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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Delta Conveyance Project water right hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending Petitions for Change of Water Right Permits for the Delta Conveyance Project. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing without participating may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: bit.ly/aho-youtube. DWR is providing brief recaps here. Click here for the meeting notice.
- WEBINAR: Trial and Tractor: Large-scale Habitat Transition Zone Revegetation in the Ravenswood Complex – Jessie Olson, Save The Bay from 12pm to 1pm. Learn about Save The Bay’s cost-saving methods to revegetate and restore wildlife habitat at the Restoration Project’s recently completed Ravenswood Ponds restoration site in Menlo Park. Jessie Olson, Habitat Restoration Director at Save The Bay, will discuss the techniques the non-profit has developed that can be scaled up while reducing costs and labor. Save The Bay planted on our newly constructed habitat transition zone slopes (also called “horizontal levees”) bordering restoring tidal marsh at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Registration link
- WEBINAR: Faster and Better – Improving How We Deliver Climate Change Projects in California, from 12pm to 1pm. Accelerating climate change requires us to move faster to slash pollution and protect Californians from climate impacts. We need to reduce bureaucratic red tape to review and approve good projects more quickly to meet our ambitious state climate targets and protect our residents. We have no time to waste! Join us to learn what’s being done to fast-track wildfire safety projects, clean energy systems, and environmental restoration, and suggest additional improvements we should consider. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Governor Newsom’s budget calls for fast-track of Delta Conveyance Project
“Governor Newsom today announced, as part of his May Revise, a significant proposal to streamline one of California’s most important water management and climate adaptation projects, the Delta Conveyance Project, advancing much-needed and long-overdue improvements to the State Water Project. “For too long, attempts to modernize our critical water infrastructure have stalled in endless red tape, burdened with unnecessary delay. We’re done with barriers — our state needs to complete this project as soon as possible, so that we can better store and manage water to prepare for a hotter, drier future. Let’s get this built.” No piece of infrastructure is more fundamental to California’s water supply and economic success than the State Water Project. It captures, moves, and stores water used by 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland. If the service area of the State Water Project were its own country, its economy would rank eighth largest in the world, generating $2.3 trillion in goods and services annually. … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
Newsom asks lawmakers to fast-track Delta tunnel project
“Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing to fast-track a project to reroute more water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to farmers and cities as part of his revised budget blueprint set to be unveiled on Wednesday. “We’re done with barriers — our state needs to complete this project as soon as possible, so that we can better store and manage water to prepare for a hotter, drier future,” Newsom said in a statement provided to POLITICO. “Let’s get this built.” A version of the proposed project has been floating around — first as a canal, then a pair of tunnels — for more than half a century, during which it has reliably brought out opposition from environmental groups and Delta elected officials concerned about habitat loss and construction impacts. Newsom is asking state lawmakers to pass a trailer bill to shorten judicial review of lawsuits challenging the project and streamline its pending water rights permit by removing deadlines for when the project has to be under construction and using water. … ” Read more from Politico.
Restore the Delta: Newsom’s Fast-Track for Delta Tunnel is a Reckless Attack on Democracy, Affordability, and California’s Water Future
“Governor Gavin Newsom’s latest budget proposal, announced as part of his May Revise, includes an alarming effort to bypass longstanding legal, environmental, and public participation processes in order to fast-track the controversial Delta Conveyance Project — a massive underground water tunnel that would divert water from the Bay-Delta to industrial agriculture and wealthy water agencies in Southern California. Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director with Restore the Delta issued a swift response, “The Delta Conveyance Project is legally a ‘beneficiary pays’ project — meaning the water users who benefit must cover the costs. Yet today, the Governor wants to bypass the legal and public processes because the project doesn’t pass the economic or environmental standards Californians expect. $20.1 billion before Trump-era tariff inflation, construction overruns, and interest means this tunnel could cost up to $60 billion — for a system that would sit dry frequently due to climate-driven water scarcity. There is a better way, and the real water leaders in California know that.” … ” Read more from Restore the Delta.
Coalition files for reconsideration after CA Water Board denies call to cancel Delta Tunnel petition
“In the latest battle in the stop Governor Gavin Newsom’s Delta Tunnel, a broad 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. The petition urges 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),”: the coalition wrote in a statement. “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.” … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
Why climate researchers are taking the temperature of mountain snow
“On a crisp morning in early April, Dan McEvoy and Bjoern Bingham cut clean lines down a wide run at the Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe, then ducked under a rope line cordoning off a patch of untouched snow. They side-stepped up a small incline, poled past a row of Jeffrey pines, then dropped their packs. The pair of climate researchers from the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, Nevada, skied down to this research plot in the middle of the resort to test out a new way to take the temperature of the Sierra Nevada snowpack. They were equipped with an experimental infrared device that can take readings as it’s lowered down a hole in the snow to the ground. The Sierra’s frozen reservoir provides about a third of California’s water and most of what comes out of the faucets, shower heads, and sprinklers in the towns and cities of northwestern Nevada. … ” Read more from MIT Technology Review.
