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In California water news today …
‘Dangerous’ heat wave expected to break records across California this weekend
“A heat wave is set to inflict misery on nearly the entire length of California starting Friday. Triple-digit heat is expected up and down the state, pushing record-level temperatures for the first time this year. Heat advisories are in effect for large swaths of the region over the course of the two-day heat wave, with possible thunderstorms near the border with Nevada in the Reno area. Look for advisories across Northern and Southern California, including the Bay Area, Central Valley and Central Coast. On Friday, temperatures in Southern California are expected to range from eight to 16 degrees above normal, with highs in the 90s to just above 100 degrees across the valleys, lower mountains and deserts, according to the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Thompson, Matsui, Garamendi, Desaulnier and Harder respond to Governor’s push to fast-track Delta Tunnel Project
“On May 20, 2025, Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-04), Doris Matsui (CA-07), John Garamendi (CA-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Josh Harder (CA-09) issued a formal letter to Governor Newsom and California state legislature leadership reaffirming their strong opposition to the Delta Conveyance Project, also known as the Delta Tunnel. This letter comes in response to recent efforts by the Governor to fast-track approval and construction of the controversial project. “The Delta Tunnel poses a grave threat to the environmental, economic, and cultural well-being of communities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region,” the Representatives said. “From exacerbating water quality issues for our local agriculture and wildlife to creating water scarcity, this project’s unintended consequences will be a calamity in our communities.” In the letter, the lawmakers also pointed to alternative, less expensive and more sustainable water management strategies to the Delta Tunnel, which is estimated to cost more than $20 billion. … ” Read more from Congressman Mike Thompson.
Pebble Beach Golf Links to pursue first-in-nation Clean Water Act permit
“Pebble Beach Company, California Coastkeeper Alliance, The Otter Project, and Monterey Waterkeeper announce a historic alliance to enhance the protection of water quality in the Carmel Bay, which is designated as an Area of Special Biological Significance (ASBS). As part of its longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship, Pebble Beach Company will, in coordination with its not-for-profit organization colleagues, pursue a first-in-nation Clean Water Act permit for discharges from Pebble Beach Golf Links into the Carmel Bay ASBS. This effort includes increasing water quality monitoring and developing updated best management practices related to dry-weather and stormwater discharges into the Carmel Bay ASBS, building upon the Company’s longstanding discharge management plan. Pebble Beach Company will also donate $50,000 to the Big Sur Land Trust to support environmental projects related to water quality in the Carmel Bay ASBS and for programs to facilitate access to Carmel Bay for all who live in and visit Monterey County. This groundbreaking initiative underscores a shared commitment to preserving the unique and sensitive ecosystems of Carmel Bay. … ” Continue reading this press release.
Friant Water Authority agrees to replacement pump stations for district that’s suing it. But adds strings
“Fallout from the ongoing who-owes-what dispute over the still sinking Friant-Kern Canal led to some awkward and very carefully worded moments during a meeting to discuss replacement pump stations. At its May 22 meeting, the Friant Water Authority ultimately voted to restart the bidding process to build four replacement pump stations to deliver water from the canal to the Saucelito Irrigation District. But the board added some strings. It will only start construction if: Litigation filed by Saucelito and its sister districts, Porterville and Terra Bella, regarding the “Cost Recovery Methodology” was resolved through a settlement or verdict; and Friant had sufficient cash on hand and certainty of funding sources necessary to cover future payments for the parallel canal and pump stations. The vote elicited a mixed reaction. Saucelito general manager Sean Geivet said the vote “at least confirms both (the federal Bureau of) Reclamation and Friant’s prior contractual commitments to build the pump stations.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Newsom declares state of emergency over failed Victoria Island Levee
“Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for San Joaquin County following last year’s failure of the Victoria Island Levee. The emergency proclamation allows the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to assist the county with additional work to shore up the levee, according to a news release from Newsom’s office. San Joaquin County first submitted a request for financial assistance to the California Disaster Assistance Act on Nov. 6, 2024, officials said. “With the emergency proclamation issued, the CDAA would now be available to provide funding for costs incurred by government agencies for the response and recovery efforts stemming from the Victoria Island Levee Failure,” said Kia Xiong, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
