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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. Click here for the meeting notice.
- WEBINAR: Cap-and-Trade Unpacked: Funding Critical Water Infrastructure Solutions that Improve California’s Climate Resilience from 10am to 11am. Join us for an insightful discussion as we delve into the implications of California’s 2025-26 budget proposal, featuring conversation about the Governor’s and Legislature’s discussions to reauthorize the cap-and-trade program beyond 2030. This session will explore opportunities for allocating Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) revenues for critical water infrastructure investment aimed at supporting climate-related resilience. We are honored to have as confirmed speakers Jennifer Pierre, General Manager, State Water Contractors, and Johnny Amaral, Chief Operating Officer, Friant Water Authority. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Planning for Sustainable Water Management from 3pm to 4pm. Water management plans are a go-to tool for making California’s water supply more resilient and sustainable. But what do they actually achieve? This talk will dive into research on the state’s water planning requirements, asking whether California water management plans support sustainable water management, whether planning incentivizes more coordinated management, and why California continually turns to planning as a water policy tool. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
The blobby little sea squirt that stowed away across the Pacific to California
“In 2023, biologists Lauren Stefaniak and Marie Nydam had time to kill before their university workshop on marine invertebrates began, so they drove to a marina not far from Los Angeles to gather organisms for their students to study. They strolled along floating docks, pausing periodically to sit down or to lie on their stomachs and pluck an assortment of small creatures from the water. Stefaniak, a marine scientist at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, and Nydam, a marine evolutionary geneticist at Soka University of America, in California, are experts at identifying the myriad animals — shelled or squishy, scurrying or stuck in place — that festoon docks, buoys, pilings and ropes at the water’s edge. But that day, one finding surprised them: reddish blobs about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long that they didn’t recognize. As it turned out, they had collected the first specimens of the ascidian Corella japonica from North America. Scientists don’t yet know whether this new member of California’s marine fauna will have ecological impacts, but its arrival highlights the massive, largely uncontrolled movement of marine species via ships that travel the world. … ” Read more from Mongabay.
NOAA’s atmospheric river research: Serving up data rain or shine
“As the western United States heads into its traditional dry season, water managers are assessing how winter rains have helped replenish the region’s reservoirs. The vast majority of precipitation that falls during the wet season results from atmospheric rivers (ARs) that rain down life-sustaining water but can also cause costly destruction. These fast-moving “rivers” of water vapor in the sky supply up to half of the region’s annual precipitation, with stronger ARs responsible for the majority of flood damages along the West Coast. To aid in predicting and monitoring these extreme weather events, NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) operates nine atmospheric river observatories at sites distributed along the coast from Washington to Southern California. These unmanned weather stations send round-the-clock observations back to the laboratory, which analyzes and displays the data publicly on its Atmospheric River Portal. The National Weather Service utilizes this data portal to produce forecasts and weather warnings. State and local agencies also use the portal for creating water management strategies and emergency response planning. … ” Read more from NOAA Research.
California’s second-largest reservoir fills for third straight year
“California’s second-largest reservoir, Lake Oroville, reached capacity Friday, hitting the high water mark for the third straight year — a first for the 57-year-old reservoir. The milestone comes after a moderately wet winter in California, with enough snow in the mountains, particularly in the north, to melt and flush substantial water into state reservoirs. This week, water storage in California’s major reservoirs stood at a comfortable 116% of average for the time of year, ensuring decent supplies for the rest of 2025. At Lake Oroville, about 70 miles north of Sacramento in Butte County, water levels rose Friday morning to within inches of the 900-foot elevation mark that state water managers deem full pool, prompting notice that the reservoir had hit capacity. At capacity, the lake holds 3.4 million acre-feet of water, enough to supply more than 7 million households for a year. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California is bracing for the first major heat stretch of 2025. Here’s how hot it will get
“Don’t let the gray skies and cool breeze on Memorial Day fool you, California is on the verge of a sharp, but uneven warmup that could push parts of the state into the triple digits by week’s end, bringing the first widespread heat outbreak of the year and elevating fire weather concerns as well. Monday through Wednesday will follow a familiar late spring script: morning marine layer clouds, gusty onshore afternoon winds, and cool coastal temperatures, with inland areas gradually warming each day. But by midweek, that pattern will begin to shift. A broad ridge of high pressure will build over the West starting Wednesday, setting the stage for a sustained warmup that could bring some of the hottest weather of the year so far to central California. This ridge won’t form in isolation. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO:
- Will California have a mild summer or hotter-than-usual weather? See the forecast, from the Sacramento Bee
- Summer is almost here. Here’s what the weather will be like where you live, from the Washington Post
20 billion water battle: Delta lawmakers and Tribes push back on Newsom’s tunnel project
““I want to be crystal clear. Fast-tracking the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) is a direct attack on our region’s environmental integrity, economic stability and public trust,” Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) warned Gov. Newsom. Wilson, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), was speaking at a press conference on May 20 at the State Capitol organized to push back against the Governor’s plans to speed up $20 billion worth of improvements to the State Water Project (SWP), a tunnel that delivers water from Northern California to areas in the south of the state. Wilson, who is also co-chair of the legislative Delta Caucus, was joined at the press conference by Sen. Jerry McNerney, the other co-chair of the caucus, and Assemblymember Rhodesia Ranson (D-Tracy), also a member of the CLBC. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Observer.