Reduction in state funding for dry well programs creating angst among groundwater agencies
“A reduction in state funding for a Visalia-based nonprofit is creating a lot of angst among groundwater agencies and prompting hushed conversations about who should get the bill when domestic wells go dry. The issue is highly sensitive as the state Water Resources Control Board holds both the purse strings to fund emergency water responses and the hammer over agencies trying to get groundwater plans approved under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Most south San Joaquin Valley groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) have created programs funded by growers to address domestic well issues caused by overpumping. And they’ve contracted with Self-Help Enterprises, the south valley’s go-to nonprofit for contaminated or dry wells, to run those programs. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Judge orders groundwater agency to speed up records release in lawsuit over sinking Friant-Kern Canal
“A Tulare County judge agreed that a local groundwater agency was dragging its feet producing documents in a lawsuit filed by Friant Water Authority but also chastised the authority for being “passive” about what it wanted and when. This is the latest twist in the legal saga between Friant and the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Friant had filed a motion April 14 to get Eastern Tule to ramp up its production of records showing how much groundwater each of its landowners were credited and how they used that groundwater – on their own crops, storage or selling to other landowners. Eastern Tule’s groundwater crediting system is at the heart of Friant’s lawsuit alleging the agency broke its agreement to help pay for damage done to the Friant-Kern Canal by farmers over pumping in Eastern Tule’s boundaries. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
California’s water crisis: A contractor’s challenge and opportunity
“The beautiful state of California is a vibrant and enticing place to live, but its stringent water regulations—designed to conserve water and promote sustainability—pose significant challenges for almost every industry sector. Numerous factors have impacted the state’s water resources and likewise the regulatory environment including weather, wildfires, historic population growth, environmental preservation, aging systems, and legal frameworks. The agriculture industry is suffering because of very strict limits on irrigation. Construction, commercial development, and real estate firms are struggling because of water scarcity. Manufacturing companies are being forced to adopt water recycling and treatment technology to continue operations. But arguably, no industry group has been impacted more than the companies that contract with the government to deliver public water projects. … ” Read more from the Contractor.
In California, Tribes make strides on coastal and marine stewardship
“”My ancestors were scientists before the word ‘scientist’ came into their lives.” Those are the words of Jaytuk Steinruck in a recent video highlighting the work of the Tribal Marine Stewards Network (TMSN), a growing alliance of California Tribal Nations applying Indigenous knowledge and Tribal science, to manage fisheries and coastal habitats in the face of rising ocean temperatures and sea levels, coastal erosion, extreme storms, and drought. “The network is not only going to provide people with jobs, but it’s also going to bring Indigenous, Native people to the forefront and support the Tribes of this state and this country to continue to look after the resources that are so important to all of us,” said Steinruck, who is a member of TMSN’s Leadership Council and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation Tribal Council. … ” Read more from the Pew Environmental Trust.
In commentary today …
The Endangered Species Act faces its own existential threat
Marcy Cottrell Houle, a wildlife biologist and author, writes, “We are on the cusp of losing the integrity of one of the most significant environmental acts ever enacted in the United States. Why should this matter? As the Pulitzer Prize-winning evolutionary biologist E.O. Wilson put it: “We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.” Wilson considered the Endangered Species Act of 1973 the most important piece of conservation legislation in our nation’s history. I know what that means. I know because I lived it. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
These stunning photos show how nature came back after the world’s largest dam removal project
“It’s been less than a year since the world’s largest dam removal project was completed along 420 miles of the Klamath River, near the border of Oregon and California. But if you look at the river now, you might not know that four dams had ever been in place. Instead of concrete walls and artificial reservoirs, the river is now free-flowing—and parts of the former infrastructure have been replaced by wildflowers that are in bloom. “It’s been an incredible transition,” says Ann Willis, California regional director at American Rivers, a nonprofit that supported Native American tribes in a decades-long fight to take out the dams. “It’s really strange and wonderful to stand on the bridge that goes across the Klamath River and look upstream where Iron Gate Dam used to be. I used to imagine a river above it, and now I see the river.” … ” Read more from Fast Company.
