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On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife beginning at 9am. Click here for more information.
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include an informational item on the 2025 Report of the Statewide Advisory Committee on Cooling Water Intake Structures and a presentation on the draft State Fiscal Year 2025-26 Clean Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan. Click here for the full agenda.
- WEBINAR: A conversation with Meghan Hertel beginning at 10am. Grab a cup and please join us for RWA’s virtual Coffee and Conversation with Meghan Hertel, Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat, California Natural Resources Agency. Hosted by RWA’s Manager of Strategic Affairs, Michelle Banonis, the discussion will explore how protecting biodiversity and restoring habitat can support both water supply reliability and fish and wildlife recovery in the face of climate change. Gain insights on collaborative approaches between NGOs and water agencies, and learn about forward-looking tools that can help safeguard species like steelhead in our region. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Saving California’s Underwater Forests from 12pm to 1pm. California’s massive kelp forests are key ecosystems in our ocean that foster world-class biodiversity and offer a haven for fishermen and divers. Tragically, kelp forests have collapsed off our coast in recent years as climate change has wreaked havoc on ocean conditions. But there is hope. Join us as we dive into kelp forests and hear from scientists, tribal experts, fishermen, and artists – all who are fighting to protect and restore these magnificent places. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Data for Lunch: Developing Drought Early Warning Systems in California from 12pm to 1:30pm. How do we effectively identify drought conditions in California’s complex water systems and translate that data into meaningful action? With extensive infrastructure, diverse user and partners, and intricate regulations, traditional approaches often fall short. Dr. Alvar Escriva-Bou will share an innovative, collaborative approach to drought early warning systems that connect water data with real-world impacts across multiple sectors. This work has significant implications for California’s drought resilience. By linking water data directly to sector-specific impacts, we can better anticipate vulnerabilities and coordinate more effective responses as climate change intensifies drought conditions across the state. Click here to register.
- MEETING: Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative, Reducing Ecosystem Impacts of Drought Workgroup from 2:30pm to 4:00pm. Agenda items include a refresher proposed pathways, In-Stream Flow Requirements: Prioritization and Incentives, and Streamline Granting & Contracting for Habitat Restoration Projects. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Trump’s quiet truce on California water
“President Donald Trump promised to break California’s water rules wide open. So far, he’s mostly working within them. Five months after Trump issued a pair of directives for federal agencies to overturn state and Biden-era rules limiting water deliveries, the federal government has done no such thing. Instead, it’s quietly increasing water flows following the very rules Trump once railed against — at least for now. … It’s also a sharp contrast to Trump’s campaign rhetoric, when he vowed to force Newsom to reverse a lawsuit blocking his first-term effort to loosen environmental protections in the state’s main water hub, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. But Trump seems mollified now, declaring victory over the state at a White House event last week. The president brought up the familiar theme of water flowing out to the Pacific Ocean instead of being used in farms and cities, called it “ridiculous” and declared of the water: “We got them to take it now.” … ” Read more from Politico.
California lawmakers defer governor’s Delta tunnel proposal
“State lawmakers have declined, for now, to go along with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to fast-track a controversial tunnel to reroute water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. What happened: The Senate and the Assembly passed a budget proposal Friday that did not include a trailer bill proposed by Newsom that would shorten judicial review of lawsuits challenging the tunnel, streamline its pending water rights permit and give the state financing authority for the project. The Legislature, however, hasn’t ruled out passing the fast-tracking proposal later in the session. … ” Read a little bit more from Politico Pro (sorry, subscription required.)
‘Not improving’: Lake Tahoe had one of its murkiest years on record
“Lake Tahoe’s iconic blue waters were the third murkiest on record last year and the worst they’ve been in several years, according to data from scientists who have studied the lake for decades. Clarity of the alpine lake — measured by dropping a white disk into the water and noting when it disappears from sight — is a signal of its overall health. Tiny particles are major culprits of reduced clarity, including the sediment and other pollutants that wash into the lake from runoff and air pollution and the plankton that grow in its waters. Researchers with UC Davis’ Tahoe Environmental Research Center reported today that the average murkiness in 2024 was exceeded only in 2021, when fires blanketed the lake in smoke and ash, and in 2017, when the lake was clouded by sediment-laden runoff during a near-record wet year. The report says that clarity levels are “highly variable and generally not improving,” and recommends that “future research should focus on examining the nature of the particles that affect water clarity.” … ” Read more from UC Davis.
