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On the calendar today …
- LUNCH-MAR: Removal of Suspended Solids and Water Quality Improvements from Riverbed Filtration-Eight Years of Demonstration Testing in Orange County, CA from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Presenter: Adam Hutchinson, Orange County Water District Clogging of surface water recharge systems from suspended solids is a major obstacle to effective groundwater recharge—but what if there were a better way? Join us to learn how the Orange County Water District’s innovative Riverbed Filtration System more than doubled recharge capacity while removing 96% of suspended solids from Santa Ana River water. Discover how this breakthrough could unlock thousands of acre-feet of additional recharge annually and transform the future of water management. To join a Lunch-MAR Session, please use this link.
In California water news today …
Chowchilla groundwater subbasin earns “get out of jail card” from State Water Board
“The state Water Resources Control Board Tuesday passed a resolution to send the Chowchilla subbasin back under the purview of the Department of Water Resources. So far, it is the only subbasin of seven in the San Joaquin Valley to have succeeded in making the U-turn away from potential probationary status. Water Board members noted that early engagement from Chowchilla’s four groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) was key. “This was the first basin that openly invited our staff to participate,” said vice chair Dorene D’Adamo. “I think we collectively came a long way so we could have good, strong, open dialogue. A good part of the reason why we are here as a state was highlighted in those first meetings.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SEE ALSO: State Water Board returns Chowchilla Subbasin to Department of Water Resources’ jurisdiction, press release from the State Water Board
Restore the Delta calls for legislative audit of billions in public spending on Delta tunnel project
“[Yesterday], Restore the Delta submitted a formal request to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee urging a full audit of the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) spending on the controversial Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) and associated Voluntary Agreements. The request comes amid rising public costs, incomplete project plans, and growing legal and environmental concerns. According to the letter, DWR will have spent nearly $1 billion on various iterations of tunnel project planning, with projected construction costs exceeding $20 billion before inflation or unforeseen expenses. Yet the project lacks a finalized operations plan, an enforceable environmental impact report, and relies on expired water rights. Additionally, questions regarding refunds due to water agencies from DWR in the hundred of millions of dollars remain unanswered. Restore the Delta also highlights that modeling for the project assumes the unapproved Voluntary Agreements will move forward – despite broad opposition from tribes, environmental justice groups, and fishing communities, and evidence that these agreements violate state water law and environmental protections. … ” Read more from Restore the Delta.
California may release water as reservoir hits historic milestone
“Lake Oroville has reached full capacity for the third year in a row, a first-ever milestone for California’s second-largest reservoir, and now California Department of Water Resources (DWR) officials are monitoring the lake’s water levels. Adjustments to the lake’s water releases might be necessary with it at full capacity, a DWR spokesperson told Newsweek. Many of California’s lakes and reservoirs reached concerningly low levels in the summer of 2022 after a years-long drought, including Lake Oroville. However, since the winter of 2022-23, the lake’s water levels have significantly recovered. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
It’s not just poor rains causing drought. The atmosphere is ‘thirstier.’
“Look down from a plane at farms in the Great Plains and the West and you’ll see green circles dotting the countryside, a kind of agricultural pointillism. They’re from center-pivot sprinklers. But some farmers are finding older versions of these systems, many built 10, 15 or even 20 years ago, aren’t keeping up with today’s hotter reality, said Meetpal Kukal, an agricultural hydrologist at the University of Idaho. “There’s a gap between how much water you can apply and what the crop demands are,” he said. By the time the sprinkler’s arm swings back around to its starting point, the soil has nearly dried out. The main culprit? Atmospheric thirst. “A hotter world is a thirstier one,” said Solomon Gebrechorkos, a hydroclimatologist at the University of Oxford. He led a new study, published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, which found that atmospheric thirst, a factor that fills in some of the blanks in our understanding of drought, over the last four decades has made droughts more frequent, more intense and has caused them cover larger areas. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Spring runoff is older than you think
“Growing communities and extensive agriculture throughout the Western United States rely on meltwater that spills out of snow-capped mountains every spring. The models for predicting the amount of this streamflow available each year have long assumed that a small fraction of snowmelt each year enters shallow soil, with the remainder rapidly exiting in rivers and creeks. New research from University of Utah hydrologists, however, suggests that streamflow generation is much more complicated. Most spring runoff heading to reservoirs is actually several years old, indicating that most mountain snowfall has a years-long invisible journey as groundwater before it leaves the mountains. The findings also indicate there is an order of magnitude more water stored underground than most Western water managers account for, said research leader Paul Brooks, a professor of geology and geophysics. “On average, it takes over five years for a snowflake that falls in the mountains to exit as streamflow,” Brooks said. “Most of our models, whether for predicting streamflow or predicting how much water trees will have in dry years, are based on the idea that there’s very little water stored in the mountains. Now we know that that’s not the case. Most of the water goes into the ground and it sits there for somewhere between three and 15 years before it’s either used by plants or it goes into the streams.” … ” Read more from the University of Utah.
