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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.
- FUNDING FAIR: California Financing Coordinating Committee Spring 2025 Virtual Funding Fair beginning at 9am. The California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC) is pleased to invite you to attend our free virtual funding fairs on May 21 and 29, 2025. The funding fairs provide the opportunity to learn more about available grant, loan, and bond financing options for infrastructure projects from federal, state, and local agencies. Representatives from water industry professionals, public works, local governments, and California Native American Tribes should attend. This includes city managers and planners, economic development and engineering professionals, officials from privately owned facilities, water and irrigation district managers, financial advisors, and project consultants. Click here for more information and to register.
- WORKSHOP: Salton Sea Management Program from 9am to 6pm. Every year, the California Natural Resources Agency provides an update to the State Water Board on the progress that has been made on their Salton Sea Management Program. The workshop is an opportunity for interested parties to provide input to the State Water Board regarding the status of the Salton Sea Management Program. Input can be provided by submitting written comments by May 12, or providing oral comments during the workshop. Live Spanish interpretation will be provided on all platforms and all workshop materials will be translated into Spanish. The public notice provides more details on how to participate in the workshop and background on the project.
- MEETING: CA Water Commission beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include consideration of a resolution of necessity for the Salton Sea Management Program, Water Storage Investment Program update, pulse flow overview, Chino Basin update, and Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project update. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Regulatory Strategies to Advance Restoration from 12pm to 1pm. What are the most efficient and effective ways to permit environmental restoration projects? In the final webinar of the Regulatory Strategies to Advance Restoration series, we will hear about CA Department of Fish and Wildlife’s new Restoration Management Permit (RMP) and early examples of projects that are utilizing it. We will also address practitioners’ needs and challenges in thematic breakout discussions. Click here to register.
Newsom’s plan to expedite the Delta Conveyance Project …
Lawmakers attack governor’s plan to streamline Delta tunnel
“Fifteen California lawmakers from both parties are up in arms over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest proposal to to use the budget process to fast-track the Delta tunnel — a deeply controversial, $20 billion plan to replumb the estuary and funnel more water south. With the clock ticking for the Legislature to pass a budget bill tackling the state’s $12 billion deficit, Newsom dropped a spending plan last week that would add sweeping changes to permitting, litigation, financing, and eminent domain and land acquisition issues aimed at speeding approval of the massive project. “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 last week. “Let’s get this built.” Assembly and Senate Democrats and Republicans representing Delta counties, including Sacramento, Yolo, Contra Costa and San Joaquin, fired back in a letter last week, saying it would “change several, separate parts of state law to benefit only a portion of California, to the detriment of Californians north of the Delta.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
SEE ALSO: $20B Delta Tunnel project sparks fight between Newsom, lawmakers, from Cal Matters
California Delta leaders blast Newsom’s push to fast-track $20 billion water tunnel
“Less than a week after Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed fast-tracking a controversial tunnel project to send more Northern California water south, a group of lawmakers, tribal leaders and environmentalists is calling on the Legislature to reject the idea, calling it “a broken process that silences local voices.” Members of the Legislature’s Delta Caucus on Tuesday said that the project will cost more than $20 billion and that Californians will ultimately foot a mounting bill because of inflation and tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. They also accused Newsom of favoring agricultural interests and Southern California over the needs of Northern California communities, and said the project will harm fish species, the environment and local economies. “This project will devastate the delta’s ecosystem and place an enormous financial burden on ratepayers at a time when Californians are already struggling with the cost of living,” said Assemblymember Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, who represents communities throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. … ” Read more from KQED.