SEE ALSO:
- Lake Tahoe clarity report: Trend stable, not improving, from UC Davis
- Tahoe’s clarity is not improving. Scientists are racing for answers, from SF Gate
- Lake Tahoe is getting murkier — and scientists don’t know why, from the SF Chronicle
- Lake Tahoe mystery: Why aren’t the lake’s famous waters getting more clear?, from the San Jose Mercury News
Advocating for California ag: Ryan Jacobsen on water, policy, and the valley’s future
“Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, reflects on his 21-year journey advocating for farmers and ranchers across California’s Central Valley. With a deep-rooted passion for agriculture and politics, Jacobsen has long served as a vital voice for the region’s growers, fighting to protect their way of life amid growing political and regulatory challenges. “It’s hard to believe I can still vividly remember my first day showing up to the office,” Jacobsen said. “It’s been a great ride—still enjoying it, and still hopefully making a difference for the industry.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Map shows which 16M acres of Calif. public lands eligible for sale in GOP bill
“As the Senate continues to comb through the Big Beautiful Bill, 258 million acres of public land across the western U.S., including large swaths of California, could soon be eligible for sale. A map published by the Wilderness Society, a nonprofit land conservation organization, reveals which parcels of land across 11 states would be up for grabs, in accordance with the land sale proposal detailed by Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. If the budget is passed by the July 4 deadline, an estimated 16 million acres in California are at risk of being sold over the next five years. Those vulnerable parcels of land include areas adjacent to Yosemite National Park, Mount Shasta, Big Sur and Lake Tahoe. Lee has been unrelenting in his push for the sale of public lands, saying it could promote economic growth and housing across the western U.S. and could generate upward of $10 billion for the federal government. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
In commentary today …
Trump budget signals long-overdue shift toward pragmatic water management
William Bourdeau, executive vice president of Harris Farms and the owner of Bourdeau Farms, writes, “Over the years, a troubling narrative has taken hold in political circles and media coverage — one that portrays irrigated agriculture in California’s San Joaquin Valley as a misuse of precious water. As someone who has spent decades farming this land and advocating for its future, I can say with certainty that this argument isn’t just misinformed, it’s dangerously disconnected from the realities of how our food system works. Fortunately, times are starting to change. The pendulum is beginning to swing back toward common sense, and the voices of those who understand the importance of agriculture are finally being heard. California’s Central Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. We feed America. Yet, under the guise of environmental protection, the federal and state governments have systemically restricted water deliveries to farms, even in wet years with ample precipitation and full reservoirs. This is not a water shortage problem; it is a policy failure. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
U.S. water infrastructure is crumbling: It’s time to revitalize it
“In an age defined by self-driving cars, autonomous spacecraft, and artificial intelligence, it may come as no surprise that the science of effective water management often goes unnoticed. Many of us—especially in the U.S.—have grown accustomed to the convenience of clean, reliable water, and often take it for granted. In fact, most Americans engage with the U.S. water system only via a series of fleeting touch points—when they turn a faucet, water their lawn, or start their dishwasher—and have come to expect a seamless experience. And yet, behind the scenes, there is a complex, intricate network dedicated to providing safe and dependable water to hundreds of millions of Americans. But over the past several years, faced with unrelenting pressure, that system has started to crack. … ” Read more from Fast Company.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
First time in 100 years: Young kayakers on a ride for the ages
“The remote and rugged Klamath River in Oregon and California, one of the mightiest in the American West and an ancient lifeline to Indigenous tribes, is running free again, mostly, for the first time in 100 years after the recent removal of four major dams. At the burbling aquifer near Chiloquin, Ore., that is considered the headwaters, a sacred spot for native people, a group of kayakers, mostly Indigenous youth from the river’s vast basin began to paddle on Thursday. Ages 13 to 20, they had learned to kayak for this moment. Stroke by stroke, mile by mile, day by day, they plan to reach the salty water of the rugged Northern California coast, more than 300 miles away, in mid-July. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
A win for farmers and tribes brings new hope to the Klamath
“In 2017, an orthopedic surgeon named Karl Wenner bought a one-fifth share in Lakeside Farms, a barley farm near his home in Klamath Falls, Oregon. His intention was to spend his impending retirement hunting ducks, which were attracted to the farm because of its unusually abundant water supply. But soon after his purchase, Wenner learned that phosphorus levels in the floodwaters that ran off the farm each winter far exceeded state regulations, at which point he turned his attention to improving water quality. Four years later, with the consent of Lakeside’s co-owners, Wenner diked off 70 of the farm’s 400 acres and flooded them with the farm’s excess water. Almost immediately, the field filled with aquatic plants, which attracted tens of thousands of ducks, geese, and swans. It also began sopping up water-borne nutrients, eliminating the farm’s phosphorus problem.The success of Lakeside’s wetland restoration is only the splashiest of recent positive developments in the Klamath River watershed, which has long been plagued by battles over water quality, water allocation, and the plight of native fish. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