Managed aquifer recharge on agriculture lands: Infiltration basins, flood-MAR and regional variability
“Groundwater has long been the unseen lifeblood of irrigators across the state, and some are now taking an active role in replenishing it. When and where surface water has been insufficient, Californians have drilled down, steadily depleting the aquifer. … Aquifers naturally recharge when water percolates into the soil. Intentionally replenishing the aquifer to keep pace with pumping, through a practice called Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), is an important strategy, and the state’s agricultural lands have emerged as a field of opportunity for implementation (Harter, 2015). California’s aquifers can store at least three times as much as surface reservoirs (Dahlke et al, 2018). As such, not only does recharging the aquifer stabilize the supply available for current groundwater pumping, but it could play a compelling role in California’s climatically altered future where storing water is of utmost importance, due to diminished snowpack and increased rainfall as models suggest. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
Land rich, cash poor: A deep dive into California’s farming crisis
“Farming in California has never been easy—but today’s farmers face a crisis of sustainability that goes far beyond the soil. In a recent conversation with Brian Reisinger, author of the book Land Rich, Cash Poor, we dug into what’s causing the decline of American family farms—especially in California—and what might help. Brian, a fourth-generation farm kid turned journalist, shared a personal journey that started on his family’s land and led him into the heart of public policy. His new book explores the invisible pressures that have pushed tens of thousands of farms out of business, year after year. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Cannabis grows and water usage
“As marijuana cultivation expands across the United States and globally, concerns are emerging about its environmental footprint—particularly about cannabis grows and water usage. A commonly raised question is whether cannabis affects water tables as much as notoriously water-intensive crops like avocados, almonds, or rice. The answer depends on several factors, including growing methods, location, and water regulation practices. Cannabis is a thirsty crop. Outdoor cannabis plants require an estimated 5 to 6 gallons of water per plant per day during peak growing season. In comparison, an avocado tree typically consumes 40 to 50 gallons per day, but it also produces a larger volume of fruit over a longer growing period. On a per-acre basis, cannabis can use slightly less or more water than avocados depending on planting density and climate. However, the water impact of cannabis becomes more problematic in regions where it’s grown illegally or without proper oversight. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
The Nigiri concept: Salmon habitat on rice fields
“Nigiri is a form of sushi with a slice of fish atop a compact wedge of rice. In Yolo County, the “Nigiri Project” is the name of a collaborative effort between farmers and researchers to help restore salmon populations by reintroducing them during winter, to floodplains that are farmed with rice during summer. Today, only five percent of the Central Valley’s original floodplain habitat remains for the region’s salmon populations. The Nigiri Project seeks to optimize habitat benefits for salmon and water birds, while maintaining farming on the largest floodplain of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the 60,000-acre Yolo Bypass.The Project is located on the Knaggs Ranch, in the northern reaches of the Yolo Bypass between Interstate 5 and the Sacramento River. Cal Marsh and Farm, which manages the Knaggs property, aims to provide up to 2,500 acres of winter floodplain habitat for Chinook salmon on land that will continue to be farmed during summer. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Fish Science Explained: How SHERLOCK uses CRISPR technology for species detection
“While it sounds like an air fryer setting, CRISPR-based (pronounced “crisper”) genetic methods have revolutionized biomedical, agricultural, and wildlife and fisheries sciences. The CRISPR/Cas system’s (Cas is short for CRISPR-associated protein) ability to locate, cut, and modify specific genes has made it useful for various applications, including treating genetic diseases and improving the nutritional content or pest resistance of some agricultural crops. CRISPR methods can also be used for diagnostic purposes to identify viral or bacterial infections and even species identification. Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter UnLOCKing – or, SHERLOCK – is a CRISPR-based method utilizing slightly different Cas proteins to detect species-specific DNA. Researchers use SHERLOCK to distinguish between similar-looking smelt species and Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) run types and are expanding this method into environmental DNA (eDNA) studies. But how does SHERLOCK work? … ” Read more from FishBio.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reopens public comment period on proposed critical habitat for foothill yellow-legged frog
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening a 60-day public comment period on its proposal to designate critical habitat for the four listed distinct population segments of the foothill yellow-legged frog in California. The proposal designates 760,071 essential acres of critical habitat and includes land along streams and other waterbodies inhabited by the foothill yellow-legged frog, as well as nearby upland areas that are used by the amphibian for dispersal and shelter. Approximately half of the proposed critical habitat falls on federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The Service proposes designating critical habitat for the following: 192,275 acres for the threatened North Feather distinct population segment, 307,772 acres for the endangered South Sierra distinct population segment,249,942 acres for the threatened Central Coast distinct population segment, and 10,077 acres for the endangered South Coast distinct population segment. … ” Read more from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Home water-use app improves water conservation
“A UC Riverside-led study has found that a smartphone app that tracks household water use and alerts users to leaks or excessive consumption offers a promising tool for helping California water agencies meet state-mandated conservation goals. Led by Mehdi Nemati, an assistant professor of public policy at UCR, the study found that use of the app—called Dropcountr—reduced average household water use by 6%, with even greater savings among the highest water users. Dropcountr works by interpreting water-use data from smart water meters, which many utilities originally installed for remote reading to streamline billing. The app turns data from these meters into real-time feedback for consumers, showing how much water they use, how their usage compares to similar households, and how it has changed over time. … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan honored with award of Excellence
“The Sacramento Valley Section of the American Planning Association gave the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan its Planning Excellence Award. The 2025 APA SVS Awards “celebrate and recognize local planning superstars” and their innovative plans and projects. “The jury was very impressed that this is the first National Heritage Area in California and appreciated the multidisciplinary nature of the plan,” said Nikki Zanchetta, APA SVS Awards Coordinator. “Several of the jury members were also impressed with how well written, organized, and engaging the document was to read.” … ” Read more from the Delta Protection Commission.
Wildlife Conservation Board awards $59.5 million in grants to 25 habitat conservation and restoration projects
“The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has approved $59.5 million in grants to support 25 habitat protection and restoration projects in 21 counties across California. Awarded at WCB’s May 22 meeting, the projects will safeguard nearly 23,000 acres of the state’s most ecologically important landscapes. Among the awards is a $14.75 million grant to the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to acquire approximately 6,475 acres near the city of Ventura. Known as Rancho Cañada Larga, the land features coastal sage scrub, native grasslands, oak woodlands, chaparral and riparian habitats that support at least 20 special-status wildlife species and eight rare plant species. The site provides critical habitat for the California red-legged frog and Southern California steelhead, and lies within the year-round range of the California condor. … ” Read more from the Wildlife Conservation Board.
Is it time for wildfires again in California? Here’s how fuels are looking
“The risk of fires across Southern and Central California is growing, as increasingly hot weather dries out fuels following a disappointing rainy season. Grasses are still green along the coast but have begun to dry to concerning levels farther inland. And that’s a growing concern from the San Fernando Valley all the way up to the Sierra foothills in Merced County. That’s right on time for this part of the year, said Drew Smith, fire behavior analyst for the L.A. County Fire Department. “Once grasses dry and they get brown, they become receptive to fire start and spread,” Smith said. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Heli-Hydrants may revolutionize wildfire response in Southern California
“According to the Associated Press, Mark Whaling’s innovative Heli-Hydrant is transforming wildfire response efforts in Southern California. The invention, a small, open tank that rapidly fills with water, allows helicopters to quickly access water for firefighting, reducing the need for long flights to distant lakes or ponds. “When we brought helicopters into the wildland urban interface to fight fire, we didn’t think initially of making permanent hydrants for helicopters,” Whaling said. The Heli-Hydrant concept emerged from the former firefighter’s experience battling a wildfire in northern Los Angeles County in the early 2000s. He noticed a sealed, million-gallon water tank nearby that firefighters couldn’t access, sparking the idea for a more efficient water source. … ” Read more from KRCR.
