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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout from 10am to 4pm. Agenda items include McCloud River Winter-Run Reintroduction Update, 2025 Ocean and Inland Salmon Season Update, Fish Translocation – Policy and Practice, and Non-Native Fish Management – Policy and Practice. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
California lawmakers decline to audit $20 billion Delta water tunnel
“California’s state auditor will not investigate the state’s controversial Delta Conveyance Project, which would divert water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta down to farms and consumers in Southern California. Despite the proposal receiving some bipartisan support Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee stopped short of recommending the project be audited. State Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, was one of the members who did not approve of the proposal, in part because he said it wasn’t needed. “The scrutiny that this project is under I think has created a level of transparency that even (The Department of Water Resources) couldn’t stop.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read via MSN News.
California lawmaker pushes for audit of Delta Conveyance Project
“Golden State officials have said the Delta Conveyance Project will pump 3,000 cubic feet of water per second, strengthening water resources in Southern California. To Malissa Tayaba, it’s a project that will desecrate her ancestors’ graves. Tayaba, vice chair of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, spoke Wednesday outside of the California Capitol against the project that’s been estimated to cost $20 billion. However, that’s an old number and one opponents say must be updated. That’s why they pushed that day for an audit of the project before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. “Our cultural resources, sacred sites and the resting place of our ancestors will be desecrated,” Tayaba said, adding moments later: “It’s time to see how all of our money is being spent.” The committee on Wednesday didn’t have enough members present to approve the audit, leading Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom — who serves on the committee and requested the audit — to ask for reconsideration. It’s expected the committee will again examine the issue in July or August. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Outcome of Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing on the Delta Conveyance Project audit has both sides claiming victory
“Yesterday, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee met and took up the request for an audit of the Delta Conveyance Project. According to Courthouse News, the committee on Wednesday didn’t have enough members present to approve the audit, but its expected the committee will again examine the issue in July or August. According to the Sacramento Bee, “Despite six lawmakers voting to approve the audit, no one made a vocal endorsement. The proposal failed because it didn’t receive the votes necessary from the state Senate side. At least four votes are necessary from both houses on the joint committee.” Nonetheless, both sides claimed victory. Here are the reactions from Californians for Water Security, Restore the Delta, and the State Water Contractors.” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Trump admin eyes Mojave Desert groundwater as potential source for arid Arizona
“The situation on the Colorado River — the water supply for 40 million Westerners and half of all Californians — is dire. The waterway’s flows have shrunk 20 percent since the turn of the century and climate scientists say it’s not unreasonable to think that another 20 percent could be lost in the coming decades. To cities, farmers, tribes and industries from Wyoming to Mexico — but especially in legally vulnerable Arizona — that looks like pain. To the Los Angeles-based water company Cadiz Inc., that looks like opportunity. After trying and failing for more than two decades to pump ancient groundwater from beneath the Mojave Desert and sell it to Southern California water districts, the controversial company has set its sights on new customers over the border in the Grand Canyon State. … ” Read more from Politico.
SEE ALSO: Colorado River crunch gives Cadiz an opening, from Politico
State Water Board issues advance notice of probable curtailments under standard water right Term 91
“This [notice] is to notify water right permit and license holders with Standard Water Right Term 91 (Term 91) and other interested parties that curtailments under Term 91 are likely to occur in the near future if hydrologic conditions and operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project (collectively Projects) remain on their current trajectory. Permit and license holders having Term 91 as a condition of their water right must cease diversions under the permit or license when the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issues notice that Term 91 curtailments are in effect. Term 91 prohibits diversion under such permits or licenses when (i) the Delta is in “Balanced Condition” and (ii) Supplemental Project Water (SPW) releases are being made by the Projects. The Delta is referred to be in “Balanced Condition” when the Projects are being operated to meet water quality and flow requirements in the Delta. SPW releases are releases of previously stored Project water to meet inbasin entitlements, including maintenance of Delta water quality and flow requirements. The Division of Water Rights (Division) is providing this advance notice to advise affected diverters of the probability of a water diversion curtailment under Term 91 in the near future if hydrologic conditions and Project operations remain on their current trajectory. …” Read more from the State Water Resources Control Board.
