Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
Delta Conveyance Project
Legislative committee rejects Newsom’s plan to fast track Delta water tunnel construction
“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attempt to fast track the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project had a setback Tuesday. The governor’s strategy of inserting a bundle of policy changes into the state budget was rejected by a budget subcommittee, essentially sending a message to Newsom that the Legislature would rather discuss his suggestions using the normal legislative process. The Delta Conveyance Project is a proposal for a 45-mile gravity-fed canal that would carry excess water from the Sacramento River to join the preexisting aqueduct system that provides water to millions of users in Central and Southern California.In Newsom’s May revised budget, he added proposals that would speed land acquisition, require the State Water Resources Control Board to cancel certain objections, make permanent the water rights permit for the State Water Project and shorten litigation timelines. … ” Read more from Local Matters.
Dan Walters: Newsom wanted to fast-track the Delta tunnel project. The Legislature slowed the flow
“Repeatedly Gavin Newsom has sought legislative approval of his high-priority policy proposals within the annual state budget process, even though they often have nothing to do with the budget. The unique rules governing the budget and its accompanying “trailer bills” allow them to be enacted quickly, bypassing many parliamentary hurdles and vote thresholds that other legislation must endure. The Legislature, controlled by Newsom’s fellow Democrats, generally allows him to use the budget process, in part because legislators often employ the same shortcuts for their own priorities. Their underlying motive for the sneaky use — or misuse — of the budget process is to avoid prolonged analysis and debate that might, if the bills’ contents are fully vetted, make them more difficult to enact. The trailer bills often contain favors for interest groups that would be difficult to justify in a more transparent process. … ” Read more from Dan Walters.
Broad coalition backs Governor Newsom’s streamlining proposal for Delta Conveyance Project
“A robust and wide-ranging coalition of groups representing labor, business, disadvantaged communities, environmental justice advocates and water agencies, alongside 28 bipartisan state legislators, have formally expressed support for Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget trailer bill to streamline administrative processes needed to advance the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). Supporters of the Governor’s proposal all agree that streamlining the state’s administrative processes to advance the DCP will help California address future droughts, protect water affordability and build climate-resilient infrastructure faster and more efficiently. “The Governor’s budget trailer bill is not about circumventing environmental protections or greenlighting construction,” said Jennifer Pierre, General Manager for the State Water Contractors. “This budget trailer bill is all about breaking through redundant, archaic processes that have resulted in endless delays, duplicative reviews and millions upon millions of dollars of additive costs, while impeding the State’s ability to complete the DCP and other critical, needed infrastructure projects.” … ” Read more from the State Water Contractors.
Edward Ring: The economics of the Delta Conveyance Project
Edward Ring, Director of Water and Energy Policy at the California Policy Center, writes, “One of the most controversial water issues in California is the proposed Delta Conveyance. The 45-mile-long tunnel will have the capacity to move up to 4 million acre feet per year from the Sacramento River safely under the fragile delta ecosystem, delivering water to southbound aqueducts. That’s not bad. But the reservoir storage necessary to allow the tunnel to operate year-round at capacity, or even at half-capacity, is unlikely to ever be met. The state’s own estimate of the tunnel’s eventual throughput is only 500,000 acre feet per year. A clarifying way to evaluate the cost effectiveness of water supply infrastructure investments is to examine a simple ratio: the total project construction cost divided by the expected average annual yield. Using that method, at a cost of $20 billion and operating year after year at its full capacity of 4 million acre feet of annual throughput, equates to a cost/yield ratio of $5,000 per acre foot. But this is a theoretical best case estimate. How would it compare to other cost-effective ways to increase California’s water supply? … ” Read more from Edward Ring.