The rate at which California trees are dying hits 10-year low
“The rate at which trees are dying in California has hit a 10-year low, according to a survey from the U.S. Forest Service. Trees were dying at an alarming rate from 2015 to 2018, but after significant snow and rainfall in recent years, trees are getting their necessary nutrients. “We’ve had a couple good years of precipitation,” said Jeffrey Moore, aerial survey manager with the Forest Service. “We expected the amount of mortality to start tapering off, and indeed that was the case.” … ” Read more from KCRA.
Managing forests and other ecosystems under rising threats requires thinking across wide-ranging scenarios
“In Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California, trees that have persisted through rain and shine for thousands of years are now facing multiple threats triggered by a changing climate. Scientists and park managers once thought giant sequoia forests nearly impervious to stressors like wildfire, drought and pests. Yet, even very large trees are proving vulnerable, particularly when those stressors are amplified by rising temperatures and increasing weather extremes. The rapid pace of climate change – combined with threats like the spread of invasive species and diseases – can affect ecosystems in ways that defy expectations based on past experiences. As a result, Western forests are transitioning to grasslands or shrublands after unprecedented wildfires. Woody plants are expanding into coastal wetlands. Coral reefs are being lost entirely. To protect these places, which are valued for their natural beauty and the benefits they provide for recreation, clean water and wildlife, forest and land managers increasingly must anticipate risks they have never seen before. And they must prepare for what those risks will mean for stewardship as ecosystems rapidly transform. As ecologists and a climate scientist, we’re helping them figure out how to do that. … ” Read more from the Conversation.
To combine [NEPA and CEQA] or not to combine, that is the question
“When a project requires analysis under both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), agencies and applicants can develop the required documentation either separately or combined into a single document, such as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR). A combined EIS/EIR allows NEPA and CEQA lead agencies to agree on thresholds of significance, impact methodology, and mitigation measures before publicly releasing the document. Conversely, when state and federal agencies develop separate NEPA/CEQA documents, those documents may contain conflicting information or even incompatible decisions from the lead agencies, unless there is close coordination between the two. … With the latest changes to NEPA (see our blogs here and here), including the rescission of CEQ’s NEPA implementing regulations through Executive Order 14154, many of us are now asking the fundamental question: Should we combine NEPA and CEQA documents, and, if so, how? … Read more from Environmental Science Associates.
In commentary today …
Editorial: Trump’s designs for Shasta Dam are long overdue
“President Donald Trump’s California-related water policy hasn’t always been thoughtfully executed, as the fracas over his ordered water releases early this year to help with the Los Angeles wildfires made clear. The decision was hastily made, didn’t help firefighting efforts and squandered water that Central Valley farms will need as the dry season takes hold. Nevertheless, the president’s instincts are correct. California faces repeated droughts, with state water policy prioritizing environmental concerns over the needs of farmers and consumers. This approach hasn’t done much to improve the environment or boost fish populations. So Trump is right to shift priorities on federally managed projects. The latest news is heartening, as it points toward building a project that has been discussed for decades: raising Shasta Dam by 18.5 feet. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
After years of undrinkable water, our community finally has hope
Mary Benson, a Lake County real estate broker, writes, “We all know of mom-and-pop shops run by couples who share the workload and, if lucky, become integral to the communities they serve. Until recently my husband, Norm Benson, and I were mom-and-pop operators of a water treatment and distribution system at Clear Lake, an idyllic, nutrient-rich version of a green Lake Tahoe, about 110 miles north of San Francisco. We love our community and didn’t mind pitching in. Over the years our mutual water system, the Crescent Bay Improvement Co., has become unsustainable. Our treated lake water could not meet state or federal drinking standards. We could boil it for cooking and use it in bathrooms and for laundry. But the 24 households and businesses hooked up to our system had to rely on bottled water for drinking. The state and a much larger water company in recent years threw us a lifeline, for which we are grateful. By the time we got help, our water hadn’t been drinkable for years. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Youth kayak group preps for Klamath River expedition
“Next month, 13 youths from the Klamath River Basin will participate in a kayaking expedition that’s been generations in the making. The 310-mile journey will begin on June 12 and will continue through July 11. The 13 kayakers will conduct the First Source to Sea Descent of the undammed Klamath River, with four of the six dams on the Klamath River, the hydroelectric dams, having been removed over the past three years, the largest dam removal project ever in the country. Tribes along the Klamath River have been calling for the removal of the dams for decades because of the effects on the fish that inhabit the river, especially in harming the salmon runs from the coast up to Klamath Falls and the wetland areas. The expedition is sponsored by the Paddle Tribal Waters Academy, which is a collaboration of the Rios to Rivers’ Paddle Tribal Waters program launched in 2022, and the World Class Academy, an accredited private high school. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Potter Valley Project’s surrender and decommissioning
“Pacific Gas and Electric mostly agrees with a recent guest opinion piece urging the removal of Scott Dam due to a better understanding of the seismic risks. As described in our draft decommissioning plan, PG&E considers the expedited removal of the Scott Dam to be in the best interest of PG&E customers. It is also the most appropriate long-term mitigation to address the seismic risk. In the meantime, PG&E has implemented interim measures to reduce near-term seismic risk — the most prominent being the restricted maximum reservoir storage elevation. However, contrary to the opinion piece, PG&E’s decision not to seek a new license for the Potter Valley Project — a hydroelectric facility — is based on the fact the project is not economical for PG&E’s customers. PG&E can acquire energy from the market at much lower expense than producing it at the project’s Potter Valley hydroelectric powerhouse. … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tuolumne Utilities District negotiating water contract with Bureau of Reclamation
“The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) will hold public negotiations for a water service contract with Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD). BOR reports that there will be two contract negotiation sessions with TUD on terms and conditions for a contract. The negotiations will center around the storage and conveyance of up to 6,000 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water per year using water from the reservoir. … ” Read more from My Mother Lode.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Ground subsidence in southwestern Tehama County prompts emergency talks
“Tehama County says they facing an unprecedented challenge with land subsidence due to declining groundwater levels. County officials are considering emergency measures to address this critical issue. According to Tehama County officials, areas in the mid to southwestern parts of the county have experienced significant land subsidence. This phenomenon occurs when the ground sinks due to excessive groundwater depletion. Officials say that the subsidence stems from recent droughts, changes in agricultural practices, and limited recharge potential. These factors have contributed to a persistent decline in groundwater levels, potentially leading to reduced storage capacity. The Tehama County Groundwater Sustainability Agency has been monitoring the situation across multiple subbasins, including Red Bluff, Corning, and Antelope. In response to these findings, the Board of Supervisors is considering an urgency ordinance for immediate intervention. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Hot water decontamination service now available to Folsom Lake boaters amid golden mussel restrictions
“There is now another option for boaters hoping to get out on Folsom Lake amid golden mussel restrictions. Boats can now undergo a hot water decontamination — skipping the 30-day quarantine that was previously the only option. The rules are aimed at preventing an infestation of golden mussels, which were recently identified in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and that “pose a significant threat to the ecological health of all waters of the state, its water conveyance systems, infrastructure, and water quality,” California State Parks said. … ” Read more from KCRA.
