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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Basin Characterization Exchange: Tools to Integrate AEM and Lithology Data into Texture Models and Groundwater Flow Models (Data2Texture and Texture2Par) from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Data2Texture is a preprocessing tool that transforms borehole and lithologic texture data into standardized, spatially-consistent subsurface texture models. Leveraging geostatistical methods and expert knowledge, the tool integrates well/boring logs and AEM data together into a unified texture model representing three-dimensional sediment distribution. The texture model forms the basis of aquifer recharge potential analysis. Data2Texture and Texture2Par enable a consistent and scalable approach to subsurface characterization, enhancing the scientific basis for water management decisions under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and related initiatives. By deriving hydrogeologic textures and parameters from the same underlying datasets, these tools promote transparency and comparability across different modeling efforts. This shared data framework promotes collaboration among local agencies, stakeholders, and technical experts, fostering consensus-building and more informed, science-driven groundwater planning. Click here for more information and to register.
In California water news today …
To save native species, the state must take some risks
Jennifer Harder, PPIC adjunct fellow and professor of law at McGeorge School of Law, writes, “California’s rivers are special. I learned that firsthand in high school, as part of a years-long project to restore a denuded waterway called Adobe Creek. The creek had largely dried up, it was filled with trash, and the trees that had once shaded its banks were gone—but a tiny population of endangered steelhead was still hanging on. In the early ‘80s, concerned students from my high school began cleaning up the creek and replanting native vegetation. Then we took an innovative step—we built a fish hatchery on our high school campus and raised salmon and steelhead to repopulate the creek. The Adobe Creek project inspired my career as a water lawyer and educator. Adobe Creek faced the same challenges that also plague California’s largest watersheds. Years of water and land use changes caused freshwater fish and wildlife populations to plummet, and now climate change is threatening to strike the final blow. Although the state and stakeholder communities are doing some great things, these measures are not happening at sufficient pace and scale. In just one heartbreaking example, we’re facing a third consecutive year of a closed salmon fishery. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Special snow drought update: Rapid snowmelt
“Above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation continued to rapidly melt out western U.S. snowpack. Nearly all western basins are now in late season snow drought, despite many stations reaching near to above-average peak snow water equivalent (SWE) during the snow accumulation season. Some stations, including some in Nevada, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, saw record early melt out. The rapid depletion of snow, coupled with increased evaporative demand (the “thirst” of the atmosphere), can rapidly dry the landscape. Landscapes drying out earlier than normal can lead to an early start to the fire season. Snowmelt this time of year is common, but such rapid melt rates are not normal. In some instances, above-normal temperatures such as these can cause snow to sublimate (going from a solid to a gas) and reduce runoff into streams and reservoirs. … ” Continue reading from NIDIS.
San Francisco Bay fish are contaminated with levels of ‘forever chemicals’ that could harm anglers
“Contaminants known as “forever chemicals” have been discovered in San Francisco Bay fish at levels that could pose a health threat to people who eat fish caught there, according to new research published today. Linked to an array of health conditions such as cancers, heart disease and pregnancy disorders, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances resist breaking down in the environment. Used by industries to make waterproof coatings, firefighting foams, food packaging and more, these chemicals have contaminated people and animals everywhere around the globe, including newborns. Researchers from the San Francisco Estuary Institute found the chemicals in striped bass, largemouth bass, leopard shark, white croaker, white sturgeon and other fish collected between 2009 and 2019 throughout San Francisco Bay. Recreational and subsistence anglers catch striped bass and the other fish from boats, shores or piers, but they are not sold commercially. Many Asian immigrants, other people of color and low-income people fish in the bay to feed their families. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
SEE ALSO: Forever chemicals found in fish throughout San Francisco Bay, press release from the San Francisco Estuary Institute
Delta residents, leaders and local businesses testify before the State Water Resources Control Board against Governor’s Delta tunnel project
“Several dozen residents, business leaders, environmental advocates, and elected leaders representing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta region provided policy statements to the State Water Resources Control Board on Monday (5/19/25) regarding the ongoing water rights change hearing for the Delta Tunnel project. The level of concern was raised last week, in response to Governor Newsom’s insertion of significant changes in law in the state’s 2025-26 budget to push past environmental, public interest and property rights protections that apply to the Delta Tunnel project. The governor’s proposed budget aims to reduce public engagement, remove legal obstacles, and otherwise fast-track yet another iteration of the Tunnel project, before he leaves office next year. … ” Read more from Restore the Delta.