Delta-area lawmakers vow to fight Newsom’s plans for $20-billion water tunnel
“A group of California legislators representing the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta area said Tuesday that they will fight Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to build a $20-billion water tunnel, contending the project is a threat to their region and would leave millions of Californians paying much higher water bills. Newsom has said the tunnel project is vital to improving the reliability of water deliveries as climate change shrinks California’s snowpack and alters the timing of runoff. But the Democratic lawmakers criticized Newsom’s latest proposal to accelerate steps toward construction of the 45-mile tunnel by short-cutting permitting for the project and limiting avenues for legal challenges. “Fast-tracking the Delta Conveyance Project is a direct attack on our region’s environmental integrity, economic stability and public trust,” said Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City). “We are united in our opposition to this project, not just because of what it threatens to destroy, but because of what it represents — a broken process that silences local voices.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Valley vs. state: Delta communities push back on Newsom’s water plan
“San Joaquin County leaders are pushing back hard against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s renewed effort to fast-track the controversial Delta tunnel project, an effort opponents say puts Southern California interests ahead of Central Valley communities. Newsom’s plan, part of his revised budget proposal unveiled last week, would streamline approval and construction of the Delta Conveyance Project—a $20 billion initiative aimed at diverting water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to parched regions further south. The governor argues the tunnel is essential to modernize California’s water infrastructure and adapt to a drier, hotter future. “For too long, attempts to modernize our critical water infrastructure have stalled in endless red tape,” Newsom said in an official statement. “We’re done with barriers. Our state needs to complete this project as soon as possible.” But in the Delta region, local leaders view those regulations as necessary safeguards and have questioned the need to expedite the project. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
Newsom budget proposes fast track for Delta tunnel
“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $322 billion spending plan for 2025-26 has various impacts on California agriculture. The governor released his revised budget last week, saying that the state faces a $12 billion budget deficit. He cited rising costs associated with funding Medi-Cal as a primary cause of the budget shortfall. The health insurance program for low-income Californians reported a $6 billion overrun this year. Newsom also blamed the impact of tariffs on California’s economy for causing the budget deficit. The budget revision includes a proposal to fast-track the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project, a $20-billion tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. “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,” Newsom said in a statement. “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.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Delta Tribes and statewide organizations urge legislators to reject Governor Newsom’s Delta tunnel and Bay-Delta Plan trailer bills
“The Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition (DTEC) and a coalition of statewide organizations dedicated to the equitable stewardship of California’s water resources sent letters to legislative leaders urging them to reject Governor Newsom’s proposed budget trailer bills, which would accelerate the Delta Conveyance Project (otherwise known as the Delta Tunnel) and eliminate critical environmental reviews for the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. The Governor’s proposal to fast-track the Delta Tunnel and circumvent legal protections is also facing unanimous opposition from the California Legislative Delta Caucus. Governor Newsom’s trailer bill language seeks to bypass decades of established water laws, environmental protections, and public processes in order to fast-track one of California’s most controversial and costly infrastructure projects—The Delta Tunnel. The legislation also threatens water quality standards for the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. … ” Continue reading this press release.
Governor’s proposal to fast-track Delta tunnel project draws widespread opposition throughout CA
“On Tuesday, leaders of the Legislative Delta Caucus and statewide organizations stood united together during a press conference to denounce Governor Newsom’s budget proposal to fast-track the Delta Tunnel Project and encourage fellow legislators to oppose any plan to accelerate construction of the $20 billion-plus, destructive tunnel. The project is receiving widespread opposition from leaders throughout the state, especially those in the Delta whose 4 million residents would be most directly impacted. Here’s what they are saying, according to a press release … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
Video: California needs new water plan
“Jennifer Pierre, the general manager of the state water contractors has said the California water system was built long ago no longer works. We have severe droughts, flooding and atmospheric rivers, unreliable snowpack and most of the time the beautiful snowpack goes right into the ocean. This is our new normal and it’s putting our water supply and economy at risk for farmers. Farmers are always fighting with environmentalist, a wacky government and man-made drought year after year.That’s why we need bold actions now the Delta Conveyance Project or DCP isa cornerstone of this effort. It’s a modern solution and designed to capture and move water to protect groundwater.” Watch video/listen to audio at AgNet West.
In other California water news today …
Snow is melting rapidly in parts of the West. Here’s why
“The western U.S. is experiencing a late-season snow drought, according to an update Wednesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Integrated Drought Information System. The diminished snowpack could result in water supply issues and increased wildfire risk in the coming months, the authors wrote. Above-normal temperatures and a lack of precipitation in April and early May caused depletions even in basins where snow had piled up in prior months. “(These basins) had near normal snowpack for that time of year, but then fell into what we call late- season snow drought due to unseasonably warm conditions and dry conditions,” said Jason Gerlich, regional drought information coordinator at NOAA’s Integrated Drought Information System for the Pacific Northwest and Missouri River Basin. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Trump cuts leave California weather forecasters scrambling as fire season looms
“The National Weather Service ceased 24/7 operations at two offices that forecast weather for the entire Central Valley and much of the Sierra Nevada, facing steep staff shortages after cuts from the Trump administration. The Central Valley offices in Sacramento and Hanford started “going dark overnight” last week because they each have about half the workers they should have, said Tom Fahy, legislative director of the National Weather Service Employees Organization. “The Trump staffing cuts have been so egregious,” he said, pointing out that six other offices nationwide have or will soon end around-the-clock hours, as reported last week by The Washington Post. Fahy said that between 2010 to 2025, about 600 employees left the National Weather Service, many of them retiring. Under President Donald Trump, he said, almost 600 people left in three months. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Solano wants Cache Slough plan to include stronger local protections
“Solano County has requested that the state Department of Water Resources amend the draft of the Yolo Bypass Cache Slough Master Plan to include six key points that align with local priorities. “While improvements have been made, Solano County maintains several critical concerns about the public review draft. We respectfully request additional revisions to better align the Master Plan with regional priorities for flood protection, agricultural sustainability, water supply reliability and local economic resilience,” states a letter sent to the state agency and signed by Board of Supervisors Chairman Mitch Mashburn. It is dated May 15. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Legal alert: Point A to Point B: Fresno County Superior Court vacates State Water Board order re: Blue Triton/Arrowhead
“On May 5, 2025, the Fresno County Superior Court ruled that the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) exceeded its statutory authority in issuing a cease-and-desist order that attempted to regulate the taking of groundwater by a commercial water bottling company. (BlueTriton Brands, Inc. v. State Water Resources Control Board, Fresno County Superior Court Case No. 23CECG04292.) If the Court’s decision stands, it will limit the State Water Board’s jurisdiction over subterranean water that may eventually flow to the surface but is not part of a subterranean stream flowing through known and definite channels. The State Water Board issued the cease-and-desist order on September 19, 2023, and soon thereafter the affected water bottling company sued, challenging the State Water Board’s authority to issue such an order in the first place. The Court reasoned that the primary issue was whether the water at issue is groundwater or a “subterranean stream[] flowing through known and definite channels.” … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn.