Changes happening along Klamath River
“Spring and the ongoing removal of massive amounts of concrete, earth, rock and clay from the channel of the Klamath River are creating a new look. And, according to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), which is overseeing revegetation work along areas impacted by the removal of four hydroelectric dams — John C. Boyle, Copco 1 and 2, and Irongate — from the mainstream river, “fish once again, have access to more than 400 stream miles of habitat in the Upper Klamath Basin, including tributary creeks and streams.” KRRC also has released a series of Spring in the Reservoir Reach photos, showing the greening of areas that had been reservoirs created behind the dams. “Based on last year’s amazing restoration success, we have high hopes for this restoration season,” KRRC said, adding, “the new growth has certainly gotten off to a great start.” … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Wildfire prevention in the Sierra Nevada region with the Yuba Watershed Institute
“Though recent wildfires have sparked new conversations about wildfire management and response, groups like the Yuba Watershed Institute have been monitoring the forests and water resources of the Sierra Nevada region for decades, managing approximately 5,000 acres of land with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and about 7,000 acres in private land partnerships. The goal of the Institute is to work with local communities and land agencies to improve watershed and forestry management through informed practices and public outreach. Historically, the Sierra Nevada region experienced smaller-scale wildfires every 10-15 years, but there hasn’t been a major fire in most of the Yuba River watershed in over 100 years, leaving the ecosystem out of balance and increasing the risk for even more severe burns. As a result, the Yuba Watershed Institute’s goal is to go into these areas and remove excess fuels and vegetation in the same way a wildfire might in order to minimize the extent and severity of future burns. … ” Read more from the Environmental Monitor.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
DWR places blockades around Thermalito Afterbay
“Drivers passing along the Thermalito Afterbay on Oroville Dam Boulevard West early Thursday morning likely saw trucks hauling cement blocks into the area. By noon, the structures lined shorelines and beaches that could previously be accessed by boats, effectively creating blockades between boaters and the water in specific areas. One example was a rocky shoreline at the Monument Hill boat launch, although boaters could still access the main launch by the dock on Thursday. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the blocks were put in place by the California Department of Water Resources but noted that the Sheriff’s Office does not have anything to do with the blockades. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
Boaters urged to stay ‘above board’ as Folsom Lake battles invasive mussel threat
“Folsom Lake reopens to motorboats Wednesday following a month-long quarantine aimed at preventing the spread of invasive golden mussels — but not without controversy. The California State Parks quarantine program requires boaters to wait 30 days after receiving a quarantine inspection tag before launching at the lake. The tags are meant to certify that vessels haven’t carried the destructive mussels into local waters. But recent Facebook Marketplace listings offering inspection tags and wires for sale — some priced at $80 to $100 — have raised questions about potential fraud and oversight. While the ads appeared suspicious to some, Folsom Lake Superintendent Mike Howard said many of them are legitimate. The agency has worked out agreements with authorized local businesses to conduct inspections and install the tags. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
BAY AREA
SFPUC highlights critical infrastructure projects supporting a resilient, sustainable San Francisco during infrastructure week
“In celebration of Infrastructure Week (May 12–18, 2025), the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is spotlighting major infrastructure investments across its water, power, and wastewater systems that are strengthening San Francisco’s climate resilience, public safety, and long-term sustainability. These essential projects reflect the agency’s continued commitment to providing high-quality services to its customers in San Francisco and across Northern California while supporting local jobs, improving neighborhood infrastructure, and preparing for a changing climate. “Every drop of water, every flush, and every light switch in San Francisco relies on resilient infrastructure,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “Our crews and contractors are working every day — often behind the scenes — to deliver safe, sustainable, and reliable services to our communities. Infrastructure Week is a chance to highlight the scale of this work and recognize the hard-working, skilled, and innovative professionals making it happen.” … ” Read more from the SFPUC.
A ramble around Pacheco Marsh
Ariel Rubissow Okamoto writes, “Stepping onto the spanking new Pacheco Marsh trail near Martinez for the first time on May 1, I was struck by the contrast between nature and human industry all around. What might normally seem ugly to look at — the Marathon Oil refinery, a Contra Costa sewage plant, freeways, bridges, cargo ships — didn’t exactly look pretty but did look interesting, set off as they all were by the verdant marshes and golden flowers at my feet. The occasion was a ribbon cutting for the new Pacheco Marsh park shepherded into being over many years by the local John Muir Land Trust, which one person I interviewed that day called a “lean, mean, conservation machine.” We were to walk or ride a golf cart to the site of the ceremony, sample a breakfast buffet of muffins and chicken salad on rolls, hear speeches from supervisors and partners and NGOs and donors, watch as officials wielded oversized, photo-worthy scissors to cut the green tape, and then be set free to explore the beautiful new trail through the marsh. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
CENTRAL COAST
CPUC judges issue proposed decision that may help Cal Am’s desal ambitions, but questions remain.
