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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Building Resilience in Rural Water Systems (Part 2) from 10am to 11am. Rural water systems are increasingly challenged by changing weather patterns, natural disasters, aging infrastructure, and limited funding—pressing decision-makers to develop effective, resilient strategies in the face of these complex realities. This webinar, the second in a two-part series, will explore practical strategies for advancing community resilience, featuring research insights and highlighting real-world examples of successful approaches piloting by water and wastewater systems across the country. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: SGMA: A Detailed Look at Inadequate and Probationary Subbasins Seminar from 10am to 12pm. This webinar will offer a detailed look at the seven subbasins whose GSPs have been deemed inadequate by DWR, two of which have been placed on probation by the State Water Board. Click here to register.
- MEETING: Kern County Subbasin SGMA Workshop from 6pm to 8pm. The Kern County Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) are hosting public workshops to discuss proposed changes to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) and what they mean to different groundwater users. Join Zoom Meeting: https://bit.ly/4l1wJCb
In California water news today …
Spilling reservoirs and empty basins – California’s storage dilemma
“Climate Change is bringing warmer and wetter storms, reducing our snowpack and increasing the need for more storage. At the same time, extended droughts have contributed to the over-pumping of our groundwater basins, leaving ample storage space for new water supplies, provided we can get the water to them. How is California managing its water storage dilemma? At the April meeting of the Southern California Water Dialog, Jeff Mount with the PPIC, Tim Godwin with DWR, and Aaron Fukuda with the Tulare Irrigation District and Mid-Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency discussed water storage in California, both surface and groundwater, and how groundwater recharge is a critical tool for long-term sustainability. … ” Continue reading at Maven’s Notebook.
The atmosphere’s growing thirst is making droughts worse, even where it rains
“Hot air holds more moisture. That’s why you can blow your hair dry even after a steamy shower. It’s also what dumps rain in the tropics and sucks water from desert soils. A new study, published in Nature, shows that the atmosphere’s growing thirst for water is making droughts more severe, even in places where rainfall has stayed the same. The paper details how this “thirst” has made droughts 40% more severe across the globe over the course of the past 40 years. “Drought is based on the difference between water supply (from precipitation) and atmospheric water demand. Including the latter reveals substantial increases in drought as the atmosphere warms,” said co-author Chris Funk, director of the Climate Hazards Center at UC Santa Barbara. … ” Read more from UC Santa Barbara.
Podcast: Delta Conveyance Project Pushback
“Redirecting water from the Delta has been passionately debated and discussed for decades in California. The latest iteration proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom is the Delta Conveyance Project, a single tunnel along the Sacramento River stretching just south of Clarksburg in the town of Hood to a reservoir near Livermore. Throughout Gov. Newsom’s two terms he has worked to streamline the project, and recently used the May budget revision to fast-track this new addition to the State Water Project, which quickly sparked backlash among opponents – including a bipartisan group of state lawmakers who represent the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Joining Insight is State Senator and former mayor of West Sacramento Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo) whose district includes the Sacramento Delta.” Click here to listen at Capital Public Radio.
Airborne watershed surveys on the chopping block
“Water agencies like the Kings River Water Association rely on up-to-date airborne surveys of the Sierra snowpack to mitigate flood risks and estimate watershed yield that Valley communities, agencies and farmers depend on. But with the California budget crisis at hand, the state plans to slash funding for the Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) program, despite its clear benefits. Funding for ASO has been reduced in the state’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget — from $35 million down to just $4 million. Without stable investment, California risks losing one of its most effective climate adaptation and water management tools. says Kings River Assistant Watermaster Matt Meadows. As of now it looks like funding for only two flights in this water year will happen over the upper Kings River River watershed. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
Boiling Point: Seeking solace, and finding hard truths, on California’s Highway 395
Climate columnist Sammy Roth writes, “As we drove north along Highway 395 — passing the salty remains of Owens Lake, the Museum of Western Film History, the geothermal plant outside Mammoth Lakes that supplies 24/7 clean energy to San Bernardino County — I felt certain we’d found the northernmost reaches of Southern California. It was Memorial Day weekend, and my wife and I were headed to a U.S. Forest Service campground in the White Mountains, 225 miles as the crow flies from downtown L.A.’s Union Station. If you drew a line on a map due west from our campsite, you’d cut through the Sierra Nevada and eventually hit San José. But to my mind, we were still in Southern California. … ” Read more at the LA Times.