Limited chinook sport fishing to reopen in 3 Central Valley rivers
“While low Chinook salmon counts have called for the continued closure of Chinook salmon fishing in the Klamath River Basin and mainstem Sacramento River, Chinook fishing opportunities will be allowed in three inland Central Valley rivers for the first time in two years. At its May 14 meeting in Sacramento, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) unanimously adopted sport fishing regulations for the 2025 season, opening limited Chinook salmon fishing on sections of the Mokelumne, Feather and American rivers, within adjusted seasons and a daily bag limit of one fish. The Sacramento River and Klamath River Basin and its tributaries will remain closed to protect those stocks. “I’m happy to see some Chinook salmon fishing opportunity brought back in Central Valley rivers,” said Jay Rowan, Fisheries Branch Chief. “Increased hatchery production and a few good water years have led to a rebound in some of the key Central Valley salmon tributaries, which is encouraging to see.” … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
SEE ALSO: Chinook salmon fishing to return to these three Sacramento-area rivers, from the Sacramento Bee
Native turtles return to Yosemite after removal of invasive bullfrogs
“The call of American bullfrogs was deafening when scientists from the University of California, Davis, first began researching the impact of invasive bullfrogs on native northwestern pond turtles at Yosemite National Park. “At night, you could look out over the pond and see a constellation of eyes blinking back at you,” said UC Davis Ph.D. candidate Sidney Woodruff, lead author of a study chronicling the effects of removal. “Their honking noise is iconic, and it drowns out native species’ calls.” But the ponds of Yosemite sound different today, with a chorus of native species making themselves heard. The researchers’ study, published in the May issue of the journal Biological Conservation, found that as the park was depopulated of bullfrogs, northwestern pond turtles began to return. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
Delta Stewardship Council attempting to empower Chair to “limit or preclude” oral comments at meetings
“Save the California Delta Alliance members chartered a bus to the 2017 Delta Stewardship Council meeting considering adoption of regulations amending the Delta Plan to incorporate Delta Conveyance. On Thursday, May 22, the Delta Stewardship Council is planning to adopt regulations on public participation in council meetings. The draft regulations include the following: Section 5000.15. Public Comment. (a) A person may submit a comment in writing on any agenda item. A person submitting a comment shall provide the council with a copy of the comment no later than noon, Pacific Time, the business day before the meeting at which it is to be considered. (b) Members of the public present at the meeting shall be given an opportunity to make relevant oral comments on any agenda item. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), the chair or other presiding member may limit or preclude comments as necessary for the orderly conduct of business. Note: Authority cited: Section 85210, Water Code. Reference: Section 11125.7, Government Code; and Section 85200, Water Code. … ” Read more from California Water Research.
Calif. solar-on-farms bill clears hurdle after lawmaker strikes deal with rural counties
“California state lawmakers moved legislation forward to make it easier to turn farmland into solar farms after its author agreed to narrow the bill in a deal with rural counties and some farming groups Wednesday. What happened: Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D) agreed to amend her AB 1156, which would facilitate the conversion of agricultural land exempted from certain taxes to temporary use as a solar farm, to pass her bill out of the Assembly Agriculture Committee on a 6-1 vote Wednesday. The changes, which include removing the involvement of the California Energy Commission and allowing local governments to nonrenew a solar easement at the end of the project’s life, are primarily aimed at assuaging the Rural County Representatives of California. RCRC — which holds particular sway with rural lawmakers like Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Esmeralda Soria (D) — previously opposed the bill because of concerns over losing local control but agreed to drop its opposition Wednesday. “I heard the word ‘balancing act’ many times, and I think that’s what we’re trying to land here,” said Wicks when presenting her bill. … ” Read more from E&E News (sorry, subscription required).