How Artificial Intelligence will help count fish
“In fall 2025, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) will launch a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) program to collect data on the number and condition of fish in the Lower Mokelumne River. It is developing the program in partnership with Cramer Fish Sciences (CFS), a Portland, Oregon-based company. The Mokelumne River is a 95 mile long waterway that flows west from the central Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. The Lower Mokelumne River is the portion below Camanche Dam, which is about 20 miles from East Lodi. The species of concern in the Lower Mokelumne River include Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. The health and number of the fish are indicators of the health of the river overall. During the 2024-2025 season, there was a record number of fall-run Chinook salmon, with 35,450 counted. … ” Read more from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
Reflections from the Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF) Annual Conference
“Attending the 42nd Annual Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF) Conference was a true treat. The week was full of inspiration, authenticity, and empowerment. As a young female professional, it can be challenging to fully identify with the traditional demographics of the scientific community. But this year felt different—so many young professionals were confidently showcasing their incredible work in the field and making their voices heard. The conference offered rich opportunities for networking, community building, and genuine hope for the future—something we deeply need right now. The four-day conference focuses on issues impacting salmonids and their habitats through a mix of research presentations, field tours, technical workshops, and more. Inspiring talks from leaders like Kellyx Nelson, Executive Director of San Mateo Resource Conservation District, and Frankie Myers, former Vice Chairman of the Yurok Tribe, helped frame where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
SEE ALSO:
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- Salmonid Restoration Federation Conference 2025, from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
- Removing Barriers to Fish Recovery – A Cooperative Approach to Reconnect Salmonids with Historical Habitat in Battle Creek, from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
When flows are low, river recreators seek out new allies and avoid making enemies
“What used to be a calm stretch of the Yampa River near Craig, Colorado, now boasts a new set of rollicking whitewater rapids. They’re not the result of some new rockslide. The boulders in these rapids were selected to create just enough splashy holes to attract kayakers, and they act as the focal point of the city’s new effort to draw residents and tourists down to the river’s banks. On a breezy spring afternoon Melanie Kilpatrick, the project manager overseeing the construction of the new Yampa River park, stood along its banks as large earthmoving machinery prepped more large boulders for placement in the river channel. “I’ve always felt like the Yampa has been an underutilized asset in the area,” Kilpatrick said, noting that the river hasn’t always been seen as a recreation amenity. It flows to crops and through the nearby coal plant. But its ability to generate tourism dollars was underplayed, she said. Just getting down to its banks has been a challenge. … ” Read more from the Water Desk.
California’s native oysters are unusually well adapted for climate change
“The tiny native oysters of San Francisco Bay managed to outlive the Gold Rush, bay-shore development and decades of punishing pollution. New research shows they have a fighting chance to survive global warming as well. A different species than the farmed Pacific oysters slurped up in restaurants, Olympia oysters are the West Coast’s only native oyster species, once forming huge reefs along thousands of miles of coastline from Baja California to British Columbia. Though delicious, they’re not as commercially viable and can’t be safely harvested from San Francisco Bay because of pollution. But efforts are underway to restore the native oyster in the bay and along the West Coast for its important role in the ecosystem, including providing habitat for baby salmon and crab. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Valley fever cases are expected to spike in California. Here’s how locals, hikers and tourists can avoid it
“For the second year in a row, California is on track to have a record-breaking number of valley fever cases, which public health officials say are driven by longer, drier summers. There have been more than 4,000 cases of valley fever reported statewide from January to April, an increase of more than 3,000 cases compared with the same period in 2024 and 2,000 more cases than in 2023, according to the California Department of Public Health. Last year’s recording breaking number of cases reached a total of 12,605; in 2023 there were more than 9,000 cases. Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is a lung infection that people get when they breathe in spores of the fungus, coccidioides, that lives in dry soil, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Will Newsom’s expedited wildfire prevention plans harm wildlife?
