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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Delta Conveyance Project water right hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending Petitions for Change of Water Right Permits for the Delta Conveyance Project. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing without participating may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: bit.ly/aho-youtube. DWR is providing brief recaps here. Click here for the meeting notice.
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board from 9am to 12:30pm. Agenda items include an overview of the Delta Regional Monitoring Program, Contaminants Monitoring Review, and planning for a climate change symposium. Click here for the meeting notice and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Invasive Species Week: Don’t Move a (Golden) Mussel from 12pm to 1pm. This webinar will focus on the golden mussel, an invasive, non-native freshwater/brackish water bivalve, was discovered in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) in October 2024. This discovery is the first known occurrence of golden mussel in North America and was likely introduced to California by a ship traveling from an international port. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Climate Resilience in Action – Shared Waters, Shared Solutions from 1pm to 2pm. Join us for the final webinar in Sustainable Conservation’s Climate Resilience in Action series, Shared Waters, Shared Solutions, where we’ll explore how collaborating for water quality and quantity are critical to secure California’s water future. From urban and rural communities to working lands and vital habitats, all of California is linked by water – and everyone has a role in ensuring clean and reliable water for generations to come. Together with our expert panelists, we’ll dive into how strong partnerships and on-the-ground action advance drought resilience across the state and why investing in water solutions today is essential to a thriving, climate-resilient California tomorrow. 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 …
California’s massive dam removal hit a key milestone. Now, there’s a problem
“Last year, after the historic removal of four dams on the Klamath River, thousands of salmon rushed upstream into the long-blocked waters along the California-Oregon border, seeking out the cold, plentiful flows considered crucial to the fish’s future. The return of salmon to their ancestral home was a fundamental goal of dam removal and a measure of the project’s success. However, a problem emerged. The returning salmon only got so far. Eight miles upriver from the former dam sites lies a still-existing dam, the 41-foot-tall Keno Dam in southern Oregon. The dam has a fish ladder that’s supposed to help with fish passage, but it didn’t prove to work. While many proponents of dam removal say they’re thrilled with just how far the salmon got, most of the 420 miles of waterways that salmon couldn’t reach before the dam demolition still appear largely unreachable. This stands to keep the fish from spreading and reproducing in the high numbers anticipated with the project. Other migratory fish, including steelhead trout and Pacific lamprey, may face similar straits.The shortcoming has opened a new chapter in the decades-long effort to liberate the Klamath River, this one focused on Keno Dam. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Trump’s environmental protection budget cuts appear to target San Francisco Bay
“As director of the nonprofit Save the Bay, David Lewis has spent a lifetime fighting for resources – money to expand healthy tidal marshes, tighten wastewater standards, and push back on the kind of development that’s already covered miles of shoreline with landfill. But now, he feels like that work, and San Francisco Bay itself is under attack. “The Trump administration is definitely targeting San Francisco for cuts to environmental protection and leaving some programs in other parts of the country, with full funding. It’s really vindictive. And it’s going to be very damaging to San Francisco Bay,” says Lewis. He’s talking about restoration projects administered by the Environmental Protection Agency in regions around the country. While areas from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast to Chesapeake Bay keep their current funding, San Francisco Bay is targeted with more than $41 million in cuts. … ” Read more from KGO.
Pending state subsidence guidelines give Valley water managers sinking feeling
“New subsidence guidelines from the Department of Water Resources are expected to drop on San Joaquin Valley water managers any day, a prospect that has them both hopeful and worried. The intent of the guidelines is to provide clarity within the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires overdrafted regions to enact plans to bring aquifers into balance by 2040. One of SGMA’s primary goals is to halt subsidence, land sinking. Excessive groundwater pumping has caused huge swaths of the San Joaquin Valley to sink, damaging canals, roads and increasing flood risks. Some areas have collapsed on such a large scale, the phenomenon can be seen from space, earning the nickname “the Corcoran bowl.” Subsidence, though, has been a tricky devil to manage. Not all subsidence is the same. Some is reversible with substrata and aquifers that act like sponges, contracting in drought, refilling in wet years. In other areas, sinking is irreversible, particularly when pumping occurs deep below what’s known as the Corcoran clay layer that lies beneath the valley’s surface in intermittent patches. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Podcast: As California regulates groundwater use, a sinking ground is a persisting problem
“The land beneath the Central Valley has been sinking since the 1920s. Stanford University researchers have found it’s happening at a record-breaking pace. We speak with them to hear what they say is a solution to stop – and potentially reverse – the sinking. Plus, the latest news headlines: Response grows to immigration protests in Los Angeles; and a traffic warning if you’re headed to the Central Coast.” Listen at KVPR.