“A proposed decision from two California Public Utilities Commission administrative law judges dropped Friday afternoon, May 9, that could have major implications as to whether Cal Am—the investor-owned utility that supplies water the Monterey Peninsula—will be able to move forward with its proposed desalination project in Marina, which has been a lightning rod of controversy for more than a decade. The ruling was solely focused on adjudicating what the Peninsula’s annual water supply and demand would be by 2050, a benchmark set to inform the CPUC, and the California Coastal Commission, about whether a desalination project is necessary to meet the Peninsula’s water demand for the next 25 years. The question was borne out of the expansion of Pure Water Monterey, a recycled water project led by Monterey One Water and Monterey Peninsula Water Management District that will add 2,250 acre-feet annually to the Peninsula’s supply when it comes online later this year, putting the Peninsula’s total annual water supply at over 12,000 acre-feet—according to MPWMD—while the current demand is down to about 9,000 acre-feet annually. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Gallo Winery practices threaten Fresno drinking water, regulators say
“Central Valley water regulators want the world’s largest winery to stop using its wastewater on local crops — a decades-old waste management practice — because it’s threatening Fresno’s drinking water supply. The Central Valley Water Regional Quality Control Board issued a tentative Cease and Desist Order to E. & J. Gallo Winery in March for allegedly violating 2015 waste discharge requirements. The stipulated order says the winery at Olive and Clovis avenues is “threatening to adversely impact groundwater beneath the Facility.” Specifically, Gallo’s practice of applying some of its untreated wastewater from the grape crush and press process directly to 400 acres of local cropland has resulted in concentrations of nitrate and other contaminants above allowable levels. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
Porterville Irrigation District board votes for district to form its own GSA
“The Porterville Irrigation District board voted to form its own Groundwater Sustainability Agency at its meeting on Tuesday. The board took the action for PID to form its own GSA after a public hearing was held on the matter at the Porterville Church of the Nazarene. The PID board voted for the district to have its own GSA after in April it voted to break off an agreement it had previously approved to form a GSA with the city of Porterville. The city of Porterville will also move ahead with forming its own GSA. The various entities that have made up the Easter Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency have been moving to seek their own direction in the last year, especially after the ETGSA was placed on probation by the State Water Resources Control Board last September. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
California’s groundbreaking water initiative in Tombstone helps residents access safer and cleaner drinking water
“Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the groundbreaking of a fully state-funded $5 million consolidation project in the City of Sanger that will secure safe drinking water for residents who currently rely on private wells. The groundbreaking was attended by the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the City of Sanger, drinking water advocates, and residents of the Tombstone Territory. “All Californians deserve access to clean drinking water – a priority since day one of my administration,” said Governor Newsom. “Today’s event in Tombstone brings us full circle, because it was in this community I signed legislation to get safe drinking water into the home of every Californian. Thanks to major state investments, infrastructure projects like this are connecting communities, delivering safe drinking water, and creating a brighter future in rural towns and cities.” … ” Continue reading from the Office of the Governor.
SEE ALSO: $5M water project to bring clean drinking water to rural Latino community, from Channel 30
Kern River opinion appealed to state Supreme Court
“Groups trying to bring water back to the dry Kern River bed through Bakersfield have petitioned the California Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision that knocked down an order that had kept flows going for a few months last year. “I hope this appeal to the state Supreme Court shows the people of Bakersfield how much we care about the river and how much we believe in this mission to restore our city’s river,” wrote Kelly Damian in a text message. Damian is a spokesperson for Bring Back the Kern, which is suing the City of Bakersfield over how it operates the river along with Water Audit California and several other public interest groups. The main lawsuit, filed in 2022, is still ongoing with a trial date set in December. That suit seeks to force Bakersfield to study its river operations under the Public Trust Doctrine, which requires water be put to the highest public benefit, including environmental protection and public access. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
How much water can SoCal expect this year?
