DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: NorCal fishermen, farmers collaborate to boost salmon spawning in the Sacramento River; Point Buckler Island: Rescuing a keystone of the Delta; Two CA weather offices no longer provide 24/7 warnings; Metropolitan releases draft environmental impact report for Pure Water Southern California; and more …

The Daily Digest will return on Monday, May 19. Happy weekend!

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On the calendar today …

• WEBINAR: Advancing Stormwater Capture for Greener Schools in Los Angeles from 10am to 11am.  Los Angeles County, the most populous in the US, serves 1.3 million students across 80 school districts. Situated in an already hot and arid region, LA County students face rising temperatures and more climate extremes. School greening can help manage stormwater coming from school campuses and build more resilient communities.  In this webinar, Pacific Institute researchers will share insights from a recent study on the potential of stormwater capture at public school campuses, highlighting areas with the most co-benefits. This session will share technical findings as well as recommendations to boost stormwater capture at schools—mitigating urban heat island effects, decreasing localized flooding, and improving water quality.  We’ll also highlight related projects supported by the State Water Quality Control Board’s Strategy to Optimize Resource Management of Stormwater (STORMS) and explore how this work is helping shape the future of STORMS efforts, with a growing focus on capture, use, and multi-benefit strategies.  Register here to attend

In California water news this weekend …

Northern California fishermen and farmers collaborate to boost number of salmon spawning in the Sacramento River

“Approximately 540,000 Sacramento fall-run juvenile salmon spent three weeks growing in large protective net pens in the Tehama-Colusa Canal forebay so that the fish could imprint on Sacramento River water in hopes more will return up the river as adults.  When juvenile salmon from the Coleman National Fish Hatchery are trucked to the San Francisco Bay, they miss key olfactory cues that help them navigate back as adults. Because these fish are reared on Battle Creek and do not travel down the Sacramento River, they tend to stray into other rivers when returning from the Pacific Ocean to spawn. Straying can impact the hatcheries’ ability to obtain enough broodstock to meet their production goals.  “We see the Net Pen Project as a critical piece to a larger effort of diversified release strategies we have been advocating for,” said George Bradshaw, President of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations. “We look forward to more collaborative projects among fishermen, farmers, water users, and public agencies in the future.” … ”  Continue reading this press release.

Point Buckler Island: Rescuing a keystone of the California Delta

“Point Buckler lies in an area where the fresh water of the Sacramento River and its tributaries surrender to the salty water of the Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This mostly flat, mostly barren dollop of marshland perched on the edge of Suisun Bay might not look like much, but the health of the Bay is riding on the Delta island’s 29 acres of decaying vegetation.For the last decade, Point Buckler Island has been embroiled in a battle involving county, state and federal regulators. At issue was what some state officials call egregious environmental violations and the actions by its owner — entrepreneur and former America’s Cup competitor John Sweeney — to turn a completed tidal wetlands project into a playground, complete with new levees, helipads, restrooms and a lounge for the ultra wealthy. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.

Governor Newsom maintains support for controversial Delta Conveyance Project

“The Delta Conveyance Project has been heavily criticized, and the state has been sued multiple times. Now, Governor Gavin Newsom is hoping to make the process more streamlined in order to complete the project. “With the Delta Conveyance Project, which is in this budget, is one of the most important projects in the United States of America and one of the most important climate adaptation projects in this country,” Governor Newsom said on May 14 during his May Revise budget proposal.  The state wants to build one 45-mile tunnel under the delta to reroute water. It’s estimated to cost $20.1 billion. In the Governor’s proposed budget, he recommends streamlining the process by making the permit process easier, allowing the Department of Water Resources to have authority over funding, and making it easier to get through delays caused by lawsuits. … ”  Read more from Channel 10.

SEE ALSO:

• Newsom proposes fast-track for Delta tunnel in budget revision, from the SJV Sun
• Gov. Newsom Asks Legislature To Fast-Track Delta Conveyance Tunnel Amid Pushback, from SF Gate
• Newsom tries to bypass public input and environmental review to push unpopular $20B Delta tunnel, from Friends of the River

Inaction on water woes could cost California billions

“The University of California, Davis and University of California, Merced released an economic report on the future of water in California, May 13. The report found that projected declines in the state’s water supplies could result in the fallowing of up to 3 million acres of farmland, the loss of 67,000 jobs statewide and lasting damage to California’s agricultural and rural communities if no action is taken.  “We’ve done the math — and the costs of inaction are high economically and environmentally,” said Jay Lund, professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Davis and the report’s primary researcher, in a news release from CA Water for All.  “California urgently needs a long-term, statewide strategy to prepare for growing water challenges ahead.” … ”  Read more from The Packer.

