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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include an a presentation on revisions to the MOU for the Acceptance and Use of Interim Mitigation Funds for coastal power plant cooling and consideration of proposed Resolution to return the Chowchilla Groundwater Subbasin back to the Department of Water Resources consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Click here for the agenda.
- MEETING: State Board of Food and Agriculture from 10am to 2pm. Agenda items are focused on Plastic pollution prevention and packaging. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Southwest Drought and Wildfire Summer Outlook Webinar from 12pm to 1pm. Drought has expanded and intensified in much of the southwestern U.S. since the start of the water year (October 1, 2024). As of May 6, 65% of the Southwest (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) is in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. This summer’s outlook for warmer-than-normal conditions could intensify drought and wildfire conditions, but the monsoon may provide some potential for relief. Join the Southwest Drought and Wildfire Summer Outlook Webinar to get an update on the drought and outlook, as well as a look at the upcoming monsoon and wildland fire season. A monsoon-focused drought status update will be released later in June to provide updated southwestern conditions and outlook. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Southern California water agencies end lengthy legal dispute
“Signaling a new era of collaboration, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority today announced the settlement of a 15-year legal dispute over rates and the price term of an exchange agreement between the agencies. At a news conference in San Diego, leaders from two of the state’s largest water agencies hailed the conclusion of all pending litigation, highlighting their commitment to fostering greater teamwork on a range of issues that affect nearly 19 million Southern California residents. The settlement dismisses all pending appeals, maintaining earlier judicial decisions on various matters. It includes provisions to reduce the potential for future litigation, improve certainty in budgeting, and increase flexibility in efficiently managing water supplies. “For far too long, this legal battle sat at the center of Metropolitan’s relationship with the Water Authority,” Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. said. “That era of conflict has finally come to an end and we can forge ahead, building a relationship based instead on cooperation and shared goals that will benefit the entire region. The agreement is acknowledgement of a regional approach to water supply management with mechanisms to efficiently squeeze every drop of water to assure future prosperity and our quality of life while protecting the sources of water we all depend upon.” … ” Continue reading this press release from the Metropolitan Water District and the San Diego County Water Authority.
Southern California water agencies settle long-running legal battle
“A bitter 15-year legal battle over water costs came to an end Monday, with leaders of the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California signing an agreement establishing the price that will be paid for delivering supplies. Managers and board members of the two agencies said that the dispute persisted for years because of inflexible positions, but that negotiations over the last year made possible a comprehensive agreement. They said ending the legal fight will enable greater collaboration among the agencies to improve their finances and move water where it’s needed. MWD Board Chair Adán Ortega Jr. said the litigation had for too long complicated the relationship between his agency, which delivers water for 19 million people, and the San Diego County Water Authority, which is a member of MWD and supplies water for 3.3 million people. “That era of conflict has finally come to an end and we can forge ahead, building a relationship based instead on cooperation and shared goals,” said Ortega, who attended the signing of the settlement in San Diego. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
San Diego County water officials just settled a 15-year-long rate dispute. Here’s what it could mean for you.