Q&A: Snow droughts imperil the American West’s water supply
“In recent years, scientists and water managers have started using the term “snow drought” to describe meager snowpacks in the American West. A snow drought can come about in two main ways. A “dry” snow drought happens when not enough snow falls, leading to a diminished snowpack. A “warm” snow drought occurs when precipitation is near or above normal, but higher temperatures cause raindrops to fall instead of snowflakes, or when warm weather causes the snowpack to shrink rapidly. Because a lack of snow has such profound implications for the West’s water supply, wildfire risk, recreational activities and ecosystem health, the federal government now regularly tracks the severity of snow drought across the region. The reports rely on data from hundreds of SNOTEL stations—a network of automated sensors that use “snow pillows” to weigh the snowpack and calculate its water content—but federal budget cuts may hamper that system going forward. To learn more about snow droughts, I recently spoke with one of the authors of those reports: Dan McEvoy, regional climatologist at the Western Regional Climate Center and the Desert Research Institute. … ” Read more from The Water Desk.
Partnering with tribes to restore a Delta wetland: Benefits go both ways
“Five years ago, Plains Miwok cultural practitioner Don Hankins got a surprising invitation from Russ Ryan, a project manager at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The agency owns four islands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, including one called Webb Tract, and Ryan asked Hankins for help stewarding them from an Indigenous perspective. Hankins was skeptical at first. Metropolitan gets much of its water via the Delta, and he had seen the impact of such water exports firsthand as a child. His family had a place on Old River near Clifton Court Forebay, an expanse of open water near a pumping station that pulls water south from the Delta. “I could see sturgeon and other fish entrained in the forebay,” Hankins recalls. But Hankins feels a deep-rooted responsibility toward the Delta. He was also moved when Ryan visited him at California State University Chico, where he’s a professor of geography and planning. On a walk in Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, the pair forged a partnership that included bringing tribes into planning a new wetland on Webb Tract from the very beginning. “It’s a game changer,” says Hankins, noting that this is the first time tribes have been integral to a restoration project in the Delta. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
San Joaquin Restoration sets record for returning spring chinooks, but salmon still in crisis
“After Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River was finished by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1944, the once huge run of Spring Chinook Salmon became extinct. The federal government, in violation of the California Fish and Game Code, failed to construct a fish ladder or build a fish hatchery as mitigation for the loss of spawning grounds on the river. Salmon returned to the river below Friant Dam for several years, but they had no way to get to where they once spawned and ended up dying in sloughs and canals and the run was no more. One CDFW biologist tried to save the remaining salmon before the run became extinct, but he received no support from state or federal authorities at the time. But a group of anglers and environmentalists in the late 1980s began a movement to restore the run to river. Twenty years ago, as a result of a court settlement to a lawsuit, flows were mandated to once again flow in a section of the San Joaquin River. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
Exploring the Sacramento River, one of the most treasured views in California
“Kayak, hike or fish at majestic venues along the 60-mile northern stretch of California’s longest river, the Sacramento. The Cascade Wonderland Scenic Highway/Interstate 5 flanks the river as it flows south from Siskiyou County to Shasta County, before the river continues its 447-mile trip to the San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. Fed by water flowing from the Klamath Mountains, the river starts near Mt. Shasta. This 14,179-footactive volcano is a popular spot for winter sports, rock climbing and hiking, affording views that span around 100 miles on a clear day, hikers report. Start your journey at Spring Hill in Mount Shasta City Park, 1 mile north of Mount Shasta city. The town is at the center of a free hiking/biking trail network, with routes for every skill level. Mt. Shasta towers over the downtown, crammed with galleries, boutiques, cafes and metaphysical book and crystal stores. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
SEE ALSO: The Sacramento River sparkles near the San Joaquin River Delta (Photo gallery), from the Stockton Record
US critical networks are prime targets for cyberattacks. They’re preparing for Iran to strike.
“The organizations representing critical networks that keep the lights on, the water running and transportation systems humming across the U.S. are bracing for a possible surge of Iranian cyberattacks. Virtually every critical infrastructure sector is on high alert amid a deepening conflict between Iran and Israel, though no major new cyber threat activity has been publicly reported so far. As these groups proactively step up their defenses, it’s unclear whether Washington is coordinating with them on security efforts — a change from prior moments of geopolitical unrest, when federal agencies have played a key role in sounding the alarm. “Iranian cyber activity has not been as extensive outside of the Middle East but could shift in light of the military actions,” said John Hultquist, chief analyst for Google Threat Intelligence Group. … ” Read more from Politico.