Flooding in Central Valley offers key opportunities for groundwater recharge
“California’s Central Valley — one of the nation’s most critical agricultural regions and home to over 1.3 million people — is prone to flooding. Mapping the extent of winter floods has been challenging for experts, however, because clouds can obscure the view of satellites. Recent efforts to improve satellite flood mapping have been incorporated into a new study that offers insight into where winter flooding is occurring and inform how floodwaters can be used to replenish depleted aquifers. The research, published June 4 in the Journal of Flood Risk Management, examined 20 years of satellite imagery to identify the extent and location of winter flooding in the region. The midwinter months of December through February were found to have the highest likelihood of floods, particularly when atmospheric rivers brought heavy rains when soils were already saturated. The study also identified areas where floodwaters fail to percolate through soils and offers suggestions for using the water to replenish rapidly depleting groundwater aquifers. By examining insurance claim data and overlays of floodwaters and buildings, researchers also found that flood exposure was actually higher, by value, for buildings outside of officially designated flood boundaries. The study’s findings can be visualized in three interactive maps. … ” Read more from the Desert Research Institute.
How groundwater projects in Southern California provide pulse flows on the Feather River
“Proposition 1 of 2014 dedicated $2.7 billion for investments in water storage projects, which the California Water Commission administers through the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). Projects approved under the Water Storage Investment Program are funded based on the public benefits they deliver. One such benefit is supplying pulse flows to the Feather River to benefit salmon. Three groundwater storage projects in the South San Joaquin Valley and Southern California have committed to providing these flows in exchange for funding. But how can a groundwater project in Southern California contribute to pulse flows on the Feather River? This question was answered at the May meeting of the California Water Commission, where Kristal Davis Fadtke, Environmental Program Manager at the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), and David Okita, Special Consultant with the Department of Water Resources (DWR), explained the mechanics behind the pulse flows. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Support for Governor Newsom’s Delta Conveyance Project streamlining bill continues to grow
“Governor Newsom’s proposed trailer bill to streamline the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) continues to garner support from legislators and a broad and growing coalition of 120 organizations—including labor, business, social justice advocates, local governments, and water agencies. Groups from the Inland Empire also offered a strong letter of support for the project. The Governor’s budget trailer bill will help modernize California’s aging water infrastructure, protect water security for millions of Californians, and address the costly and redundant obstacles that have stalled critical projects like the DCP for years—all while maintaining strong environmental protections for Delta communities and habitats. Twenty-eight legislators voiced their support for the bill to ensure that the State Water Project is prepared for the impacts of climate change … ” Read more from Californians for Water Security.
Temporary victory: California senate rejects delta tunnel budget power grab
“Restore the Delta is celebrating a significant win for communities, the environment, and the democratic process. Today, the Senate Budget Subcommittee rejected the Delta Conveyance Project trailer bill package and reversed $351.7 million in proposed funding for the Voluntary Agreements. This decision reflects growing concerns among legislators about the costs, legality, and rushed process behind the tunnel plan. It’s a strong signal that the Legislature will not allow environmental protections, public input, or fiscal responsibility to be cast aside for a massive, unworkable project. “This is a huge win for the Delta, for California’s rivers, and for democratic process,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta. “Legislators rightly stood up for public process, environmental review, and fiscal responsibility.” … ” Read more from Restore the Delta.