California ag under pressure: Innovation, legacy, and the voice of Nick Anderson
“Few names in California agriculture carry the weight of both experience and legacy like Nick Anderson, Western Division Manager for Helena Agri-Enterprises and a figure well-known across the Central Valley—not just for his leadership in ag retail but also for his family’s storied athletic background. Three children, all full-ride basketball scholarship athletes, reflect the same discipline and tenacity Nick brings to his professional life.” Read more or listen to podcast at Ag Net West.
Ocean salmon season opens this weekend along California coast
“Salmon anglers, grab your gear! After two years of closure, the recreational ocean salmon fishery will open statewide for two days on June 7-8, 2025. While forecasts of ocean abundance for Sacramento and Klamath fall Chinook are lower than average in 2025, anglers may still have a good chance of successfully catching salmon given strong returns of other California Chinook stocks last fall. “We’re looking forward to hearing reports from anglers returning with salmon this weekend. Hopefully there will be smiles on faces after a day on the water and fresh fish for summer barbeques,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Program Manager Marci Yaremko. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Mobile science lab making its way to California schools to teach kids about California’s water
“A locally made mobile science lab is making its way to schools and events around the country, teaching kids more about where our water comes from and where it’s headed. When school is out for the summer, learning continues and organizers at the Rondo School of Discovery said students were eager to see the giant science lab on wheels. Students like Molly Thomas saw the unit for the first time. “I wasn’t really knowing what to expect coming into it, but as soon as I walked in, I was honestly in awe. It truly is like a portable museum,” Thomas said. Thomas wants to be an early childhood educator when she graduates, with a focus on science. “I really enjoy understanding how things work and why things work the way they do,” Thomas said. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1.
This California startup is cleaning water and removing CO2 from the atmosphere — all at a reduced cost
“As more parts of the world face intense drought, new technologies are emerging to clean and reuse existing water. Investors are seeing potential for big profits. Water treatment is expensive. It uses a lot of energy and produces its own waste that gets disposed of at a hefty price. Capture6, a startup in Berkeley, California, says it’s developing a solution, and one with an added benefit to the environment. Capture6’s technology repurposes industrial and water treatment waste, generating clean water and capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. “That combination of water treatment, brine management, and carbon capture all at once is part of what makes us unique, what makes our process innovative,” said Capture6 CEO Ethan Cohen-Cole, who co-founded the company in 2021. “We are able to do so at reduced energy costs.” … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area.
Unanimous Senate vote advances SB 72: Statewide water supply legislation continues momentum amid climate and economic pressures
“After passing the State Senate, Senate Bill 72 authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D – Merced), will move to the Assembly, where it is expected to gain support from lawmakers. The unanimous vote sends a powerful message to the Assembly, Governor Newsom, and the public — as California continues to face water supply shortages of historic proportions, we must continue to implement new and collaborative strategies to secure our statewide water supply future. SB 72 would establish California’s first-ever statewide water supply target, to develop 9 million acre-feet annually of new water resources by 2040 to benefit all Californians, including residents, businesses, and the environment. SB 72 seeks to complement and amplify Governor Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy, ensuring water supply improvements extend beyond any single administration, while aiming to foster greater collaboration among federal, state, and local stakeholders to safeguard California’s water supply. … ” Read more from CA Water for All.