Widespread support for Governor’s proposal to fast-track water infrastructure
“Last week, the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority (DCA) Board of Directors joined the growing list of supporters from across California praising Governor Newsom’s legislative proposals to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project, a critical water infrastructure and climate adaptation project. At a special meeting, the DCA Board voted unanimously to support the legislative effort and provide formal letters of support to Governor Newsom. … The project is receiving widespread support from leaders throughout the state. Here’s what they are saying … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
Shasta Dam heightening debate reignites amid funding discussions
“The long-standing debate over raising the height of Shasta Dam has resurfaced as Republican lawmakers continue to advocate for the project, arguing it would provide essential water resources for California farmers. However, opponents contend that the environmental and cultural repercussions would outweigh the benefits. The House Committee on Natural Resources’ budget reconciliation bill could potentially allocate $2 billion to expand capacity at the Bureau of Reclamation’s water facilities. Although Shasta Dam is not specifically mentioned in the bill, experts suggest the legislation could support a project to raise the dam by 18 feet. Proponents claim this would supply an additional 51,000 acre-feet of water annually to farmers, a less than 1% increase over current allocations. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Company tests massive ‘water farm’ that could change how we hydrate: ‘We hope to be building under the ocean by 2028’
“OceanWell, a water technology company, is testing new deep-sea desalination tech off California’s coast that could reduce the costs of drinking water for billions of people facing water scarcity. The Los Angeles Times reported that OceanWell’s CEO, Robert Bergstrom, called the technology a “moonshot” that could transform access to drinking water worldwide. If the system proves it can produce affordable drinking water, the company plans on building a revolutionary water farm anchored to the seafloor off the coast of Malibu. “It can potentially provide us Californians with a reliable water supply that doesn’t create toxic brine that impacts marine life, nor does it have intakes that suck the life out of the ocean,” Mark Gold, director of water scarcity solutions for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told the Times. “If this technology is proven to be viable, scalable and cost-effective, it would greatly enhance our climate resilience.” … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
California Water Association unveils strategic framework for water affordability amid rising infrastructure demands
“As California confronts rising infrastructure demands and the pressing need for equitable water access, the California Water Association (CWA) has released a comprehensive White Paper on Water Affordability. This pivotal publication outlines foundational challenges and introduces a strategic Water Affordability Framework aimed at helping the state’s water utilities navigate the dual priorities of essential infrastructure investment and customer affordability. To catalyze action around the white paper’s findings, CWA will host its Spring Policy Symposium, “The Price of a Drop,” this Thursday, May 22, in Sacramento. The high-impact event will bring together utilities, regulators, policymakers, and sector leaders for an in-depth discussion on water affordability and the complex interplay of rising costs, regulatory pressures, and the need to ensure accessible service for all—particularly low-income and historically underserved communities. … ” Read more from the California Water Association.
Video: Southern California water utility modernizes with Geospatial AI
Droughts, earthquakes, and wildfires threaten the water supply and infrastructure of one Southern California water district serving 170,000 customers. The utility keeps operations flowing for its community by leveraging advanced technologies like GIS and AI. This digital transformation has helped improve water management, leak detection, emergency response, and stakeholder collaboration.” Watch video from ESRI.
Red states win, blue states lose in Army Corps spending plan
“The Army Corps of Engineers is directing a disproportionate amount of its construction funding to Republican states under the full-year fiscal 2025 stopgap spending law, according to data compiled by Democratic staff for the Senate Appropriations Committee. Overall, nearly two-thirds of Army Corps of Engineers construction funding is going to red states, a sizable shift from former President Joe Biden’s final budget request and the initial fiscal 2025 House and Senate Energy-Water appropriations bills, which were all closer to an even split. … Funding for projects in California, which would have received over $125 million in Biden’s budget request and both chambers’ appropriations bills, has been zeroed out under the new corps work plan. And Washington, Senate Appropriations ranking member Patty Murray’s home state, got the worst deal from the corps. … ” Read more from Roll Call.