“From December through April, Southern California Edison hydrographers Michael Molina and Emil DeMillio snap into a pair of skis and shred the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains. While they have a blast doing it, the winter sport isn’t just for fun — it’s a crucial part of their job. “We pop on these cross-country skis that allow us to swap between gliding and walking,” said Molina. “We have to cover some far distances and this beats trekking through the snow on foot.” Molina and DeMillio are two of three hydrographers based out of Big Creek, the home of SCE’s hydroelectric project. Each year they partner with SCE Aircraft Operations to travel into remote areas of the surrounding mountains and measure the season’s snowpack. As California gets a large portion of its water from snowmelt, these calculations are critical for managing the state’s water supply. “Water is so precious in our society,” DeMillio said. “The modeling we report back is important not only for SCE to estimate how much clean energy we can expect to produce through the hydro power houses, but also for reservoir management, farming, agriculture and recreational use.” … ” Read more from SoCal Edison.
Reality check: There was plenty of water in SoCal reservoirs during the LA fires
“In January, devastating wildfires destroyed more than 10,000 homes in Los Angeles. Firefighters struggled to battle the blazes – and in some areas, fire hydrants ran dry. Rumors and misinformation swirled online. Then president-elect Trump claimed that water was being withheld in northern California. But Peter Gleick, cofounder of the nonprofit Pacific Institute, says that the L.A. region did not need more water. Gleick: “There was plenty of water in reservoirs in Southern California. The reservoirs were actually relatively full for this time of year.” … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
Researchers find drinking water is safe in Eaton, Palisades burn areas as utilities lift last ‘do not drink’ order
“Scientists have released some of the first independent test results confirming that drinking water in fire-affected areas around Altadena and the Pacific Palisades is largely free of harmful contaminants, as an Altadena utility lifted the last “do not drink” notice left in the burn zones. Researchers with the LA Fire HEALTH Study released results on Friday from 53 homes spread across the burn areas and the more than three miles surrounding them. They found only one with a toxic substance at dangerous levels: at one home, the water contained benzene, a known carcinogen, at concentrations slightly above the state’s allowable level of 1 part per billion. The findings add to mounting evidence that the affected area’s drinking water is safe. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
LA County approves water bill forgiveness for some firestorm survivors
“L.A. County will reimburse or forgo charging water fees for people who were displaced by the Palisades, Franklin and Broad fires and are looking to rebuild their homes and businesses. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved the motion Tuesday without discussion. Details on the motion are here. Why it matters: Many of the homes that were damaged or destroyed during the fires “incurred leaks and damaged pipes,” according to L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who authored the motion. The damages lead to “significant water charges” before the pipes could be manually closed off by firefighters or utility crews. … ” Read more from the LAist.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Golf Course Management: Working together for water sustainability
“Twenty years ago in southern California, meetings between city governments and golf representatives were often chilly at best, said Brian Sullivan, CGCS, MG, director of agronomy at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif. “In the early 2000s, when we met with the city, we were the enemy,” said Sullivan, a 39-year GCSAA member. That was a decade before the formation of the Coachella Valley Golf and Water Task Force, which has been recognized with GCSAA’s 2025 Excellence in Government Affairs Award. “Now we’re anything but the enemy,” Sullivan said. “Due to the efforts of the task force, we’ve got very sophisticated yet very simple water conservation practices in use — and so golf isn’t the target anymore, we’re not the enemy. It’s a group of people with common interests, and there’s some brilliant minds that really have some foresight and understanding of the issues.” … ” Read more from Golf Course Management.
The renegade efforts bringing California’s eerie abandoned resort town back from the dead
“California’s eerie abandoned resort town was once a booming beach escape along the Salton Sea. In the 1950s, it was a star-studded resort town frequented by celebrities and musicians like the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. It was a popular luxury resort destination with amazing watersports opportunities, such as water skiing, boating, fishing, and many more. During its boom time, it attracted half a million visitors annually.Tucked away in Southern California’s Sonoran Desert, the icon of the Wild West, Bombay Beach, was neglected for many decades, until it started to attract artists, hipsters, desert visionaries, and all things Boho. Renegade art is now a thing in this now-reborn resort town in the Golden State, an oasis for adventurers, drifters, and artists.A famous, glitzy beach getaway in the 1950s, Bombay Beach now only has a little over 200 residents. Its population slowly declined in the 1970s when agricultural pollution and the salinity of the Salton Sea started to increase, which destroyed its ecosystem. … ” Read more from The Travel.