Congressman Gray introduces Valley Water Protection Act
“Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced) introduced the Valley Water Protection Act, aiming to safeguard water access for Central Valley farmers and producers. The bill seeks to amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to prevent enforcement actions that could pose national security threats or cause regional economic harm. Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) co-led the legislation. “Valley farmers and producers are the backbone of our community’s economy but increasingly have to worry about whether they will have reliable access to the water necessary to continue their production,” Gray said. “For years, greedy state and federal bureaucrats have attempted to rob the Valley of its water in favor of San Francisco and Los Angeles elites, jeopardizing the agricultural production that funds our state and feeds the country. By introducing the Valley Water Protection Act, I’m sending those who would dry out the Valley a clear message: the tap is turned off.” … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal.
A heat dome is about to bring extreme heat and humidity to more than 200 million
“The first heat wave of summer, starting Friday in central states, will bring days of extreme conditions to many cities across the United States, with humidity levels reaching far beyond what is normal for this time of year. A heat dome — a heat-trapping lid of strong high pressure in the atmosphere — will expand eastward after forming Friday and intensify through next week. For a week or longer, it’s expected to lead to hundreds of record-breaking temperatures, tropical levels of humidity and abundant sunshine — a combination that can be dangerous, elevating the risk for heat stress and making it challenging for people to cool off. Temperatures are forecast to exceed 90 degrees for around 220 million people across the country. Temperatures may reach or exceed 100 degrees for an additional 35 million people next week, including those living in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
In commentary today …
What it was like reporting on toxic drinking water at my prison, Mule Creek
D. “Razor” Babb, founding editor-in-chief of The Mule Creek Post, a newspaper published out of Mule Creek State Prison, where he is incarcerated, writes, “This May, the results of a two-year investigation into drinking water contamination at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione was published by the online criminal justice publication The Appeal and the nonprofit newsroom Type Investigations. This story began as I watched my cellmate (we are both incarcerated at Mule Creek) drop nearly 50 pounds in about three months. Acute pain in his side sent him to an outside hospital, where he was ultimately diagnosed with kidney cancer. Doctors couldn’t tell my cellmate the cause of his cancer, but the prevalence of others who complained of thyroid, kidney, liver and epidermal illnesses since arriving at Mule Creek was alarming. Many were suspicious that the water was the source of their illnesses. Prison officials have adamantly denied the allegations and assured us the water is safe. So began a unique reporting experience as an incarcerated journalist. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Cannabis growers, conservationists partner to restore over 40 Northern California watersheds
“A new cannabis industry-led program has launched to control sediment and restore watersheds across Northern California, the nonprofit Cannabis for Conservation said Thursday. The Arcata-based organization is dedicated to conserving wildlife and restoring habitats in cannabis-impacted areas. It recently received a grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement the Sediment Reduction on Cannabis Farms in Priority Northern Watersheds program starting this month. According to CFC, over the next three years the program will support projects on over 40 privately-owned properties in watersheds that feed into the Eel, Mad, Trinity and Mattole rivers. The goal of the program is to reduce harmful sediment production and restore degraded watersheds, CFC said. All the areas to be served through the project have been impacted by cannabis cultivation and rural development. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
PG&E to restore portions of Hell’s Half Acre Wildflower Meadows
“PG&E has agreed to forever protect portions of wildflower meadows known as Hell’s Half Acre as part of a settlement reached with Nevada County. The meadows have been beloved by locals and native plant enthusiasts for generations. Two years ago, PG&E clearcut the 14-acre site, located near Ridge Road and Rough & Ready Highway and across from Yuba River Charter School, while installing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) injection station. After the community spoke up, the County filed a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission asking to protect and reestablish native vegetation. As part of a settlement with the County, PG&E agreed to preserve a portion of the land that isn’t used for the LNG injection station by donating a conservation easement and donating a $200,000 endowment to Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) for perpetual monitoring and enforcement of the easement. In addition, PG&E will make a $250,000 donation to a land management fund for BYLT’s 128-acre Wildflower Ridge Preserve across the street, which contains the same wildflower habitats as the PG&E-owned parcel. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Maximizing habitat for our Central Valley wildlife refuges
“As part of our ongoing commitment to restoring the Sacramento Valley’s floodplains and reviving essential ecological functions, we’re excited to share an updated summary document outlining the critical water and infrastructure funding needed for Central Valley wildlife refuges. Now available, this update reflects the latest cost estimates, water needs, and—perhaps most exciting—completed projects since the original 2020 release. Collaboratively developed with experts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, and more, this document is a key resource for guiding state and federal funding decisions. It also highlights the significant strides being made toward meeting the habitat goals laid out in the Central Valley Joint Venture Implementation Plan. Together with ricelands and managed wetlands, these refuges are critical to the survival of thousands of species along the Pacific Flyway, supporting birds and wildlife that rely on our region’s unique natural resources. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
NAPA/SONOMA
Why did ponds at Santa Rosa’s Juilliard Park suddenly turn bright blue?