“The San Diego County Water Authority has settled long-running litigation with Southern California’s biggest water district, a legal dispute that’s cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars but could pave the way for more predictable rate hikes in the years ahead. The heart of the 15-year lawsuit was how the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California charged the San Diego County agency for water coming from the Colorado River, with prices based on the district’s rates rather than a fixed one. The district is made up of 26 member agencies across six different counties. Under the deal, San Diego’s water authority will pay $152.3 million a year to secure 227,000 acre-feet — roughly 90 billion gallons — of Colorado River water. That’s a fixed price, which will be pegged to inflation over time. The terms of the settlement allow San Diego County water officials to sell any excess water from the arrangement back to the district or other member agencies in Southern California. The deal also lays the groundwork for potential sales to other states in the future — a key plank of the water authority’s long-term plans to bring in more revenue. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
SEE ALSO:
- Metro Water District, Water Authority settle 15-year Colorado River dispute, from the Times of San Diego
- Metropolitan Water District and San Diego end battle over Colorado River water — and set price, from the LA Daily News
How Westside water allocations are leaving farmers dry
“California’s Westside farmers are once again caught in a cycle of uncertainty as water allocations remain unpredictable—despite full reservoirs and years of strong snowfall. According to AgNet West’s Nick Papagni, this system continues to punish growers trying to plan ahead for planting season. Farmer Mike Omari explains that the decision-making window is razor-thin. “We usually get our water allocation announcement the last week of February, but our planting season starts March 1st,” he says. “You’re gambling everything on a number that might change later—but by then, your decisions are already locked in.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
COEQWAL and Just Transitions: Innovative projects tackle California’s water future
“California is facing a growing challenge as climate change drives more extreme weather, leading to periods of either too little water or more than we can effectively manage. Rising sea levels push saltwater further inland, adding pressure to ecosystems already under strain. With agriculture, cities, and the environment all relying on California’s water, how can we prepare for these changes? Two innovative projects are tackling these questions head-on. The Collaboratory for Equity in Water Allocations (COEQWAL) is developing tools and strategies to help communities adapt, while the Just Transitions project is analyzing the Delta’s salinity changes and exploring ways to respond. Led by a diverse team of experts from UC campuses, California State University Sacramento, and various partner organizations, these efforts bring together engineers, scientists, community groups, and policymakers to build solutions that are inclusive and forward-thinking. At the Delta Independent Science Board’s March meeting, Dr. Brett Milligan, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design at UC Davis, shared an in-depth look at these initiatives. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Thunderstorms in California weather forecast. Here’s where chances are highest
“A cut-off low-pressure system that sucked fog away from San Francisco on Monday will spin toward Southern California on Tuesday and raise the chance of thunderstorms in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The cutoff low will pull in some subtropical moisture from the Gulf of California, a necessary ingredient for thunderstorms. Precipitable water, a measure of atmospheric moisture, is predicted to be near early-June records. This combination of atmospheric ingredients will likely trigger thunderstorms over the Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, San Gabriel, Santa Ana and San Jacinto mountains. Thunderstorms should also pop over the Antelope Valley, but whether they drift westward toward Los Angeles and San Diego remains less certain. The National Weather Service predicts a 15% to 20% chance that thunderstorms move toward the coast from Los Angeles to San Diego. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Western mountain snowpack experiencing accelerated melting
“The accelerated melting of Western Mountain snowpack, driven by unusually warm temperatures in May, raises concerns about water availability. Snowpack serves as a natural reservoir, gradually releasing water throughout the warmer months to sustain rivers and reservoirs. However, premature melting could disrupt this cycle, leading to reduced runoff into key water sources. While the northern tier of California, much of Oregon, and portions of the Northern Rockies may still maintain adequate water supplies, areas further north and south of the central Rockies, including Washington state, face an elevated risk of water shortages. This disparity underscores the ongoing challenges posed by climate variability and the need for effective water management strategies. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Study indicates human-caused dust events are linked to fallow farmland
“An average of more than 1 million acres of idled farmland a year is a significant contributor to a growing dust problem in California that has implications for millions of residents’ health and the state’s climate. A new study published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment by UC Merced professors Adeyemi Adebiyi and John Abatzoglou finds that the Central Valley accounts for about 77% of fallowed land in California and is associated with about 88% of major anthropogenic, or human-caused, dust events. “Idled farmland and dust are particularly concentrated in Kern, Fresno and Kings counties, where annual crops such as wheat, corn, and cotton are fallowed as part of agricultural practices or a combination of water and economic decisions,” said Abatzoglou, a climatologist in the Department of Management of Complex Systems in the School of Engineering. “When fields are unplanted, wind erosion can create dust.” … ” Read more from UC Merced.