In commentary today …
California must lead on banning the non-essential use of PFAS
Adam Link, Executive Director of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, writes, “The time to act is now. California stands at a crossroads: either continue allowing companies to produce and sell dangerous “forever chemicals” like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that pollute our environment and jeopardize public health, or take bold, science-based action to eliminate their non-essential uses. Senate Bill 682 (Allen) leads the way by seeking to ban intentionally added PFAS in consumer products. Opponents argue the bill threatens economic stability, but what it truly threatens is their bottom line. SB 682 follows the essential-use model, a policy approach backed by leading scientists and public health experts. This framework distinguishes between truly necessary applications of PFAS, like in certain medical devices, and the unnecessary uses that flood our daily lives with ongoing toxic exposure. … ” Continue reading at Capitol Weekly.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
The pikeminnow problem: Will your fish make it to sea?
“Your salmon are currently swimming towards the ocean. Odds of survival are currently quite low. Last year less than 20% of coho salmon we tracked made it from the stream they were born in to the ocean. Why are the odds so low? Salmon in the Eel River watershed have long faced many threats including overfishing, mechanized logging, dams, water diversion, and drought. Today they have another threat to contend with: the invasive Sacramento pikeminnow! Pikeminnow compete with, prey on, and alter behavior of juvenile salmon – all of which impacts salmon recovery. Since their introduction in 1979, pikeminnow have spread throughout the Eel River basin. While pikeminnow are native to other waters in California including the Sacramento River, these fish are not native to the Eel River watershed or other coastal waters, and they pose a mortal threat to young salmon. Pikeminnow are voracious predators with a diverse appetite that includes salmon and steelhead. And they don’t just prey on the small ones — large pikeminnows are capable of eating fish up to 20 inches! They are also well adapted for life in the Eel River and for a warming climate. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
CENTRAL COAST
Montecito Water District’s groundwater sustainability plan approved by the state
“The Montecito Association Land Use Committee (LUC) May meeting was held at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by LUC Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the LUC members; MA Executive Director Houghton Hyatt; General Manager Montecito Water District (MWD) Nick Turner,and his team – Groundwater Specialist Nick Kunstek, Assistant Manager Adam Kanold, and Public Information Officer Laura Camp; GM Montecito Sanitation District John Weigold; Montecito Planning Commission Jack Overall; MAAdmin Janet Casey;and Sara Tyberg. Johnson introduced Turner to present his update on the MWD’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for Montecito. Turner introduced Kunstek and Camp. … ” Read more from the Montecito Journal.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
2025 ag land‑value snapshot: Glimmers of resilience
“After two bruising seasons of low nut prices, rising costs and groundwater uncertainty, the 2025 Trends in Agricultural Land & Lease Values report from the California Chapter of ASFMRA paints a mixed — but not uniformly bleak — picture for the Central San Joaquin Valley. The four counties of Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare (Regions 4 and 5) show continued downward pressure on marginal acres and early signs the market may be finding a floor. … ” Read more from The Business Journal.
First-ever surface water flows into Kerman’s Lions Park basin will recharge groundwater supplies
“Lions Park Basin began receiving surface water for the first time on April 14 thanks to a new intertie connection to Fresno Irrigation District (FID)’s Siskiyou Canal. Construction on the intertie was completed in December 2024 to improve the city’s groundwater recharge capabilities. The City of Kerman is a groundwater-dependent city, so the intertie helps put water back into the ground to replenish the aquifer during wet years. “We are grateful for the partnership with FID to receive surface water. Kerman is committed to making an impact on groundwater sustainability now and for the future,” said City of Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco. … ” Read more from Cal Ag Today.