California freshwater fish found to be teeming with parasites. How to keep from getting sick
“More than 90% of popular freshwater fish in Southern California are carrying human-infecting parasites, researchers say. This poses a significant danger for those who like to eat freshly caught freshwater fish. But there are ways to protect yourself. The parasites are called trematodes. Two species of the flatworms were discovered in California’s freshwater fish, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The tiny, flattened and sluglike creatures can cause gastrointestinal problems, weight loss and lethargy when a person eats an infected fish. In some rare and severe cases, the parasites have caused strokes or heart attacks. “Americans don’t usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn’t historically been an issue here,” said Ryan Hechinger, the study’s senior author. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: California freshwater fish carrying invasive parasitic worms: Study, from The Hill
Stuart Woolf on California water crisis: “a losing proposition” for agriculture
“Stuart Woolf, President of Woolf Farming and Processing, recently sat down with AgNet West’s Nick Papagni to discuss how water challenges have reshaped California’s agricultural landscape—particularly on the west side of Fresno. With a career rooted in California farming, Wolf’s reflections offer a sobering look at what he describes as a prolonged battle for water security.” Read more or listen at Ag Net West.
State Water Board notices additional written comment period for proposed revisions to its water measurement and reporting regulations
“On May 22, 2025, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) provided notice of an additional 15-day written comment period on its proposed revisions to the water measurement and reporting regulations (Proposed Revisions). The State Board updated the text of the Proposed Revisions to Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations, Chapters 2 (Appropriation of Water), 2.7 (Water Diversion and Use Reports), and 2.8 (Measuring and Monitoring) based on public comments received during the initial public comment period (February 28, 2025 through April 23, 2025). During this additional comment period, the State Board will only accept written comments that address the updated text to the Proposed Revisions. The State Board will not accept comments on the previous revisions released earlier this year. Written comments are due by 5:00 p.m. on June 6, 2025. … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn.
New report shows progress in California’s land repurposing program
“As California and the broader Western U.S. brace for an increasingly unpredictable water future, the release of the 2024 Annual Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program Report underscores the viability of land repurposing as a key climate adaptation strategy. California’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) plays a vital role in facilitating the transition of irrigated agricultural land toward uses that reduce groundwater demand while providing community and environmental benefits. Launched by the Department of Conservation (DOC) in 2022, this program is strategically focused on shifting irrigated agricultural land toward uses that reduce groundwater demand while delivering community and environmental benefits. In just two years, MLRP has awarded over $75 million in block grants to eight regions spanning 3.3 million acres, including more than 120 underserved communities. With more than 100 partner organizations involved, the program is gaining traction as a model for collaborative, locally driven land use planning in areas that are bringing groundwater use into balance. … ” Read more from the Environmental Defense Fund.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
First Klamath River descent by Tribal youth begins June 12
“The First Descent Expedition of the Klamath River by young members of Tribes living along the river will begin Thursday, June 12. Participants in the Ríos to Rivers Paddle Tribal Waters Program will lead the first-ever 30-day source-to-sea descent of the newly undammed Klamath River. An opening celebration marking the beginning of the month-long, 310-plus-miles expedition will be held June 12 at the headwaters of the Wood River, an invitation-only event. From the starting point, the kayakers will cross Upper Klamath Lake, portage around the Link River Dam, and cross Lake Ewauna to the Klamath River. For the next 30 days the kayakers will be periodically joined by participants from the international Ríos to Rivers programs, Kayakimün (Chile) and Amazonian Rivers Initiative (Bolivia), along with other individuals from around the world as a symbol of global solidarity. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Local water agencies host public meeting on Martis Valley Groundwater Plan
“The Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD), Northstar Community Services District (NCSD), and Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) held a public meeting on Tuesday, June 3 to present updates and receive feedback on the Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan (Martis GMP). The meeting brought together staff from all three Local Water Agencies, along with representatives from GEI Consultants, a hydrogeologic firm hired to prepare the Martis GMP update and the annual report. Attendees included Steven Poncelet, Chad Reed, and Brian Wright from TDPUD; Eric Martin from NCSD; and Darin Reintjes from PCWA. Sean Storey, a geologist with GEI Consultants who has monitored the basin for the past six to seven years, also presented findings. … ” Read more from the Sierra Sun.