Democrats sound alarm as Trump cuts flood prevention projects in blue states
“The Trump administration significantly cut funding for flood prevention projects in blue states across the country while creating new water construction opportunities in red states, undoing a Biden-era budget proposal that would have allocated money more evenly, according to a data analysis prepared by Democratic staffers. California and the state of Washington lost the most funds, with the administration cutting water construction budget for those states by a combined $606 million, according to the analysis, which was shared with CNN. Texas, meanwhile, gained $206 million. Democrats decried the moves, saying the administration was slashing essential projects in the name of political retribution. Collectively, states with Democratic senators lost over $436 million in funding compared to what they would have received under the last proposed budget of President Joe Biden’s administration, the data analysis shows. Republican-led states gained more than $257 million, the analysis shows. … ” Read more from CNN.
In commentary today …
On water, Newsom is out of time and making his riskiest move as governor
Opinion columnist Tom Philp writes, “One of Gavin Newsom’s first acts as governor was to start rebuilding California’s water system differently than his predecessor. Yet California’s regulatory system of analysis, permitting and litigation for big projects is leaving him nowhere close to an actual decision point, much less a podcast-worthy ribbon cutting, before his years in Sacramento are over. Running out of options, Newsom is now turning to the state Legislature to ram through a set of water reforms in the name of “fast tracking” a key California water initiative, the controversial “tunnel” project in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This word choice, suggesting California does anything with speed, misses the broader point. There is nothing fast, efficient or effective at how California has built anything for some time. We have substituted process for actual progress. And no Democratic leader in the Legislature stays in power long enough in Sacramento to really care. This is what Newsom is up against. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
No one voted for more pollution — so why is the EPA trying to cut half its budget?
Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, writes, “Lee Zeldin, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is slated to go before a Senate panel today to try and defend the indefensible: taking the nation’s environmental guardian off the beat. That’s what the Trump administration has in mind with its proposal to slash EPA funding nearly 55 percent for the 2026 budget year, the subject of Wednesday’s hearing before the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works. Nobody voted for that. In fact, nearly nine in 10 — 88 percent — want Congress to increase EPA funding, or at least hold it steady. Few arms of the federal government reach our daily lives quite like the EPA. Its mission is to safeguard the air we breathe and the water we drink, manage hazardous waste, clean up contaminated industrial sites and protect us from toxic chemicals. It defends the health of every person in this country. … ” Read more from The Hill.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Yuba Water Agency commits more than $2.2 million in grants for levee improvements and water supply reliability projects
“Yuba Water Agency committed more than $2.2 million in grants for projects to improve levees and benefit water supply reliability in Yuba County. A grant for more than $1.1 million was approved for the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority to evaluate flood risk and deficiencies in the Horseshoe Basin levees, which are located within a rural area of Yuba County east of Plumas Lake. The funds will be used to assess the current condition of the levees and identify potential maintenance needed in the future. Yuba Water also approved a grant amendment for approximately $640,000 in additional funding for Reclamation District 2103 for further repairs to its approximately one-mile-long Grasshopper Slough levee near Wheatland. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Avoid Lower Clear Creek during deep, ‘very cold’ dam release through Memorial Day weekend
“Memorial Day weekend guests at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area should be on alert for fast moving, deep and very cold water, the park’s rangers cautioned. The Bureau of Reclamation is releasing more water through Whiskeytown Dam and into the park through June 24, boosting water levels. Expect highest flows this week, peaking Thursday, according to an announcement issued by the park. Park guests should especially be on alert for fast and cold water at Clear Creek. “Stay out of Lower Clear Creek during this time to stay alive,” the Whiskeytown’s announcement said. Powerful rushing water can push around logs, branches, rocks and people. Park officials urge swimmers, boaters and kayakers to check conditions in all lakes and rivers before they take the plunge. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
BAY AREA
How much is EBMUD planning to raise its water rates?