Trump administration reverses USDA office closures in California
“The Trump administration has reversed its decision to shutter eight California outposts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a letter from agency head Brooke Rollins. The about-face came at the urging of a group of Democratic California lawmakers led by Sen. Adam Schiff, who decried plans from the the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency to close USDA offices in Bakerserfield, Blythe, Los Angeles, Madera, Mt. Shasta, Oxnard, Salinas, Woodland and Yreka. “Closure of these offices would severely hamper USDA’s ability to support farmers imperative to California’s agricultural success,” the lawmakers wrote in a May 14 letter addressed to Rollins and Stephen Ehikian, acting administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration. The original closure plans came amid sweeping layoffs and lease terminations at government agencies across the country led by Elon Musk’s DOGE team — including nearly two dozen California offices related to science, agriculture and the environment. Musk has since stepped down. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Freshwater fish in US carry introduced human-infecting parasites
“More than 90% of popular freshwater game fish in Southern California contained an introduced parasite capable of infecting humans, according to a new study from researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The parasites found in the study — two species of flatworms called trematodes — typically cause gastrointestinal problems, weight loss or lethargy when they infect humans. In some rare and severe cases, the parasites have caused strokes or heart attacks. The findings, published June 3 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggest that these parasites pose a previously unrecognized public health risk in the United States. “Americans don’t usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn’t historically been an issue here,” said Ryan Hechinger, an ecologist and parasitologist at Scripps and the study’s senior author. “But these trematodes have now been widely introduced in the U.S. and that means that doctors and the public should be aware.” … ” Read more from Scripps.
Join in protecting California’s biodiversity during Invasive Species Action Week
“California Invasive Species Action Week (CISAW), happening June 7-15, 2025, calls for all Californians to get involved to help prevent the harmful impacts of non-native plants and animals that threaten the Golden State’s natural resources, ecology and economy. CDFW Invasive Species Program environmental scientists urge all Californians to get involved as invasive species reduce the biodiversity that is so important to our landscape. During Invasive Species Action week, volunteers across the state will have the opportunity to help remove invasive plants, participate in interactive activities and have lunch with University of California experts as they share how to help stop a variety of invasive species. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
In commentary today …
Small fish, big impact: Efforts to save Delta smelt from extinction in the wild affects water supply for farmers and, cities in Northern SJ Valley
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “It smells like cucumbers. It tops out at 2 to 2.8 inches in length. It is a luminous silvery blue color. That is what a Delta smelt looks and smells like in a nutshell. At one point, the fish that have a one-year life cycle were so plentiful that they were caught and sold commercially. Today, the fish that are unique to the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta are on the verge of extinction in the wild. Fall trawler surveys conducted by state crews in 2014 turned up 9 Delta smelt, in 2015 it was 7, in 2016 it was 8, in 2017 it was 2, and in 2018 it was zero. The next six annual surveys also came up with zilch in terms of Delta smelt. The fish plays a pivotal role in California’s perennial water wars. … ” Continue reading from the Manteca Bulletin.
California’s restoration bottleneck deepens biodiversity debt
Becca Madsen, director of the Restoration Economy Center at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), writes, “California’s water delivery projects are in desperate need of large-scale, shovel-ready mitigation solutions. Projects like the $4.4 billion Sites Reservoir exemplify the massive infrastructure investments requiring extensive environmental offsets. Meanwhile, water utilities are getting creative and venturing into nature-based solutions—like San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District’s $51.3 million Enhanced Recharge Project that integrates groundwater recharge with habitat restoration. Yet even as state legislators discuss permitting reforms to address the state’s housing crisis and ambitious renewable energy goals, they’ve overlooked the crisis in approving the environmental restoration required to mitigate these developments. The faster California can permit restoration projects, the faster the state will progress without adding a biodiversity debt to its balance sheet. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Audio: Restoration efforts continue along the Klamath River
“Long before the four dams along the Klamath River were removed, the habitat restoration process began. RES, a company that specializes in ecological restoration, has been involved in the process since 2019. It’s charged with working on habitat restoration and will continue to maintain the project for about five years. We check in on the effort with Dave Coffman, the director of Northern California and Southern Oregon for RES. … ” Read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Water worries rise as leaders plan for life after the Potter Valley Project
“On May 29, the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC) convened an All Boards meeting at the Ukiah Conference Center, uniting representatives from local water agencies and governments to discuss the region’s water future after Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) exits the Potter Valley Project (PVP). Participating entities included the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, Ukiah City Council, and board members from the Redwood Valley County Water District, Potter Valley Irrigation District, and the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District. PG&E is moving ahead with plans to surrender its license for the PVP and remove the Scott and Cape Horn Dams, which have long diverted Eel River water to the Russian River via a tunnel. The utility cites financial losses, seismic risk, and outdated infrastructure as reasons for the decommissioning. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