SAN DIEGO
As coastline erodes, Carlsbad considers ‘retreat now’
“As Tom Frank walks down the shoulder of an oceanside highway in Carlsbad, California, he finds signs everywhere that this stretch of iconic highway will not last as it is much longer. The sandy bluffs underneath roadside parking lots have completely given way in some spots, sending slabs of asphalt tumbling over the cliffs and leaving hollowed-out voids under the remaining pavement. Fences keep visitors from getting too close. But there are other “hot spots” where erosion has exposed abandoned drain pipes and forgotten curbs from an earlier era, when the highway was even closer to the ocean. “This coastline’s eroding about six inches to a foot a year,” said Frank, Carlsbad’s transportation director and chief engineer. “There used to be roads along the coastline that are no longer there.” … ” Read more from Bloomberg.
Water agency toxic chemicals saga at Sweetwater Reservoir continues
“Late last year, the Sweetwater Authority water agency made a startling announcement: There were elevated levels of toxic industrial chemicals in the reservoir supplying much of southern San Diego County’s drinking water. Agency officials said they discovered the chemicals in October during a federally mandated round of testing at the Sweetwater Reservoir in Bonita. The chemicals, known as PFAS or “forever” chemicals, were once widely used in common household and industrial products and have been shown to cause cancer and other health problems in laboratory testing. The agency hired a public relations firm and embarked on an outreach campaign to alert its customers about the issue. “Sweetwater Authority is committed to keeping you informed,” a PFAS information page on the agency’s website says. But according to a former agency governing board member, Sweetwater Authority in fact has known for years it had a PFAS problem in its reservoir – and said nothing “because they didn’t want to expose themselves to liability or alarm the public.” … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Major improvements to San Diego’s Public Utilities Department following customer issues
“After months of reporting by ABC 10News, the City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department has implemented significant changes to address customer service issues and billing problems. “We’ve been able to make major strides in improving the customer experience for San Diegans,” said Lisa Celaya, City of San Diego’s Executive Assistant Director. In April of last year, ABC 10News uncovered massive water bills and customer service issues plaguing the department. Residents and property managers reported extensive frustrations with the system. “We would call the city to find out why we didn’t get a water bill and we’d be on hold for over two hours,” explained Robin Gunning, a San Diego property manager. … ” Read more fro0m Channel 10.
Along the Colorado River …
‘Not a sign of the apocalypse’: Colorado River czars to skip out on key public meeting
“The future of Southern Nevada’s primary water source rests on the shoulders of two groups of sharply divided negotiators from seven Western states — ones who are skipping out on a chance to engage with the public and the media. Breaking with precedent, they have declined to speak on a public panel at a conference next month in Colorado — one of the two normally guaranteed chances for the public to hear from each state’s appointed Colorado River policy head each year. This lack of a panel was first reported by KUNC, an NPR-affiliate in Colorado. “The message they’re giving the rest of us is not that they’re too busy but that this isn’t a priority, or they think that they’ve got the winning hand, and they’re not willing to find compromise,” said Gage Zobell, a water lawyer based in Salt Lake City at the firm Dorsey & Whitney. “If nothing else, make the time to meet to put everyone else at ease.” … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Arizona at risk in stalemate over Colorado River cuts, officials warn
“The state’s top water official is warning that unless a deal is reached with other states, cuts in Colorado River water deliveries could force Arizonans to change their lifestyles. Tom Buschatzke said Tuesday there is a stalemate between Arizona and the river’s other Lower Basin states on one side, and the four Upper Basin states, over who must absorb anticipated cuts in water deliveries as there simply is not enough water in the river. Talks continue but so far, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming say they shouldn’t have to share in future cuts in river allocation, said Buschatzke, who is director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. But he said that, absent some “give’’ by those Upper Basin states, the loss of so much Colorado River water will be felt — especially if the federal government imposes a deal that forces most of the cuts on the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Water official claims alternative water necessary if Colorado River deal unfavorable
“Arizonans are in no danger of losing all their water. But the state’s top water official is warning that unless a deal is reached with other states, cuts in Colorado River water deliveries could lead to Arizonans having to change their lifestyles. On May 13, Tom Buschatzke said there is a stalemate of sorts between Arizona and the “lower basin” states on one side and the four “upper basin” states over who is going to have to absorb anticipated cuts in water deliveries as there simply is not enough water in the river. Buschatzke said that talks continue but that, so far, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming claim they shouldn’t have to share in future cuts in river allocation. … ” Read more from the Arizona Capitol Times.
Governor Hobbs takes Colorado River helicopter tour, urging upper basin states to take water cuts
“In the next few months, western states will have to get on board and agree on how much water each state will get from the Colorado River. It has been a decades-long battle and tense negotiations with other states are ramping up again. We are getting closer and closer to a critical moment in our state’s water security. Governor Katie Hobbs helped explain what is being done to ensure we get a fair slice during a helicopter tour of the Colorado. … ” Read moire from Fox 10.