New snowmelt study could improve water supply predictions for water managers and farmers

“For decades, hydrologists believed most spring snowmelt rapidly enters rivers and streams. But a new study from the University of Utah shows that most of it spends years as groundwater before it spills into reservoirs – new research that could help western water managers and farmers better plan each year. Researchers collected runoff samples from river basins at 42 sites across the Mountain West, including Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah. They used what’s called tritium isotope analysis to determine the age of the water. In other words, they were figuring out how much time had elapsed since the water flowing in the stream was snow falling in the mountains. … ”  Read more from KNPR.

‘This is a big problem’: Two California weather offices no longer provide 24/7 warnings

“Two California National Weather Service offices will no longer operate 24 hours per day, the Chronicle confirmed Thursday, curtailing the output of an agency that issues extreme weather warnings for more than 7 million Californians in the Central Valley. The moves come amid a broader upheaval of weather service operations touched off by federal budget cuts. Collectively, the Sacramento and Hanford (Kings County) offices provide forecasts from Redding to Bakersfield, including Lassen, Yosemite, Kings and Sequoia National Parks.  Officials have previously said the two weather service offices were enduring “critically reduced staffing” levels after early-career meteorologists were fired in February and two separate rounds of retirement offers. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Schiff, Valley reps push USDA to keep offices open in Bakersfield, Madera

“Central Valley representatives are teaming up with Sen. Adam Schiff to keep U.S. Department of Agriculture offices open in Bakersfield and Madera, among other locations.  Schiff and Representatives Jim Costa (D–Fresno), Adam Gray (D–Merced) and Salud Carbajal (D–Santa Barbara) led a letter to the USDA and the Department of Government Efficiency to reverse their plans to close nine California USDA offices.  The backstory: The Department of Government Efficiency announced plans to close nine USDA offices in California, including the Farm Service Agency office in Bakersfield. … ”  Read more from SJV Sun.

As progressive ridge-trough pattern shifts toward more persistent ridging, rising heat in CA and the Southwest likely in late May

“The past month has brought a notable unsettled period of weather to much of California and the broader Southwest. Significant, and much-needed, precipitation fell across some portions of the interior Southwest (including northern Arizona and New Mexico), along with some rain-shadowed and desert portions of California east of the Sierra Nevada. Warmer than the recent (climate-warmed) average temperatures were generally the rule across most of the West during this period, with the notable exception of coastal California and the aforementioned portions of AZ and NM. Additionally, nearly zero precipitation fell during this period across the Pacific Northwest and southward into NorCal, which is unusual for this time of year. Overall, it was quite a windy period as well, with multiple moderate to strong north wind events in California causing some downslope/compressional heatwave conditions at times and driving relatively rapid drying of grasses in exposed areas, leading to some fire activity during windy periods. … ”  Read more from Weather West.

Critical fire weather forecast for Northern California weekend is year’s first

“Dangerous fire weather is forecast across the Sacramento Valley and capital region with gusty winds and low humidity projected Sunday and Monday. National Weather Service forecasters in Sacramento Thursday issued a fire weather watch from 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday across a wide swath of Northern California including Sacramento, Yolo, far western Placer County and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The watch stretches from Redding in the north to as far south as Turlock. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee.

SEE ALSO: Fire weather watch issued in these parts of California, from the San Francisco Chronicle

How bad will California wildfires be this summer? Experts weigh in on forecast

“California is on the cusp of wildfire season, which experts warn could be worse than usual. “Outlooks for Northern and Southern California both paint a picture of a significant increase — (a) pretty widespread, elevated risk of large fires come August,” said John Abatzoglou, a climatologist at UC Merced. On Thursday, the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office issued its first fire weather watch of the season. The risk of wildfires is expected to be especially high with gusty winds and low humidity set to sweep across the Sacramento Valley on Sunday and Monday. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee.