Siskiyou County talks economic impact of drought regulations
“Local leaders and economic stakeholders gathered to address the ongoing impact of emergency drought regulations on Northern California’s agricultural economy. The meeting, hosted by the Siskiyou Economic Development Council, focused on a draft plan assessing the effects of water curtailment in the region. “We raise the food that people eat, and we need water to do it. That’s the bottom line,” said Mark Mezzano, a field representative for Assemblymember Heather Hadwick. Years of drought have led to agricultural water restrictions, and the state legislature is considering Assembly Bill 263, which could extend these restrictions. Dr. Robert Eyler, founder of Economic Forensics & Analytics Inc., shared insights on the potential economic impact. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Wave energy desalination pilot gets green light in Fort Bragg
“According to Oneka Technologies, the Fort Bragg Planning Commission unanimously approved the initiative on May 28, 2025, following the completion of the environmental review process. The review included a 30-day public consultation. The project, partly funded by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), is now entering the deployment phase. “This approval represents a major milestone in advancing towards the deployment of our wave-powered desalination technology off the California coast,” said the company in a social media post. “It is particularly significant as it marks the first seawater desalination pilot project to successfully complete the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process since the adoption of updated regulations in 2015…. ” Read more from Offshore Energy.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
California Tahoe Conservancy parcel surveys to take place this summer
“19 different parcels throughout south shore neighborhoods will be a part of the California Tahoe Conservancy’s (CTC) work to survey land and ensure they’re properly recorded. It’s part of their efforts to make sure the lots are properly marked, helping with fire and fuel reduction and environmental protection in the basin. Lot inspections and surveying can seem like minor parts of the CTC’s work. But knowing where property boundaries lie is part of the collaborative work that the inspector, surveyors, and forestry team do year-round to make sure the parcels are being used correctly and that future projects will be successful. Since 2014, the CTC has hired contractors to perform these surveys periodically. But in the last three years, the funding for this work has come from a wildfire and forest resilience fund. In the first year, the CTC surveyed the Trout and Cold Creek parcels, especially as they considered a possible water restoration project on the site. Last year, they completed 79 different parcels. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Salmon & Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project to launch in Tahoe National Forest
“The South Yuba River Citizens League, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, is launching the Salmon & Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project, a major forest restoration effort aimed at revitalizing quaking aspen habitat within the Tahoe National Forest. The State of California’s Wildlife Conservation Board granted SYRCL $1.7 million for this Restoration Project. Spanning a total of 292 acres north of Highway 49 and west of Gold Lakes Highway, this project includes degraded quaking aspen stands along Packer and Samon Creek in the Lost Sierra along Packer Lake Road. The primary goal is to restore and enhance 116 acres of aspen habitat, a critical but declining habitat in the Sierra Nevada. Implementation of this project is funded by the State of California Wildlife Conservation Board and the U.S. Forest Service. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
New Vina GSA fee structure distinguishes residents, farmers, vacant parcels
“The Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency adopted a new fee structure announced Friday for residents located in the 184,917 acre subbasin, which encompasses Chico and surrounding areas. The new fee schedule reflects the agency’s budget of $779,700 for 2025 to 2026, and now separates fees for different use types in the Vina GSA area to help pay for continued annual reporting and data management requirements by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Vina GSA Program Manager Dillon McGregor said the new fee structure is divided into two parts: the first part funds governance needed to maintain the agency, and the second part funds groundwater monitoring and projects. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
Lake Oroville begins process of slowly draining
“After sitting near capacity for almost a month, Lake Oroville is beginning to slowly creep back down in water elevation as the California Department of Water Resources steadily increases outflows. Lake Oroville was reported at 896.35 feet in elevation Monday and will likely lower more in the weeks to come. DWR spokesperson Raquel Borrayo said the lake was once again bolstered by a wet and snowy winter. “Thanks to above-average precipitation and average snowpack levels in the northern Sierra for the last three years, water levels at Lake Oroville have been peaking in May and June and then slowly declining to their low point around November,” Borrayo said. Borrayo said the higher releases are sent into the Feather River, though some of the water remains local. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