Golden mussels pose new threat to Lake Tahoe ecosystem
“Lake Tahoe Watercraft inspectors have recently intercepted a highly invasive species known as Golden Mussels on a vessel at the Alpine Meadows. The discovery has raised concerns among environmentalists and local agencies around Lake Tahoe. Courtney Thomson, engagement manager at Keep Tahoe Blue, warned that the invasive species could significantly alter the lake’s ecosystem if contamination were to occur. “Everyone comes to Tahoe because we like to enjoy the clear blue, beautiful water. Golden mussels would change that,” she said. Golden mussels, which are native to Asia, were first discovered in North America in October 2024. They are filter feeders that condense nutrients, potentially fueling harmful algal blooms. “They also outcompete native ecosystems for the lake’s natural resources,” Thomson added. … ” Read more from Fox 11.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Tehama County delays action on sinking land issue until 2026
“Tehama County has postponed a decision on an emergency ordinance addressing land subsidence until February 2026. The decision was made during a board meeting attended by farmers and agricultural organizations. Tehama County Supervisor Rob Burroughs proposed delaying the ordinance. He emphasized the need for more data from the current water cycle and additional time for stakeholders to address the issue. “We were all watching television and found out there was this ordinance that was going to come up and we didn’t realize it,” said Shanna Long, a member of the Tehama County Farm Bureau Water Board. “So we got together and decided this was very important that we represent agriculture.” … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Sturgeon released, packaged salmon roe seized from illegal fishing operation along Sacramento River
“Salmon fishing officially closed on the American and Sacramento rivers in 2023 due to low abundance estimates, but officials on Tuesday said that hasn’t stopped some from illegally capturing and trafficking different species for caviar trafficking. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said while it was on the lookout for extensive illegal fishing activity along the Sacramento River, it discovered multiple illegal fishing operations. One patrol spotted two different groups trying to evade wildlife officers while tying off illegally possessed sturgeon around 100 yards away from the fishing location. The charges are still ongoing in both cases, but the sturgeon were recovered and released back into the Sacramento River. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Rio Vista approves Five-Year utility rate hike amid aging infrastructure
“For the first time in more than 12 years, Rio Vista residents will see increases in water and sewer rates, after the City Council Tuesday night approved five years of rate hikes set to begin July 1. The amount of the increase depends on which treatment plant serves the neighborhood. Customers served by the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant will experience the steepest rise of a 55% jump in the first year, followed by a 35% increase in year two and a 5% increase in each of the following three years. For example, a household currently paying $51.60 per month will see their bill climb to $81.39 in year one, $109.87 in year two, $115.36 in year three, $121.13 in year four, and $127.19 by year five. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water moves forward with regional water bank strategy
“Sonoma Water’s Board of Directors voted on Tuesday to develop a Regional Water Bank Implementation Strategy through an agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. The contract, which runs through the end of 2027 will guide planning and coordination to improve long-term water supply reliability across Sonoma and Marin counties. The contract is not to exceed $474,700. The strategy will be developed in collaboration with Sonoma Water’s water contractors and key regional partners, including the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies for the Santa Rosa Plain, Sonoma Valley and Petaluma Valley groundwater basins. The Regional Water Bank will be designed to improve the reliability of water supplies for more than 600,000 people in Sonoma and Marin counties who rely on water delivered by Sonoma Water and support the sustainability and resiliency of groundwater supplies for residents, businesses and agriculture within rural areas of the groundwater basins. It would leverage the link between existing water storage areas—such as Lake Sonoma, Stafford Lake and local groundwater basins—to Sonoma Water’s main water system. The concept is to store more water during wet periods so it’s available during droughts or emergencies. … ” Read more from Sonoma Water.