In commentary today …
Adam Schiff has been busy with CA ag issues, but Delta water project needs attention
The McClatchy California editorial boards write, “As the first California lawmaker in 30 years to sit on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Sen. Adam Schiff has taken the assignment seriously. Since getting sworn into office on Dec. 9, the senator has released 268 press statements through June 3, of which at least 35 focused on agricultural issues like water, tariffs, farm workers or research. “Whatever our views are on other issues, I’m still going to be an aggressive champion of the industry,” Schiff told Fresno Bee staff writer Robert Rodriguez in April. … We applaud the senator’s efforts thus far, but suggest he get up to speed quickly on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Delta Conveyance Project, a proposal to modernize the state’s water infrastructure by constructing tunnels to divert water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the California Aqueduct. Sen. Alex Padilla has not taken a any stand. “I haven’t reached a conclusion on the conveyance project yet,” Schiff said. “I’m still in the process, frankly, of trying to get my head around the whole agriculture industry. I would say the subset of agriculture that is the most difficult is water. People spend a lifetime studying it and still struggle with it.” … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee. | Read via the Sacramento Bee.
Risk and reward: Why California governors continue to push for the Delta tunnel
Max Gomberg, Senior Policy Advisor, California Water Impact Network, writes, “In its latest propaganda campaign promoting the $20 billion plus Delta Conveyance Project (DCP), the Newsom administration is claiming risk to future water supply as a major justification. The foremost cited risks relate to climate change-driven impacts: loss of snowpack, extreme droughts, and sea level rise. A new study commissioned by water contractors who would benefit from the DCP finds that these impacts, combined with the implementation of laws and regulations to protect the environment, will cause water shortages in Southern California and billions of dollars in economic losses in both the urban and agricultural sectors. It sounds like a dire situation that requires a major governmental intervention – like a gigantic tunnel. Because powerful and wealthy industries support the DCP, it’s easy to understand the political calculus that drives Governors to push for it: as always in California, water flows toward money. Moreover, it is the type of project that is immensely gratifying to the stereotypical male ego. It is a legacy project: massive, long-lasting, and a testament to power. It is a literal monument to any politician who is heir to a family dynasty or aspires to be President. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
Why reforming California’s bedrock environmental law is good for the environment
Nick Yost created and formerly led the environmental section of the California Department of Justice and lead draftsperson of National Environmental Policy Act regulations, and Daniel Yost, an attorney and the former mayor of Woodside, write, “In 1947, decades before the federal Clean Air Act, California’s leaders began regulating the causes of harmful air pollution. It was also our state that, in 2006 under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, passed arguably the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction law in the world, setting off a global race for climate action. California’s leadership on the environment has a well-deserved reputation. So it is with a great deal of pride, and no small amount of sadness, that a growing flaw in the California Environmental Quality Act, one of the principle legal mechanisms we use to protect clean air and water, conserve sensitive lands and habitats and address the pollution that causes climate change, is now cause for concern. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
California’s Yurok Tribe gets back ancestral lands that were taken over 120 years ago
“As a youngster, Barry McCovey Jr. would sneak through metal gates and hide from security guards just to catch a steelhead trout in Blue Creek amid northwestern California redwoods. Since time immemorial, his ancestors from the Yurok Tribe had fished, hunted and gathered in this watershed flanked by coastal forests. But for more than 100 years, these lands were owned and managed by timber companies, severing the tribe’s access to its homelands. When McCovey started working as a fisheries technician, the company would let him go there to do his job. “Snorkeling Blue Creek … I felt the significance of that place to myself and to our people, and I knew then that we had to do whatever we could to try and get that back,” McCovey said. After a 23-year effort and $56 million, that became reality. … ” Continue reading at the Washington Post.