Mendocino County’s Drought Task Force submits final report to board
“With the Mendocino coast a popular tourist destination, many Northern Californians are aware of the water scarcity that caused thousands of gallons of water to be trucked in from Ukiah during the drought of 2021-2022. But inland regions in the county suffered dry wells and severe water rationing in that same drought. More of the same is ahead according to the final report prepared by the county’s Drought Task Force, a committee formed to fulfill the state’s 2021-22 mandate that every county must draft and submit a drought resilience plan. Mendocino County’s committee included several county departments, major public water suppliers, such as the cities of Ukiah, Willits, and Fort Bragg, the Ukiah Valley Water Authority, eleven tribal groups, the State Water Resources Control Board, special water districts, and others. The task force chaired two public meetings, one in Ukiah and one in Fort Bragg, and created a survey on the group’s website. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
SYRCL at SERCAL 2025: Advancing restoration across California
“In April, SYRCL’s Watershed Science team joined over 300 restoration professionals, agency representatives, academics, NGOs, and students in Sacramento for SERCAL 2025 — the annual conference of the California Society for Ecological Restoration. Held April 21–23, the event was a powerful reminder that the most effective restoration work happens through collaboration across disciplines, geographies, and generations. This year’s conference theme focused on creating a more resilient California, and our team was proud to share SYRCL’s work on forest health and meadow restoration — projects that are vital to protecting the Yuba River watershed and restoring ecological function in the Sierra Nevada. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
RWA releases water accounting system for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank
“The Regional Water Authority (RWA), representing nearly two dozen water providers in the Sacramento region, has released the Water Accounting System (WAS) framework for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank (Water Bank). The Water Bank is a network of groundwater wells, pumps, and pipelines that enable local water providers to withdraw and replenish underground water reserves. It’s estimated that the region’s aquifers can store twice the volume of water as Folsom Reservoir. The Water Bank is crucial for adapting the region’s water system to climate change, which is expected to reduce snowpack and cause more extreme droughts and floods. The Water Accounting System provides a structured, transparent method for tracking water deposited into and withdrawn from the Water Bank, including losses and water intentionally left in the basin to support long-term groundwater sustainability. … ” Read more from the Regional Water Authority.
BAY AREA
Sargent Ranch: Landowners who proposed quarry sell large chunk of property in Santa Clara County
“In a major development affecting one of the most contentious land use battles in the Bay Area over the past decade, a Palo Alto environmental group has purchased a large chunk of Sargent Ranch, a sprawling property along Highway 101 south of Gilroy — and the Southern California investor group that proposed a sand and gravel quarry there has asked officials to suspend their review of the project.The nonprofit Peninsula Open Space Trust spent $25.1 million to buy 2,467 acres of the ranch from Sargent Ranch Partners LLC, based in San Diego, in a deal recorded Thursday in Santa Clara County.“We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate with the previous landowner to have achieved such a positive outcome,” said Gordon Clark, president of the Peninsula Open Space Trust, in a statement. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Santa Teresa Water Treatment Plant: Investing in safe, clean water for the future
“Valley Water works hard to ensure that our infrastructure is in good condition so we can provide safe, clean water to Santa Clara County. We recently completed the $20.6 million Santa Teresa Water Treatment Filter Media Replacement Project to replace important water-cleaning equipment at the plant. These upgrades are important for maintaining reliable, high-quality service. Valley Water replaced 12 large filters essential for cleaning water by removing particles, contaminants and impurities. Each filter is 16 feet deep and measures 30 feet by 32 feet, covering 960 square feet. These filters are essential for treating water by capturing materials too small to see. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
How can Fresno attract people to its riverfront? These CA cities got creative
“Fresno does not have to look far for successful examples of how to bring locals and visitors to a river parkway. In Bakersfield, the Kern River Parkway boasts the longest municipally-owned bike trail in the country. In Sacramento, the American River Parkway hosts archery tournaments, a “Burger Battle” between local chefs and firefighters, and large festivals for rock and country music fans. That means a lot of visitors for the Sacramento area. Dianna Poggetto, executive director of the nonprofit American River Parkway Foundation, said there’s a real economic benefit: Those visitors pay a transient-occupancy tax, or TOT fee, to stay in local hotels and Airbnbs. “Bringing in those dollars is huge,” she said. “You want people to come to your community and enjoy it.” … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
Lake Success spillway project completed, boosting flood protection and water storage
“After decades of planning and construction, the Richard L. Schafer Dam Spillway at Lake Success is officially complete. Leaders say this large reservoir will dramatically improve flood control, protecting homes and lives in the area. This is a historic milestone for our community,” said Congressman Vince Fong. “We not only built a new emergency spillway, but we raised this dam ten feet, that is more water storage for us.” The improvements will increase the lake’s storage capacity by 28,000 acre-feet, bringing the total to 112,000 acre-feet. … ” Read moire from Channel 30.