“Santa Rosa city workers were puzzled last week when the murky ponds at Juilliard Park suddenly turned a vivid, unnatural blue. The transformation was discovered June 10, prompting an investigation by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. Staff soon found a one-gallon bottle of Aquashade dye — an aquatic colorant that tints water and suppresses algae growth — discarded in a nearby trash can, city spokesperson Kristi Buffo said. While the mystery remains unsolved, city environmental specialists tested the water and determined the dye poses no significant harm to fish or plant life. They’ve recommended letting the color fade naturally over time. Still, officials are treating the act as vandalism, “whether well intentioned or not,” Buffo said. “Staff will continue to monitor the ponds and if the situation changes resulting in lasting damage, further action will be pursued,” she said. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Roadmap guides Stinson amid changing shores
“Long before beachfront real estate was sought after by lords, barons and the ultra-wealthy, shoreline property was among the most undesirable land on the North American continent. But over the past century or so, that perception has flipped. Now many of the country’s most expensive zip codes are perched on the edge of rising seas. Few places embody that tension more than Stinson Beach, where home values have surged faster than anywhere else in the Bay Area, even as the threat of sea-level rise grows more urgent. The typical Stinson home was valued at $3.7 million in 2024, more than five times its 2000 average of $688,000, according to Zillow. Wedged between the Pacific Ocean and Bolinas Lagoon, the low-lying town of about 500 residents is considered the most vulnerable coastal community in Marin County. In the last 100 years, the Pacific has crept up four to eight inches along the Northern California coast. Depending on global carbon emissions, it could rise anywhere from 2.4 to 6.6 feet by 2100. … ” Read more from the Point Reyes Light.
Zone 7 commentary: Our water future is at stake
Valerie Pryor is general manager of Zone 7 Water Agency, writes, “Zone 7 Water Agency delivers safe, reliable and affordable water to over a quarter of a million residents in eastern Alameda County. We do this by importing surface water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a part of the State Water Project. In fact, 70% of the total water supply for the Tri-Valley communities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and the Dougherty Valley of San Ramon is delivered through the Delta. Various factors, including aging infrastructure and a changing climate, have resulted in significant reductions in the reliability of the State Water Project supplies. Recent estimates by the California Department of Water Resources show that the State Water Project may only be about 50% reliable in delivering the water supply through the Delta. … ” Read more from Danville-San Ramon.
CENTRAL COAST
Plan to rebuild Big Basin Redwoods State Park after devastating fire nears completion
“Nearly five years after a massive fire burned California’s oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods, blackening groves of famous ancient redwoods and destroying all the campgrounds, the visitor center and other facilities, state parks officials have finalized a plan to rebuild. The new plan for the beloved Santa Cruz Mountains destination, which opened in 1902 and received roughly 1 million visitors a year during its heyday before the fire, was released late Tuesday after more than a year of public meetings and studies. The plan calls for shifting the visitors center, most campsites and much of the original parking out of the old growth forest core of the park. Those facilities had been nestled for nearly a century next to trees more than 250 feet tall and more than 1,500 years old. Instead they will be located in other areas of the park, and a shuttle bus will be operated on weekends from a new parking lot on the park’s eastern edge. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Flood victims’ lawyers in Pajaro levee lawsuit to seek tens of millions from state, local governments
“The long, litigious tail behind Santa Cruz County’s 2023 winter storms still has no end in sight. But this week, a partner at one of the firms leading the mass tort against local and state government agencies for their alleged failure to protect Pajaro Valley residents and businesses against the destructive floods told Lookout that they are seeking damages in the range of tens of millions of dollars. “What we want to see is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per household,” Shant Karnikian, a managing partner at Los Angeles-based Kabateck LLP, one of the leading firms in the suits, told Lookout on Wednesday. Karnikian could not immediately offer a precise number of households represented in the suit. However, more than 1,000 plaintiffs are seeking relief, including local businesses, farms and one insurance company. … ” Read more from Lookout Santa Cruz.