SEE ALSO:
- California’s largest ‘land-back’ deal returns 47,000 acres to tribe, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- In California’s largest landback deal, the Yurok Tribe reclaims sacred land around Klamath River, from Grist
K9s help keep invasive mussels out of Whiskeytown Lake
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s invasive mussel detection K9s, Ali and Watson, along with their human game warden companion, joined parks officials at the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area to inspect sailboats and other vessels during boating events on the lake. Their efforts aim to prevent invasive golden mussels from being introduced into the reservoir. The golden mussel, first documented in California in October 2024, is rapidly spreading throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, endangering water infrastructure and quality. The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District said the microscopic larvae can be accidentally transported to new habitats via watercraft and trailers. … ” Read more from KRCR.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lake Tahoe goes on high alert as invasive species creeps closer
“Last weekend, watercraft inspectors found golden mussels, a highly invasive aquatic species, on a 65-foot boat that was headed to Lake Tahoe. Experts say golden mussels pose an extreme threat to Lake Tahoe. To stop the mussels from getting into the lake, this spring, Tahoe implemented much stricter measures that go beyond the norm, requiring that every single motorized boat not just be inspected but also be decontaminated before hitting the water. The boat carrying the golden mussels was put into quarantine until it’s deemed risk-free, according to the Tahoe Environmental Planning Agency. The close call was the first time officials intercepted the golden mussels at one of Tahoe’s boat inspection stations. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Urgency groundwater ordinance delayed in Tehama County
“The Tehama County Board of Supervisors was split on an urgency ordinance that would have implemented additional regulations for well permitting. A majority of the supervisors decided to discuss and vote on this ordinance fully in February. Supervisor Rob Burroughs proposed that the Board give the county more opportunity to develop a community solution involving Ag that does not feel like it was hastily put together. Supervisor Matt Hansen countered that this groundwater process has been ongoing for 10 years. He claims that Burroughs could see the groundwater continually decline yearly. “We have, it has to stop here, but we have to give the people an opportunity to be able to step up to the plate to say, ‘Okay, we’ve come to a solution that we have to accept it.’ Burroughs replied to him. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News.
Will Sacramento metro area see mass abandonment due to rising climate risks?
“A new report says Sacramento County could lose more than a quarter of its population by 2055 due to increased climate risks. The data is from First Street, a climate risk prediction firm that provides data for sites like Zillow and Redfin. The report points to catastrophic flooding, rising temperatures and worsening air quality as the primary climate risks in the Sacramento metro area. “The Central Valley in California, both the San Joaquin Valley in the south and the Sacramento Valley to the north, are actually very flood-vulnerable places,” said University of California climate scientist Daniel Swain. “In some ways, they’re among the most flood-vulnerable places in all of the United States.” That flood risk is why Sacramento has worked to build an extensive network of flood protection, like levees. But, as Swain pointed out, there are limits to any flood protection system, and we are likely to see larger flood events than we saw in the 20th century. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Rio Vista city residents will now pay more for water and sewer services
“People who live in a small Solano County city along the Delta will now be paying more for their water and sewer services. The Rio Vista City Council approved Tuesday the first rate increases in over a decade, and rates will go up each year for the next five years. Officials argued that they have a structural deficit that will fail if they can’t raise the tens of millions of dollars needed for improvement projects. Rate increases depend on where you live in the city. For example, those served by the Beach Plant would see their rates increase from $110 per month to $176 per month over the course of five years. For those served by the Northwest Plant, rates would go from $51 a month to $127 a month over five years. The rate changes go into effect on July 1. … ” Read more from KCRA.
NAPA/SONOMA
Installation begins on Russian River season rubber dam
“The Sonoma County Water Agency, known as Sonoma Water, has begun inflating its annual rubber dam on the Russian River. The agency typically inflates the dame around the start of the dry season, when the river’s natural flow begins to drop and demand increases. Sonoma Water spokesperson Stuart Tiffen said the main purpose for the dam is to help recharge local groundwater supplies. “When the dam is fully inflated, it creates a small pool from which Sonoma Water draws for use in four off-stream infiltration ponds,” Tiffen said. … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media.