“On March 1, almost two months after the Los Angeles fires, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide proclamation to fast-track the clearing of fire-prone vegetation by temporarily snubbing California’s standard environmental review processes. “We could clear out, dare I say, the thickets of all the bureaucracy,” Newsom said at a webinar on April 11. Under Newsom’s proclamation, any wildfire prevention entity can apply until the end of this year for their fuel reduction projects to forgo the full reviews required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Coastal Act. After soliciting applications in mid-April, eleven fuel break projects in the state, including three fuel break projects by PG&E in Sonoma County, have been approved and are expected to begin in the next few months. … ” Read more from Bay Nature.
In commentary today …
Reality check – lots of fresh water still being sent to the ocean
Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Director of Regulatory and Economic Affairs for the Milk Producers Council, writes, “Despite executive orders from President Trump and Governor Newsom directing state and federal agencies to do all they can to provide fresh water supply to California’s people and farms, more than 300,000 acre-feet of fresh water became salt water over the last 60 days as pumps sat idle in the Delta due to outdated and highly dubious environmental regulations. The loss in water was split almost equally between the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. Both systems, despite having a third good water year, are only committed to delivering 55 and 50 percent respectively of the contracted water to users in the central and southern parts of the state. This reduction is substantially due to the waste of water required by these out of date regulations. … ” Read more from the Milk Producers Council.
Does a river have legal rights?
a poet, a nonfiction writer and the author of “Is a River Alive?,” writes, “In early May, an orange floral fire burned across Northern California river banks in celebration: an explosion of poppies, goldenrod and other native plants, marking the first spring after the biggest de-damming project in U.S. history liberated the Klamath River from its confinements. The recovery of the wider Klamath watershed began last year with the demolition of four dams, and the free-flowing river now provides roughly 400 miles of restored habitat for salmon and steelhead trout. It’s also creating wetlands, helping the regrowth of forests and brush and leading to major improvements in water quality. The Klamath’s revival is a beacon of hope at a time of deep ecological gloom for the United States. President Trump and his administration have made clear their intention to drastically de-prioritize the natural world in favor of economic interests. Rivers and other freshwater bodies are among the ecosystems most vulnerable to this rapid reorientation. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Six things to know about the Potter Valley Project and Eel River Restoration
“Since CalTrout’s inception 50 years ago, we have worked tirelessly to protect and restore the Eel River. This remarkable river, the third largest in California, holds immense potential to recover a harvestable population of wild salmon. These salmon have long served as an economic driver on the North Coast and have been vital to the communities that have lived near the river for thousands of years. As PG&E moves forward with its plans to remove Scott and Cape Horn dams as part of its decommissioning of the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project, here are six things to know about how and why this is happening. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Palisades Tahoe: Blue skies, warm weather, unbelievable spring skiing
“Palisades Tahoe is celebrating 75 years of unforgettable skiing. “Opened back in 1949…of course, hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics, which truly put this resort and Lake Tahoe skiing on the map,” the voice of Palisades’ John Haines shares. And the resort wants that incredible skiing experience to live on past the winter season. “We are the spring skiing capital. We are one of, I believe, just two ski areas left in California, if not the whole country that is still operating,” Director of Snow Surfaces Brendan Gibbons reveals. “Just the quality of skiing here this late is just superior,” Olympic Gold Medalist Jonnie Moseley says. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
Nevada Irrigation District launches mulch rebate program to boost water conservation efforts
“The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) has launched a mulch rebate program to assist customers with their water efficiency and conservation efforts. Mulch is a great tool to help save water in gardening and landscaping. Spread as a thick surface layer over soil and around plants, the organic material helps lock moisture into the soil and acts like a barrier to drying winds and direct sun. Mulch reduces the need for frequent watering and helps plants thrive. Starting immediately, NID customers can receive a rebate up to $50 to purchase mulch from the vendor of their choice. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Live Oak approves water rate increase after property owners submit insufficient number of objections