Californians for Water Security busts the myths and misinformation about The Delta Conveyance Project
“A robust and wide-ranging coalition of groups representing labor, business, disadvantaged communities, environmental justice advocates and water agencies, alongside 28 bipartisan state legislators, have formally expressed support for Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget trailer bill to streamline administrative processes needed to advance the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). Supporters of the Governor’s proposal all agree that streamlining the state’s administrative processes to advance the DCP will help California address future droughts, protect water affordability and build climate-resilient infrastructure faster and more efficiently. “The Governor’s budget trailer bill is not about circumventing environmental protections or greenlighting construction,” said Jennifer Pierre, General Manager for the State Water Contractors. “This budget trailer bill is all about breaking through redundant, archaic processes that have resulted in endless delays, duplicative reviews and millions upon millions of dollars of additive costs, while impeding the State’s ability to complete the DCP and other critical, needed infrastructure projects.” … ” Read more from Californians for Water Security.
In other California water news today …
Pulse flows and progress: Key highlights from the Chino Basin Program
“At the May meeting of the California Water Commission, representatives from the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, the project proponent for the Chino Basin Program, updated the Commission on the status of the project and progress toward completing the WSIP requirements. Elizabeth Hurst, Chino Basin Program Manager, and General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh gave the update. The Chino Basin Program (CBP) is designed to strengthen water supply reliability at both local and regional levels while addressing water quality issues in the Chino Basin and providing environmental benefits to Northern California. The Program aims to produce up to 15,000 acre-feet of purified water annually, which will be recharged into the groundwater basin to improve water quality, reduce salinity, and enhance preparedness for droughts and emergencies. “I’m proud of this program because it really does marry environmental protection, adaptation to climate change, and investment in local supply,” said Mr. Deshmukh. “What we are doing with this project is expanding on what IEUA is known for, and that’s developing local supplies that are drought proof, that [use] much less energy than alternative sources, and ultimately, not only provides a water supply reliability but provides an overall environment benefit to not only our region but to the state. To be able to marry that up with the pulse flow part of the Water Storage Investment Program is such a creative and innovative way to look at water management. So we’re very proud to be part of this Program.”… ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Suisun City Council votes to begin expansion research with California Forever
“Suisun City is now officially working with California Forever as they consider annexing nearly 16,000 acres of land that the billionaire-backed group owns. The city council approved a reimbursement agreement Tuesday night and California Forever is expected to give the city $400,000 in the next two weeks. No taxpayer dollars will be used in this work. City manager Bret Prebula said the agreement is only the starting line of what he expects will be a years-long process. “This is the beginning of gathering the information and the facts to tell us and the community does this work?” Prebula said. “It really allows us now to start doing the work and the technical studies related to looking at annexation.” … ” Read more from KCRA.
SEE ALSO: Update: Suisun Council says yes to reimbursement agreement with California Forever, from the Daily Republic
Reclamation to hold extraordinary maintenance funding workshop
“On Friday, June 20, at 9 a.m., Reclamation will hold an online workshop for the fiscal year 2026 application period for extraordinary maintenance funding. The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act provided $3 billion for extraordinary maintenance work for both federal transferred and reserved works. Reclamation anticipates making approximately $775 million available in fiscal year 2026. Prioritization of eligible extraordinary maintenance work will include factors such as risk, benefits, shovel readiness, demonstrated support from project beneficiaries, and emphasis on projects that support reliable water and power delivery. Applications must be received by Reclamation’s regional office no later than July 18. To attend the workshop, registration by noon on June 18 is required. To register for the workshop and/or to receive additional information about the application process, contact Derya Sumer at dsumer@usbr.gov.”
Squeezing every last drop out of wastewater
“Industries that need ultra-pure water — including semiconductor, battery, pharmaceutical, food and beverage companies — are expanding in Arizona. One of the most overlooked challenges for these businesses is what gets left behind in the pursuit of clean water: brine, the salty byproduct of processes like reverse osmosis. However, for Shahnawaz Sinha, an associate research professor in civil and environmental engineering at Arizona State University, brine isn’t just waste, it’s an opportunity. Through a partnership with Nestlé and supported by ASU’s Arizona Water Innovation Initiative and the Global Center for Water Technology, Sinha is developing a mobile, closed-loop water recovery demonstration facility that could change how industries in the metro Phoenix area deal with brine. By recovering another 50%–90% of previously unusable water from industrial brine and reducing the remainder to solid salt, the project aims to minimize waste and extract freshwater to support Arizona’s economy and water resilience. … ” Read more from Arizona State University.