Stockton-based conservation group calls for audit of billions in public spending by DWR
“At a time when Governor Newsom’s May revision budget proposal would slash overtime pay for caregivers, consumer access to care and nursing home oversight, the controversial Delta Tunnel that he wants to build is already costing taxpayers $1 million per day, according to the Department of Water Resources, or DWR. Restore the Delta, a conversation group based in Stockton, has decided that it’s time for an audit. Last week, the group submitted a formal request to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee urging a full audit of DWR spending on the project formally known as Delta Conveyance Project, as well as its associated Voluntary Agreements. “The request comes amid rising public costs, incomplete project plans, and growing legal and environmental concerns,” Restore the Delta said in a statement. 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. … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review.
Rich Kreps sounds alarm on California’s water storage failures
“Rich Kreps, pistachio grower and chairman of the American Pistachio Growers Board, is calling attention to California’s mismanagement of water resources, especially on the west side of Fresno. Speaking with AgNetWest, Kreps criticized decades of unfulfilled promises and failed infrastructure projects meant to bolster water storage. “It’s awful,” Kreps said. “We keep paying for water storage—like we did back in 2018—but the money keeps getting diverted to projects that never materialize.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Solar arrays can aid grasslands during drought
“New research from Colorado State University and Cornell University shows that the presence of solar panels in Colorado’s grasslands may reduce water stress, improve soil moisture levels and – particularly during dry years – increase plant growth by about 20% or more compared to open fields. The findings were recently published in Environmental Research Letters. The paper outlines the potential benefits and challenges when photovoltaic (PV) arrays are located in grassland ecosystems. The findings are particularly relevant when considering drought in the arid west and the potential for future climate change. While solar power systems are a key source of renewable energy, they reduce the amount of sunlight available for plant growth, which could impact these complex ecosystems in ways that reduce the wildlife they support, the carbon they store and the amount of forage they produce for livestock grazing. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Underwater microphones capture 15 years of ocean change
“Scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego were able to ‘hear’ the impacts of a marine heatwave and even economic slowdowns by analyzing 15 years of ocean sounds recorded off the coast of Southern California. The recordings, collected between 2008 and 2023, allowed researchers to hear whales moving north in response to a marine heatwave that began in 2014 as well as the massive decrease in noise from container ships during the 2008 financial crisis. The findings, published June 5 in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, show that listening to the sea can be a tool for monitoring ocean ecosystems and even human economic activity. Sound travels far and fast in the ocean. The loud, low-frequency songs of giant whales can be heard up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) away, and sound travels roughly four times faster in seawater than in air. This is why whales evolved to use their voices to communicate underwater. Unfortunately, human activities, such as global shipping, are also filling the oceans with noise that can make it harder for whales to communicate. … ” Read more from Scripps.
Proposition 4: California’s historic $10 billion climate investment and path to resilience
“In the November 2024 election, California voters approved Proposition 4 – the Climate Bond, authorizing the state to issue $10 billion in general obligation bonds to fund climate resilience and environmental conservation projects. The Legislature and Administration are currently debating how much of these funds will be available in the first year of allocations. The Governor’s 2025-26 January State budget proposal outlines his proposal for Proposition 4 allocations, but the final State budget and allocation of these funds will be negotiated with the Legislature until a final State budget is enacted by June 30. In Nossaman’s California Water Views – 2025 Outlook, [Ashley Walker] discusses the opportunities that Proposition 4 brings to the water industry.”
In commentary today …
One way Trump’s DOGE cuts could actually help environmentalists in the West
Author Tom Zoellner writes, “No big government infrastructure project made an imprint on the landscape and economy of the West more than the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s 20th century dam-building spree, which peppered 490 dams across the country, created an agricultural civilization dependent on federal hydrology civil engineering and brought about a welter of environmental difficulties after drying up dozens of once-healthy rivers. Today, the agency claims a $1.4 billion budget to maintain its fleet of aging dams. It was perhaps inevitable that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, would seek to cut it down. Approximately 400 workers at the bureau — including dam tenders, emergency management specialists and hydrologists — received “reduction in force” letters in March, raising fears that poorly monitored dams could fail, creating catastrophic flooding. This, just five weeks after President Donald Trump stoked fears of mismanagement by ordering billions of gallons of water released from two Central Valley dams, against the objections of officials, water experts and farmers. Turmoil in the federal dam management system represents potential disaster but also a prime opportunity: It offers environmentalists an opening to make a vigorous case for dam removal — a move that could save costs and please business interests while achieving a longstanding goal of getting rid of the most harmful and obsolete blockages on Western rivers. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Rio Dell unveils new Eel River Trail, a community-driven project
“City leaders, residents and young artists gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of the new Eel River Trail, a scenic walking and biking path that winds through the heart of Rio Dell. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a significant step forward for outdoor recreation and community pride. The project was made possible by a Clean California grant from Caltrans, which aims to beautify and revitalize public spaces across the state. Children from Eagle Prairie Elementary School played an active role in the project, assisting with cleanup, planting, and creating vibrant artwork now displayed along the trail. … ” Read more from KRCR.