“East Bay Municipal Utility District will consider a proposal in June to raise rates 13% over two years for water customers and a 17% increase for wastewater customers to update century-old infrastructure and build new water treatment plants. Starting in July, the proposed rate increase will add about $8 to the average water customer’s bill — and slightly more than $4 — to pay for investments by the public water utility into climate-resilient systems, according to EBMUD public information office Nelsy Rodriguez. “We have to do this now,” Rodriguez said. “Our system is more than 100 years old. We turned 100 in 2023, and some of the infrastructure that we have in the ground is still the original infrastructure that we inherited.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
USGS: Nature-based “Horizontal Levees” reduce flood risk in San Francisco Bay
“As sea levels rise and storms intensify, the threat of coastal flooding in low-lying areas like San Francisco Bay is becoming increasingly urgent. Traditionally engineered levees that hold back water are a first line of defense, but a new study points to a promising hybrid approach: nature-based “horizontal levees”. Researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz and USGS have found that these hybrid structures—wetland buffers that slope gently out in front of traditional levees—can reduce the risk of floodwater overtopping by up to 30%, while also supporting valuable marsh habitat. Unlike conventional levees, which often rely solely on height and bulk to hold back water, horizontal levees incorporate a gradual, vegetated slope on the water-facing side. This natural buffer helps absorb wave energy, reducing the pressure on the levee itself. The result: a more resilient system that blends engineering with ecosystem restoration. … ” Read more from the USGS.
SEE ALSO: Facing the storm: UC Santa Cruz researchers model a new line of coastal defense, from UC Santa Cruz
Toxic catch: Bay Area communities at risk from PFAS in local fish
“People have always fished in the San Francisco Bay. But they may also unknowingly consume unhealthy levels of persistent, dangerous chemicals with their catch. A study published on Tuesday from researchers at the San Francisco Estuary Institute found that 10 species of commonly consumed fish from the Bay frequently contain high levels of “forever chemicals,” which can take hundreds to thousands of years to break down and accumulate in the people and animals that eat them. The South Bay, the study found, is especially polluted. Study author Rebecca Sutton said she and colleagues have been worried about perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in local fish for decades. The study examined the prevalence of PFAS in shiner surfperch, striped bass, white croaker and seven other sport fish from the Bay over the last ten years. … ” Read more from KQED.
CENTRAL COAST
Water agencies join forces to combat overdrafting Salinas Valley groundwater
“Two Monterey County agencies have joined ranks to collect water data for wells in the Salinas Valley, an effort to hold off the state from coming in to regulate the over-pumping of groundwater supplying much of the county’s $4.4 billion agricultural economy. The two agencies – the Monterey County Water Resources Agency and the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency – have separate missions but both are concerned with water quantity and quality within the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin, which is a series of smaller aquifers that span the entire 90 miles of the Salinas Valley. A couple of those aquifers, called subbasins, are considered in “critical overdraft” by the state Department of Water Resources because of a century’s worth of over-pumping. The state defines critically overdrafted basins as those in which the continuation of current practices would likely result in significant adverse environmental, social or economic impacts. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald (gift article).
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Solar on Ag Land: Farmers turn to clean energy amid water cuts
“Faced with water shortages, some California farmers are turning to solar energy as a sustainable way to use fallow land. A new bill, AB 1156, could let farmers lease land for solar panels. SGMA regulations are forcing many growers to leave land fallow. Energy demand in California is expected to rise 80% by 2045. Some Central Valley farmers see solar as the next best option to farming. … ” Read broadcast transcript at Channel 23.
Kern County Subbasin to host workshops on Groundwater Sustainability Plan amendments
“The Kern County Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies invited the public to a series of community workshops to learn more about their 2024 Groundwater Sustainability Plan amendments and share input. The first workshop is set for Tuesday, June 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, located at 1000 South Owens Street. The two additional workshops will be virtual and are scheduled for June 5 and June 11, both to begin at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m., according to organizers. Attendees can learn more about California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, upcoming changes to the plans and how these updates are expected to affect different communities and groundwater users across the Kern County Subbasin, organizers said. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Researchers call for more comprehensive soil testing after LA fires. But who should do it?
“A group of environmental researchers is calling for more comprehensive soil testing in the L.A. region after January’s fires. In a letter sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, a dozen experts said the state should pay for widespread testing to ensure lots are safe to rebuild on. The federal government has been in charge of cleaning up after the Eaton and Palisades fires, but have said they will not test soil for heavy metals and other toxins once lots are cleared. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has lead debris removal after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cleared hazardous debris first, has said clearing 6 inches of topsoil should be enough to eliminate the most harmful levels of toxins. But independent testing by researchers and L.A. County has found high levels of toxins such as lead in lots already cleared by the Army Corps. … ” Read more from the LAist.