A California dairy tried to capture its methane. It worked.
“A giant, balloon-like tarp stretches over a lagoon of manure on a Central Valley dairy farm, concealing a quiet but remarkable transformation. Methane, a potent climate-warming gas, is being captured and cleaned instead of released into the atmosphere. A new study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside shows the effectiveness of dairy digesters, which are manure ponds tightly sealed to capture and re-use the methane they produce. The study shows these systems can reduce atmospheric methane emissions by roughly 80 percent, a result that closely matches estimates California state officials have used in their climate planning. The findings, published in Global Change Biology Bioenergy, come as California ramps up investment in methane control technologies to meet its goal of cutting emissions 40 percent below 2013 levels by the end of the decade. More than 130 of these systems are now operating across California dairies, but until now, their real-world performance hadn’t been verified this rigorously. … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
Trump administration moves to abolish California’s two newest national monuments
“The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to abolish California’s two newest national monuments, Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in the state’s far north and Chuckwalla National Monument near Joshua Tree. The push to eliminate the designations, issued earlier this year by former President Joe Biden, was revealed in a U.S. Justice Department memo this week, responding to legal questions from the administration about rolling back the California monuments. Sáttítla Highlands monument was established in January to protect a remote 224,000-acre volcanic landscape northeast of Mount Shasta, known for lava beds and caves. The designation was sought by Northern California’s Pit River Tribe to prevent geothermal power production at tribally sacred sites. The Chuckwalla monument safeguards 624,000 acres of desert that was similarly under threat of energy development. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read via MSN News.
SEE ALSO: Justice Department says Trump can undo national monuments; California areas could be on list, from the LA Times
In commentary today …
Water scarcity is forcing tough decisions. This legislation can keep our family farm afloat
“My family is proud of our farm in Kerman. At VF&B Farms, we’ve grown just about everything over the years — cotton, tomatoes, almonds, sugar beets, cantaloupes, barley, and wheat. If it grows in the Valley, we’ve probably had a go at it. Farming here has never been easy, but it’s always been worth it. We take pride in feeding our neighbors and contributing to California’s economy. But like so many of my fellow farmers, I’m worried about the future. Not because we can’t keep farming, but because we may no longer have the water to do it. Water scarcity is no longer a distant threat. It is here. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is forcing many of us to drastically reduce groundwater use. And while we support responsible water management, the reality is sobering: Large portions of our farmland could become unusable in the near future. … ” Read more from GV Wire.
California’s water crisis: Time to turn policy into action
Nick Papagni, Ag Net West, writes, “Despite direct orders from both President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom to prioritize delivering fresh water to the people and farms of California, more than 300,000 acre-feet of usable fresh water have been lost to the ocean over the past 60 days. This water loss occurred while key pumping facilities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta remained idle, hamstrung by outdated and questionable environmental regulations. To put the scale of this loss into perspective, 300,000 acre-feet is enough water to supply 3.3 million people for an entire year. Instead of serving communities or irrigating California’s vital agricultural lands, this water was diverted to the ocean—wasted due to regulatory inaction and a system mired in policies that many consider obsolete. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
The Klamath River’s dams are gone. Now, a group of native teenagers will paddle the whole thing
“In celebration of the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, a group of native youths will embark today on a kayaking descent of the Klamath River from its headwaters in Southern Oregon 250 miles to its mouth in Northern California — the first source-to-sea journey on the newly undammed river. Decommissioning and razing four of the six dams along the Klamath, which stood for more than a century and generated hydroelectric power, took decades of advocacy from environmentalists, fishing groups and in particular the region’s indigenous tribes, who regard the mighty waterway, with its historic salmon runs, as the pillar of life. Two remaining dams on the river, both in Oregon, are being left alone due to their importance managing flood water and supporting agriculture. The demolition work completed last fall, combined with ongoing replanting in the newly exposed dam sites, is allowing the Klamath, once the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast, to return to a more natural form — one that many river basin residents have never known. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Climate extremes drive big UV swings in Lake Tahoe, new UC Davis study finds