BAY AREA
Backed by supporters, SF State’s Marine Research Lab delays closure
“A coalition of advocates and loyal supporters has staved off the closure of a unique marine research center on the San Francisco Bay — at least for another six months. San Francisco State University first announced earlier this year that it could no longer afford the Estuary and Ocean Science Center on its 53-acre Romberg Tiburon Campus. Although scientists, conservationists and community members jumped into action and raised millions of dollars, their fundraising effort appeared to fail. In early May, the university signaled that it would likely shutter the campus. But the university told KQED this week that it is exploring a new financial option to keep the bayside research center afloat. … ” Read more from KQED.
Court revives challenge to SF stormwater sewer fees
“A state appeals panel has restored part of a lawsuit accusing San Francisco of assessing illegal stormwater sewer fees. The allegations against the city and county government arise under Proposition 218, which earned statewide referendum approval in 1996. Specifically, the lawsuit takes aim at provisions regulating how cities and counties can ask local voters to impose certain property-based charges and a requirement that such charges “shall not exceed the proportional cost of the service attributable to the parcel.” In their complaint, Robert Gluck and Adam Hertz note that fees for “sewer” services are generally exempt from Prop 218 standards. But in their action, the plaintiffs said the city’s stormwater fees weren’t the same as charges for “sewer” services. … ” Read more from Legal Newsline.
CENTRAL COAST
Court bars restart of Santa Barbara pipeline while lawsuit proceeds
“A Santa Barbara Superior Court granted a request for immediate relief today, preventing the restart of a pipeline that caused one of California’s worst oil spills while a lawsuit related to the restart is being resolved. The request filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Wishtoyo Foundation responded to an announcement by the pipeline’s owner, Sable Offshore Corp., that it had resumed oil production from one of three offshore platforms related to the pipeline on May 15. The company says it is storing that oil in onshore tanks while it seeks to restart the failed Las Flores pipeline system. The groups filed the request as part of their pending lawsuit against the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which challenges the agency for issuing Sable waivers from safety requirements to prevent corrosion. The Santa Barbara-based Environmental Defense Center filed a similar lawsuit and request for relief on behalf of a group of environmental organizations. The Fire Marshal did not comply with environmental review and pipeline safety laws before issuing the waivers for this flawed pipeline. No state agency under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has conducted a full environmental review of the restart project. … ” Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Stanislaus County community faces huge water rate increase to $600 a month
“Residents of the troubled Diablo Grande resort in western Stanislaus County are facing an extraordinary water rate increase. Under the Western Hills Water District proposal, the monthly residential flat rate would jump fourfold from $145 to $569, effective July 1. The plan, plotting increases over five years, would set the rate at $610 in 2029 and $626 in 2030. Such rates would be eye-popping in any community, but Diablo Grande property owners are being asked to accept it because the new rates will keep a supplier from cutting off water to their homes June 30. Kern County Water Agency, the water supplier, said in a May 28 letter that it will shut off water deliveries June 30 if the majority of Diablo Grande parcel owners reject the rate increases and the resort can’t make monthly payments to Kern. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.
Uranium, nitrate pollute drinking water in homes near Tuolumne River. From what?
“Lined up alongside many of the homes inside the Riverview Mobile Home Estates are five-gallon jugs of water, some full, some empty. They started piling up in November 2022 when many of the around 250 residents of the Hughson-area park became eligible to receive free state-funded water. The mobile home park, previously known as Pinewood Meadows, is considered a severely disadvantaged community located near Fox Grove Park, between a walnut orchard, a honey farm and a defunct landfill. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
USDA reverses course, keeps Bakersfield, Madera offices open
“The two U.S. Department of Agriculture office located in Bakersfield and Madera will stay open after being at-risk of closing down due to cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency. The reversal comes after a letter from California Senator Adam Schiff and California Representatives – including Rep. Jim Costa (D–Fresno) and Rep. Adam Gray (D–Merced) – to the Trump administration. The Department of Government Efficiency previously announced plans to close nine USDA offices in California, which included the Farm Service Agency office in Bakersfield. … ” Read more from the SJV Sun.