SEE ALSO: Ribbon Cutting for Rio Dell’s Stunning Eel River Riparian Trail, from Redwood News
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Power and the River: The history of hydropower in Nevada County and why FERC relicensing matters now more than ever
“For more than a century, the rivers of Nevada County have powered homes and industries across California. But behind the light switches and irrigation canals lies a story of massive infrastructure, diverted flows, and dramatic ecological damage — especially for native fish such as salmon and steelhead. Today, with the federal relicensing of major hydropower projects in the region nearing completion, we have a rare and urgent opportunity to speak up for the health of our rivers and the species that depend on them. SYRCL’s advocacy on behalf of the environment, and the impacts of dam operations on the environment, will help establish dam operations and requirements until 2075 and beyond. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
Hazardous fuels reduction operations underway at Lake Tahoe
“Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team hazardous fuels reduction (forest thinning) projects are underway at Lake Tahoe and are scheduled to continue through fall 2025, weather and conditions permitting. Liberty Utilities, the Nevada Division of Forestry, NV Energy, and the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit are working together to protect Lake Tahoe communities by reducing excess vegetation (fuels) that can feed unwanted wildfires. For the details of each project, including land ownership, lead agency, start date, and expected duration, view the Forest Thinning Projects Map at Tahoe Living With Fire, which highlights current and upcoming projects. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Elk Grove’s eco-friendly recycled water plan faces major setback amid rising costs
“A plan to irrigate Elk Grove parks, trees and plants with treated sewage water is in jeopardy. The recycled water was supposed to benefit the city’s last large-scale urban development, but city officials now say using recycled water won’t work. A new 1,200-acre neighborhood near Bruceville and Kammerer roads in Elk Grove was supposed to be an example of environmental conservation. It is designed to be drought-tolerant by using treated sewage water in parks and landscaping. “It’s really an environmental stewardship,” said public works director Jeff Werner. “Recycled water preserves the use of surface water and potable water.” Many streets are already equipped with dedicated purple pipes to deliver reclaimed water, but now this eco-friendly Harvest Water project is going down the drain. Werner is recommending that the city cancel the recycled water program in this southeast neighborhood. … ” Read more from CBS News.
NAPA/SONOMA
A creek on California’s most famous vineyard is the site of a contentious, yearslong fight
“A four-mile creek that runs through California’s most famous vineyard is at the center of a yearslong battle between a fourth-generation Napa Valley grape grower and major wine corporation Constellation Brands. After a 16-page appeal, repeated delays and even a fraud allegation, the conflict may finally get resolved this week. The farmer, Graeme MacDonald, “grew up on and in” the creek, which babbles through land his family has owned since 1954. The property is part of the hallowed To Kalon Vineyard — made famous by California wine pioneer Robert Mondavi — and the unassuming creek is a geological star. Within its ancient bed, mineral deposits of gravel, sand and silt formed and spread, creating what’s known as an alluvial fan: rocky, fertile and well-draining soil that’s widely believed to be the best in the world for growing wine grapes. Known for producing some of the most complex and sought-after wines worldwide, these alluvial soils are famously found in renowned wine regions such as Burgundy and Bordeaux. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
BAY AREA
“Forever chemicals” found in fish caught in San Francisco Bay, report warns
“A warning to anglers who eat their catch from the San Francisco Bay, fish pulled from the waters may contain dangerous levels of so-called “forever chemicals.” In a recent report by the San Francisco Estuary Institute, scientists detected 20 types of polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS in fish caught in the bay. Their research and testing of fish began in 2009, and a revised study was published in the American Chemical Society this past March. “PFAS have been known to harm us in a variety of different ways, they’ve been known to cause cancer,” said Miguel Mendez, the lead author of the SFEI study. “It affects us in variety of different organs, including the liver, and over time can cause some severe health effects.” Along the docks of San Francisco’s Embarcadero, one will find a variety of fisherman who are there for sport or relaxation, but a number of people fish the docks for food. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Keeping water flowing: Valley Water’s pipeline inspection and rehabilitation efforts