“Lake Tahoe is famous for its clear blue waters — but new research suggests that clarity may come with a catch. A study from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, published in the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, shows that ultraviolet radiation in Lake Tahoe can vary by up to 100 times between wet and dry years. The findings are based on 18 years of underwater data through 2023 and highlight how climate-driven weather swings — especially between drought and heavy precipitation — are changing the light that reaches beneath the surface, according to a release from the University of California, Davis. … ” Read more from the Reno Gazette Journal.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte County 2024 groundwater report shows slow decline
“Butte County’s groundwater continues to see a deficit, but with a long-term plan in place, the county is hoping to work its way out in the near future. The Butte County Board of Supervisors heard its yearly report on groundwater activity, specifically for the 2024 water year, from water scientist Kelly Peterson and Water and Resource Conservation Director Kamie Loeser during its meeting Tuesday, when it was reported that the recent wet years provided a small boost to the county’s three water basins. Peterson said the rain and snow in 2023 and 2024 helped to bolster supplies for the Butte, Vina and Wyandotte Creek subbasins, though she added that overall 2024 was average in terms of stats. “As a result of those conditions, we really had improved and have good groundwater conditions in the county,” Peterson said in her presentation. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
SEE ALSO:
- Butte County sees groundwater recharge, storage levels improve, from Action News Now
- Butte County Groundwater Status Report 2024 Water Year, report from Butte County Department of Water and Resource Conservation
Oroville’s plan to remove fluoride from water delayed; more public meetings scheduled
“The Oroville City Council voted over a year ago to remove fluoride from the city’s water supply. Mayor David Pittman has recently stated that this process will require more time than initially anticipated. Fluoride has been introduced into the city’s water supply since the 1950s due to its limited availability at that time. Mayor Pittman shared his thoughts with KRCR, saying that fluoride is now more accessible and is incorporated into many commercially available toothpaste products. He further noted that the city has conducted several public input sessions, and has support from Cal Water. Nevertheless, the California Public Utilities Commission has requested the organization of additional meetings to be conducted under their jurisdiction in Oroville later this year. … ” Read more from KRCR.
BAY AREA
New metrics on hybrid gray-green levees
“Hard numbers on how a certain type of nature-based engineering can help buffer cities from climate change are now available, thanks to recent research led by Rae Taylor-Burns of UC Santa Cruz and published in Nature Scientific Reports this May. “Horizontal levees can help reinforce traditional levees and could reduce the risk of waves overtopping a levee by up to thirty percent,” Taylor-Burns says. Horizontal or “living” levees are planted slopes that rise gradually from the intertidal zone to dry upland. The combination of the slope and the plants work together to slow waves that otherwise crash unimpeded on the current earth, rock, and concrete levees now protecting the San Francisco bayshore, many of which are steeper-sloped. According to modeling by Taylor-Burns, the addition of these, wider, more gently-sloped levees — added on in front of existing levees — both reduce flooding and extend the life of the older levee. The idea of changing the shape, texture, and footprint of levees is not new. But the effectiveness of these new hybrid, gray-green levees has not been quantified until now. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
Belmont takes aim at infrastructure
“As part of Belmont’s overall budget adoption for the upcoming fiscal year, the city also plans to finalize a $13.5 million capital improvements plan that includes a range of infrastructure projects — like tree work, street repairs and flood prevention. The 2025-26 fiscal year begins in July, and the city plans for 91 projects over the next year as part of the CIP that involve infrastructure-related efforts. The projects total about $12.5 million and about $62 million over the next five years. “We go through a painstakingly rigorous process. Besides our budget is devising our CIP program and how we are allocating the funding by year and when we anticipate projects may come forward,” Community Development Director Carlos de Melo said. … ” Read more from the Daily Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
How much water will we need by 2050?