State water pipeline repair prompts conservation warning for Santa Maria, Solvang
“The cities of Santa Maria and Solvang have asked residents and businesses to conserve water due to an emergency State Water Project pipeline shutdown. The alerts issued this week were attributed to “a scheduled emergency shutdown” of the pipeline for repairs expected to take four days. Crews intend to inspect and repair a leak in the transmission line for the State Water Project, managed by the California Department of Water Resources and conveyed by the Central Coast Water Authority. As a result of this emergency work, the CCWA will be shutting down its treatment facilities beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday. … ” Read more from Noozhawk.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Seeds of change: A Central Valley collaboration for people and pollinators
“In the heart of California’s Central Valley – where fertile soil and economic demands collide – a quiet transformation is taking root. This weaving of crops and habitat together, to build resilience and partnerships between farmers, seed producers, conservationists and communities. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are part the San Joaquin Valley Monarch Collaborative. At the heart of this effort is a simple question: How do we work with what we have – land, water and people – to build a more sustainable future? That’s exactly what a group of innovative native seed growers, non-profits, landowners and state and federal agencies are trying to answer through the San Joaquin Valley Monarch Collaborative. This region of California is battling extended extreme droughts, groundwater shortage and strained agricultural economies. The collaborative brings together a mix of voices and visions to help narrow a native seed shortage, improve soil health and conserve water in California. “Fields don’t have to be blown away. Invasives don’t have to take over,” says Melissa Burns western monarch coordinator for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. … ” Read more from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Stanislaus County city of Hickman working to address months-long water issue
“A water issue that spans months in the Stanislaus County city of Hickman has led to daily shut-offs, a boil water notice and growing frustration among residents and school officials. The problem began in March when clay from the walls of the city’s oldest well collapsed into the water system, according to Waterford City Manager Michael Pitcock. Although the water has consistently tested free of bacteria and is technically safe to drink, many residents have reported discolored orange or yellow tap water. “It looked like sewage, like urine,” said resident Heaven Jobe, who lives in Hickman with her mother. “We’re boiling our water just to cook. They didn’t offer a single bottle of water. Not one.” To address the issue, the city hired American Pipeline Solutions to perform a process called ice pigging. The method uses an ice slushy mixture to scrub the inner walls of the water pipes, removing built-up sediment that traditional flushing hasn’t been able to clear. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Meeting notes: Kern districts approve groundwater plan amendments
“Agricultural water districts in the Kern groundwater subbasin began approving amendments to the region’s groundwater sustainability plan this month in anticipation of resubmitting it to the state Water Resources Control Board by June 20. The Arvin-Edison, Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa and North Kern water storage districts, along with the Cawelo Water District, acting as groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), approved the latest plan amendments. The amendments focus on improving groundwater levels, greater protections for drinking water wells and more community engagement. The subbasin has had several meetings with state Water Board staff to work through questions the state board may have. Meanwhile, it was reported at the Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa, Cawelo, and North Kern board meetings that the Henry Miller GSA has been having its own meetings on the side with state board staff. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
Federal downsizing, local consequences
“Earlier this year the Trump Administration slashed staffing of federal agencies, including those that manage federal lands around the country and in California and the Eastern Sierra. Nationwide, the Administration has cut ten percent of the US Forest Service workforce. The Inyo National Forest, home to Mono Lake and the third largest National Forest in California, covering nearly two million acres, has lost positions up and down the agency from maintenance positions to wildlife biologists to recreation staff. The Inyo has long suffered from declining budgets and resource allocations, and the agency was stretched thin before the firings, buyouts, and voluntary early retirements. Now, with the recent loss of permanent staff in addition to the ongoing freeze on all seasonal staff hiring, the Eastern Sierra will experience a year entirely without wilderness rangers, trail maintenance staff, off-highway vehicle rangers, and interpretive and front desk staff at visitor centers. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
Efforts to reduce dust from dry Owens Lake bed are helping, report finds
“The dry bed of Owens Lake has long been a major source of dust in the Owens Valley, but mitigation efforts have reduced those emissions to a point that other dust sources in the surrounding desert now cause most of the poor air quality days in the area, according to a new report. Owens Lake was left desiccated after Los Angeles began tapping the eastern Sierra watershed for its own needs more than a century ago. But the amount of dust coming from the lake bed has been declining in recent years as the L.A. Department of Water and Power has taken mitigation measures such as spreading water on parts of the lake bed. “This is a success story in process,” said Ted Russell, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and chair of the Owens Lake Scientific Advisory Panel. “You want to be able to understand where these sources are, such that you can better control them.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Endangered fish saved from the Palisades fire were just returned to their Malibu home