More than 5,000 properties complete in wildfire debris removal effort
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), together with FEMA and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), today announced that more than 5,000 properties across the Eaton and Palisades burn areas have been cleared of ash and fire debris and received final sign off. “Debris removal is being completed at a historic pace, thanks to close coordination between county, state, and federal partners along with support from the President and his administration,” said FEMA Region 9 Administrator Bob Fenton. “Safety continues to be a top priority as we work to accelerate the remainder of the debris removal operation and help survivors move towards recovery.” Final sign off indicates that debris removal is completed, hazardous trees have been removed, hydromulch and erosion control is in place, and the Right of Entry has been returned to Los Angeles County. “In just three months since we began debris removal operations, to reach 5,000 completed properties is astonishing and a testament to the partnership necessary to pull off a mission of this scale,” said Brig. Gen. William Hannan, commander of the USACE Task Force Phoenix. … ” Read more from Cal OES.
LA City Council calls for review of river maintenance contracts
“The City Council Tuesday called for a review of all contracts associated with maintaining the Los Angeles River as elected officials look to consolidate such work. In a unanimous vote, the council approved a motion that aims to consolidate maintenance responsibilities to one entity, the LA River Rangers program. Council members instructed relative departments to list all current river maintenance contracts, fees, term lengths and staff costs. … The motion aims to address “fragmentation,” which in some cases has led to inconsistent service levels, uneven cost distribution, and dissatisfaction among residents who care about the L.A. River, officials said. … ” Read more from My News LA.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Water flows for the first time at major Salton Sea Habitat Project
“For the first time, water is flowing into the Species Conservation Habitat Project at California’s beleaguered Salton Sea—creating vital refuge for shorebirds and bringing much-needed relief from airborne dust in nearby communities. “This is a big day for the many thousands of birds that call the Salton Sea home, as well as the nearby communities seeking relief from the unhealthy dust kicked up from exposed playa,” said Andrea Jones, Audubon California’s director of conservation and interim executive director. “Ultimately, water is the essential ingredient that provides life for this community—and the fact that it is flowing into this project should give everyone hope that better days are coming.” … ” Read more from Audubon.
IID’s Climate Action Day focuses on a cleaner Shank Alamo Wetlands
“After a less successful attempt in 2012, the Imperial Irrigation District found triumph for its Community Climate Action Day, as the agency partnered with a coalition of state and national groups to improve the climate around the Shank Alamo Wetlands located east of Brawley. The goal to plant hundreds of native plants that would benefit the overall conditions of the wetland was easily attained as the expected number of around 40 volunteers was surpassed, with more than double the amount of expected volunteers turning out to make a change on Saturday, May 17. The goal saw support from IID, Desert Wildlife Unlimited, Imperial Valley Chapter, Keep California Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful, the city of Imperial, Barrett Biological Enterprises and the California Climate Action Corps. … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego named in new study that identifies ‘sinking’ cities
“New York, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Diego are just a few of the 28 cities named in a new study pointing to hotspots of land subsidence. Researchers from Virginia Tech say the slow and gradual sinking of Earth’s surface threatens the infrastructure of buildings, roads, and bridges. Long-term groundwater mining and oil and gas extraction are the top drivers impacting how fast the cities are sinking. In some cases, it’s leading to subsidence rates of several inches per year. … Researchers say that infrastructure can be silently compromised over time, with damage only becoming evident when it is severe or potentially catastrophic. Making things worse, the risk is often exacerbated in rapidly expanding urban centers. In San Diego County, fluctuations in aquifers, influenced by periods of drought and precipitation, contribute to land motion. For instance, Chula Vista has experienced land subsidence, which can exacerbate the impacts of rising sea levels. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
Commentary: Restoring Mission Bay’s wetlands is a win-win for San Diego
Jim Peugh, founding member of the ReWild Coalition and conservation co-chair of the San Diego Bird Alliance, and Nan Renner, Ph.D., senior director of strategic partnerships at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, write, “City leaders face difficult tradeoffs as they navigate budget decisions. City tax revenue must cover essential services and infrastructure needs. At the same time, city government aims to fulfill legal obligations and environmental responsibilities, all while respecting the will of voters. Increasing Mission Bay’s vanishing wetlands uniquely meets all these criteria and constraints, using funds already earmarked by voters specifically for this purpose. San Diego voters passed Proposition C (2008) and Measure J (2016) creating a clear roadmap for Mission Bay Park Improvement Funds. Binding priorities in the City Charter Section 55.2 direct taxpayer investments first toward navigable waterways, then environmental restoration and protection, and last to deferred maintenance projects. These dedicated funds cannot be diverted to address any other citywide needs, no matter how pressing. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
EPA promises faster action on South Bay sewage crisis, expanding treatment plant
“Beachgoers at Imperial Beach are facing yellow warning signs despite the tempting summer heat, as sewage contamination continues to plague the shoreline. The Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator has announced an accelerated timeline for expanding the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, promising completion by the end of summer. “Everybody was waiting for summer. We can’t go to the beach, c’mon. That’s embarrassing,” said Maria Gonzales, a resident in Imperial Beach. The plant currently treats 25 million gallons of raw sewage coming from Tijuana every day. The expansion project would increase its capacity to 35 million gallons. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
SEE ALSO: EPA fast-tracks South Bay Water Treatment Plant repairs and expansion to 100 days, from Channel 8
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River water users want to collaborate on conservation — but they need updated infrastructure to make it happen
“In Western Colorado, surrounded by mesas and canyons, farmers are busy growing some of the state’s most beloved agricultural products. “I would say a majority is the specialty crops, the peaches, the cherries, the apples, pears, vineyards, but we do still have some row crops… we’ve got hay, there’s vegetable farmers, we serve it all.” That’s Jackie Fisher, the manager of the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, or OMID. “6,900 water users,” she says when asked how many irrigators use OMID’s water. “We have 12,000 acres of land in the district, but 9,200, roughly, acres of ground is allocated with water.” She says in addition to the thousands of irrigators that rely on their water, the district’s physical location puts them in a unique situation. … ” Read more from Aspen Public Radio.