“At Valley Water, we’re committed to delivering safe, clean and reliable water to the people of Santa Clara County. A key part of that work is maintaining more than 150 miles of pipelines that carry raw, treated, and recycled water, some of which have been in service since the 1950s. To keep this vital infrastructure in good shape, we’ve developed two programs: the Pipeline Maintenance Program and the 10-Year Pipeline Inspection and Rehabilitation Program. Together, these programs help us catch problems early, make timely repairs and plan for future upgrades. Pipelines may be out of sight, but they’re always a priority. Even the most durable pipelines can wear down over time. That’s why we inspect and maintain them regularly. By catching problems early, we can make necessary repairs and upgrades before small issues become big disruptions. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
Local agency hoping to minimize stormwater pollution through education
“If you’ve ever seen “no trash” labels on local storm drains or anti-pesticide stickers in the gardening section at Home Depot, it’s likely they were put there by the Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program. The Program, also known as Monterey SEA, serves as a regional partner to the county to monitor and address water quality issues, specifically through stormwater runoff. Many areas within the county, including Point Lobos and Carmel, are heavily impacted by stormwater pollution. “Many people don’t realize that water flowing down a storm drain often goes straight to the ocean without being treated,” said Pacific Grove’s Environmental Program Manager and Program Committee Member George Fuerst in a news release. “That’s why this work is important; it helps protect the places we love to visit and the wildlife that lives just offshore.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Grover Beach’s wastewater rates to go up after protests fall short. What to know
“Disputes over whether Grover Beach should raise its wastewater rates to pay for infrastructure upgrades continued on Monday evening as the Grover Beach City Council unanimously voted to approve a new wastewater rate structure that will see sewer costs increase by 90% by 2030.On Monday, the Grover Beach City Council heard a final report from city staff on whether increasing wastewater rates was needed to pay for sewer maintenance and infrastructure costs as the Proposition 218 public protest period came to a close. The protest period, which started April 14, required the council to send notices to every customer of the wastewater system explaining the rate change, why it was needed and giving them an option to send in a protest ballot. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Finding the city of Lost Hills
“Recently we spent a week in agriculture-based communities in California’s Central Valley. This post is the beginning of a series on what we heard, learned, and were surprised and inspired by from the people we spoke with there. It was a reminder to us of the central principle of journalism: The emotional and informative power of things you didn’t know, until you showed up. The Central Valley is an important, and under-covered, part of America. It is important in obvious, dramatic ways. The Central Valley represents roughly 1% of US farmland, yet produces as much as 25% (by value) of all US-grown food. It is at the center of long-standing debates about California’s water supply, about its immigration policy, about its economic inequalities, even about the routes for its High-Speed Rail system. The Central Valley also has an outsized place in American cultural imagery. It’s been the setting for famed literary works, from Bret Hart through John Steinbeck to Joan Didion. Its landscape has been in movies, from East of Eden to American Graffiti to Ladybird (and the less well-known but excellent McFarland USA.)… ” Continue reading from Our Towns.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Amid ecological decline at Salton Sea, Audubon California finds 15% increase in shore birds
“A new study by Audubon California has found a 15% increase in the number of shore birds at the Salton Sea, despite a prolonged ecological decline there. The findings are surprising because in recent years as the area has gotten drier, there have been fish die-offs and fewer of the larger, fish-eating birds, like pelicans. The study suggests the changes in the area’s ecology has specifically attracted more shore birds like the Western sandpiper. “We’re seeing an increase in the availability in shore bird habitat,” said Dan Orr, leader of desert and Salton Sea science for Audubon California. The birds have migrated from other parts of the region where development has shrunk their habitat, usually in mudflats along the coastal shores. … ” Read more from LAist.