“Hundreds of tiny endangered fish slipped from orange plastic buckets into a glittering lagoon in Malibu on Tuesday, returning home five months after being whisked away from threats wrought by the Palisades fire. The repatriation of more than 300 northern tidewater gobies — led by the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains — marked a peaceful moment in a region still reeling from the aftermath of wildfires and now in turmoil due to federal immigration raids. “In this time of total madness in our world and total upheaval in our environment, there’s not many moments when we get a chance to do something as hopeful as bringing the gobies back to their home,” Rosi Dagit, principal conservation biologist for the conservation district, told attendees of a small ceremony. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Hundreds of endangered fish returned to habitat after Palisades Fire rescue, from KTLA
Judge approves settlement for Clean Water Act lawsuit over Port of Los Angeles pollution
“U.S. District Court Judge Consuelo B. Marshall on June 10, 2025, approved the settlement of the lawsuit between Environment California against the City of Los Angeles for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act at the Port of Los Angeles. The suit alleged that since at least 2019, the Port has repeatedly discharged untreated wastewater with illegal levels of toxic copper and fecal bacteria into the Los Angeles Harbor within San Pedro Bay. “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,” said Laura Deehan, Environment California’s state director, in a press release. “This settlement is a great step toward a cleaner, safer San Pedro Bay, and it demonstrates the vital role that citizen lawsuits play in the enforcement of our federal environmental laws.” … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions.
USACE, City of Inglewood solidify water infrastructure partnership with Section 219 agreement
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District joined the City of Inglewood June 13 to officially sign a project agreement that will strengthen the city’s emergency water storage capacity and spotlight more than two decades of interagency collaboration. The agreement, supported by federal funding through Section 219 of the Water Resources Development Act, will assist in the design and construction of the Morningside Reservoir — the first and highest-priority of four planned water infrastructure projects. The overall program is expected to support up to $20 million in improvements across Inglewood’s aging water system. “This is a very important project that will assure reliability, emergency and fire storage to the city’s water distribution system,” said Col. Andrew Baker, commander of the Los Angeles District, during his remarks at the ceremony. “We wouldn’t be here without the hard work, dedication and strong partnership with the City of Inglewood — one that has continued to flourish for more than 20 years.” … ” Read more from the Army Corps.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego is seeing more weather that fuels wildfires
“Hot, dry and windy weather that fuels wildfires is becoming more common in San Diego County and much of the western U.S. amid climate change, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: What used to be several months of fire season is stretching in some places into a yearlong phenomenon, straining fire departments and others tasked with controlling or containing blazes. Driving the news: The number of hot, dry and windy — fire weather — days rose by 37 in the Southwest and 21 in the West on average between 1973 and 2024, per an analysis from Climate Central, a climate research group. … ” Read more from Axios.
‘Hard to fathom’: Sewage crisis at Calif. coastline can be seen from space
“A new study using satellite images from NASA shows that an environmental crisis at the Tijuana-San Diego border can be seen from space, prompting new concerns from experts.The image shows a wastewater plume just off Imperial Beach made up of toxic wastewater pollution from untreated sewage that’s flowing into the Tijuana Estuary and Pacific Ocean for years.Kim Prather, an atmospheric scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a distinguished professor at University of San Diego, and her lab team have been studying the severe, toxic chemicals. She told SFGATE that the new NASA tool can help scientists figure out how far the pollution goes. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Along the Colorado River …
New Colorado River plan spreads the pain, shares water based on reality of shrinking flows
“Negotiators for the seven states arguing over diminished Colorado River water are discussing an option they hope will end their deadlock, one that Arizona officials say would focus less on who gets what and more on what the river can realistically provide. They’re calling it the “supply-driven” solution, Arizona Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said, and it links the required water deliveries out of Glen Canyon Dam to what might naturally be flowing downstream at Lees Ferry if the dam weren’t there. The Rocky Mountain states upstream from there would have to let that amount pass, and the Southwestern states would have to live within its limits. It’s intended as a fair way of adapting — and shrinking — the region’s use of a river whose flow was once thought to exceed 15 million acre-feet of water a year but, in the last 25 years, has averaged 12.4 million. Each acre-foot contains about 326,000 gallons, or enough to supply a few households for a year. … ” Read more from Arizona Central. | Read via Yahoo News.