Local workshops aim to protect Kern’s water future
“Local workshops in Kern County are educating residents about new groundwater regulations to help protect and sustain the region’s water supply. GSA is hosting public meetings to gather opinions on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The meetings aim to address residents’ main concerns regarding groundwater management. SGMA impacts various stakeholders, including homeowners, farmers, and business owners. Public awareness is crucial to prevent surprises related to water access and costs. Residents are encouraged to participate and voice their opinions on groundwater issues. … ” Read transcript or watch broadcast on Channel 23.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Forecasters say triple threat heading for SoCal: Thunderstorms, dry lightning, rip currents
“There is a trio of risky weather conditions in the forecast for the Los Angeles area starting Tuesday — thunderstorms, dry lightning and rip currents. A low pressure system will skim the Southern California coast Tuesday through Wednesday, bringing an up-to-30% chance of thunderstorms across the region, with the San Gabriel Mountains, the Antelope Valley and the interior mountains of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties at greatest risk of being hit, according to the National Weather Service. The most likely window for storms is 2 through 10 p.m. Tuesday. “With dry air near the surface, any thunderstorm that forms will likely produce downburst winds up to around 50 mph and the potential for dry lightning, especially for the foothills and lower mountains,” stated the Weather Service. “Higher elevations have less of a risk for dry lightning and a higher risk for brief heavy downpours, with rain rates up to around 0.75 inches per hour.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SoCal youth inspired by UCCE advisor’s passion for water conservation
“May is Water Awareness Month, a special time for Californians to come together in celebration of water, our most essential shared resource. Across the state, water agencies and providers are hosting lively events, such as poster contests and family-friendly activities, that promote conservation and spark curiosity. “Now is a great time to visit your local water provider’s website to learn how you can get involved,” said Esther Lofton, University of California Cooperative Extension urban watershed resilience advisor for Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Earlier this May, Lofton and her team actively engaged eight groups of 12th-grade students from Orange and Los Angeles counties. As part of a GROW Program event at UC South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, she brought water science to life by exploring the intricacies of filtration systems and the remarkable journey water takes to reach our taps. … ” Read more from California Ag Today.
What EPA’s gutting of environmental grants means for Southern California communities
“When Christy Zamani received word late last year that her nonprofit, Day One, was awarded a $20 million federal grant, it was a shot in the arm for a group that, for nearly 40 years, has served marginalized communities in the San Gabriel Valley. “Honestly, we were very excited because the proposal we submitted was going to do a lot of good for some communities,” Zamani said of the grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Then, two weeks ago, bad news. Word came that the grant had been cancelled, part of the Trump administration’s broader pullback of hundreds of what are called “environmental justice” grants, money initially aimed at efforts to improve minority communities impacted by pollution, climate change and air and water quality issues. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Groundwater in the Colorado River Basin is being depleted. What that means for the Coachella Valley
“New research is showing that groundwater from the Colorado River Basin, or CRB, is depleting more quickly than most first thought. Researchers from Arizona State University published the research letter just last week. They say since 2003, enough groundwater has been pumped out of the Colorado River Basin to fill Lake Mead (which has already lost significant surface water itself). More alarmingly, researchers point out, is data they found showing an acceleration in groundwater usage in the past decade. … ” Read more from KESQ.