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In commentary this weekend …

California’s future water supply requires a new approach

State Senator Anna Caballero writes, “Imagine watching two Lake Shastas’ worth of water slip through our fingers—gone, not because we lacked rain, but because we lacked the infrastructure and strategy to store it. That’s the reality we’re facing in California. Our water system was built for a different century, a time before climate change intensified droughts and supercharged winter storms, before California grew to nearly 40 million people and before we understood how interconnected our ecosystems, farms and communities truly are. Today, we’re living with the consequences: aging infrastructure, unpredictable supply and a fractured approach to managing one of our most essential resources. That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 72, which would establish a statewide target for water supply, something California shockingly does not have. This bill sets a bold, clear goal: to achieve 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040, and tasks the Department of Water Resources with creating a longer-term target for 2050. … ”  Read more from the Bakersfield Californian.

Freeing farm markets is better than tariffs and welfare

Opinion columnist Steve Greenhut writes, “The simplest way to provide food for the population is to, you know, let farmers grow what they want to grow, sell their products to whomever they choose, export them in response to demand and so forth. The more important the product—and food certainly ranks high on any list—the better it is to allow markets to work. Instead, our government micromanages the situation with complex regulations and subsidies that distort the market, raise prices and pick winners and losers.  Farm policy has been a mess for decades, with both parties to blame. Every politician (and voter) loves farmers, who are perfect fodder for gauzy backdrops of real Americans nurturing the land, flying the flag and epitomizing everything good and wholesome about the nation. The early Iowa caucuses reinforce this dynamic. Farming is a tough and risky business, but it is in fact mostly a business. Creating a mythology about it only makes it harder for lawmakers to address farm policy in a sensible manner that benefits everyone. … ”  Read more at the LA Daily News.

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In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

Klamath River opens for visitors after nation’s largest dam removal project

“With the recent completion of dam removal along the California-Oregon border, the public is being invited in to see the results. A string of new recreation sites on the Klamath River began opening Thursday, allowing visitors to view and access the free-flowing waters that Native Americans and environmentalists had long pushed to undam. The five river access sites remain in various stages of development. Three are debuting this week with pit toilets, boat ramps, patches of riverfront and not much else. Improved facilities are expected in coming months, providing sparse but scenic spots for picnicking, wildlife viewing and kayaking. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

High school student biologists help research and restore North Bay watershed

“We’re following a program that’s helping to restore streams and creeks in the North Bay.  The science behind it is impressive, and even more so when you realize high school students are driving the research.  In a shallow creek in Petaluma, a team of student scientists is documenting a habitat coming back to life with the help of a program decades in the making.  Ellie Slick is a biologist with the United Anglers of Casa Grande High School.  “We’re all student run. We’re the ones who monitor the steelhead in this watershed, not just in Adobe Creek but any presence in other creeks in Petaluma as well. All of our research is pretty much led by the students,” Slick said. … ”  Read more from KGO.

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

AmeriCorps cuts hit Tahoe: ‘This is not just about losing funding’

“At least 16 AmeriCorps members in the Tahoe Basin were terminated essentially overnight after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut funding to the AmeriCorps program nationwide on Sunday, April 27. Many members were around halfway through their service term.  “This is not just about losing funding,” Jenny Hatch said, executive director of the Sierra Nevada Alliance, “It’s about losing the very infrastructure that has made meaningful conservation possible in our region.”  Hatch explains the grants were cut in the middle of the fiscal year and describes it as unprecedented.  The unexpected cut resulted in AmeriCorps members arriving to work on Monday, April 28, just to be told to go home and not return on Tuesday. … Many of the members moved from other parts of the country for the opportunity.  “I know a lot of programs just literally have ceased and everybody’s just in shock,” Hatch said. “Everyone’s trying to gather and try and figure out what’s next.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Live Oak explores water system privatization

“Live Oak City Council considered a letter of opposition to the proposed California Senate Bill 79 (SB 79) during its May 7 meeting.  Interim City Manager Kary Hauck said that the bill “seeks to grant limited land use authority to transit agencies on properties they own or which they hold permanent easements.” If Senate Bill 79 is approved, Hauck said, transit agencies could approve developments without regard for local policies on building height, density, design or zoning codes.  “The proposed legislation would strip cities and counties of the ability to regulate land use on affected properties, override local general plans that have been carefully developed to balance community needs and growth, disregard the extensive public process required for local housing element certifications, and applied broadly to both residential and commercial developments, not just transit-oriented projects,” said Hauck. “This blanket authority ignores the distinct needs, infrastructure capabilities and planning goals of smaller rural communities.” … ”  Read more from the Gridley Herald.