Along the Colorado River …
New algae system helps Arizona farmers grow better crops with less water
“Ed Curry is passionate about the green, red and yellow chile peppers he grows on his 3,000-acre farm in Pearce, Arizona, about 90 minutes southeast of Tucson. He’s also passionate about saving water. A new technology Arizona State University is analyzing and promoting has combined his love for spice and conservation. “On the farm we have a saying: Make more crop per drop,” said Curry, who founded Curry Seed & Chile Co. in 1976 and is a member of Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ Water Policy Council. “Our goal here is to cut our water usage whenever we can.” Curry said he cut about 50% of his water usage in the 1990s by going to a drip system. More recently, he estimates he’s cut another 10% through a new soil service. ASU and MyLand, a Phoenix-based soil health company, demonstrated how soil health innovation can drive measurable water conservation at Curry’s farm at an event on May 14. This is achieved by using live, native microalgae to improve soil so that farmers like Curry can achieve greater water efficiency, increased yields and reduced environmental impact. … ” Read more from Newswise.
ADEQ will test groundwater sites in Tucson, Phoenix, Mesa, Lake Havasu and Prescott for PFAS
“The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will begin testing groundwater for PFAS contamination at six sites across the state. The human-made chemicals are used in everything from nonstick pans to a special firefighting foam called AFFF that’s used at airports and air bases. But, they don’t break down naturally and exposure has been linked to health issues like cancer. Last spring, the Biden administration introduced formal limits on six types of PFAS found in drinking water. A recent announcement from the Trump administration’s EPA rescinds four of those limits and extends the time period utilities have to come into compliance. Groundwater testing in Arizona will take place in two sites in Tucson, one in central Phoenix, and one each in Mesa, Lake Havasu and Prescott. Tina LePage, manager of the remedial projects section of ADEQ, says the agency first found PFAS at those locations last fall. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
New Nevada law to offer payment for water rights
“Nevada, the driest state in the nation, faces a water crisis in the years to come. To help save the precious resources for future generations, the governor just signed two bills A.B. 104 and S.B. 36 with bipartisan support including a new, statewide program to pay people to voluntarily give up their water rights. One would only need to look to Lake Mead to understand that Nevada’s water supply is dwindling while its population is booming. Now those with entitlements to water, like multigenerational ranchers and farmers, can exchange those rights for money. “In 2022, we really saw Lake Mead hit its all-time low. That was when Lake Mead’s water level actually dropped below intake number one out at Lake Mead, the Southern Nevada Water Authority turned on the low lake level pumping station,” Bronson Mack, Outreach Manager at the Southern Nevada Water Authority described. … ” Read more from Channel 5.
Why experts say this year’s spring runoff isn’t boosting Lake Powell
“In May, hydrologists forecasted that spring runoff into Lake Powell would be the lowest in years. A month later, the projections have only worsened. The Colorado Basin River Forecast Center reported on June 1 that the amount of water expected to flow into Lake Powell between April and July this year will be 45% of average. “Average,” in forecasting, refers to the average runoff between 1991 and 2020. The June forecast follows a consistent decline since the start of winter. Hydrologists said in December that Lake Powell’s runoff would be 92% of average. In January, the forecast dropped to 81%, then to 67% in February. The prediction pushed up to 70% in March, but fell to 55% in May, before dropping to 45% in June. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
In national water news today …
Video: Deconstructing the conundrum of rising rates and water affordability
“AWWA CEO David LaFrance discusses the findings of the association’s State of the Water 2025 report, which identifies financial concerns as the top challenge for water utilities. This encompasses rates, funding, and financing, and it moved up from its previous position as the number two concern. The report also highlights financial sustainability (ranked sixth) as a companion challenge, indicating utilities’ dual focus on securing capital for projects and ensuring long-term financial viability. The cost of providing water service has increased faster than inflation, leading to rising rates and affordability issues, which utilities must balance against the need to protect public health and maintain water quality.” Watch video at Water World.