Online summit to assess Valley nitrate program’s progress
“An online summit will look back to the last five years of progress in reducing and managing salts and nitrate in the Central Valley June 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS) aims to improve water quality in the region by reducing salt and nitrate in groundwater. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the state Water Resources Control Board, will be the featured speaker at the event. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Commentary: Fresno’s new slogan should be this: Go take a hike along the river
Opinion writer Tad Weber writes, “In 1871 Leland Stanford spied a lush wheat field on dry prairie in the central San Joaquin Valley. “Wonderful! Here we must build the town,” Stanford is quoted as saying. Thus was Fresno born, a city that became a stop for Stanford’s Central Pacific Railroad. Locating Fresno where he did worked out for Stanford — the railroad prospered and he became rich. But starting the city in that spot meant Fresno would miss out on having the San Joaquin River flow through the heart of the town. Over the years that followed Fresno would grow north toward the river, and eventually neighborhoods would be built atop the bluffs overlooking the waterway. But most of that land is privately held, so there is almost no public access. As a result, many — dare I say, most — Fresnans have no idea that they live next to California’s second-longest river. For them, the San Joaquin remains unknown and unseen, save for quick glances when driving over it on Highways 99 and 41. Having the San Joaquin out of sight and mind is one of Fresno’s tragic realities. … ” Continue reading from the Fresno Bee.
Alpaugh students win second in statewide science competition for land restoration project
“Two Alpaugh High School students who created a science project about the transformation of a dairy back to native San Joaquin Valley habitat won second place at the California Science and Engineering Fair. Edwin Marquez and Estrella Chaidez, who are wrapping up their junior years this week, wowed judges with their presentation “Restoration of California Dairy Lands at Capinero Creek.” The Capinero restoration effort is one of several spearheaded by the Tule Basin Land & Water Conservation Trust that aims to retire less productive farm land in order to save its associated groundwater for both farming and the ecosystem. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Public invited to Kern groundwater workshops
“The public is invited to two virtual workshops this week and next to learn more about the Kern subbasin’s proposed groundwater plan. All workshop materials and communications will be provided in English, Spanish, and Punjabi. Both workshops will explain the basics of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires overpumped regions to bring aquifers into balance by 2040. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Postcard from California: After the fires, is LA safe from buried toxic hazards? Don’t ask FEMA
“After a wildfire wiped out the northern California town of Paradise in 2018, federal and state disaster recovery crews took exhaustive efforts to determine if it was safe for residents to move back. First, the US Army Corps of Engineers scraped six inches of topsoil from burned lots to remove lead, arsenic and other hazardous chemicals. Then, contractors dug even deeper to collect soil samples to test for remaining toxic hazards. When tests showed that about a third of the deeper samples still had dangerous levels of chemicals, crews excavated more layers of soil, in some cases going back multiple times before declaring a site safe. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) paid for 75% of the $3 billion cost of cleanup. But in the wake of the fires that in January burned more than 16,000 homes, schools and businesses in Los Angeles County, FEMA has repeatedly refused to fund sampling and testing to confirm safety. … ” Read more from The New Lede.
Deadly toxic algae bloom off Southern California coast ends
“The toxic algae bloom off the Southern California coast that’s been killing and sickening so many sea lions and other marine mammals has finally ended. “Our demoic acid toxic hostess event is over, for the time being,” biologist Dave Bader said. Bader, who works for San Pedro’s Marine Mammal Care Center, said recent samples of the ocean water do not show signs of the algae that create the toxic domoic acid bloom that has been afflicting sea lions, dolphins, pelicans and even whales over the past three months. “It’s been rough,” Bader said. “We’ve seen so many animals.” … ” Read more from CBS News.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Storms hit desert: major flooding in Twentynine Palms; lightning in Palm Springs area
“Storms moved across the desert on Tuesday afternoon, with the most serious effects felt in the high desert. That included flooding along major roads in Twentynine Palms, including Adobe Road from Amboy Road to Condor, a main stretch leading to the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps military training base. (The city recommended taking Valle Vista to Utah Trail for those coming off the base.) Indian Trail was also closed from Adobe Road to Mesquite Springs. “Indian Trail West of Mesquite Springs is completely under water,” the city of Twentynine Palms said on its Facebook page shortly before 4:30 p.m. “Cars are getting stuck in this area, so please do not travel this road.” … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
SAN DIEGO
Desmond votes against his own resolution on sewage crisis