NAPA/SONOMA

Are dry-farmed vineyards the future of the North Bay?

“The California rainfall has been very inconsistent in recent years. Droughts, followed by monsoon intense rains, have made vineyards and wineries work extra hard contemplating how to irrigate the vines. As climate changes increase, and our region become hotter and drier, dry-farming is one way to focus on what we have available.  Simply stated, dry-farming provides no or limited irrigation to the vines forcing the rootstock to dig deep into the ground to find moisture and strengthen the vines’ connection to the soil. The vines become better self-regulated especially in times of stress. While they produce fewer grapes in dry times, they tend to have brighter more concentrated flavors.  Dry-farming is not new. Before the 70s, it was quite common throughout California and the North Bay. Since then, well water irrigation has become far more common. Today only 10% of Napa is dry-farmed. … ”  Read more from the North Bay Business Journal.

BAY AREA

Point Reyes, after the cattle

“In the gently rolling hills of Point Reyes National Seashore, rangeland scientist Felix Ratcliff crouches down in the dirt in search of clues to the landscape’s former glory. Using a trowel, he excavates tiny soil samples from grasslands that have been grazed, burned, and managed by humans for hundreds or thousands of years—in search of evidence of the species that once thrived in the Seashore’s distant past, and could triumph again.  What wild plants once graced this landscape, before we arrived? If replanted and protected, can they help heal a long-lost habitat?  These questions take on new urgency in the wake of a dramatic legal settlement announced in January. … ”  Read more from Bay Nature.

Mapping mercury in San Francisco Bay

“Scientists at the USGS are tracking mercury pollution in the Bay using remote sensing technology, creating detailed maps to monitor mercury pollution and support wetland restoration in a rapidly changing estuary.  The Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay project aims to create maps of multiple chemical forms—or “species”—of mercury across time and space, giving resource managers new tools to monitor water quality, especially after extreme storms. By combining satellite imagery, shipboard radiometry, and in-water sampling, researchers are building a time series of data on mercury species, including methylmercury, a particularly dangerous form that accumulates in fish and other wildlife. … ”  Read more from the USGS.

Tracking quicksilver:  The South Bay is full of mercury. A team of scientists wants to find it.

“Niky Taylor, a geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey, and her colleagues have tied a boat to a marshy boardwalk near the Ravenswood Slough, about twenty-five miles south of San Francisco. Taylor is standing with a clipboard on the rolling bow of the boat, her high-vis life jacket clashing with the muted surroundings.  The sky above San Francisco Bay is a blustery gray. Rust-colored industrial sites sit next to the splashy red, yellow and blue facades of tech company campuses that dot the marshy landscape, where patchy green grasses rest on mud flats during low tide. In the distance, the San Francisco skyline shimmers through a faint fog. But Taylor is interested in the color of the water.  Measuring water color will help Taylor and her team find out just how much mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin, is in the Bay.  She’s hoping that the clouds will break before the Sentinel 2 satellite flies overhead, taking pictures of the water and land below. Then, she’ll be able to match up field measurements of water color with the satellite imagery.  But a drenching atmospheric river rolled through the Bay Area a few days before this late January 2024 field sampling trip, and the sky is still overcast at 11 a.m. When the satellite passes over, it will see only clouds. … ”  Read more from UCSC Science Notes.

Veolia technology to help turn San Francisco wastewater into renewable local energy

“Veolia, through its Water Technologies & Solutions division, has secured a $34 million contract to provide biogas upgrading technology for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) Southeast Treatment Plant. Originally built in 1952, this essential facility is currently undergoing a $3 billion upgrade, shifting its role from a conventional wastewater treatment plant to a modern resource recovery center. The transformation will enable the facility to convert wastewater byproducts into renewable, low-carbon energy for the local community.  As a global leader in water technology, Veolia will deploy its MemGas™ system to purify raw biogas produced through anaerobic digestion at the plant. This process will upgrade the biogas into biomethane—a renewable natural gas suitable for injection into Pacific Gas & Electric’s distribution network. Once fully operational, the project will utilize 100% of the biogas generated on-site and is expected to produce enough renewable energy to meet the natural gas needs of about 3,800 homes (68 GWh/year). The system is anticipated to be in service by June 2027. … ”  Read more from Smart Water Magazine.