BAY AREA
CalTrout and PG&E kick off construction on Alameda Creek fish passage project
“California Trout (CalTrout) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) kicked off construction today on a project that will remove the last unnatural barrier to fish passage on mainstem Alameda Creek, the largest local tributary to the San Francisco Bay. Alameda Creek historically produced large numbers of California Coast Chinook salmon and Central California Coast steelhead in the South Bay, but today many of the Bay Area’s native fish are struggling and vulnerable to extinction if current trends persist. This project will open more than 20 miles of stream including quality spawning habitat in the upper watershed to Chinook salmon and steelhead with completion anticipated in winter 2025. Alameda Creek flows from remote Packard Ridge in the Diablo Range east of San Jose, for more than 40 miles until it reaches the city of Fremont where the lower 12 miles of creek are corralled through a flood control channel into San Francisco Bay. The creek flows by and through hundreds of Bay Area residents’ backyards and is bisected by Highways 880 and 680, and paralleled by Highway 84. Over the past century, the watershed experienced intense urbanization including the construction of three major dams and reservoirs. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
CENTRAL COAST
Plan approved to bring clean, affordable water to San Lucas after 14 years
“San Lucas residents, who have been without clean drinking water for nearly 14 years, may soon see a resolution as local leaders approve a plan to bring affordable water to the community. In the small, rural town of San Lucas, with a population of a little over 400 people, residents struggle with a basic essential: water. They lived without proper drinking water for over a decade, with the cost of clean drinking water being their biggest obstacle. Now, county leaders, along with the San Lucas Water District, have a solution. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Wildlife water system installed at Toro County Park
“A new wildlife water system has been installed at Toro County Park to collect rainwater and support birds and small animals during hot, dry months. The Monterey County Fish and Game Advisory Commission, along with the Parks and Lakes Division, completed the custom-built system known as a “guzzler.” It holds up to 1,100 gallons and only needs six inches of rain to fill. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Paso Robles wine industry generates $2.8 billion in impact, according to new report
“The wine industry in the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area and related tourism generate $2.8 billion in economic output, according to a report released by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. The study, conducted by Beacon Economics and titled Paso Robles Wine Industry Economic, Fiscal, and Social Impact Study, outlines the industry’s economic contributions, job support, and fiscal impact on the region.The study reports that $2.6 billion of the total economic output occurs within San Luis Obispo County. The winemaking sector adds $2.32 for every $1 of vineyard activity, equaling $1.4 billion in added value to the regional economy. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Meet the man who made cleaning up the San Joaquin River part of his life’s work
“Many a Fresnan has told or heard of the “boomerang” effect Fresno has on its people. In short, some residents will tell you that even if you leave Fresno to live elsewhere, in time, you’ll find yourself back in the best little city in the USA. While it may be impossible to pinpoint what forces are at play that make it seem like all roads lead to Fresno, for one Fresno man, it is the San Joaquin River that keeps him coming back.Behind the buildings at the Park Place shopping center in north Fresno, there is a dirt path that leads into one of Fresno’s best secrets: An access point to the San Joaquin River, itself obscured from the street view by bushes and a chain-link fence meant to keep people away from large hills that were once massive dump piles. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
Court minutes suggest city, TCCWD might reach settlement
“Minutes of a court conference in Sacramento on June 13 included a suggestion that a dispute between the Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District and the city of Tehachapi may be approaching resolution. Attorneys for the two local public agencies conferred during the scheduled case management conference related to litigation filed by the water district in September 2021. According to minutes released by Sacramento Superior Court early Monday afternoon, “Court and counsel conferred regarding potential resolution of the fourth cause of action.” … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Salton Sea is a saga of environmental change at high speed
“If you know anything about the Salton Sea, maybe you’ve heard that California’s largest lake has been shrinking for decades, the fish are dying, and toxic dust from the lakebed is blowing around the Coachella Valley. The term “apocalyptic” gets thrown around. For the people who live here, that’s not a helpful way to think of the place. “We always dissuade people from using [the term] ‘apocalyptic wasteland’ because it discourages investment,” says Aydee Palomino, an environmental justice campaign manager for the nonprofit Alianza Coachella Valley. Thinking of the Salton Sea as a place that’s doomed can make it hard to see it as a place in the middle of dramatic change, affected in real time by humans — and lately by the equivalent of a really big faucet. … ” Read more from KCRW.