“Tempers boiled over when Live Oak city council voted to approve a significant water rate increase on residents at Wednesday’s meeting. The vote followed a boisterous Proposition 218 hearing marked by fiery exchanges between not only residents and council members, but among council members themselves. This will be the first time the city will raise its water rate in 19 years, according to city staff. The rate increase is in an attempt to alleviate the $3.5 million water fund deficit. Per Prop. 218, a rate study was conducted by consultant Alison Lechowicz, who found that Live Oak’s water rates are the lowest in the region at around $24 per month. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
Key levee project near Yuba City almost complete after more than a decade
“It’s the final stretch for a years-long project to improve a key levee near Yuba City. The Tudor flood risk reduction project is finally wrapping up after more than a decade. It will protect more than 2,000 people, farmland and Highway 99, but officials say there’s still more to be done. “You’re not going to have unnecessary floods just because the infrastructure didn’t get done,” said Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Congressman LaMalfa and Assemblyman James Gallagher joined the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency (SBFCA) in a groundbreaking ceremony to finish shoring up the last 1.6-mile stretch of the Feather River west levee. “When this is done, we will have completed 44 miles of levee improvements. We’ve already certified 200-year level protection for our urban areas. This project helps protect the southern portion, the rural areas of our basin,” said SBFCA executive director Michael Bessette. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
NAPA/SONOMA
Central California Coast Coho salmon recovery in the Lower Russian River watershed
“The 2024/25 winter spawning run of Central California Coast coho salmon (CCC) in the lower Russian River watershed brought fruition to ongoing local salmon recovery efforts. The data collected this last winter reveals an impressive return of adult coho salmon in the lower Russian River watershed and reinforces the importance of the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program. Since 2001, the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program has closely monitored annual migration of coho salmon in the Russian River. A coalition consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Sonoma Water, and California Sea Grant, runs the program. … ” Read more from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
BAY AREA
Six gray whales wash up dead around San Francisco Bay in one week
“Six gray whales have died in and around the San Francisco Bay over the past week, bringing the total number of whales that have washed up this year to 15, according to the California Academy of Sciences. This marks the highest number of dead whales to have stranded since the unusual mortality event that saw an influx of whale deaths in 2019 and 2021, CalAcademy said. These strandings follow a similar influx of whale deaths in early April when three gray whales and one minke whale washed up around the bay over a week and a half span. “It indicates something odd is happening,” said Sue Pemberton, the associate manager of marine mammal stranding at CalAcademy. “It’s a very large picture that we’re trying to fill in right now, and the team between the California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center are really running hard and running ragged to try and stay on top of what information is available.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
‘Off the charts’: Rio Vista residents protesting proposed increases in water, sewer rates
“Residents in Rio Vista are fighting significant hikes in water and sewer rates. But city officials say the proposed increases are needed after more than 12 years without raising rates. In a press release, city officials said the wastewater system has been operating at a structural deficit and they haven’t been able to complete replacement and improvement projects. City officials said they need tens of millions of dollars for improvement projects, or they risk system failures. The proposed rates vary based on which of the two water treatment plants serves the area. For the Beach Plant, residential rates incrementally increase from $110 per month to $176 per month over the course of five years. In the first year, the rate would increase by 20%. The second year, it would go up another 15%. The third, fourth and fifth years would each increase by 5%. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Contra Costa Sanitary District recognized as a leading wastewater treatment facility
“The California Water Environment Association (CWEA) recognized 15 organizations, including the Contra Costa Sanitary District, for their exceptional contributions to safeguarding California’s water resources. The recent 96th Annual CWEA awards ceremony celebrated these champions of innovation and dedication, selected from over 250 applications, according to a press release. For nearly a century, the CWEA Awards program has set the standard for excellence in California’s water sector, honoring leaders in engineering, wastewater operations, collection systems, laboratory sciences, and pretreatment programs. Award recipients undergo a rigorous application process and are judged by their peers in the water sector, ensuring that only the most deserving are recognized for their dedication to advancing water quality and sustainability. … ” Read more from The Press.