Pleasanton City Council pushes ahead with higher water rates

“Many Pleasanton water customers, who have been plagued with infrastructure issues for the past several years, will soon see major increases to their bills.  The Pleasanton City Council is expected to approve a new water rate structure this year that would give discounts to the city’s highest users and more than double the costs its lowest users pay.  The city plans to replace a tiered rate structure — which collected the lowest fees from Pleasanton’s lowest users — with a “uniform” structure for everyone. The change comes as the city continues its search for new water supplies after recently shutting down its three wells due to significant contamination from PFAS chemicals, which can cause cancer and other diseases. … ”  Read more from the East Bay Times.

SEE ALSO:  Pleasanton Water Clients May Soon Pay Zone 7 Fees, from the Livermore Independent

CENTRAL COAST

PG&E plans to reopen lithium battery plant near Monterey County site burned in toxic fire

“Four months after a massive fire ignited in Monterey County at one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities, Pacific Gas & Electric said it intends to reactivate an adjacent battery site by June to meet summer energy demands.  The plan comes over the objections of county officials who requested that both facilities remain offline until the cause of the January fire in rural Moss Landing is determined.  “I had hoped that PG&E would take a more transparent and collaborative approach in addressing the concerns of our surrounding communities, which are still grappling with the fallout of the largest BESS [battery energy storage system] fire in history,” Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church wrote on Facebook on May 8. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

CA regulation to reduce groundwater pumping, could trigger more dust storms

“Dust is becoming more visible in our daily lives.  A Fresno allergy, asthma and sinus specialist says he’s seeing more patients complaining about dust.  Now a study by a UC Merced assistant professor shows fallowed farmlands dominate man made dust sources in California.  Last November, an endless wave of dust, rolled through Central California.  The intense dust storm called haboob triggered a number of crashes on Valley highways.  Where did the dust come from? … ”  Read more from Fox 26.

San Joaquin County gets good news about valuable crop

“Despite a rough year for cherry and walnut growers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture delivered some good news about California almonds, San Joaquin County’s third largest farm product.  The USDA forecasts a 3% increase in almond production statewide this year compared to 2024. If it comes to pass, it would mark the third consecutive year of increases. The uptick comes amid favorable weather for growing the tasty nuts and an expansion of almond orchards.  “This larger crop estimate is what the industry expected after a solid water winter and generally good weather during bloom, but it’s also a testament to the hard work done by almond farmers throughout California,” Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California, said in a statement. … ”  Read more from Stocktonia.

Ducks Unlimited expands conservation efforts with new Gustine chapter

“Ducks Unlimited is growing its grassroots conservation mission in California with the launch of a new chapter in Gustine, marking an expansion of its wetland restoration and waterfowl conservation efforts in the region.  A recruitment meeting and social for the new chapter will be held at 6 p.m. on May 20 at WhichCraft Taproom, located at 374 5th Street in Gustine. The meeting is open to the public, with food and drinks provided at no cost. Anyone interested in supporting wetland conservation and joining Ducks Unlimited’s mission is encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Garrett Williams at (209) 324-8801.  For nearly 90 years, Ducks Unlimited has led the charge in conserving, restoring, and managing wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. Wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, putting waterfowl populations and other wildlife at risk. The organization works tirelessly to reverse this trend through science-backed conservation efforts and strategic partnerships. … ”  Read more from Westside Connect.

EASTERN SIERRA

Department of Fish and Wildlife awards $1.8 Million grant to California Trout for Sierra Nevada meadow, forest, and watershed restoration

“CalTrout has secured $1.8 million in funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for a groundbreaking project that will restore over 300 acres of meadows in the Inyo National Forest within the Mono Basin. The landscape-scale pilot transforms meadow, stream, and forest habitat restoration into quantifiable carbon, water, and energy benefits bringing about direct benefits for California’s environment, economy, and communities.  “The Sierra Nevada region is recognized internationally for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities, but it is much more than that – it is critical natural infrastructure,” said Dr. Sandra Jacobson, Director for the South Coast and Sierra Headwaters regions at CalTrout. “This region provides more than 60% of our state’s developed water supply, attracts millions of visitors annually to world-class parks and recreational areas, and serves as a backbone of California’s biodiversity. When we restore the Sierra’s ecosystems, we’re protecting resources that every Californian relies on.” … ”  Read more from Cal Trout.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Researchers call on Newsom to pay for post-fire soil testing in Los Angeles County