More than 2 trillion gallons of Colorado River water tapped by alfalfa farms in 2024
“As Colorado and other Basin states relying on the shrinking Colorado River work to reduce water use, new data showed just how much water is helping prop up factory farms. Amanda Starbuck, research director for the nonprofit Food and Water Watch, said the biggest draw is coming from thirsty alfalfa farms, producing hay for livestock living in confined feedlots and dairy stalls. “In 2024, alfalfa farms in the Colorado River Basin used over 2 trillion gallons of water,” Starbuck reported. “This is enough water, to put it in perspective, to supply the water needs for 40 million people for three and a half years.” In 2024, alfalfa farms in Colorado soaked up more than 418 billion gallons of water, up 41% from 2022, the largest increase across all Basin states. It amounts to a third of the state’s entire Colorado River allocation and enough water to supply the city of Denver for 38 years. Defenders of factory farming have argued the practice is necessary to feed the nation’s growing population. … ” Read more from the Public News Service.
Nevada: For legislation to retire water rights, political support is ample. Funding, not so much.
“After years of setbacks, a program that would authorize the sale and permanent retirement of water rights over the next decade in order to reduce groundwater overuse in the driest state in the union is moving forward. But a sketchy economic outlook and accompanying reduced state revenue estimates means a funding source to implement the program might have to wait. Assembly Bill 104 would establish the Nevada Voluntary Water Rights Retirement Program, which would allow willing landowners to sell their water rights back to the state through the year 2035. The bill would direct the state engineer to permanently retire those rights from future allocation to address Nevada’s dwindling groundwater supply. Last week, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard the bill, which will need to pass through the committee by Friday to move forward. The bill passed the Assembly unanimously last month. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current.
Phoenix is sinking into the ground due to groundwater pumping, new report says
“The city of Phoenix is sinking into the ground by one millimeter a year, according to a new report. Researchers said this sinking could cause widespread damage to the city’s infrastructure. The report found that 20% of the land in the country’s 28 most populous cities are sinking. The increased use of groundwater is a driving factor in the way cities are sinking, according to the report. ASU professor Kip Hodges with the School of Earth and Space Exploration agrees with the researchers’ conclusion that using risk assessment, regulations and community conversations could help prevent potential infrastructural damage. … ” Read more from KTAR.
Hermosillo struggles with water waste amid staggering drought
“The water running through the pipes in hot, dry and growing Hermosillo is precious. Around half of it goes unaccounted for. As a pivotal rainy season nears, critics are calling for the desert city’s water utility to address the inefficiency. If the city suffers its third straight rainy season without enough rain, its water supply would dwindle even further. “Either we get good water management to become sustainable, or we’re not sustainable at all and this city is … doomed,” said Nicolás Pineda, a Colegio de Sonora researcher who specializes in urban water management. The city’s water utility wants to avoid a doomsday scenario. It has ramped up measures to figure out where that unaccounted-for water is going, as it adds new wells to its system. But as surface water continues to dry up and aquifers deplete, the Sonoran capital has limited options to quench the thirst of a growing population. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
In national water news today …
Making dishwashers great again?