SAN DIEGO
US beaches remain closed despite new sewage plant going online in Tijuana
“After nearly eight months of delays, malfunctions and redesigns, the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant partially came online recently and has begun treating raw sewage that comes from the city of Tijuana. The facility, built near the coast about 6 miles south of the border, is still not operating at full capacity. Mexican officials say they are still conducting tests and going through the certification process before the plant can be geared up to treat 18 million gallons of raw sewage per day — its maximum capacity. Despite going into partial service, communities north of the border, where much of that sewage ends up, have seen little to no relief. Beach closures in Imperial Beach and the city of Coronado to the north, remain in effect. In Imperial Beach, beaches have been off limits for more than three years. … ” Read more from the Border Report.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River Basin aquifers are declining even more steeply than the river, new research shows
“Declines of underground water supplies that are vital to cities and farming in the Colorado River Basin are outpacing the losses of the river’s water, according to new research published last week based on NASA satellite data. It’s the latest warning of the region’s rapidly declining water supplies as the seven basin states—Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming—engage in tense negotiations over the Colorado River’s future and cuts to water supplies, but with losses to groundwater left out of the debate. Across the basin, the rate of water storage decline increased by a factor of three between 2015 to 2024 compared to the previous decade because of climate change, said Jay Famiglietti, the study’s senior author and science director for Arizona State University’s Arizona Water Innovation Initiative. “That’s pretty scary,” he said. “When we drilled into figuring out what’s going on, of course, it’s groundwater and the disappearance of groundwater. That should grab people’s attention, and I’m not sure that they do.” … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Arizona Senate leader suggests making desalination a part of Colorado Rivers talks
“Arizona’s Senate president suggests desalination should be a part of ongoing Colorado River negotiations. Arizona is one of seven basin states negotiating how much water they’ll be able to use going forward. Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) said in recent talks with officials at the Department of the Interior, he requested federal support with infrastructure projects as part of the negotiations. Petersen said putting some money into a desalination plant in California in exchange for more river water to Arizona could be a good deal. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
ASU researcher warns: Without groundwater changes, few will be able to dig wells
“New groundwater research is raising serious questions about the future of rural communities in Arizona. A study published last week in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters shows a rapid acceleration in groundwater usage in the Colorado River Basin in the last decade. “Much of that groundwater is irreplaceable,” said Arizona State University professor Jay Famiglietti, the lead researcher. “Right? It’s fossil groundwater.” Without major changes in Arizona policy, the state will continue to see accelerated disappearance of groundwater, he said. “There will be less available for future generations,” he said. … ” Read more from Channel 15.
Record summer heat is expected as Lake Powell’s forecast worsens
“Monitors observing Lake Powell’s water levels are issuing a dire warning: The second largest reservoir in the country, and one of the most popular destinations for Arizonans and Western tourists, will suffer yet another year of drought and accelerated decline. Hydrologists say this is the consequence of a lack of winter 2024 runoff, itself the product of an unseasonably dry cold season. Experts predict the winter melt, which is responsible for replenishing the endangered lake, will total just 55% of the annual average. The average was calculated by comparing the runoff amounts observed between 1991 and 2020. The initial forecast was more optimistic last December, calling for a runoff measuring 92% of the average. But as mid-winter precipitation failed to form in earnest along the Rockies, that figure fell rapidly, decreasing to 81% in January, then 67% by February. … ” Read more from Arizona Big Media.
In national water news today …
EPA, Park Service take big hits in latest Trump budget plan
“The Trump administration’s more detailed budget request seeks to decimate science, staffing and other programs at multiple environment-related federal agencies. Entities ranging from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the National Park Service (NPS) would see deep and specific cuts under the less “skinny” version of the administration’s budget that was released late Friday. The EPA sees a 35 percent cut to the payroll for its science staff and for staff who work on environmental programs and environmental management. NPS sees a 30 percent cut to its staff in charge of park system operations. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sees a 28 percent cut to its operations, research and facilities staff payroll. … ” Read more from The Hill.
After staff cuts, the National Weather Service is hiring again
“After losing nearly 600 employees to layoffs and retirements as part of the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the federal work force, the National Weather Service is planning to hire additional staff members to “stabilize” the department, a spokeswoman said. Erica Grow Cei, a spokeswoman for the National Weather Service, said “a targeted number” of permanent positions would soon be advertised. Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the union that represents Weather Service employees, said the department had been granted an exemption to President Trump’s governmentwide hiring freeze to hire 126 people in positions around the country, including meteorologists, hydrologists, physical scientists and electronics technicians. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
SEE ALSO: In wake of deep cuts, NOAA says it will hire for ‘mission-critical’ weather service positions, from the Associated Press