Valley Water: A time of investment: Ensuring reliability and resilience
“Valley Water has been committed to providing Santa Clara County with safe, clean water, flood protection, and environmental stewardship for nearly a century. Through smart investments, we can continue to ensure that the infrastructure that cleans, carries and stores your water remains safe and reliable. On May 27, 2025, the Valley Water Board of Directors adopted a $948.1 million fiscal year 2025-26 budget to help provide our critical services to the county. In addition to the new budget, the Board adopted new water rates where the vast majority of the county will see a rate increase of 9.9% ($7.80 a month for an average household). The new budget and water rates were adopted after listening to public comments and staff recommendations through the rate-setting process. The new rates will take effect on July 1, 2025. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
Help shape Santa Clara County’s water future: review the Draft Water Supply Master Plan 2050
“Valley Water has released the draft Water Supply Master Plan 2050 and is seeking public input. This plan outlines how we will invest in projects that ensure a safe, clean, and reliable water supply for Santa Clara County now and in the future. Our analysis shows that continuing to rely on existing water supplies and infrastructure could result in serious shortages during extended droughts in the future. With the increasing challenges of climate change and growth, this updated plan is a critical step in securing Santa Clara County’s water future. Valley Water will present key details from the draft plan, including proposed projects and water supply strategies, during the upcoming Board of Directors meeting … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
Palo Alto: New flood-control plan raises hopes, faces pushback
“A new plan to bolster flood control around the San Francisquito Creek spurred fresh hopes and familiar fears on Wednesday afternoon as city leaders and residents vowed to work together to implement the long-awaited but contentious improvements. The San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority, a regional agency that is charged with taming the volatile creek, presented on Wednesday a new analysis that recommends rebuilding the flood-prone Pope-Chaucer Bridge, widening the channel at various sections and installing floodwalls in select segments on Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The agency plans to hold public hearings in the three cities over the next month before moving ahead with further design and, ultimately, construction. … ” Read more from Palo Alto Online.
CENTRAL COAST
Local alliance aims to protect water quality in Carmel Bay
“The Pebble Beach Company, along with some nonprofit organizations, will pursue a first-in-the-nation Clean Water Act permit for discharges from Pebble Beach Golf Links into Carmel Bay, a designated Area of Special Biological Significance, also known as an ASBS. The alliance of Pebble Beach Co., California Coastkeeper Alliance, The Otter Project and Monterey Waterkeeper aims to enhance the protection of water quality in Carmel Bay, which was designated as an ASBS by the California State Water Resources Control Board. “This collaboration represents a significant advancement in our mission to protect California’s coastal waters,” said Sean Bothwell, executive director of California Coastkeeper Alliance, in a press release. “Pebble Beach Company’s commitment to our environment is second to none and its actions here are a model for other companies to follow. We are committed to working with Pebble Beach Company to ensure the long-term health of Carmel Bay through this innovative permitting, monitoring and reporting framework.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Texas firm trying to restart oil drilling off Santa Barbara hits roadblock with judge’s ruling
“Just days after a Texas oil firm shocked California environmentalists and regulators by announcing the resumption of offshore oil production near Santa Barbara County, a court has ordered the company to cease further coastal construction or repairs until the company obtains official approvals. For months, Sable Offshore Corp. has denied the California Coastal Commission’s authority to oversee and approve upgrades to a network of oil pipelines that were shuttered after a major 2015 spill. The company argues that it doesn’t need any new permits because it is only repairing and maintaining existing pipelines — as opposed to constructing a new line — meaning the Coastal Commission doesn’t have a say in the matter. Sable sued the commission in February, claiming overreach of its authority. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
NOAA Cuts Raise Alarms: Local experts warn of ecological impacts caused by reduced federal funding
“Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) officials are not yet sure exactly how expected federal budget cuts to the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) will impact local programs, but it’s already clear anything related to climate change or diversity programs may be on the chopping block. On May 2, a budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 was sent to the U.S. Congress by the Executive Office of the President Office of Management and Budget, known as a “skinny budget,” providing a high-level overview of administration priorities set by President Donald Trump. Steep cutbacks to NOAA operations, research and grants were recommended, especially regarding climate change and programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The document said NOAA “scammed” taxpayers by funding a Columbia University project regarding gender-responsive agricultural adaptation in Guatemala and Mexico. Also targeted for elimination are contracts for satellites “designed primarily for unnecessary climate measurements rather than weather observations.” … ” Read more from the Ventura County Reporter.