“David Schmalz here.Having reported on water on the Monterey Peninsula for the better part of the last decade, it’s remarkable to reflect on what has transpired in that time: A political movement for public water, a political movement to stop Cal Am’s desal project in Marina, an innovative recycled water project and its expansion, and a conditional approval for Cal Am’s desal project, which is still being litigated on multiple fronts. The Peninsula’s water demand has steadily droppedover that time while its legal supply continued to increase. Cal Am was finally able to stop its illegal overpumping of the Carmel River, and with the completion of Pure Water Monterey’s expansion coming later this year, the Peninsula’s annual supply will be over 12,000 acre-feet, according to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s estimates. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
State Water Board takes unprecedented action to restore failing Central Valley sewer system
“Exercising new authorities under a 2024 law to protect public health and ensure access to sanitation in disadvantaged communities, the State Water Resources Control Board today appointed an administrator to provide safe and reliable wastewater services to the Central Valley community of East Orosi. The appointment of the Tulare County Resource Management Agency to manage East Orosi’s sewer system was facilitated by Assembly Bill 805, which allows the State Water Board to require failing sewer systems that serve disadvantaged communities to contract with an approved administrator. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the landmark bill last September while visiting East Orosi with Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel, AB 805 author Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula and community partners. The board will be responsible for eligible costs associated with the county’s administrator services. “This appointment is another milestone in the board’s ongoing efforts to ensure that all residents, particularly in underserved rural areas, have access to clean, safe, and affordable water for drinking, cooking and sanitation,” said Esquivel. “Administrator appointment authority has been a critical tool to help us secure safe drinking water for communities, and now it can serve to broaden access to wastewater services as well.” … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
Kings County water manager clashes with his own board over policies enacted by another agency
“The drama between two Kings County water entities continued earlier this month as the manager of one threw shade on the recharge policies of the other. Kings County Water District’s boundaries are intertwined with the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) but isn’t a member of the GSA after an ugly break up last year when the water district pulled out of a joint operating agreement, leaving Kings County and the City of Hanford to pick up the pieces for a large chunk of the subbasin. At the water district’s June 5 meeting, its General Manager Dennis Mills questioned and criticized recharge policies recently enacted by the re-formed Mid-Kings GSA board. Adding to the complexity of the situation, two Kings County Water District’s board members also sit on the Mid-Kings GSA advisory group that vetted the very policies Mills was concerned with. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Bakersfield City Council approves 51% water rate increase
“Bakersfield is raising water rates by nearly 51% over five years to fund infrastructure repairs and treatment upgrades, with the first increase starting July 1. Bakersfield City Council approved a water rate increase of nearly 51% over the next five years. New rates apply to both residential and commercial users, starting July 1. The rate hike is intended to fund infrastructure repairs and upgrades to the water treatment system. Water rates in Bakersfield are set to rise nearly 51% over the next five years, following a vote by the City Council on Wednesday to help fund critical infrastructure upgrades and improvements to the city’s water treatment system. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Federal judge tasks Port of Los Angeles with cleaning up contaminated water
“The Port of Los Angeles will need to clean up widespread water contamination in the city’s harbor by shoring up sewage treatment operations, according to a settlement approved by a federal judge. The settlement was the result of a lawsuit filed by the organization Environment California last summer accusing the port of violating the Clean Water Act by unleashing toxic pollutants into the San Pedro Bay. The group maintained that the port had conducted more than 2,000 illegal wastewater discharges in the previous five years alone — release that routine surpassed limits on fecal bacteria, copper and other contaminants. “Californians count on having a clean, vibrant coastline, but that’s not compatible with contaminated effluent that can lap up on our world-renowned shores,” Laura Deehan, Environment California’s state director, said in a statement on Wednesday. … ” Read more from The Hill.