BAY AREA
‘All signs do point to warming’: What to know about SF’s changing summer weather
“San Francisco summers have long been infamous for their deep layers of fog and chilly temperatures, even when the rest of the Bay Area is baking hot. But as climate change continues to warm the planet, summer in the city has started to evolve with real summer heat, diminishing fog and more of those rare July and August evenings where you don’t need to carry a jacket. Since 1970, the average temperature from June to August in downtown San Francisco has warmed 1.1 degrees. And at San Francisco Airport over the same period, it’s warmed by 2.2 degrees, according to Daniel McEvoy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The warming may sound minimal, and San Francisco has some natural defenses against extreme heat, but there may still be substantial impacts ahead. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
As data centers multiply, Santa Clara leaders, residents question its environmental impacts
“Santa Clara leaders are raising concerns about how the city’s dozens of data centers affect residents and the environment. Santa Clara has more standalone data centers than any other California city — 55 in operation and three in the pipeline, according to the city. Demand is growing as more people use the internet and digitally demanding technology advances, such as artificial intelligence. With data centers providing the city with millions in revenue, officials are questioning impacts to water and the electrical grid. Officials said city-owned power utility Silicon Valley Power has lower electricity rates compared to PG&E, a plus for data centers that need reliable energy, and the reason so many companies have planted their data centers in the city. Santa Clara also has a strong fiber optic network near Central Expressway, where most of the data centers are located, making it easier for more data to travel faster. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
CENTRAL COAST
PG&E tried to restart a battery plant over Monterey County officials’ objections. It lasted less than a day
“When a massive fire ignited in January at one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities, the neighbors demanded answers. They wanted to know what started the fire that smoldered for days, spewing toxic gas into the air and prompting evacuation warnings for 1,500 people. Nearly five months later and with the fire’s cause still unknown, Pacific Gas & Electric began reopening an adjacent battery site on Sunday, despite objections from local officials. But the restart — which the utility company said was needed in order to meet summer energy demands — was called off almost as soon as it began. On Sunday, workers who “began methodically returning the batteries to service” discovered “a clamp failure and coolant leak” in a Tesla Megapack battery unit on site, PG&E spokesman Paul Doherty said in a statement Monday. “Out of an abundance of caution we are deferring the facility’s return to service until a later date,” Doherty said. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
PG&E faces community backlash and lawsuit over Moss Landing battery plant reopening
“Knot Johnson, an attorney for Singleton Schreiber, held a news conference in Moss Landing on Wednesday, speaking on behalf of the community about Pacific Gas & Electric’s attempted battery plant re-opening at the beginning of the month. “It was poorly thought out. It was poorly planned,” Johnson said. “And like the plant itself next door, Vistra, it was poorly executed and ultimately didn’t work.” The law firm filed a mass action lawsuit against Vistra, PG&E, LG Chemicals, and Granite Construction. They currently represent 800 clients who reported experiencing health issues after the fire, are dealing with anxiety, or have lost value in their properties and businesses. The law firm is seeking individualized damages. The law firm is also conducting groundwater baseline sampling to identify heavy metals and potential hazards to the community. They expect to receive results within six months to a year. … ” Read more from KSBY.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Second Tulare County farmland conversion workshop scheduled
“A local collaborative is seeking input from farmers, tribal members, residents and environmental advocates to help determine the future of the Tule subbasin at a workshop Tuesday, June 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the International Agri-Center in Tulare. The workshop, “Finding Common Ground and Shared Priorities on Land Repurposing,” is free and dinner will be provided. The Tule Subbasin Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) is a local collaborative that supports landowners, farmers and communities in achieving groundwater sustainability by voluntarily transitioning irrigated agriculture to alternative land uses, a practice known as land repurposing. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Sea lion pups released off California coast in Venice as domoic acid danger ends
“Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and members from the Marine Mammal Care Center LA celebrated the end of the longest toxic domoic acid outbreak with the release of sea lion pups back into the coast in Venice on Wednesday. Although the sea lions being released did not suffer from domoic acid, John Warner, CEO at the Marine Mammal Care Center, said they were being returned to safer waters. Warner explained that domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin that is produced by certain types of algae, but this year’s levels and length of time were significantly long. Wildlife officials say algae blooms usually begin in June, but this year’s bloom spread a few months early, causing thousands of sea lions, dolphins, pelicans and whales to experience seizures or die. … ” Read more from CBS LA.