“A group of environmental researchers is calling on the Newsom administration to step in and pay for soil testing at thousands of homes destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires.  Nearly a dozen university professors wrote a letter Wednesday to Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Yana Garcia, imploring state officials not to abandon California’s wildfire-recovery protocols, namely the long-standing policy to conduct soil sampling at destroyed homes after cleanup crews finish removing toxic ash and a layer of topsoil. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

Metropolitan releases draft environmental impact report for Pure Water Southern California

“Metropolitan Water District today released the Draft Environmental Impact Report for Pure Water Southern California, a major water recycling effort moving forward in partnership with Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.  Marking a significant milestone in the program’s development, today’s release of the report kicks off a public review period through July 14 during which community members and stakeholders can comment on the report’s adequacy in identifying and addressing potential environmental impacts from the construction and long-term operation of program facilities in Carson and other communities in Los Angeles County.  “This program has been years in the making, and throughout its development, we’ve prioritized collaboration and transparency — engaging with our communities to ensure their voices are heard,” said Metropolitan General Manager Deven Upadhyay. “We live in a region with ever-present seismic and climate risks. Pure Water Southern California can increase water security for our communities and their input and support are essential for its success. We believe that this draft document incorporates the feedback we’ve heard from those who have participated in this process.” … ”  Read more from Metropolitan Water District.

SAN DIEGO

UCCE Advisor provides first-of-its-kind avocado irrigation data

“Perched precariously on the steep hillside of an avocado orchard in San Diego County, Ali Montazar began to form a theory as to why there are so few studies of irrigation for avocados.  “Perhaps no one likes to do research on a nearly 45% slope and erect 30-foot-high towers to collect data from sensors above the canopy!” said Montazar, University of California Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties. “But if you’re on flat land looking at almonds or pistachios, everyone is happy to do such research there.”  Despite the ruggedness of the terrain (avocados are often planted on hillsides in California production systems), Montazar persisted in advancing his groundbreaking research to optimize irrigation for “Hass” avocado trees. California is the No. 1 state in the U.S. in avocado production, with the crop valued at more than $523 million, according to recent statistics. … ”  Read more from California Ag Today.

The Tijuana overflows with sewage. Name it River Trump.

Columnist Joe Mathews writes, “The Tijuana River stinks.  So what could be more fitting than renaming it for Donald Trump?  Turning the sewage-filled Tijuana into the River Trump would be far more than commentary on a corrupt and lawless American dictator. It would be the best way for California and Mexico to win international attention for a critically endangered waterway.  It also would swipe a page from the playbook of Trump, who loves renaming things. He’s declared the Gulf of Mexico to be the Gulf of America (sparking anger and litigation from our neighbors). He is turning the Persian Gulf into the Arabian Gulf (who cares if that might risk war with Iran?). And since Trump doesn’t ask permission before renaming, California and Mexico could justify giving the Tijuana a new moniker without U.S. government sign-off.  Of course, the Tijuana needs more than a name. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.

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Along the Colorado River …

Governor Hobbs convenes “roundtable” at Central Arizona Project HQ to emphasize Arizona unity during challenging Colorado River negotiations

“Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs convened a “roundtable” of state water users and other officials on Tuesday to assess the condition of Arizona’s Colorado River water supplies and to increase public awareness of the challenges the state faces as negotiations over the future operations of the river system go forward.  The event at the headquarters of the Central Arizona Project included a helicopter fly-over for the Governor of parts of the 336-mile CAP canal system, which typically delivers nearly half of Arizona’s Colorado River water to central and south-central Arizona communities.  Asked about the on-going negotiations over new guidelines for operating the river system after 2026, Governor Hobbs acknowledged that from her perspective, the negotiations appear “more than a little frustrating,” noting that Arizona’s designated representative for Colorado River matters, Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke, was “at the table, I think, hourly having these conversations.” … ”  Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Arizona: Investments in water resilience helps stretch existing supplies

“Investments in water projects are improving Arizona’s ability to prepare for and adapt to climate shifts and extremes, including rising temperatures, increased drying, and variability in precipitation.  These investments are critical to helping improve Arizona’s water resilience by stretching its existing water supplies as we deal with a shrinking Colorado River and localized drought impacts.  To see how water resilience strategies are being implemented on the ground, Audubon and partners recently hosted a tour in the Tucson area. U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani, staff from U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego’s office, members of the media, and other interested parties joined to learn more. … ”  Read more from Audubon.