BAY AREA
Marin Municipal Water District water storage project near Fairfax advances to next stage
“The Marin Municipal Water District is poised to begin the next phase of its water storage project in the Ross Valley. The project is to construct a pair of 2-million-gallon storage tanks for treated water in the Mount Tamalpais watershed on the outskirts of Fairfax. Eventually, the century-old Pine Mountain Tunnel used as a water storage tank will be decommissioned. The new tanks will be placed on the western side of Concrete Pipe Road near Bolinas Road and Sky Oaks Road. Construction is set to begin in June. “The launch of phase 2 marks a major milestone for this generational infrastructure project,” said Matt Samson, president of the district board. “This capital investment not only strengthens Marin Water’s overall system reliability, it also expands system capacity for our Ross Valley customers and provides additional water storage for firefighting — both now and for generations to come.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Lagunitas Creek salmon habitat restoration project advances
“Crews will begin moving thousands of tons of gravel, rock and woody debris this summer as the Marin Municipal Water District continues its effort to restore the salmon habitat in Lagunitas Creek. The board governing the district voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Rehak General Engineering of Monterey to do the work on a $2.17 million contract. The approval also authorizes a 15% contingency of $326,250. The total budget for “Phase 1b,” as it is known, is $3.38 million. Jonathan Koehler, the district’s fisheries manager, said the first phase of the project was completed last year, and the agency is eager to advance. “Things are moving along here,” Koehler said. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Commentary: Plan to raise Nicasio spillway perks community’s flood concerns
Thomas Wood, of Nicasio, writes, “Leadership at the Marin Municipal Water District has proposed raising the Nicasio Reservoir spillway to increase the level of the reservoir by more than 4 feet. It could have drastic consequences for Nicasio residents, especially for the Nicasio School, which serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The period for submitting public comment closes on Aug. 4. As a director of the Nicasio Historical Society Board, I am writing, with the concurrence of the other directors, to inform readers about the reservoir’s 65-year history while explaining why the already annual flooding in Nicasio at the reservoir’s current level may be made much worse by raising it. The community of Nicasio has had a fraught relationship with MMWD since the building of Nicasio Reservoir in 1960 put six thriving ranches completely out of business and crippled four more through loss of critical acreage. The doomed ranches saw their fences torn down, their homes, barns, outbuildings and fences bulldozed and burned, and their fertile land scraped clean of vegetation before the reservoir waters covered that land forever. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Marin project funding upended by FEMA cutoffs
“More than $47 million in federal grants for infrastructure projects across Marin County have been blocked by the Trump administration, and another $10 million in funding is imperiled. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has canceled a $15.6 million grant awarded to repair Beach Road and the levee below San Rafael Avenue in Belvedere. FEMA also has halted the application process for a $13.5 million grant to rebuild the Highway 101 exit into Marin City, which floods in storms and high tides. And it has stopped the application for a $18 million grant to fortify a berm that holds back creek waters behind 30 houses in the Santa Venetia neighborhood in San Rafael. The canceled grants and applications were part of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) program, said Steven Torrence, county emergency management director. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Ocean-cleaning ship containing 400 gallons of diesel sinks in Oakland Estuary
“A ship known for its missions to raise awareness about the problem of marine debris sank Sunday in the Oakland Estuary, authorities said. The Kaisei, a large double-masted sailing vessel, sank at a dock behind the Nob Hill Foods grocery store in Alameda shortly after 6 p.m., said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Kenneth Wiese, a spokesperson for the agency. Wiese said the approximately 100-foot ship is owned by the Ocean Voyages Institute. A Sausalito nonprofit founded in 1979, the institute has run ocean cleanup operations, according to its website. The Kaisei is the namesake of the nonprofit’s Kaisei Project, focused on cleaning the ocean of marine debris, trash and plastics. Though it appears much older, it is a modern replica, previously used as a Japanese training vessel. The ship sailed on three scientific voyages to an area often called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Pacifica: Seawall loses federal funding
“The federal government’s April cancelation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program — which helped communities with disaster preparedness funding — could have serious impacts in Pacifica, U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-San Jose, warned during a press conference with other local leaders. Pacifica’s Beach Boulevard Infrastructure Resiliency Project, which is aiming to protect against serious coastal erosion by replacing an aging seawall, was previously at the top of the list for $50 million in BRIC funding, Liccardo said at the press conference May 23. “We have grave threats facing Pacifica, and those grave threats are the same threats that are facing our country,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have a president of the United States who is unwilling to stand with communities like Pacifica against those threats, threats of climate change.” … ” Read more from the Daily Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Unhealthy tap water at farmworker housing prompts fixes
“For years, questionable tap water at two farmworker housing complexes near Buena Vista Drive has left residents to buy gallons of bottled water for cooking and drinking. Because of high levels of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” found in the water, its well is expected to be the first small-scale water utility in California to get a water filtration system to tackle the problem. Buena Vista Migrant Center at 113 Tierra Alta Drive houses about 300 seasonal workers and their families. The migrant housing and the well are managed by the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority. “We don’t drink the water,” said Buena Vista resident Lupe Rocha. She’s lived at the 102-unit complex and worked at Santa Cruz County farms from about April to December for the past six years. “We buy gallons and bottles to drink, also for cooking,” Rocha said. … ” Read more from Santa Cruz Local.