SEE ALSO: Lethal algae bloom is over, but sickened marine mammals aren’t safe yet, from the LA Times
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Coachella Valley water districts, Tribe reach water rights settlement
“The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and Desert Water Agency (DWA) have reached an agreement to settle two long-standing water rights lawsuits that enhances certainty and stability over the future of water management and increases supply reliability for Coachella Valley residents. “The agreement affirms the Tribe’s right to manage, regulate, and govern the use of the Tribal Water Right in the Coachella Valley, and at the same time will provide a real benefit to the entire Coachella Valley,” says Tribal Chairman Reid D. Milanovich. “We all rolled up our sleeves and worked together to come to an agreement that recognizes the Tribe’s water rights and sovereignty, considers the unique jurisdictional issues of our checkerboard reservation, and respects our traditional and cultural uses for our tribal community. It also ensures that Coachella Valley residents from now and into the distant future can be assured that the water management of this basin is done jointly with a continued focus on water sustainability and reliability for all. The Tribe appreciates and recognizes the long-standing relationship with, and continued support of, Riverside County’s Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, and looks forward to collaborating on the implementation of the water settlement.” … ” Read more from Desert Water Agency.
Agua Caliente tribe and desert water agencies settle lawsuits, seek major federal funds
“The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency have agreed to settle two long running water rights lawsuits, which the three parties said in a news release will “enhance certainty and stability over the future of water management and increases supply reliability for Coachella Valley residents.” The tribe’s historic water rights are affirmed in the agreement, placing them at the head of the line for water from a vast aquifer stretching under much of the Coachella Valley, but they agreed to share it in times of drought or water restrictions. Congress must approve the proposed settlement, and the tribe and the agencies will also ask for $500 million in federal funds and $15 million in state funds under new legislation. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
SEE ALSO: Historic water settlement confirms Agua Caliente tribe’s rights to 20,000 acre-feet annually, from the Palm Springs Post
SAN DIEGO
Water Authority floats lower rate hike — council says not good enough
“Slowly but surely the San Diego County Water Authority has scaled back on next year’s proposed water rate increase. Officials initially proposed an 18 percent increase, then lowered their proposal to 12 percent. On Tuesday, they came down on the rate hike again, suggesting to the San Diego City Council an increase of 10.4 percent. That wasn’t good enough for several councilmembers. Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera was adamant the Water Authority could find ways to reduce the rate increase even more. “Part of my criticism from the last month and a half or so, is I don’t think CWA feels the pressure that we feel from having to talk to people who are barely getting by,” he said. “The complete disregard for the impact of the costs on the people that we serve is unacceptable.” … ” Read more at the Voice of San Diego.
Should a discounted water rate for San Diego farmers go away?