SAN DIEGO
Ocean closure issued in La Jolla after sewage spill
“An ocean water contact closure has been issued near the intersection of Spindrift Drive and Princess Street in La Jolla because of a sewage spill, according to the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality. The closure area, which the department announced at 5:30 p.m. June 16, extends along about 200 feet of shoreline. Officials warned beach-goers that the ocean water contains sewage and may cause illness. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Díaz and Allhands: Arizona elections and Colorado River negotiations will collide in 2026
“2026 is shaping up to be a key year for the Colorado River and the seven basin states that rely on its water. Those states hope to wrap up negotiations on how to use less of the overallocated river’s water by the end of this year — that means Arizona lawmakers and the governor would have next year to approve the deal. Joanna Allhands, digital opinions editor for The Arizona Republic, has written about this and joined The Show, along with editorial page editor Elvia Díaz, to discuss. MARK BRODIE: Joanna, it seems like next year will be a pretty big one in Arizona, in terms of hopefully getting the state on board with other basin states. Can you sort of outline what the stakes are for us potentially next year? JOANNA ALLHANDS: Oh, it’s gonna be huge, and it could really, I mean, I don’t mean to make this sound alarmist, but it really could change the trajectory of our state, depending on what happens. … ” Listen or read more from KJZZ.
Reclamation explores partnerships to develop new water sources in the Lower Colorado River Basin
“The Bureau of Reclamation is focused on working with partners across the Colorado River Basin to address the needs of communities and develop longer-term measures to respond to drought conditions. As part of those efforts, Reclamation recognizes the value of exploring new water sources as an important tool to improve drought resiliency in the Colorado River Basin. “We are excited to work with stakeholders who are posing potential projects that can provide long-term solutions in the Lower Colorado River Basin,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Scott Cameron. “Projects like the Mojave Groundwater Bank are in early development and, if realized, have the potential to significantly expand our options.” The groundwater bank is being proposed by the Fenner Valley Water Authority and Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company in conjunction with the Mojave Water Infrastructure Company. Parties are working on a memorandum of understanding on this project to explore opportunities for technical assistance that can result in better understanding of the project’s potential benefits to the Colorado River system. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
In national water news today …
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prepares proposal to renew and revise nationwide permits for wetlands work
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced on June 16, 2025, that it has prepared its proposal to renew and revise 56 of 57 existing nationwide permits for work in wetlands and other waters that are regulated by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. USACE will propose not to reissue one nationwide permit authorizing activities associated with finfish mariculture. USACE will also propose to issue one new nationwide permit that pertains to authorizing activities to facilitate fish passage. A prepublication copy of the proposal has been posted on the USACE website. … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions.
‘Set up for failure’: Trump’s cuts bring climate and energy agencies to a standstill, workers say
“Cuts and freezes are jamming up some of the basic functions of government at agencies targeted in President Donald Trump’s rollbacks of his predecessors’ energy and environmental policies, more than a dozen federal employees told POLITICO. Lockdowns of spending and an absence of guidance from political appointees are leaving Environmental Protection Agency scientists unable to publish their research, preventing some Energy Department officials from visiting their department’s laboratories and forcing the cancellation of disaster planning exercises at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the 13 employees, who were granted anonymity to avoid reprisals. They said the chaos has also left recipients of Biden-era energy grants in limbo as they wait for approval to continue the projects they’ve started. … ” Read more from Politico.
This renowned climate scientist says this is the most difficult time for climate science he’s ever seen
“In 1995, Benjamin Santer was the lead author on a chapter of the second Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that would alter climate science forever. In a culmination of more than a year of meticulous research, the chapter came to a groundbreaking conclusion—confirming an international scientific consensus that humans were having a discernible impact on the climate. The pushback was immediate and immense. Despite the pushback, Santer has continued to do groundbreaking research identifying human fingerprints in many different observed climate variables and received a number of awards for his work, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 1998. Santer recently spoke to Fast Company about the threats the second Trump administration poses to the future of climate science and shared advice for the next generation of scientists entering a contentious time. … ” Read more from Fast Company.