Sinkhole off Ventura construction site swallowing adjacent property
“An industrial property adjacent to a construction site in Ventura has been red-tagged after several vehicles and structures slid into a massive sinkhole. According to an Instagram post from Ventura Forward, construction at the site, reportedly in the area of Thompson Boulevard and East Front Street, began a week ago. “A water well was discovered during construction and the digging didn’t stop,” the post read. “Massive amounts of water have been pumped off location since construction started.” In photos of the sinkhole, estimated to be around 25 feet, at least two pickup trucks are caught on top of the cracked and cratering asphalt on the other side of a fence housing the construction site. … ” Read more from KTLA.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Delta Conservancy Board approves funding for Stockton Delta Waterway Preservation Project
“The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Board on Wednesday approved funding for a land acquisition project to transform 22 acres in Stockton into a new publicly accessible green space along the Delta waterway. The Board voted unanimously to approve up to $2.17 million in grant funding to the San Joaquin Community Foundation, the fiscal sponsor of the community-led initiative, to support the acquisition of privately owned land near the confluence of the San Joaquin and Calaveras rivers. Once acquired, the land will be preserved as public green space, unlocking new opportunities for public access with new walking and biking trails, tree canopy, and facilities for rowing, paddleboarding, and other human-powered water activities. The initiative also seeks to establish the property as a place for regenerative farming of fruits and vegetables and for youth to experience environmental education and outdoor activities. “Our region is profoundly grateful to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy for supporting this community-led project that will transform these underutilized 22 acres into beautiful green space for the community to enjoy,” said Michael Duffy, Chief Executive Officer for the San Joaquin Community Foundation. … ” Read more from the Delta Conservancy.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
As LA plans to recycle more water, officials want to hear from you
“As two landmark water recycling projects slowly move forward, officials want to hear from you. First up: the city of L.A.’s effort to convert the Hyperion wastewater treatment plant. The goal is to recycle all that treated wastewater that currently ends up in the ocean. The city is hosting a meeting in June to provide information about the project and to solicit feedback. Second, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California recently released its draft environmental impact report for their regional water recycling project, a partnership with L.A. County Sanitation Districts. The water recycling facility is in Carson and the MWD will take public comment through July 14 online, as well as through upcoming community meetings. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Smaller water districts were hit hardest by L.A. firestorms, UCLA report finds
“The January firestorms that swept through Altadena and Pacific Palisades destroyed not only thousands of homes but also portions of the water and sewer systems that served them. Smaller water systems were hit the hardest, according to a study by UCLA researchers released Thursday. In Altadena, for example, the burned areas covered 79% of Rubio Cañon Land & Water Assn.’s service area and 88% of Las Flores Water Co.’s territory. By comparison, less than 5% of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s service area suffered damage. The DWP serves about 4 million people; Las Flores supplies fewer than 5,000. “These fires tested the physical and financial limits of our water infrastructure,” said Gregory Pierce, co-director of UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation. “We need to think not just about fixing pipes, but about redesigning systems and supporting populations that are more integrated, more equitable, and resilient to the next crisis.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
- UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation provides an early overview of how LA’s water systems and their residents were impacted by the 2025 wildfires, from UCLA
- Wildfires dealt heavy blow to LA’s tiny water districts; recovery will be tough, report says, from the LA Daily News
LA County planned to send fire debris to the desert. Then the community spoke up
“On an early May morning, heavy equipment began scraping a property across the street from Kari Toth’s home in Palmdale, kicking up clouds of dust. “ It was basically enveloping our houses,” Toth said. “We’re like … there’s something wrong here.” The parcel, just about 1,500 feet from the California Aqueduct, is owned by L.A. County. The heavy equipment was from county Public Works, and workers were grading the site, which was covered in native desert scrub. Kari Toth’s husband, Nicholas, said machinery operators told him that the site was being prepared to store aggregate. Specifically, ground up foundations from the Eaton Fire burn area. … ” Read more from LAist.