“San Diego County’s cash-strapped water authority is considering a plan that could remove a discount it gives to local farmers — something farmers claim could put them out of business. The authority gives a roughly 25% discount to about 1,000 farmers, who grow everything from flowers to avocados. Everyone involved in the issue is facing higher costs. The authority has been imposing consistent double-digit rate increases on local water agencies in recent years primarily because of declining demand. Farmers are facing higher costs for labor, supplies, equipment, transportation and fuel. Critics say removing the discount is shortsighted because it threatens to kill off a customer class the water authority can’t afford to lose. At the same time, rates for other customers may increase to cover the authority’s costs. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Commentary: The Water Authority built San Diego’s economy. Support it; Don’t tear it down
16 past chairs of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce write, “In late 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis produced some eye-catching numbers about our region. It found our gross domestic product (GDP) had reached roughly $262 billion. That’s bigger than 25 U.S. states and countries like Greece, Hungary and Morocco. It’s proof the path San Diego has been on over the last 30 years – a diversified economy that supports entrepreneurs and working families alike – has had positive results. Yet that success was not always a given. In the early 1990s, historic drought conditions pushed San Diego’s economy and quality of life to the brink of collapse because of record cuts to our water supply from the Metropolitan Water District, or MWD. We depended on MWD for almost all our water and those cuts were devastating. San Diego receives less average annual rainfall than Tucson, Arizona and hasn’t had enough local water to support itself since the 1940s. The water restrictions had impacts beyond shorter showers and brown lawns. Researchers in the biotech space couldn’t clean their equipment. Businesses put bricks in their toilets to lower water use. We were on a path to ruin. That’s when we said, “never again.” The San Diego County Water Authority brought together a coalition of San Diego’s business, community and government leaders to build the most reliable and drought-resilient water supply in the western United States. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
California Senate passes legislative package protecting the Tijuana River watershed
“This week the California Senate passed Senate Bills 10 and 594, authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego). SB 10 would expressly authorize funds from the new toll road to be used for water treatment, environmental mitigation, and restoration of the Tijuana River Valley and SB 594 would give communities across the state with existing environmental pollution burdens the opportunity to voice their concerns in a publicly noticed hearing when a new landfill development is proposed as is the case in the River Valley. This year, the Tijuana River was named in the 2nd most endangered rivers in America, a list managed by environmental organization, American Rivers. The designation comes from an analysis of the hazardous industrial waste and raw sewage present in the river. … ” Read more from Senator Steve Padilla.
Along the Colorado River …
Southwest drought and wildfire summer outlook webinar recap
“Drought has expanded and intensified in much of the southwestern U.S. since the start of the water year (October 1, 2024). This summer’s outlook for warmer-than-normal conditions could intensify drought and wildfire conditions, but the monsoon may provide some potential for relief. … Current tropical sea surface temperatures firmly reflect El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions. ENSO-neutral conditions are favored during the summer months, with a 74% chance during June–August. Chances for ENSO-neutral exceed 50% for August–October. It is not uncommon to have 2 (or 3) years of back-to-back La Niña events. However, a return to La Niña this year is possible, but ENSO-neutral remains the most likely scenario for the rest of the year. Large portions of the Southwestern U.S. will receive helpful early June precipitation. While this is welcome moisture, it is not the start of the Southwest Monsoon. … ” Read the full recap and access the webinar recording from NIDIS.
Colorado River’s hidden, below-ground reservoir is quickly shrinking, researchers say
“The Colorado River Basin’s hidden, below-ground reservoir — which spans parts of Colorado and six other states — has lost about 13 trillion gallons of water, and it’s shrinking faster than it has in the past, according to researchers at Arizona State University. Groundwater, stored in the cracks in rock and spaces between soil and sand below our feet, is the oft-overlooked stepchild of the basin, which provides water to 40 million people around the West. Policymakers, water managers and others spend much of their time talking about the basin’s shrinking above-ground supplies — even more so since two reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, fell to historic lows around 2022. Meanwhile underground, more than a Lake Mead-worth of water has disappeared, according to a study published May 27 in the American Geophysical Union’s peer-reviewed research journal, Advancing Earth and Space Sciences. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Hobbs visits La Paz County as groundwater negotiations stall
“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 scarce amid a prolonged drought. La Paz County District 3 Supervisor Holly Irwin said she found the situation “disappointing.” Irwin has been vocal in her calls for groundwater regulation. … ” Read more from the Parker Pioneer.