EPA backs Arizona’s bid to regulate underground injection wells.

“The Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with Arizona’s request to oversee permitting for underground injection wells.  During a signing ceremony today, agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said that this action would grant primary enforcement responsibility to the state.  “This is to grant class one through six primacy to the state of Arizona,” Zeldin said, noting that the agency received the state’s request around February 2024.  Congressman Juan Ciscomani described the announcement as more than regulatory authority and an example of the agency keeping its promises and pulling back red tape on natural resource projects.  “It’s about trust in Arizona’s ability to manage its own resources and protect our communities,” Ciscomani said. … ”  Read more from Arizona Public Media.

Arizona lawmakers seek right to sue to overturn national monument

“Rebuffed by a federal judge, Republican state legislative leaders want an appellate court to give them a chance to void the designation of nearly a million acres in northern Arizona as a national monument. In new filings Wednesday, Arizona’s House speaker and Senate president argue that Judge Stephen McNamee got it wrong in January when he ruled they have no legal standing to challenge the creation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.  If there is a right for Arizona to sue on this issue, and that has not been decided, McNamee said it belongs to the executive branch. But neither Gov. Katie Hobbs nor Attorney General Kris Mayes have sought to overturn the monument’s 2023 designation by former President Joe Biden. … ”  Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.

Arizona’s monsoon is critical for wildfires, drought. Why is it so hard to predict?

“The calendar says monsoon season starts June 15, but don’t expect to look up and find black clouds and streaks of lightning that night. Most experts say there’s no way to know what’s coming — or when — until the storms arrive.  Forecasting the monsoon is notoriously difficult. The June date is more for public awareness than a definitive arrival time for monsoon storms.  After a disappointing 2024 monsoon and an abnormally dry winter that deepened drought conditions, experts say Arizona needs rain.  But when, or even if, that relief arrives is a puzzle for meteorologists that begins months before the first storm cloud builds over the mountains, and often remains unsolved until the season starts. … ”  Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.

Arizona: Coalition of farmers, cities want to stop Mayes’ groundwater lawsuit

“A group of farmers, ranchers and cities are going to court to stop Attorney General Kris Mayes from pursuing her bid to halt the pumping of groundwater by a Saudi-owned alfalfa farm.  Attorney David Brown says there’s no legal basis for the claim by the attorney general that the actions of Fondomonte are violating any state water laws. Instead, Mayes is trying to convince Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Minder that the company is creating a “public nuisance” by draining water from the aquifer.  But the real purpose behind the new court filing, Brown said, is the fear that if the attorney general wins in court, “this case is just the beginning.” … ”  Read more from the Arizona Capitol Times.

Northern Colorado will soon have new reservoirs, but the cost to build them has skyrocketed

“There’s a stretch of highway in Larimer County where prairie grasses sway with each passing vehicle. Cars, horse trailers and semi trucks zip through the valley on their way between Fort Collins and Laramie. Soon, it’ll be under more than 200 feet of water.  It’s the planned site of Glade Reservoir, the cornerstone of a massive new water storage system designed to meet the demands of fast-growing towns and cities in Northern Colorado. After more than two decades of permitting, planning and environmental lawsuits, it’s closer than ever to breaking ground.  But along the way, some things changed. Over the years, costs to build the reservoir system — and reroute seven miles of U.S. Highway 287 — have ballooned. Price estimates for the Northern Integrated Supply Project, often referred to as NISP, went from $400 million to $2.2 billion. Because of that, some of the towns that signed up to use its water are cutting back on their involvement before the reservoir system stores a single drop. … ”  Read more from KUNC.