No more demon sea lions? Good news for those who’ve been afraid to go to the beach
“After a brutal spring of toxic algae blooms turning some sea lions into sick, snarling seaside hazards, anxious beachgoers can breathe a sigh of relief as experts say the worst of the poisoning is over. This week, the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro said it had seen no new patients with domoic acid poisoning or any recent signs of Pseudo-nitzschia algae in Southern California waters. “This was the longest, most toxic, and deadliest bloom we’ve ever experienced,” the center announced on social media. “Because of your support and advocacy, we got through it, and hundreds of marine mammals received a second chance at life!” This year’s poisoning event pushed the center to its limits as it treated more than 400 marine animals, including scores of sick sea lions and dolphins. It was also marked by several reports of aggressive sea lions attacking people in the water. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Toxic algae sicknesses declining, marine animal rescue org says, from KTLA
SAN DIEGO
Pollution from the Tijuana River affects air quality in San Diego
“The 120-mile Tijuana River flows from Baja California into the United States and discharges millions of gallons of wastewater — including sewage, industrial waste and runoff — into the Pacific Ocean every day, making it the dominant source of coastal pollution in the region. Wastewater pollution has been an ongoing problem for decades and is so severe that the nonprofit environmental group American Rivers recently named the Tijuana River America’s second most endangered river. A new study from the University of California San Diego examines how pollutants in wastewater travel and are transmitted in the atmosphere through coastal aerosols. In the study, researchers found that a mixture of illicit drugs, drug metabolites, and chemicals from tires and personal care products aerosolize from wastewater and are detectable in both air and water. The results appear in Science Advances. For this study, the paper’s lead author, Adam Cooper, collected samples from the air and water at various points along the coast of San Diego County, including the U.S.-Mexico border, Imperial Beach and Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla. … ” Read more from Scripps.