This Nevada fish is the 1st species slated for protection in new Trump term
“A lithium mine could contribute to the extinction of a fish species in southwestern Nevada, the federal government acknowledged Tuesday in a document recommending its protection. The Fish Lake Valley tui chub is the first species to get a positive recommendation for Endangered Species Act listing under the second Trump administration. “Water use for lithium mining will likely exacerbate the already over-allocated Fish Lake Valley groundwater basin that supplies water for tui chub habitat,” the proposal said, pointing to geothermal energy development and farming as additional water stressors in the region. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Arizona faces increased wildfire risk due to extreme drought and rapid snowmelt.
“The latest wildfire outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center shows much of Arizona in the red. That means a greater than usual likelihood of significant wildland fires. Extreme drought expanded in the southwestern US and now covers portions of southeast California, southern Nevada, southern Arizona, and southern New Mexico. Warmer and drier than normal conditions in the West have resulted in a faster-than-normal snowmelt this spring, and with those conditions expected to continue, many locations are likely to be snow-free two to three weeks earlier than normal. Dry conditions will continue across the southwestern US into June, typically our driest time of year in Arizona. But the North American Monsoon is expected to be robust for Arizona and New Mexico by July, and the eventual onset of the Monsoon will help to decrease the threat of significant wildfires across the southwestern US. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
Will Arizona save its groundwater before it’s gone for good?
“Ed Curry has been farming chile peppers in Arizona’s arid southeastern corner for 54 years. Over decades, he’s kept tabs on local groundwater levels, monitored his wells for declines, and done his best to conserve across his 2,000 acres. His father, also a farmer in Cochise County, did the same. But, until very recently, that diligence wasn’t mandatory. When it was passed, the state’s 1980 Groundwater Management Act focused on urban centers—and for cities, it worked well, reducing water demand as population grew. Yet the law left about 80 percent of the state unregulated: Across nearly all of Arizona’s rural land, anyone could drill a well and pump as much water as they’d like, without even measuring their use. Around eight years ago, as large out-of-state farms and dairies began operating in his area, Curry noticed that even wells he wasn’t using were losing water. In the absence of guard rails preventing unfettered pumping, the Willcox groundwater basin that Curry’s farm draws from has recently been losing roughly 54,000 Olympic swimming pools of groundwater volume a year. … ” Read more from Audubon.
Lake Mead, Powell water levels to hit near-record lows amid ongoing drought
“Water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell are projected to fall to near-record lows this summer, according to the National Weather Service. The ongoing drought, which has persisted for about 25 years, continues to impact the Colorado River system that supplies water to 40 million people across seven states. Colby Pellegrino of the Southern Nevada Water Authority expressed concern over the worsening conditions. “I think the new normal is hotter and drier. I think what’s scary is the new normal might be even drier than what we’re experiencing today,” she said. … ” Read more from Channel 3.