PFAS treatment and litigation strategies for water systems
“The Biden Administration took a firm approach when it came to regulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The administration set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, designated PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and proposed listing PFAS as hazardous constituents under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to rescind and reconsider some of the MCLs, but the two strictest, PFOA and PFOS, are expected to remain. The compliance deadline for drinking water systems to meet these MCLs has been extended by two years, from 2029 to 2031. This extension is still an announcement and not a final rule. The established MCLs, and any future revisions, are subject to significant legal challenges. The “anti-backsliding” provision of the Safe Drinking Water Act is a potential basis for lawsuits, arguing that new regulations must maintain or improve public health protection. … ” Read more from Water World.
Getting started on microplastics: A contaminant unlike any other
“As per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are taking the spotlight as the high-profile contaminant, conversations surrounding microplastics are quickly on the rise. It seems like testing, piloting and treatment for PFAS has just begun, but another contaminant is looming. Like PFAS, microplastics come in many forms, with different compounds, sizes and masses. Microplastics could very well be the next big thing, but work on effectively removing the contaminant from drinking water has just begun. Brent Alspach, PE, BCEE, director of applied research at Arcadis, gave a presentation at American Water Works Association’s (AWWAs) 2025 Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE) in Denver, Colorado, on profiling water treatment plants for microplastics removal. … ” Read more from Water World.
Déjà vu? FWS solicits feedback to update Section 10(a) of the ESA
“On Monday, June 9, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) opened a short, 30-day public comment period soliciting information and comments to, “improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness” of Section 10(a) take permitting under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). If it seems like Section 10(a) just underwent a comment period not too long ago, that’s because it did. In 2023, under the Biden Administration, FWS solicited comments on proposed revisions to the regulations implementing that section, which were finalized last April. Now, the Trump Administration is seeking suggestions on how to further revise its ESA permitting rules. The April 2024 rule revisions created a new type of agreement, called a “conservation benefit agreement,” that combines both safe harbor agreements and candidate conservation agreements under Section10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA to facilitate voluntary conservation of not-yet-listed species on non-federal lands. This change was made in an effort to reduce costs and time associated with the permit processes and to encourage further participation in these voluntary programs. … ” Read more from the Environmental Law Monitor.
DOJ finds Trump can abolish areas protected as national monuments
“Trump administration officials have concluded that President Donald Trump has the authority to entirely abolish protected areas set aside as national monuments by past presidents, according to a legal opinion released Tuesday by the Department of Justice. The May 27 document, which reverses a legal opinion issued in 1938, could be laying the groundwork for Trump to abolish or dramatically shrink national monuments, which confer federal protections to millions of acres of federal land, much of it in the American West. Such a move would take the administration into untested legal territory. “It signals that the president is prepared to do something dramatic and sort of at a scale that we’ve never seen before with respect to national monuments, which encompass many of our most cherished public lands,” said Justin Pidot, a professor at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law and a former Biden administration official. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
A political battle is brewing over data centers
“A 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation included in President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” has brushed up against a mounting battle over the growth of data centers. On Thursday, Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, posted on X that the megabill’s 10-year block on states regulating artificial intelligence could “make it easier for corporations to get zoning variances, so massive AI data centers could be built in close proximity to residential areas.” Massie, who did not vote for the bill, followed up his initial tweet with a screenshot of a story on a proposed data center in Oldham County, Kentucky, which downsized and changed locations following local pushback. “This isn’t a conspiracy theory; this was a recent issue in my Congressional district,” he wrote of concerns over the placement of data centers. “It was resolved at the local level because local officials had leverage. The big beautiful bill undermines the ability of local communities to decide where the AI data centers will be built.” … ” Read more from Wired.
Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired
“A major US government website supporting public education on climate science looks likely to be shuttered after almost all of its staff were fired, the Guardian has learned. Climate.gov, the gateway website for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa)’s Climate Program Office, will imminently no longer publish new content, according to multiple former staff responsible for the site’s content whose contracts were recently terminated. “The entire content production staff at climate.gov (including me) were let go from our government contract on 31 May,” said a former government contractor who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. “We were told that our positions within the contract were being eliminated.” Rebecca Lindsey, the website’s former program manager, who was fired in February as part of the government’s purge of probationary employees, described a months-long situation within Noaa where political appointees and career staff argued over the fate of the website. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