Pajaro River Levee project at risk after Trump claws back some funding
“President Donald Trump has taken millions of dollars already allocated to blue states—and reallocated the funding to red states—impacting a wide array of ongoing critical infrastructure projects, including the Pajaro River Flood Management Project. In a press conference Thursday, U.S. Democratic Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff—both members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works—joined the Washington state Senate delegation in calling out Trump’s decision to zero out critical funding for Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) construction projects. Overall, the Army Corps’ plans would steer roughly $258 million more in construction funding to red states while ripping away roughly $437 million in construction funding for blue states. … ” Read more from the Pajaronian.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Porterville City Council makes plea for water redistribution
“The Porterville City Council approved make a plea to the state to redistribute more water to the west side of the Valley which in effect it says will lessen the burden on the east side of the Valley. At its meeting on Tuesday the council unanimously approved a letter calling for the redistribution of water. Major Greg Meister, vice mayor Ed McKervey and councilmen Raymond Beltran, Stan Green and A.J. Rivas all approved the letter. The letter was placed on the agenda as a scheduled matter as requested by Green. The letter will be sent to the State Water Resources Control Board, Governor Gavin Newsom, and local state legislators. The letter supports the redistributing of surplus reservoir water to the west side of the Valley. City staff stated the letter “supports regional equity, long-term water sustainability, and proactive state leadership in the face of future drought cycles.” … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Preparing for wildfire season: The impact of weather patterns on Southcentral California
“Wildfires are a part of life across Southcentral California. They are intricately connected to the climate, the landscape, and the population of this region. While it’s always a challenge to know for sure what the future holds in the weather forecasting industry, a good place to start is by looking at the past. Dry vegetation, dry air, and strong winds are the “weather” related factors strongly tied to wildfire potential. Occasionally, a lightning strike accompanied by little or no rain can be a sizeable factor as well. The human side has to do with things like ignition points, firefighting strategies, resources, and the placement of infrastructure, which includes roads, homes, buildings, powerlines, as well as landscaping. … ” Read more from Bakersfield Now.
Eight more deaths added to Kern River warning signs as Memorial Day weekend revs up
“Early bird Memorial Day weekend traffic barely slowed as it passed the small group of media and Kern County Sheriff’s Office personnel gathered under two sad and cautionary signs at the mouth of the Kern River canyon. The group gathers every year at the start of this weekend, the unofficial kickoff to summer, to change the numbers on the signs, one in English the other in Spanish. This year, the numbers went from 334 to 342. Another eight souls were taken by the Kern River in 2024. “Over the last five years, we’ve been averaging about seven deaths a year,” said Sgt. Rodney Jones, in charge of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue division. “If you look at the numbers over 10 years, the average was about six a year. So, we’re getting worse.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Water district thanked for fishing derby cooperation, hears about state budget
“Representatives of Tehachapi Valley Recreation & Park District showed up at the May 21 meeting of the Board of Directors of Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District with a simple request. TVRPD staffers Taylor Davis and Bailey Damian wanted to say “thank you” to the district for its cooperation during the recent Brite Lake Fishing Derby. More than 900 people registered for this year’s derby. Davis said that was a record. She added that Damian will be taking over management of the event next year. Water district General Manager Tom Neisler accepted a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the board and said he appreciated TVRPD’s professionalism. Board President Robert Schultz, who lives near the lake, agreed and said he barely noticed the activity during the derby. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
EASTERN SIERRA
Firefighters make significant progress on Mono County blaze that prompted evacuations
“Firefighters made steady progress fighting a slow-moving brush fire near Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Mountain on Sunday. The Inn fire began Thursday afternoon off Highway 395 in Mono County. By nightfall, it had grown to over 500 acres, prompting evacuations spanning much of Mono City and Lundy Canyon. But as weather improved into Saturday evening, CalTrans reopened the highway to one-way traffic, and the Mono County Sheriff’s Office downgraded the evacuation orders to advisories, allowing residents to return home. As of 10 a.m. Sunday, the fire sat at 726 acres. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Column: Your water use is way up, even though Southern California is dry
Columnist Teri Sforza writes, “Admit it: You’ve been singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the shower again! And watering your lawn at noon. Maybe even washing your car in the driveway? Seems like a lot of folks in California are doing the same: We’re using a lot more water each month than we did at our most conservation-conscious, according to state data. To wit: In Orange County, we hit an average low of just 60 residential gallons per person, per day, back in February 2017, and again in 2019. We came nearly that close in February 2023 and 2024, averaging just 61 gallons per day. But in February, OC’s taps were gushing to the tune of 75 gallons per day! That’s a leap of 25%. This is not quite good news. New conservation rules will shrink “residential indoor water use standards” in just a year and a half. … ” Continue reading at the OC Register.
Southern California drought elevates wildfire risks
“In Southern California, persistent drought conditions continue to elevate wildfire risks, posing a significant challenge for agricultural communities, especially avocado growers. Wildfires last autumn wreaked havoc on nearly 8% of California’s avocado acreage, leaving many orchards severely affected. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Weekend warriors yank out invasive plants to save L.A. River
“The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve suffers from many of the ills that might be expected of a natural area located in the middle of the nation’s second-largest city, including litter and even biohazards such as discarded needles from nearby drug use. But on Saturday morning a few hundred volunteers had another culprit in their sights: Rhamphospermum nigrum, a nonnative plant better known as black mustard that has flourished in the 225-acre reserve and the wider Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. The plant, with its four-petaled yellow flowers in bloom, fills the basin’s meadows and paints a bucolic picture that belies what it really is — an invasive weed that crowds out native plants such as sage and poppy that are crucial to the health of the basin, its natural wildlife and the Los Angeles River that runs through it. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
After the LA fires, scientists study the toxins left behind
“Nicole Bryne watched anxiously from across the small kitchen in her home as Parham Azimi, a Harvard University researcher, lined up sample bottles next to the running tap. As his phone timer chimed, indicating the water pipes had been flushed for the required five minutes, Azimi began filling collection bottles and packing them to be mailed to a lab in San Diego later that day. Bryne knew it would take weeks to get results back for most of the samples, but she was finally one step closer to answers. Although her home is nearly two miles from Altadena, one of two communities devastated by the wildfires that broke out in Los Angeles on Jan. 7, the rented bungalow on Loma Vista Street in Pasadena was located downwind of the burn zone. Bryne, a therapist and mother of two preschoolers, and her husband, Johnathan Holt, a Ph.D. chemist, knew “too much for comfort” about toxic environmental exposure, said Bryne, “but without a good way to get answers.” … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Santa Monica Pier again ranks among state’s most polluted beaches, report finds
“The beach adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier has again been named one of California’s most polluted, landing in second place on Heal the Bay’s annual “Beach Bummer” list, part of the environmental nonprofit’s 35th Beach Report Card released on Thursday. The report, which assigns weekly water quality grades to more than 700 beaches along the Pacific Coast, found that the pier continues to suffer from persistently high levels of fecal-indicator bacteria, particularly during the dry summer season. The report is based on 2024 data and shows the pier receiving a failing grade, despite years of remediation efforts. “Every day, families who visit Santa Monica for a day of fun in the sun may be unknowingly risking illness by splashing in polluted waters,” said Tracy Quinn, CEO of Heal the Bay. “It’s time for the City of Santa Monica to prioritize efforts to identify and reduce bacteria levels at the Santa Monica Pier.” … ” Read more from the Santa Monica Daily Press.