Fresno County community gets safer water thanks to California initiative
“Jovita Torres, a resident of the unincorporated community of Tombstone Territory in Fresno County, has been struggling to have access to safe and reliable water supply at home for almost a decade. When the private domestic well at her rental house went dry many years ago, doing dishes or taking a shower was something that she and her family needed to plan carefully, given that water was a scarce commodity. Others in the severely disadvantaged community had wells with dangerous levels of contamination and had to rely on bottled water and emergency deliveries for years. Now, thanks to a long-awaited project funded by California’s Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (SAFER), Torres and her neighbors will have their water connected to the City of Sanger. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
Hanford’s National Weather Service office short-staffed after cuts
“Staff cuts at the National Weather Service are affecting the Hanford weather office, where they no longer answer the phone to connect you to the friendly local weathercaster. Instead you will hear that you have called the “electronics shop” and are told it will connect you with an “electronics shop analyst.” You wonder if you will be talking to AI? Instead you get a fast busy signal. Now as summer is upon us and the fire season is near, the NWS office here and in Sacramento have cut their hours of operation, say multiple news sources, even as federal agencies are facing hurricane season in the South and wildfire season out West. This week FEMA and NOAA are confronting a crisis over the demands of hurricane season with fewer staff. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Pools inside the Altadena burn zone are becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes
“Cleanup efforts following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires are underway, but an ongoing concern is swimming pools in the two burn zones, many of which contain stagnant water that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can carry diseases. In the region affected by the Eaton fire, officials responsible for mosquito control say they do not have the funds needed to provide sufficient treatment for all the pools that are now possible mosquito hothouses. That has sparked public health concerns in an area that has recently seen spikes in locally acquired cases of dengue fever, a potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Salton Sea Authority advances $22 million feasibility study for restoration efforts
“Following NBC Palm Springs’ special report Restoring the Salton Sea, the conversation continues with the Salton Sea Authority, the group overseeing restoration efforts alongside the state. Formed in 1993, the Salton Sea Authority serves as a central hub where local leaders, agencies, and community members bring ideas for projects like trail systems and community-centric developments. The Authority plays a crucial role in aligning these ideas with the overarching restoration plan. In an interview with NBC Palm Springs, the Authority’s CEO discussed a significant new initiative: a $22.3 million comprehensive feasibility study. … ” Read more from NBC Palm Springs.
SAN DIEGO
Avocado irrigation data is the first of its kind
“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 adviser 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 the Western Farm Press.
SEE ALSO: Avocados and Saving Water, from AgNet West.
Stench in Tijuana River Valley drives out long-time resident
“Without an end in sight to the pollution and sewage stench in the Tijuana River Valley, long-time resident and advocate Gabriel Uribe has decided to move out of the area. He recently leased an apartment a few miles north of the Valley to get away from the smell and toxins in the air, which he blames for his son’s respiratory and other health issues. “Thirteen years old and he is having to deal with all of these issues,” Uribe said. “Because I want to stand my ground and everything, it’s not fair for his health, so I had to make a decision, I had to get up and move out of here.” … ” Read more from the Border Report.
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Mead in for a painful summer after dry winter
“Lake Mead’s infamous bathtub ring is expected to get bigger this summer as low snowpack levels in the Rocky Mountains choke the reservoir’s biggest source of water – the Colorado River. Snow melt from the Rocky Mountains contributes about 85% of the total water flow in the Colorado River, but those flows will likely be lower than usual this summer, according to federal data. Across the Rocky Mountains the snow season had a strong start, then came one of the driest winters on record, followed by rapid snow melt that bodes poorly for river flow in the summer. Mountain ranges across the Rockies didn’t reach peak snowpack in April, and only hit about 63% of average peaks. With less snow, runoff into Lake Powell is expected to be cut nearly in half this year, according to the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. Water levels in Lake Powell, the nation’s second largest reservoir, directly impact Lake Mead because streamflow to Lake Powell is eventually released to Lake Mead. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current.
This ‘rainy day fund’ for the Colorado River incentivizes saving more water
“Negotiations continue between the seven Colorado River basin states over new rules dealing with use of the overallocated river, and the clock is ticking. But one area of those talks that’s not getting a lot of attention is the idea of setting some water aside, and the details of how that might happen. Kathryn Sorensen, director of research at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, has been thinking and writing about this and joined The Show to discuss.” Listen or read transcript at KJZZ.