Sen. Booker visits border, calls Tijuana River pollution ‘environmental justice crisis’
“Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre once served as an environmental fellow in Sen. Cory Booker’s Washington office. She leveraged that contact Thursday, as the New Jersey Democrat and former presidential candidate visited her city to see the Tijuana River sewage pollution crisis up close and demand more federal action to address the issue. Booker called the situation “an environmental justice crisis” and said he will take “what I saw here back to Washington to help make sure this community’s fight for clean air and water is heard and answered. “No one should be forced to breathe toxic air and swim in sewage. What I saw and smelled today in South San Diego County is unconscionable – it would never be tolerated in Malibu or Mar-a-Lago and it shouldn’t be tolerated here,” he said, in the latter case referring to President Donald Trump’s lavish Florida resort. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Meager snowpack adds to Colorado River’s woes, straining flows to Southern California
“Many of California’s reservoirs have filled nearly to capacity this year with runoff from the ample snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. But the situation is very different along the Colorado River, another vital water source for Southern California, where a very dry spring has shrunk the amount of runoff streaming into reservoirs. The latest forecast from the federal Colorado Basin River Forecast Center shows that the river’s flows into Lake Powell will probably be about 46% of average over the next three months. “We are noticing that runoff is low. There is no doubt about it,” said Luke Gingerich, a farmer who grows peaches near the river in Palisade, Colo. The snowpack in the upper Colorado River Basin reached 89% of the median level on April 1, but the outlook worsened over the last two months because of persistent dryness, warm temperatures and dry soils in the mountains that have absorbed a portion of the runoff. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Department of the Interior leads $50 million effort to strengthen sustainability in the Colorado River Basin
“In a major step toward long-term water resilience in the American West, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation—partnering with the Upper Colorado River Commission—have announced significant progress in deploying a $50 million investment to enhance water infrastructure across the Upper Colorado River Basin. With critical support from the Upper Division States—Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—the initiative is already delivering measurable results, from advanced streamgage deployments to high-tech monitoring towers, all aimed at improving water use accuracy and protecting the Colorado River system for future generations. “This investment is already making a real impact,” said Acting Assisting Secretary for Water and Science Scott Cameron. “By improving the accuracy of water use measurement, we’re laying the foundation for better decision-making that ensures a sustainable Colorado River System for generations to come.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Arizona’s rural groundwater deal stalls as legislative session nears end
“Arizona’s governor and the GOP-controlled Legislature are at odds over regulating groundwater pumping in the state’s rural areas — and time is running out. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs stood with local Republican leaders at the start of this year’s session, optimistic that Republicans in the Legislature would embrace her proposal to create rural groundwater management areas. But almost four months later, talks have stalled and both sides have yet to find a solution to conserve water that’s increasingly becoming more scarce amid a prolonged drought. Negotiators have not met since early April, Hobbs’ office said. Around the same time, Republicans and some interest groups grew frustrated with a separate proposal by the Arizona Department of Water Resources to reduce overpumping of the Willcox Basin by a percentage that is “unattainable,” said Sen. Tim Dunn, one of the Republican negotiators. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
In national water news today …
Supreme Court curbs scope of environmental reviews
“The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Thursday that a federal agency had done enough to consider the environmental impact of a proposed 88-mile railway in Utah. The ruling limits the scope of environmental reviews required by federal law in all sorts of settings. The proposed railway would connect oil fields in the Uinta Basin in northeast Utah to a national rail network that runs next to the Colorado River and then to refineries on the Gulf Coast. Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, writing for five justices, said that many lower courts had dictated that the environmental impact statements required by a 1970 federal law, the National Environmental Policy Act, be needlessly elaborate. “The goal of the law,” he wrote, “is to inform agency decision making, not to paralyze it.” … ” Read more from the New York Times.
SEE ALSO: Supreme Court sharply limits environmental impact statements in victory for developers, from the LA Times
Trump officials plan to destroy a critical government program they probably know nothing about
“Nearly two decades ago, scientists made an alarming discovery in upstate New York: Bats, the world’s only flying mammal, were becoming infected with a new, deadly fungal disease that, in some cases, could wipe out an entire colony in a matter of months. Since then, the disease — later called white-nose syndrome — has spread across much of the country, utterly decimating North American bats that hibernate in caves and killing over 90 percent of three bat species. According to some scientists, WNS has caused “the most precipitous wildlife decline in the past century in North America.” These declines have clear consequences for human populations — for you, even if you don’t like bats or visit caves. Bats eat insect pests, such as moths and beetles. And as they decline, farmers need to spray more pesticides. Scientists have linked the loss of bats in the US to an increase in insecticide use on farmland and, remarkably, to a rise in infant deaths. Insecticide chemicals are known to harm the health of newborns. The only reason we know any of this is because of a somewhat obscure government program in the US Geological Survey (USGS), an agency nested within the Interior Department. … ” Read more from Vox.