In national water news today …
Texas woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after using tap water in nasal rinse
“Health officials are warning the public about the risks of nasal rinsing after a Texas woman died from a rare brain infection after using tap water in nasal rinse. According to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a 71-year-old woman developed severe symptoms just four days after using a nasal irrigation device filled with tap water from an RV’s water system at a Texas campground. The woman experienced a fever, headache and altered mental status before progressing to seizures. Despite medical care, she died eight days after her symptoms began. Lab tests later confirmed she had Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic organism often referred to as a “brain-eating amoeba.” The CDC concluded the infection likely occurred through nasal exposure using an irrigation device. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
NOAA ‘fully staffed’ with forecasters, scientists, US Commerce secretary says
“U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Senate hearing that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is “fully staffed” with weather forecasters and scientists after concerns were raised about some offices losing 24-hour staffing ahead of hurricane season. “We are fully staffed with forecasters and scientists. Under no circumstances am I going to let public safety or public forecasting be touched,” Lutnick told a Senate appropriations subcommittee overseeing NOAA, saying he got the National Weather Service (NWS) exempted from a federal hiring freeze. NOAA, which includes the NWS, lost around 1,000 people or 10% of its workforce amid federal job layoffs in the first months of the second Trump administration, including 600 at the weather service. At least six NWS offices had stopped the routine twice-a-day weather balloon launches that collect data for weather models. … ” Read more from Reuters.
Trump administration proposes cutting off funding for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund
“President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating funding for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund – a program that directs tens of millions of dollars annually toward supporting salmon populations along the West Coast. The cut is part of the Trump administration’s planned cuts to NOAA; preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget documents outlined a USD 1.3 billion (EUR 1.1 billion) reduction to NOAA’s overall budget. Now, additional budget documentation released by the federal government shows which programs will be impacted by that cut, and salmon recovery efforts are one of the major government programs on the chopping block. For fiscal year 2026, the Trump administration is proposing zero funding for the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund, a program established in 2000 to help restore Pacific salmon populations in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. Since its inception, the program has provided USD 1.9 billion (EUR 1.7 billion) in funding for salmon recovery efforts, with roughly USD 99 million (EUR 87 million) allocated in fiscal year 2025 alone. Over the years, that money has helped state and Tribal governments fund 16,000 salmon recovery projects, restoring and protecting roughly 1.2 million acres of spawning and rearing habitat. … ” Read more from the Seafood Source.
Trump EPA moves to roll back rules projected to save billions of dollars and thousands of lives
“When the head of the Environmental Protection Agency announced a wide-ranging rollback of environmental regulations, he said it would put a “dagger through the heart of climate-change religion” and introduce a “Golden Age” for the American economy. What Lee Zeldin didn’t mention: how ending the rules could have devastating consequences to human health. The EPA-targeted rules could prevent an estimated 30,000 deaths and save $275 billion each year they are in effect, according to an Associated Press examination that included the agency’s own prior assessments as well as a wide range of other research. It’s by no means guaranteed that the rules will be entirely eliminated; they can’t be changed without going through a federal rulemaking process that can take years and requires public comment and scientific justification. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Two equations that unlock El Niño
“The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a natural climate phenomenon driven by interactions between the ocean and atmosphere in the tropical Pacific. In recent decades, major advances in observing and modeling ENSO have greatly improved our understanding, yet important challenges remain. A recent article in Reviews of Geophysics highlights the recharge oscillator (RO) conceptual model, a simple mathematical representation of ENSO fundamental mechanisms. Here, we asked the lead author to provide an overview of ENSO, discuss the strengths and limitations of the RO model, and outline key open questions. … ” Read more from EOS.
Scientists launch experimental worldwide forecasts in unprecedented detail
“Scientists at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) have begun running real-time 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) experimental weather forecasts for the entire globe. This achievement, a milestone for meteorology, can lead to significant advances in worldwide weather prediction. The real-time forecasts are more fine-scale than other real-time global weather models and so detailed that they can capture individual thunderstorms around the world. Although still in the experimental phase, the research points the way toward better protecting society from extreme weather events. “We’re demonstrating that it is possible to run a 3-kilometer global forecast in real time, which is a major step in advancing weather prediction capabilities,” said NSF NCAR scientist Craig Schwartz, who is leading the research. “This project really highlights the potential to provide more valuable information about severe weather to those in harm’s way around the world.” … ” Read more from UCAR.