SEE ALSO: Santa Monica Pier again ranks among state’s most polluted beaches, report finds, from the Santa Monica Daily Press
Tustin celebrates new PFAS treatment plant to safeguard water supply
“The Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) and the City of Tustin celebrated the dedication of a new PFAS treatment plant, marking a major milestone in ensuring safe and reliable water for Tustin residents and businesses. The dedication ceremony brought together local, state and federal representatives to recognize the proactive actions of both OCWD and the City of Tustin in addressing PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals increasingly found in water sources across the country, including the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The new treatment system, implemented at the existing Main Street Water Treatment Plant, uses ion exchange technology to treat up to 6,400 gallons of groundwater per minute. The centralized plant is fed by four offsite wells connected through approximately 2.5 miles of conveyance pipeline. “This state-of-the-art PFAS treatment plant is a critical investment in our city’s water future,” said Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard. “By removing PFAS from local groundwater, we help ensure that water delivered to residents and businesses is exceptional and continues to meet all state and federal drinking water standards.” … ” Read more from the Fullerton Observer.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District approves 2025 Deficit Irrigation Program to bolster Colorado River conservation efforts
“In a decisive move to address the ongoing drought crisis in the Colorado River Basin, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors has approved the 2025 Deficit Irrigation Program (DIP) and its accompanying agreement. The program, presented by Water Department managers Tina Shields and Mike Pacheco, along with Deputy General Counsel Joanna Smith Hoff, aims to conserve critical water resources amid historically low reservoir levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The Colorado River Basin is grappling with its driest 24-year period on record and prolonged low runoff conditions. In response, the U.S. Department of the Interior revised the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines in May 2024, following a collaborative proposal from the Lower Basin states to conserve 3 million acre-feet (MAF) of water through 2026, with California contractors committing to 1.6 MAF. The IID’s 2025 DIP is a cornerstone of this effort, building on the success of prior conservation initiatives under the Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program (LC Conservation Program), funded by $4 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
California turns on water to create new wetlands on the shore of the shrinking Salton Sea
“Water began flowing from a pipe onto hundreds of acres of dry, sunbaked lake bed as California officials filled a complex of shallow ponds near the south shore of the Salton Sea in an effort to create wetlands that will provide habitat for fish and birds, and help control lung-damaging dust around the shrinking lake. The project represents the state’s largest effort to date to address the environmental problems plaguing the Salton Sea, which has been steadily retreating and leaving growing stretches of dusty lake bottom exposed to the desert winds. California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot celebrated what he called a major milestone as water cascaded into a newly constructed basin and spread across cracked soil Thursday, launching one of the first portions of a long-promised project that was delayed for years because of challenges such as insufficient staff and the need to negotiate land-use agreements. “This project, this water will suppress harmful dust as the Salton Sea recedes. It will also provide thousands of acres of habitat for wildlife, for birds that use this as a rest stop on the Pacific Flyway,” Crowfoot said. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Audubon California Project Receives $5.2m for Salton Sea Restoration
“The California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has approved a grant of $5,231,066 towards Audubon California’s Bombay Beach Wetland Enhancement projects, a critical step in restoring and expanding 564 acres of wetland habitat at the Salton Sea. This project, located near the lakeside community of Bombay Beach, is a cooperative effort with the California Department of Water Resources, Imperial Irrigation District and the Bureau of Reclamation, and will help restore a vital stopover for millions of migratory birds traveling along the Pacific Flyway, including habitat for the endangered Yuma Ridgway’s Rail and desert pupfish. The Bombay Beach Wetland Enhancement project addresses an urgent need to stabilize and restore wetland habitats at the Salton Sea. The project will enhance existing “emergent” wetlands, where desert spring outflows spill onto exposed lakebed; expand habitat in those areas; help control windblown dust; and create public access opportunities in the future. … ” Read more from Audubon California.
California agencies complete New River project for safer, cleaner water in Calexico
“Officials celebrated a significant public health milestone with the completion of the New River Improvement project in Calexico. According to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), this effort is part of the broader Salton Sea Management Program. Officials say that the project aims to prevent heavily polluted water from contaminating a 1.5-mile stretch of the New River, safeguarding both public health and local ecosystems. The DWR, along with the State Water Resources Control Board and California State Parks, invested $46.5 million to enhance water quality. “The New River Improvement Project helps further State efforts to ensure that every Californian has access to clean, safe, and affordable water,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “The completion of this project is a major milestone for DWR, its partners, and the City of Calexico.” … ” Read more from Action News Now.
SEE ALSO:
- Ribbon-cutting marks completion of $48 million New River Improvement Project, from the Imperial Valley Press
- New River project brings hope for a cleaner future in Calexico, from the Desert Review
- State and local agencies complete New River project in Calexico, reaching major public health improvement milestone, press release from DWR
SAN DIEGO
In California, there’s one import that nobody wants
“White sand stretches for miles where Pacific Ocean waves crash into the shore. Nearby, bicycles lean against seaside cottages that are accented by banana and palm trees out front. A rickety wooden pier offers spectacular views of sherbet-hued sunsets over the water. To the eye, Imperial Beach, Calif., is an idyllic beach town, a playground for tourists and Southern California residents alike at the southern border with Mexico. But lately, the view has been ruined by the sea breeze, which reeks of rotten eggs. The surfers who once prepared for big-wave competitions are gone. So are the tourists who built intricate sand castles and licked ice cream cones on the pier. Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico, into southern San Diego County. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Coronado shoreline closed again because of new sewage contamination
“There was again no swimming allowed in the ocean along the Coronado shoreline over the Memorial Day weekend after San Diego County extended water contact closures due to sewage contamination. The closures already included the Tijuana Slough shoreline, Imperial Beach and the Silver Strand, and were on Saturday expanded to include Coronado’s southwestern-facing beaches. The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality said in a written statement that “the Tijuana River is flowing and reaching recreational waters. Beach goers are advised that the ocean water contains sewage and may cause illness.” … ” Read more from NBC 7.