SEE ALSO: News release: Judge approves Environment California settlement for Clean Water Act lawsuit over Port of Los Angeles pollution, from Environment America
State composting law took aim at greenhouse gases. Illegal dumping was a byproduct
“A California law aimed at reducing the amount of climate-harming greenhouse gases at landfills is exacerbating the problem of illegal dumping in the Antelope Valley, according to local officials and residents. The law, dubbed California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, requires residents and businesses to separate food waste, yard trimmings and other organic waste from their trash to reduce the amount of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, being emitted into the atmosphere. Signed into law in 2016, the bill mandated a gradual increase in the amount of organic waste that must be diverted away from landfills to sites where the waste could be treated and composted, thus reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. The law required the diversion of 50% of all green and food waste from landfills by 2020; by 2025, that number was to hit 75%. A separate law closed a legal loophole that had previously encouraged waste haulers to cover landfill debris with green waste. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Ranch Fire may have contaminated water system near Apple Valley, residents warned
“Juniper Riviera County Water District officials on Wednesday warned residents of possible water contamination in the Ranch Fire area south of Apple Valley. “Some structures in the Juniper Riviera County Water District were destroyed due to the fire,” with some areas in the water system losing pressure, the water agency stated. The damage may have caused harmful contaminants such as benzene and other volatile organic chemicals to enter the water system, officials said. “Boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine or other disinfectants, or letting water stand will not make the water safe,” water officials stated. The Ranch Fire grew to more than 4,200 acres in size in a matter of hours on Tuesday, which forced evacuation orders in Apple Valley, law enforcement officials said. … ” Read more from the Victorville Daily Press.
SEE ALSO: Crews battling wind-driven fire in Southern California’s high desert make progress, from the LA Times
SAN DIEGO
End to longtime water agency feud will benefit Valley Center ratepayers
“The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority June 2 announced the settlement of a 15-year legal dispute over rates and the price term of an exchange agreement between the agencies. At a news conference in San Diego, leaders from two of the state’s largest water agencies hailed the conclusion of all pending litigation, highlighting their commitment to fostering greater teamwork on a range of issues that affect nearly 19 million Southern California residents. The settlement dismisses all pending appeals, maintaining earlier judicial decisions on various matters. “For far too long, this legal battle sat at the center of Metropolitan’s relationship with the Water Authority,” Metropolitan board Chairman Adán Ortega, Jr. said. “That era of conflict has finally come to an end and we can forge ahead, building a relationship based instead on cooperation and shared goals that will benefit the entire region.” The agreement also opens a pathway for San Diego to provide water to other water agencies in Metropolitan’s service area. … ” Read more from the Valley Roadrunner.
Along the Colorado River …
Interior Department and Bureau of Reclamation announce new funding for water projects in Colorado
“The U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation are announcing nearly $12 million in funding to support the long-term health and sustainability of the Colorado River system through projects in Colorado. “This investment in the Orchard Mesa projects will help ensure the Colorado River continues to support communities, agriculture and ecosystems for generations to come,” said Reclamation Acting Commissioner David Palumbo. “By modernizing irrigation infrastructure, we’re conserving water, improving efficiency, and supporting resilient farming in western Colorado.” The Orchard Mesa Irrigation District in Palisade, Colorado, will receive approximately $10.5 million to modernize and improve water delivery infrastructure. The project includes converting 8.4 miles of open canals into pressurized pipelines—enhancing water delivery efficiency, reducing irrigation water diversions by up to 6,900 acre-feet, and eliminating 2,560 acre-feet of annual water losses. These upgrades will also cut salinity loading in the Colorado River by 4,560 tons each year and improve system operations. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Arizona Earth Notes: Wet meadow restoration
“Among the pines above the Mogollon Rim, wet meadows are small but crucial landscape elements. They benefit plant diversity, wildlife and watershed health. Over the past century, people drained some meadows for farming, livestock grazing and roads. Runoff was concentrated into narrow channels, which over time led to erosion and lower water tables. In 2012, the Coconino National Forest began the Watershed Restoration Action Plan. As part of this initiative, Flagstaff-based Natural Channel Design Inc. partnered with the Arizona Elk Society to restore several wet meadows, including Long Valley near the Blue Ridge Reservoir, with future work planned around the upper reaches of East Clear Creek. … ” Read more from KNAU.
