,” said Heloisa Ehalt Macedo, a postdoctoral fellow in geography at McGill and lead author of the study. … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
Farmers sued over deleted climate data. So the government will put it back.
“The Agriculture Department will restore information about climate change that was scrubbed from its website when President Trump took office, according to court documents filed on Monday in a lawsuit over the deletion. The deleted data included pages on federal funding and loans, forest conservation and rural clean energy projects. It also included sections of the U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service sites, and the U.S. Forest Service’s “Climate Risk Viewer,” which included detailed maps showing how climate change might affect national forests and grasslands. The lawsuit, filed in February, said the purge denied farmers information to make time-sensitive decisions while facing business risks linked to climate change, such as heat waves, droughts, floods and wildfires. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