How toxic is the Tijuana River? San Diego high-school students are helping scientists find out.
“The most wide-ranging survey of industrial chemicals in the Tijuana River Valley was published in a study last month, scientists say, and some of the hands behind the work were those of high school students who may never have considered science a calling. A team of scientists from UC San Diego and the Boz Institute, a nonprofit that promotes life science education, involved students from the San Diego region in a new sampling method they say provides a deeper look into the environmental impacts on the wetlands. By bringing students into the fold, the researchers believe hands-on education in matters that concern their community creates a more holistic approach to science education. “What you see is this incredible ecosystem where kids are engaged in cutting edge research that is tangible, but in a way that also helps them serve their community,” said Morgan Appel, an assistant dean at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. … ” Read more from iNewsSource.
Along the Colorado River …
Groundwater is rapidly declining in the Colorado River Basin, satellite data show
“As the Colorado River’s giant reservoirs have declined during the last two decades, even larger amounts of water have been pumped and drained from underground, according to new research based on data from NASA satellites. Scientists at Arizona State University examined more than two decades of satellite measurements and found that since 2003 the quantity of groundwater depleted in the Colorado River Basin is comparable to the total capacity of Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir. The researchers estimated that pumping from wells has drained about 34 cubic kilometers, or 28 million acre-feet, of groundwater in the watershed since 2003 — more than twice the amount of water that has been depleted from the river’s reservoirs during that time. “The Colorado River Basin is losing groundwater at an alarming rate,” said Karem Abdelmohsen, the lead author and a researcher at ASU’s School of Sustainability. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Podcast: The Colorado River’s water-sharing treaty is expiring next year. How close is a new deal?
“The western U.S. has been in the midst of a megadrought for more than 20 years. Higher temperatures and less precipitation are becoming the norm as humans continue to burn fossil fuels, causing the entire globe to warm up year after year. A 2022 UCLA study found that human-caused climate change is responsible for 42 percent of the deficit in soil moisture over the last 25 years. And that’s a problem for the Colorado River Basin. The river starts in central Colorado, flows through Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and ends up crossing the border into Mexico. More than 40 million people rely on the river along the way. When so many people rely on the Colorado River, water-sharing agreements are highly political. With the current treaty expiring next year, how close is a new deal? And what do water conditions this spring mean for western wildfires this year?” Listen at NPR via WAMU.
Instead of cuts, federal officials are extending agreements to conserve Colorado River water
“Federal funding for the Colorado River has largely been on pause since Donald Trump returned to the White House. But now, some is coming back. The Bureau of Reclamation is extending some contracts to conserve water. It’s the kind of spending that was common under the Biden administration, but stands out now. Sarah Porter directs the Kyl Center for water policy at Arizona State University. She says we shouldn’t read into it too much. “It does indicate, I think, that the bureau and maybe the Interior Department, understand that the Colorado River is in pretty precarious shape, and that, you know, something needs to be done,” Porter said. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
The May USBR Colorado River 24-month study confirms what we feared
“The Bureau of Reclamation has released its May 24-Month Study. It confirms that 2025 will be another very dry year and the consequences will be significant. Under the minimum probable forecast, active storage in Lake Powell will fall to an elevation of 3530’ (5.8 maf), only about 9 feet higher than the February 2023 low of 3521’ (5.3maf). Just as alarming, under the “most probable” scenario, 2027 is projected to be another year for a 7.48 maf release from Glen Canyon Dam. This means that the ten-year flows at Lee Ferry are projected to fall well below the 82.0 maf tripwire – the point at which the basin states’ disagreement over interpreting the Colorado River Compact’s Lee Ferry delivery/non-depletion requirement could trigger interstate litigation. The May 1st “most probable” forecast for unregulated April to July inflow to Lake Powell was 3.5 maf, down from an April 1 st forecast of 4.3 maf. Since May 1st. However, the runoff forecast has continued to decline, down another ~400kaf as we write this (May 26, 2025). No one should be surprised if we end up with an actual inflow closer to the May 1st “minimum probable” forecast of 2.6 maf. … ” Read more from the Inkstain blog.
Podcast: Drought continues to plague the Colorado River Basin. Could cloud seeding be a helpful solution?
“Manipulating the clouds to make it rain or snow sounds like something straight out of science fiction. But in reality, the technology behind cloud seeding is decades old, going back to the 1940s. The science of cloud seeding got some new attention recently after lawmakers ordered the Government Accountability Office to look into the technology as water becomes a more precious resource in the U.S. That report says cloud seeding shows promise, but more research is probably needed before we make it part of any serious federal policies. So, as drought continues to be a problem for the Colorado River Basin, some experts wonder if it’s time to look more seriously at cloud seeding’s potential. KUNC’s in-house water reporter Alex Hager spoke with Erin O’Toole in February about what he’s learned about how cloud seeding might help the Colorado River Basin. We’re listening back to that conversation today.” Listen at KUNC.
Feds won’t flood the Grand Canyon this spring. What that will mean for the Colorado River
“Federal officials have rejected a plan to release floodwaters from Lake Powell to restore Grand Canyon beaches this spring, frustrating river advocates who question the government’s commitment to protecting the canyon’s environment. Glen Canyon Dam has impounded the Colorado River near the Arizona-Utah line since 1963, and with it the annual load of sand that natural snowmelt floods previously churned up onto beaches and sandbars in the Grand Canyon each year. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, working through a collaborative adaptive management program to make the most of what sand a smaller tributary still deposits below the dam, has flooded the canyon by opening the dam’s bypass tubes 12 times since 1996. With repeated decisions not to open the floodgates even when the sand is available, some are questioning whether the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program is preserving Grand Canyon’s ecology and recreation as required under the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992. … ” Read more from the Arizona Central. | Read via Yahoo News.