Amid water crisis, Arizona explores option to turn reclaimed water into drinking water
“As Arizona continues to face a historic water crisis, the state is exploring bold new solutions, including turning reclaimed water into drinking water. Reclaimed water is the water we use every day to wash dishes, flush toilets, and take showers. Through advanced purification, it can be cleaned and added to a blend to meet drinking water standards and potentially be delivered straight to your tap. In March, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality approved new rules that allow water providers to begin applying for permits to use purified reclaimed water for direct drinking use — a major step forward in addressing the state’s growing water crisis. While no city has begun sending this blend of reclaimed water to taps yet, Scottsdale is emerging as a statewide and worldwide leader in the process. Its Water Campus is home to one of the most advanced purification systems in the world and has already been treating recycled water to drinking quality — though that water is currently only used for irrigation or recharging the aquifer. … ” Read more from Channel 15.
Aspen leaders urge reduced water use amid drought
“Aspen city leaders are urging community members and businesses to moderate their everyday water use because of worsening drought conditions. On Tuesday, the Aspen City Council declared a Stage 1 water shortage with a goal to cut overall water consumption by 10% within city limits. Stage 1 restrictions, which are implemented during a moderate drought, are voluntary and lean on the public to ease up on their water use. Voluntary actions community members can take under Stage 1 include following an outdoor irrigation schedule in which residents alternate days watering their gardens and lawns. Residents of odd-numbered addresses irrigate only on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but not between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The same recommendations apply to even-numbered addresses on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. … ” Read more from the Aspen Times.
Uranium discovered in Colorado’s Chimney Hollow Dam, the largest built in United States in 20 years
“Just weeks before completion of construction, Northern Water has confirmed uranium has been discovered at the site of the Chimney Hollow Reservoir and Dam. The project, which is expected to serve more than 1 million Colorado residents, has been in the making for decades. For many, uranium is typically associated with nuclear weapons and power. The radioactive element was first detected at the end of 2024, however Northern Water was unable to determine the source of the uranium until recently. Now they know. It’s coming from the rocks they used to build the 350-foot dam, which were mined from the very land they plan on flooding with water. “As we were building this dam, we were using rocks that were quarried on-site,” said Jeff Stahla, spokesperson for Northern Water. … ” Read more from CBS News.
In national water news today …
ASM and AGU offer critical strategies to protect public health and safe drinking water amid climate change
“The American Geophysical Union and the American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group and think tank within the American Society for Microbiology, have released a new report, Water, Waterborne Pathogens and Public Health: Environmental Drivers. Developed by leading scientists and informed by expert deliberations from a December 2024 colloquium organized by ASM and AGU, with support from the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, the report presents a holistic strategy to reduce waterborne infections and safeguard public health as climate change increasingly disrupts water systems worldwide. “Water is a critical determinant of both ecosystem integrity and human health, yet it is increasingly compromised by anthropogenic pressures and broader environmental change,” said Dr. Rita Colwell, co-chair of the Colloquium Steering Committee, former ASM president and past chair of the Academy. “Addressing this public health risk requires coordinated, cross-disciplinary strategies for effective microbial and environmental surveillance, early-warning systems and support for resilient water infrastructure that can withstand intensifying climate stressors.” … ” Continue reading this press release.
U.S. Supreme Court limits use of environmental review as a roadblock
“On May 29, 2025, in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado (2025) 605 U.S. ____, the Supreme Court gave instruction that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) “is a procedural cross-check, not a substantive roadblock,” and that NEPA’s goal “is to inform agency decisionmaking, not to paralyze it.” Specifically, the Court overturned the D.C. Circuit’s order vacating approval of an 88-mile railroad project meant to connect oil fields in Utah to the national rail network (Project). The Court (1) held that the Court of Appeals failed to give the approving agency the appropriate substantial deference required under NEPA and (2) limited the need for agencies to evaluate environmental effects that are separate in time or place. … ” Continue reading from Downey Brand.