“The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Wednesday that urges the federal government to pressure Mexico to end the Tijuana River sewage crisis. The resolution, brought forth by Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond, passed by a vote of 3-1. But it was Desmond who ultimately cast the lone “no” vote because the amended version officials approved doesn’t go far enough, he said. Democratic Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe expressed concern that the original version was too broad and potentially played into “anti-Mexico rhetoric.” “We’re over being afraid of hurting (Mexico’s) feelings,” said Desmond. “We gotta come across with some tough language.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Research on Tijuana River wastewater continues
“The Tijuana River sewage crisis continues to grow as a new study shows pollutants in the wastewater are degrading air quality in San Diego. A study from the University of California San Diego published in Science Advances May 28, shows the presence of pollutants in the air and water along the coast of San Diego. The study raises health concerns among San Diegans as millions of gallons of wastewater continue to flow every day across the U.S.-Mexico border into the Pacific Ocean from the Tijuana River. “Oftentimes we think of pollution as in only going into the ocean and affecting marine life, but we show from our study that pollution can be airborne and affect people on the coast,” Adam Cooper, the paper’s lead author, told The Center Square. … ” Read more from The Center Square.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River study increases urgency for reduction of water consumption
“The Colorado River basin has lost huge volumes of groundwater over the past two decades according to a new report from researchers at Arizona State University.Researchers used data from NASA satellites to map the rapidly-depleting resource. The region, which includes seven Western states, has lost 27.8 million acre-feet of groundwater since 2003. That’s roughly the volume of Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir. The findings add a layer of complication for the already-stressed Colorado River. As demand for its water outpaces supply, more users may be turning to groundwater instead, which is often less regulated than water from above-ground rivers and streams. The majority of water conservation work throughout the Colorado River basin has been focused on cutbacks to surface water use. Some river experts say the focus should be broader. … ” Read more from Utah Public Radio.
Shared risk at the heart of dispute over Colorado River
“Even-steven. That was the intent of delegates from the seven basin states in 1922 when they met near Santa Fe to forge a compact governing the Colorado River. But what exactly did they agree upon? That has become a sticking point in 2025 as states have squared off about rules governing the river in the drought-afflicted and climate-changed 21st century. The negotiations between the states, according to many accounts, have been fraught with tensions. Becky Mitchell, Colorado’s lead negotiator, delivered a peek into that dispute at a forum on May 22 in Silverthorne along the headwaters of the river. The Colorado River Compact was a quid pro quo. California, in particular, but also Arizona, was ready to see the highs and lows of the rivers smoothed out. They, as well as Nevada, wanted a giant reservoir in Boulder Canyon in Nevada near the small town of Las Vegas, which then had a population of 2,300. Those Southwestern states couldn’t do it alone, though. They needed the federal government to build the dam later called Hoover. For that, they needed the support of Colorado and the three other upper-basin states. … ” Continue reading from Colorado Newsline.
Decades after Glen Canyon Dam, Colorado River reclaims its path
“There is a place deep in Utah’s canyon country that will tell you a story if you’re patient. The spot in question lies in a gorge in the southeastern corner of Utah, flanked by sandstone cliffs 2,000 feet high. For eons, the Colorado River flowed through this canyon, its pounding rapids carving the landscape. In 1963, though, the government—determined to tame the river and feed the Southwest’s unrelenting appetite for water—built Glen Canyon Dam. Slowly, year by year, the giant reservoir it created backed upstream, drowning 18 rapids whole and transforming 186 miles of what had been a rushing river into a wide, still, man-made pool. After that, it was eerily quiet, the river current slackening as it submitted to the lake. But if you visit this place now, you’ll hear a rumble. And there, right in front of you, you’ll see it: white water flashing in the sun. A standing wave big enough to flip a boat. Water moving and moving fast. A rapid, drowned for 60 years, is emerging from the depths. To understand this story, we’ll need to time travel. … ” Read more from Atmos.
Channelization project to help protect native fish in Grand Canyon completed
“The Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park Service have completed modifications to a warmwater slough in the Colorado River near Glen Canyon Dam removing a key spawning site for invasive smallmouth bass—a growing threat to native fish. Located 3.5 river miles downstream from the dam and 12 river miles upstream from Lees Ferry, Arizona, the shallow slough within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area had become a hotspot for warmwater, nonnative fish due to its elevated temperatures. The project involved reshaping the slough to increase water flow and reduce temperatures, creating unfavorable spawning conditions for smallmouth bass and other invasive species. “The establishment of warmwater nonnative predatory fish—particularly smallmouth bass—in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam is an imminent threat to the recovery of the humpback chub, a federally protected, threatened species,” said Wayne Pullan, Reclamation Upper Colorado Basin Regional Director. “This channelization effort demonstrates the power of partnerships and adaptive management in protecting the Colorado River ecosystem.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
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.