As Colorado streamflow forecast shrinks, white water river runners need to act fast
“Colorado river rats will have their work cut out for them this summer, as state streamflow forecasts dip well below average, signaling a short white water rafting season this month and next, and challenging river conditions come late summer. Statewide streamflow forecasts this month are well below normal, ranging from a low of 48% of median on the Rio Grande to a high of 79% of average in the Upper Colorado River Basin, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Services, a federal agency that tracks snow and water. “It’s not looking great,” said Brian Domonkos, Colorado snow survey supervisor at the NRCS in Lakewood. Domonkos was referring to recent warm weather that is speeding up the melt of a snowpack that registered barely normal earlier this year and which means shrinking stream flows as the summer progresses. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Report: Non-revenue water costs U.S. utilities $6.4 billion annually
“According to a recent report from global water market data and insights provider Bluefield Research, nearly one in five gallons — 19.5% — of treated drinking water in the United States is lost before it reaches customers or is improperly billed. Known as non-revenue water (NRW), Bluefield estimates that it costs utilities more than $6.4 billion (USD) in uncaptured revenues annually. According to Bluefield, a major contributor to water loss is are vast and aging distribution networks that span more than 2.2 million miles across the country. Water main breaks are estimated to occur every two minutes, placing significant financial, operational and infrastructure burdens on utilities and their stakeholders. Along with physical water leakage, utilities also need to be concerned about under-registering meters that may improperly bill customers for their water usage, resulting in lost revenue for the utility. Together, both cases of water or revenue being “lost” are considered non-revenue water. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
“Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the first national drinking water standards for six hazardous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Last week, the Trump administration announced that it would delay the timeline for implementing limits on two of those compounds and reconsider the limits on the remaining four. There are more than 15,000 types of PFAS, and a growing body of research underscores the urgency of addressing them in water supplies. For decades, manufacturers have added the chemicals to products ranging from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals” for their resistance to breaking down over time. These compounds now linger in soil, waterways, and human bloodstreams, with mounting evidence linking exposure to certain levels to some types of cancer, immune system damage, and other human health issues. Yet until recently, no comprehensive estimate of PFAS contamination in U.S. groundwater was available. … ” Read more from Environmental Health News.
SEE ALSO: The EPA is rolling back drinking water limits for 4 PFAS. Thousands more remain unregulated, from Grist
EPA invests $30.7 million in rural water infrastructure, lead line replacement
“Wastewater and drinking water systems in small and rural communities across America will receive an extra funding boost to improve water quality, per an announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday. The EPA will distribute $30.7 million in technical assistance grants to help small, underfunded public water systems comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act. The funds can also be used to help private well owners in rural areas improve their water quality and update small public wastewater septic systems. “Small and rural communities are the backbone of our country, and they face unique challenges when it comes to ensuring clean and safe water,” EPA Senior Advisor Jessica Kramer said. “EPA is committed to assisting small and rural communities with improving water quality, protecting health, bolstering economic opportunities and protecting water resources.” … ” Read more from the Center Square.
More tornadoes and fewer meteorologists make for a dangerous mix that’s worrying US officials
“As nasty tornadoes popped up from Kansas to Kentucky, a depleted National Weather Service was in scramble mode. The agency’s office in Jackson, Kentucky, had begun closing nightly as deep cuts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency began hitting. But the weather service kept staffers on overtime Friday night to stay on top of the deadly storms, which killed nearly 20 people in the Jackson office’s forecast area. It’s a scenario likely to be repeated as the U.S. is on track to see more tornadoes this year than in 2024, which was the second-busiest tornado year on record. Forecasters said there was at least a 10% risk of tornadoes Tuesday for 10.6 million people in parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Weather service veterans expressed concern about the agency’s ability to keep up in the face of the cuts. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
‘Plenty of time’ to solve climate crisis, Interior secretary tells representatives
“The US has “plenty of time” to solve the climate crisis,” the interior secretary, Doug Burgum, told a House committee on Tuesday. The comment came on his first of two days of testimony to House and Senate appropriators in which he defended Donald Trump’s proposed budget, dubbed the “one big, beautiful bill”, that would extend tax reductions enacted during Trump’s first term, while cutting $5bn of funding for the Department of the Interior. In addition to slashing spending on national parks, historic preservation, and other key interior department programming, the budget proposal would cancels billions of dollars in infrastructure investments, environmental programs and research grants. It would also gut funding for renewable energy, including by rolling back clean tax credits from Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Maine representative Chellie Marie Pingree, the ranking member of the House appropriations committee, said this would amount to “effectively gutting this critical sector”. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Trump administration releases fiscal year 2026 budget
“The Trump Administration on May 2 released a summary of its Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal that recommends a decrease in discretionary and non-defense spending of an estimated $163 billion. Notably for ACWA members, the budget includes estimated cuts of $4.9 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, $5.1 billion for the Department of Interior, $5 billion for the Department of Agriculture, and $1.7 billion for the Department of Commerce. While the president’s budget serves as a funding blueprint, it is ultimately up to Congress to set funding levels and appropriate funds for federal programs. ACWA staff is working closely with partner organizations and allies on Capitol Hill to secure robust funding for water infrastructure. Specific budget proposals include the following … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News.