PFAS in focus: Expert insights from INTERA’s Dr. Kim Ralston-Hooper
“Dr. Kimberly Ralston-Hooper is a Principal Scientist and Ecological Risk Assessment Specialist at INTERA with nearly 30 years of experience evaluating the impacts of environmental contaminants. A national leader in PFAS science, Kim currently supports the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site through PFAS-related CERCLA assessments and plays an active role on both the DOE’s PFAS Working Group and the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) PFAS Team. What’s one thing you wish every community leader understood about PFAS risk assessments? PFAS risk assessments are built on evolving science and often have significant data gaps. This means that risk estimates may carry uncertainty, but that doesn’t mean inaction is justified. Instead, it highlights the importance of using a precautionary, proactive approach—especially when it comes to protecting drinking water and vulnerable populations. Understanding that PFAS risk assessments are part of a broader, adaptive management process can help leaders make informed, balanced decisions even in the face of uncertainty. … ” Read more from INTERA.
‘Forever chemicals’ industry aims to capitalize on AI boom
“Chemical giant Chemours is pushing to expand production of “forever chemicals” to meet surging demand for semiconductor chips, used in everything from smartphones to cars to data centers. But the factories that support a product key to onshoring those chips’ supply chains are linked to growing trails of contamination, spurring concerns about whether Chemours can scale up without releasing more toxic pollutants. Chemours has proposed increasing operations at its Fayetteville, North Carolina, plant to support semiconductors, hydrogen energy and other industries, the company says. At its other plant near Parkersburg, West Virginia, the company plans to open a third production line for Teflon, which it says is critical for the booming artificial intelligence industry. The expansion plans are raising alarms over whether the spread of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, could be a consequence of the world’s growing reliance on semiconductors, especially as AI takes off. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Bipartisan senators decry cuts to Army Corps, Reclamation
“Senate lawmakers blasted the Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal for agencies charged with major water infrastructure projects, and they vowed to secure more money for both the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development on Wednesday reviewed proposed budgets for both agencies, with senators from both parties criticizing the president’s desired cuts. “We’re probably going to have to start over with this budget, gentlemen. I’m not telling you anything that you don’t know,” Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kenendy, who chairs the subcommittee, said as he ended Tuesday’s hearing. “It’s just not realistic,” he added, noting he otherwise supports cuts put forth by the Office of Management and Budget. “I just know that the appetite for the work that you all do and the necessity of it. I’m just being realistic.” … ” Read more from E&E News (sorry, subscription required).
Trump’s EPA delivers new blow to Biden climate agenda
“The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it’s revoking limits on power plants’ climate pollution — removing the cornerstone of a decadelong strategy to douse one of the nation’s largest sources of heat-trapping gases. The proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency would free thousands of existing and future facilities that burn coal or natural gas from regulations aimed at lowering their output of carbon dioxide pollution. It comes as President Donald Trump has shuttered climate change offices across the government, fired scientists and frozen billions of dollars in funding for renewable energy projects. EPA’s plan to unshackle the power sector — the second-largest source of U.S. climate pollution, behind transportation — collides with the agency’s past assertions that the most effective way to slow rising temperatures is by tackling the biggest contributors of greenhouse gases. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO:
- Trump’s EPA to claim power-plant emissions ‘not significant’ – but study says otherwise, from the Guardian
- The legal pitfalls of Zeldin’s climate rule rollback, from E&E News
Mercury in rivers surges to levels with serious consequences
“A Tulane University-led study finds that mercury levels in the world’s rivers have more than doubled since the 1850s, with gold mining, industrial waste, and soil erosion driving a rise that could threaten ecosystems and public health. A study published on Wednesday in Science Advances offers the first global baseline of mercury pollution in rivers, estimating that pre-industrial levels were around 390 metric tons per year, compared to roughly 1,000 metric tons today. The rise is primarily driven by wastewater, soil erosion, and industrial and mining activities. “Human activities have disrupted the global mercury cycle in every aspect,” said Yanxu Zhang, the study’s lead author and associate professor at the Tulane School of Science and Engineering, in a press release. “While previous studies have focused on mercury concentrations in the atmosphere, soils and seawater, they have largely overlooked rivers, a major pathway for mercury that has effectively become a pipeline for wastewater from both municipal and industrial sources.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