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In national water news this weekend …

A crucial river treaty is tangled in Trump’s feud with Canada

“Caught up in the tariff spat between the United States and Canada is a little-known treaty that shapes the lives of millions of Americans and Canadians. The 60-year-old treaty governs the water rushing down the Columbia River and its tributaries, which snake from British Columbia through Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, and provides the single largest source of hydropower in the United States. But parts of the treaty expired around the U.S. presidential election. Negotiators were still weeks away from completing the details of an updated version of the treaty when President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s term ended. Then a decade of talks crashed into President Trump’s hostility toward Canada. He called Canada the “51st state,” slapped tariffs on Canadian exports and fixated on tapping its water as a “very big faucet.”  In a contentious call in February with Canada’s prime minister at the time, Justin Trudeau, Mr. Trump included the treaty among the ways he said Canada had taken advantage of the United States. The implication was clear: The treaty could become a bargaining chip in a broader negotiation to remake the relationship between the two countries. … ”  Read more from the New York Times (gift article).

The uneven fight against PFAS in rural vs. urban water systems

“Drinking water systems across America face a mounting PFAS threat with starkly different capacities to respond. Large urban utilities typically have ample resources to detect and remove these persistent chemicals from water supplies. Meanwhile, small rural systems operate with tight budgets, skeleton crews, and minimal technical support. This fundamental gap creates two separate realities in public health protection, with smaller communities often carrying heavier risks despite having fewer tools to address the problem.Small rural water systems face major hurdles when tackling PFAS contamination. Local utilities might serve just a few hundred residents, creating tough economic math where costs are spread across a tiny customer base. With tight annual budgets, these systems struggle to afford specialized lab testing, advanced treatment equipment, and qualified staff needed for proper monitoring. … ”  Read more from Water Online.

Senators introduce bipartisan bill to expand access to water infrastructure funding

“On Tuesday, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill designed to improve water quality and storage infrastructure throughout the Western United States. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Jim Costa (D-CA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA).  Senator Curtis emphasised the need for the legislation in light of Utah’s rapid growth. “After meeting with several water conservancy districts across Utah over the past few months, one thing is clear: Utah’s rapid population growth is placing significant pressure on our community water resources,” said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan legislation would make it easier for local governments and utilities to invest in critical water infrastructure projects—helping ensure we can meet the growing needs of our communities.” … ”  Read more from Smart Water Magazine.

The land beneath the biggest U.S. cities is sinking, finds new analysis of satellite data

“The 28 most populous cities in the United States are all sinking to some degree, according to a new study that highlights the vulnerability of the roads and buildings in metropolises like New York, Houston and Seattle.  In 25 of those 28 cities, at least two-thirds of the land area is sinking, per the research, and most of that subsidence is caused by pumping groundwater. The team’s findings were published in the journal Nature Cities last week.  “As cities continue to grow, we will see more cities expand into subsiding regions,” says Leonard Ohenhen, the study’s lead author and a researcher at Columbia University, in a statement. “Over time, this subsidence can produce stresses on infrastructure that will go past their safety limit.” … ”  Read more from Smithsonian.

12,000 reasons why the Trump administration must be stopped from dismantling FEMA

“In May through October, the United States and its Caribbean territories experience their worst climate impacts—a time we call Danger Season. As I write this, 62 percent of the people living in the country have faced some kind of extreme weather alert since May 1—including flood warnings along the East Coast and mid-Atlantic, extreme heat warnings in Texas, and wildfire danger in the Midwest, Northern Plains and Southwest. As Danger Season cranks up, we will likely see many more extreme events—and some of them will require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to rescue people and help them recover.  The FEMA Review Council’s deadline for public comments on how to improve FEMA is May 15. President Trump established the council on January 24 to get its advice on what changes to FEMA “best serve the national interest.” However, their track record thus far sets off alarm bells that this could just be a rigged process to further undermine and dismantle FEMA. … ”  Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Interior wants to do NEPA reviews in 28 days. Is that even possible?

“The Interior Department is plowing ahead with plans to fast-track environmental reviews, directing officials to blow through what is often a yearslong process in less than a month.  But former federal workers and other experts who’ve long dealt with the National Environmental Policy Act — one of the nation’s most important environmental laws — told POLITICO’s E&E News that meeting the new timeline while still complying with federal requirements would be next to impossible.  The new 28-day standard could lead, these officials said, to analyses that contain little or no recognition of environmental factors on the ground. The move, announced last month, is part of President Donald Trump’s push to expand traditional energy development in the United States. It could remake how project reviews are conducted and set up new legal battle lines.  “It takes longer to get a mortgage,” said Jamie Pleune, a law professor at the University of Utah, who has studied NEPA permitting. … ”  Read more from E&E News.

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