Díaz and Boas: Arizona is a data center hub. That brings huge companies, but also drains water
“Metro Phoenix is one of the biggest markets in the country for data centers. Tech firms cite the lack of natural disasters as one of the factors that leads them to build data centers here. As computing power, including AI, increases, many experts expect the number of data centers both here and elsewhere to expand. Phil Boas, opinion columnist with The Arizona Republic, and Elvia Díaz, the paper’s editorial page editor, joined The Show to talk about some of the challenges and opportunities. … ” Read transcript or listen to show at KJZZ.
For 68 years, a small dam kept fish trapped in Zion National Park. Now it’s gone
“The spot where the Virgin River curves around the Temple of Sinawava used to be the end of the line for some of Zion National Park’s native fish. A dam was built here in 1957 to house a water line. The concrete structure was only a couple of feet high, but that was more than enough to trap fish downstream and cut them off from around 80 miles of river. “Our native fish are not very good jumpers,” park scientist Robyn Henderek wryly noted. Now, fish can swim those miles as they please. After several years of planning, the park removed the dam this spring. Fish need to be able to travel freely throughout a river’s path for a variety of reasons, Henderek said, and they require different types of habitat at different life stages. Baby fish prefer calm backwater sanctuaries. Adults have to swim upstream to lay eggs. … ” Read more from KUER.
In national water news today …
Supreme Court changes the game on federal environmental reviews
“Getting federal approval for permits to build bridges, wind farms, highways and other major infrastructure projects has long been a complicated and time-consuming process. Despite growing calls from both parties for Congress and federal agencies to reform that process, there had been few significant revisions – until now. In one fell swoop, the U.S. Supreme Court has changed a big part of the game. Whether the effects are good or bad depends on the viewer’s perspective. Either way, there is a new interpretation in place for the law that is the centerpiece of the debate about permitting – the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, known as NEPA. NEPA requires federal agencies to document and describe the environmental effects of any proposed action, including construction of oil pipelines, renewable energy and other infrastructure projects. Only after completing that work can the agency make a final decision to approve or deny the project. These reports must evaluate direct effects, such as the destruction of habitat to make way for a new highway, and indirect effects, such as the air pollution from cars using the highway after it is built. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
The Supreme Court has ruled that two common NPDES permit provisions are invalid: So what’s next?
“Stormwater managers may welcome the guiding principle of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency: permit holders and applicants should not be responsible for water quality impacts that are beyond their control. The court left much of the framework for regulating stormwater discharges under the Clean Water Act, including standard monitoring and best management practices requirements in place. But importantly, the court ruled that NPDES permits that impose “end-result” requirements, which can impose liability under the Clean Water Act whenever the receiving waters for the discharge exceed water quality standards, exceed EPA’s authority under the Clean Water Act. San Francisco’s case highlights the competing concerns that agencies and businesses managing stormwater face. … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions.
The end of “end-result” permit limitations in Clean Water Act permits
“On March 4, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency, in which it held that “end-result” requirements routinely imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (and, in California, by the state and regional Water Boards) in NPDES permits are not allowed under the Clean Water Act. This pivotal opinion has major implications for effluent limitations and other conditions that may be imposed on discharges in NPDES permits under the CWA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Issuance of NPDES permits is being delayed while regulatory agencies sort through the Supreme Court opinion. … ” Read more from Nossaman.
The White House gutted science funding. Now it wants to ‘correct’ research.
“Who could argue with setting a “gold standard” for science? Actually, thousands of scientists from around the country. President Trump has ordered what he called a restoration of a “gold standard science” across federal agencies and national laboratories. But the May 23 executive order puts his political appointees in charge of vetting scientific research and gives them the authority to “correct scientific information,” control the way it is communicated to the public and the power to “discipline” anyone who violates the way the administration views science. It has prompted an open letter, signed by more than 6,000 scientists, academics, physicians, researchers and others, saying the order would destroy scientific independence. Agency heads have 30 days to comply with the order. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