SEE ALSO: Grand Canyon Flooding Move Sparks Backlash: ‘We Are Failing’, from Newsweek
Arizona water woes: Hobbs says ‘we have the tools’ to protect rural groundwater at hand
“Gov. Katie Hobbs pointed out her work to accomplish those protections at the University of Arizona’s 2025 Water Resources and Research Center Annual Conference earlier in the week. “Since day one, we have fought to protect the groundwater supplies of our rural communities,” she said. “Too many rural basins are in a state of depletion, and this finite groundwater source is the only supply they have available.” She has been busy over the past few years as the state’s water shortage has hit rural and city residents and discussions continue on the declining Colorado river and the groundwater basins which supply many of Arizona’s rural and suburban water users. … ” Continue reading at the Herald/Review.
Drought conditions likely to get worse in Colorado as Western water supplies shrink
“Pockets of Colorado remain in drought as federal forecasters expect an unusually hot and dry summer, which could lead to an uptick in fire activity, according to data from the National Integrated Drought Information System. The data, released May 20, show that drought conditions across Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Wyoming have worsened over the last two months, driven by a warm dry spring. Nearly all of Arizona is experiencing some form of drought; Utah declared a drought emergency in late April for over a dozen counties. In Colorado, high temperatures in April and May rapidly melted snow in the mountains, pushing the state’s snowpack levels to well below normal, compared to past years. Coupled with below-average precipitation in April, summer water supplies in the Colorado River basin are expected to decline, according to data from NOAA stations. Water supply forecasts are also declining through June for the Rio Grande basin. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
In national water news today …
Memorandum could end federal water efficiency standards
“On May 9th, the White House issued a memorandum to the Secretaries of Energy and the Interior, and the Deputy Assistant to the President and the Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs directing them to rescind — or, as appropriate, amend to revert to the standards required by statute—a host of energy and water regulations for faucets, showerheads, water closets, urinals and dishwashers. The memorandum, titled “Rescission of Useless Water Pressure Standards,” accuses water efficiency standards with creating a class of products that are more expensive, more breakable and less useful, all of which works to create a burden for American consumers. The memorandum refers to the legislation and regulation behind such standards as, “unnecessary radical green agenda policies.” Lastly, the memorandum requests recommendations to submit legislation before Congress that would rescind a wide swath of federal energy conservation standards, even going so far as to repeal the Energy Policy Act of 1992 in its entirety. … ” Read more from Contractor Magazine.
Millions in the U.S. may rely on PFAS-contaminated drinking water
“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. A study published in Science helps fill that gap. The research offers the first nationwide model of PFAS occurrence in untreated groundwater at depths commonly tapped for drinking water, estimating that up to 95 million people nationwide may rely on sources containing detectable levels of 24 types of these contaminants. … ” Read more from Environmental Health News.
NASA satellite records unprecedented river waves in the United States
“NASA’s U.S.-French Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, which was launched in 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, has spotted large-scale river waves for the first time, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California has announced. The river waves, which, unlike ocean waves, are temporary surges of water, stretched from 47 to 166 miles long as they traveled down rivers in Montana, Texas, and Georgia, the SWOT satellite recorded. The three large waves measured by the SWOT satellite from 2023 to 2024 were believed to be caused by extreme rainfall and a loosened ice jam, NASA reports, with the largest measuring over 30-feet-tall, creating potentially hazardous flood waves traveling down U.S. rivers. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
US faces another summer of extreme heat as fears rise over Trump cuts
“This year’s summer months promise to be among the hottest on record across the United States, continuing a worsening trend of extreme weather, and amid concern over the impacts of Trump administration cuts to key agencies. The extreme heat could be widespread and unrelenting: only far northern Alaska may escape unusually warm temperatures from June through August, according to the latest seasonal forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Indeed, summer-like weather has already begun for many parts of the country. In International Falls, Minnesota – the self-proclaimed “icebox of the nation” – temperatures in the 90s arrived in early May, more than a month before the earliest previously known occurrence. A hundred miles south, the hot and dry weather helped fanned early-season wildfires burn out of control, forcing Governor Tim Walz to call in the national guard. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
US coasts face a crisis as land sinks and seas rise
“A slow-moving crisis of sinking land and rising water is playing out along America’s coastline. In the past 100 years, sea levels have climbed about a foot or more in some U.S. cities – 11 inches in New York and Boston, 12 in Charleston, S.C., 16 in Atlantic City, 18 in Norfolk, Virginia, and 25 in Galveston, Texas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Seas are forecast to rise from 8 inches to 23 inches along the nation’s coasts by 2050, with the higher increases along the northern Gulf Coast and mid-Atlantic. Every inch of additional water is expected to move farther inland making flood events worse and putting more properties at risk. Meanwhile, in many coastal areas, the land is sinking, making flooding an even greater issue. … ” Read more from USA Today.
Trump orders major revamp of agencies’ handling of scientific research
“President Donald Trump on Friday ordered a sweeping overhaul of federal agencies’ handling of scientific research, coupled with a requirement to revisit all Biden-era regulations to ensure that they mesh with the new policy. In an executive order titled “Restoring Gold Standard Science,” Trump wrote that federal agencies have contributed to a loss of trust in science in recent years through their handling of various aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic, fisheries management and climate change. Within 30 days, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy must issue guidance to agencies to revamp their management of science to ensure that it is reproducible and transparent, among a lengthy list of requirements, the order says. Agencies must then review all regulations and other actions issued during President Joe Biden’s term from 2021 to 2025 “to ensure alignment with the policies and requirements of this order.” … ” Read more from E&E News.
If you want to understand Trump’s environmental policy, read Project 2025
“Throughout his 2024 campaign for president, Donald Trump strongly and repeatedly denied any connection to Project 2025, the political platform document authored by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. “I have nothing to do with Project 2025,” Trump said during a debate with former Vice President Kamala Harris last September. He said he had not read the document, nor did he intend to. Yet less than six months into his second stay in the White House, the president and his administration have initiated or completed 42% of Project 2025’s agenda, according to a tracking project that identified more than 300 specific action items in the 922-page document. The Project 2025 Tracker is run by two volunteers who “believe in the importance of transparent, detailed analysis,” according to its website. Of all the action items, nearly a quarter are related to the environment through agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, and the departments of the Interior, Commerce, and Energy. Further, it seems the environment is a high priority for the Trump administration, which has initiated or completed about 70% of Project 2025’s environmental agenda — or roughly two-thirds — according to a Times analysis of the tracked items. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