“President Trump has complained that toilets these days require him to flush “10 or 15 times.” He has said that the drip from modern shower fixtures leaves him “standing there five times longer” and gets in the way of coifing his “perfect” hair. LED lightbulbs, he says, make him look orange. The president’s disdain for modern-day household appliances, which he says have been ruined by energy- and water-efficiency regulations, is about to have far-reaching consequences. Even as his tariffs have shaken up the global economy, Trump has taken time to sign an executive order aimed at maintaining acceptable water pressure in shower heads. And he has directed the Energy Department to use “all lawful authority to rescind” or weaken water and energy efficiency regulations for faucets, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and more. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
EPA will weaken rule curbing forever chemicals in drinking water
“The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it plans to rescind and reconsider limits on four different “forever chemicals” under a landmark drinking water standard implemented last year by President Joe Biden. The drinking water rules were adopted as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to limit public exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), hazardous chemicals linked to a range of serious illnesses. The original rule covered six common PFAS contaminants, including PFOA, a known human carcinogen, and PFOS, a likely carcinogen. The EPA estimates that more than 158 million Americans are exposed to PFAS through their drinking water. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
SEE ALSO:
- Trump Administration to Weaken Some Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water, from the New York Times
- EPA to Rescind Rules on Four Forever Chemicals, from the AGU
- Exposure to Legacy Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Diet and Drinking Water in California Adults, 2018–2020, from the ASCE
Pharmaceutical pollution is widespread across the world’s waterways
“Many of the world’s waterways are awash with varying levels of pharmaceuticals, according to a wide body of research. These medical byproducts come from all different sources, including industrial dumping and agriculture. They can even come from our own waste; peoples’ bodies don’t absorb all the medication they take, so much of it ends up in the sewage system, which then frequently releases into the environment. A new modeling study estimates that every year, thousands of tons of the most-used antibiotics are released into the world’s rivers from human consumption alone—and 11 percent of them reach the world’s oceans or inland sinks. Researchers have also discovered widespread contamination of aquatic ecosystems with antidepressants, heart medications and other drugs in recent years. Though levels of drug accumulation in watersheds are often low, even trace amounts can have profound impacts on wildlife and human health—and climate change could be making the problem worse. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
How redefining just one word could strip the Endangered Species Act’s ability to protect vital habitat
“It wouldn’t make much sense to prohibit people from shooting a threatened woodpecker while allowing its forest to be cut down, or to bar killing endangered salmon while allowing a dam to dry out their habitat. But that’s exactly what the Trump administration is proposing to do by changing how one word in the Endangered Species Act is interpreted: harm. For 50 years, the U.S. government has interpreted the Endangered Species Act as protecting threatened and endangered species from actions that either directly kill them or eliminate their habitat. Most species on the brink of extinction are on the list because there is almost no place left for them to live. Their habitats have been paved over, burned or transformed. Habitat protection is essential for their survival. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
California senator calls on NOAA to restore ‘billion-dollar’ disaster database
“Democratic Senator Adam Schiff on Tuesday urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s acting secretary to restore a database that tracked billion-dollar U.S. disasters. He said its removal prevented lawmakers, insurance companies and taxpayers from seeing the growing cost of more frequent natural disasters and from planning for future extreme weather events. NOAA announced last week it was removing the “billion-dollar weather and climate disasters” database from its website “in alignment with evolving priorities,” the latest example of the agency ending ongoing scientific datasets. Schiff, who represents California, also warned that sweeping job cuts at NOAA have left the agency understaffed ahead of hurricane season, which begins June 1, saying that 30 of 122 weather forecast offices at the National Weather Service lack chief meteorologists. … ” Read more from Reuters.
As climate hazards worsen, Trump moves to weaken FEMA and shift disaster response onto states
“The recent firing of the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is just the latest in a string of blows for the nation’s top disaster-response agency, which has been repeatedly undercut by the Trump administration’s efforts to rein in spending and restructure the federal government. The dismissal of acting director Cameron Hamilton on May 8 adds to ongoing layoffs, budget cuts, grant cancellations and leadership changes at FEMA, and officials now say the agency could run out of money as soon as July. That’s just in time for “danger season” — the time of year when extreme weather events typically peak and converge. Experts say the turmoil at FEMA will leave millions of American vulnerable as climate-change-fueled disasters get worse in the months and years ahead — particularly as Trump seeks to shift more of the burden of disaster response away from the federal government and onto the states. In the wake of January’s destructive firestorm in Los Angeles, FEMA notably opted to break from its decades-long tradition of testing soil for contaminants, as The Times first reported. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Interior department weighs less conservation, more extraction
“The Trump administration is proposing a drastic reimagining of how public lands across the United States are used and managed, according to an Interior Department document leaked to the public in late April. The document, a draft of the department’s strategic plan for the next five years, downplays conservation in favor of an approach that seeks to maximize economic returns, namely through the extraction of oil, gas and other natural resources. “That’s a blueprint for industrializing the public lands,” said Taylor McKinnon, who works on preservation of Southwestern lands for the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit organization. “A separate question is whether they’re able to achieve that,” Mr. McKinnon said, vowing lawsuits from his group and others. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
‘They don’t want to say what they’re up to’: Interior releases heavily redacted action plans
“The Interior Department released hundreds of heavily redacted documents on Monday from a two-week review in February. These records contain action plans for national monuments and mineral withdrawals across the U.S. to accelerate President Donald Trump’s American energy agenda. “This is over-redacted in a way that is almost laughable,” said Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the nonpartisan Center for Western Priorities. “Clearly, they don’t want to say what they’re up to.” None of the 468 pages reveal any recommendations for several national monuments of cultural significance to tribes scattered throughout the Southwest. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