Tribal interests in the future of the Colorado River
“The Colorado River Basin is home to thirty federally recognized Tribal Nations, each with unique histories, cultures, and relationships to the Colorado River and its tributaries. These Tribal Nations rely on the River for various purposes, including cultural and spiritual activities, domestic use, agriculture and economic development to serve their members and reservations which are their permanent homelands. The Tribal Nations of the Colorado River Basin have varying degrees of recognized water rights, with twenty-two Tribal Nations holding rights to use approximately 3.2 million acre-feet (MAF) of Colorado River water annually, which equates to about 25% of the Basin’s average annual water supply. … ” Read more from the Native American Rights Fund.
Nevada: The data center boom in the desert
“In the high desert east of Reno, Nevada, construction crews are flattening the golden foothills of the Virginia Range, laying the foundations of a data center city. Google, Tract, Switch, EdgeCore, Novva, Vantage, and PowerHouse are all operating, building, or expanding huge facilities within the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, a business park bigger than the city of Detroit. Meanwhile, Microsoft acquired more than 225 acres of undeveloped property within the center and an even larger plot in nearby Silver Springs, Nevada. Apple is expanding its data center, located just across the Truckee River from the industrial park. OpenAI has said it’s considering building a data center in Nevada as well. The corporate race to amass computing resources to train and run artificial intelligence models and store information in the cloud has sparked a data center boom in the desert—just far enough away from Nevada’s communities to elude wide notice and, some fear, adequate scrutiny. … ” Read more from MIT Technology Review.
Trump’s new border wall will threaten wildlife in an area where few people pass
“Donald Trump is forging ahead with a new section of border wall that will threaten wildlife in a remote area where many rare animals – but very few people – roam. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has invited private sector companies to bid for contracts to erect nearly 25 miles of barrier on the US-Mexico border, across the unwalled San Rafael Valley south of Tucson, Arizona, one of the most biodiverse regions in the US. Here, vast rolling grasslands stretch across high desert, hemmed in to the east and west by rugged, isolated mountain ranges known as sky islands because they rise abruptly and spectacularly out of the arid flatness. … ” Read more from the Guardian.
In national water news today …
Where does your weather forecast come from?
“You’re about to walk your dog, but the sky looks ominous. You pull out your phone, open your favorite weather app, and see that it’s about to pour. You wait for the rain to pass. Or maybe you planned a summer vacation at the beach. A week before you’re supposed to leave, you hear a weather alert on the radio in your car. There’s a hurricane headed toward the coast. You have plenty of time to make new plans — and spend your vacation out of harm’s way. Millions of Americans rely on weather forecasts every day. And accurate weather forecasts have never been easier to access. Hourly outlooks and severe weather warnings are available on smartphone apps and weather websites, TV and radio broadcasts and in newspapers. But how are these forecasts made? Where does the underlying information come from? … ” Read more from the LAist.
EPA defunds research into PFAS contamination on farms
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has canceled grant funding to university research teams studying how “forever chemicals” contaminate soil and groundwater, including at least $3 million for two projects specifically looking at contamination on farms. The chemicals, collectively called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are linked to a variety of serious health risks. Over the past several years, they have increasingly been found in farm soils due to the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer, causing devastation for farmers. They are also now widely found in drinking water, in the foods Americans eat, and in pesticides, and experts say more research is needed to understand their impacts and find effective ways to eliminate contamination. According to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) website, the EPA canceled a $1.6 million grant to Texas A&M University for researchers to analyze how plants take up and store the chemicals, and to develop monitoring tools for PFAS in fertilizer, soils, and irrigation water. It canceled another $1.6 million grant to Michigan State University to study how the chemicals accumulate in both crops and livestock. … ” Read more from Civil Eats.
Backlog of unsigned contracts paralyzes NOAA
“A growing backlog of hundreds of unsigned NOAA contracts has slowed agency operations to a crawl — so much so that even Sen. Ted Cruz, a staunch ally of the Trump administration, has raised concerns about the gridlock. The bottleneck is due largely to one man: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose portfolio includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. After taking office in February, Lutnick insisted that he personally review any contract in excess of $100,000. Intended as an attempt to identify waste and redundancy, the policy instead has sown chaos at the nation’s preeminent climate and weather agency, say former and current NOAA officials. … ” Read more from E&E News.