The Colorado River “psst psst” scheme emerges into public view: the “Supply Driven” concept
“Arizona yesterday finally moved the super-secret idea at the heart of current Colorado River negotiations out of the shadows. The idea is deceptively simple: base Lake Powell releases on a percentage of the three-year rolling average of the Colorado River’s estimated “natural flow” at Lee Ferry. Allocate water based not on a century-old hydrologic mistake, but rather based on what the river actually has to offer. It presents an attractive alternative to the increasingly baroque and unproductive shitshow that had taken over interstate negotiations. It has the great virtue of each basin getting out of the other basin’s business – one clean, simple number. But establishing the right percentage remains the hard part. Make the percentage too high and the Upper Basin will have to cut users with pre-Compact water rights. Make the percentage too low and Lake Powell fills up while Central Arizona goes dry. … ” Read more from the Inkstain blog.
As Colorado River talks continue, Trump taps former CAP boss to lead Reclamation Bureau
“President Donald Trump has nominated former Central Arizona Project General Manager Ted Cooke to lead the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the agency that manages water in the West and is currently seeking a negotiated deal to share the Colorado River’s water among seven states. Cooke led the CAP from 2015 through 2022, when Brenda Burman, Reclamation commissioner during Trump’s first term, took his place. The CAP delivers Colorado River water to Arizona’s most populous communities. Cooke’s former colleagues within Arizona praised his appointment and said his knowledge of the entire Colorado River watershed and its struggles to deal with climate change will benefit everyone in the West. “He understands the dynamics across the basin in a way that will be really helpful in finding equity in outcomes from all of us in the seven (river) states,” Arizona Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
SEE ALSO: Ted Cooke tapped to run Bureau of Reclamation amid pivotal Colorado River talks, from the Colorado Sun
Governor Hobbs meets with top federal water official, reinforces Arizona’s leadership on Colorado River future
“Yesterday, Governor Katie Hobbs met with Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Scott Cameron, the Trump Administration’s lead official overseeing Colorado River negotiations, to directly reinforce Arizona’s priorities in shaping a fair and lasting water agreement across the seven basin states. Following the meeting, Governor Hobbs addressed the Arizona Reconsultation Committee (ARC), a group of state water leaders tasked with defining Arizona’s role in the post-2026 Colorado River operating framework. This is the first appearance of a Governor at the ARC, highlighting the importance of these critical negotiations for Governor Hobbs. Hobbs emphasized her commitment to fighting for Arizona’s fair share of Colorado River water and dedication to the Arizona businesses and residents who rely on the vital resource. “Arizona has always risen to the moment to solve its water challenges, and under my leadership, we will do so again,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “Our state has already made real sacrifices, but we will not shoulder this burden alone. We need a balanced deal that includes real commitments from all basin states.” … ” Read more from the Arizona Office of the Governor.
Tribes are hopeful Trump’s staffing, spending cuts won’t slow progress on securing water rights
“While Arizona, neighboring states, the federal government and Mexico are negotiating over a dwindling supply of water from the Colorado River, another key stakeholder is tribes. Thirty of them in all, trying to either ratify their rights or safeguard their allocations of the West’s most precious water resource. Beyond being seen and heard in the room where water decisions are handled, tribes are also having to navigate unprecedented institutional shifts from the Biden administration back to President Donald Trump that, in turn, potentially hinder their sovereignty. More than two-thirds of the Colorado River Basin tribes are from Arizona. They all need to negotiate with the U.S. to essentially get what they want. Unlike states, tribes were historically excluded from these dialogues, but lately their engagement in defining the future of the Colorado River has been celebrated. “All of those tribes are in very different places,” said Scott Cameron, currently the top-ranking Interior Department official on Colorado River matters. “And there’s no one size fits all, and what’s going to work for one tribe is probably going to not work for most of the other 30.” … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Reclamation completes recoating of outlet tubes at Glen Canyon Dam ahead of schedule
“The Bureau of Reclamation completed the recoating of the river outlet works at Glen Canyon Dam and Powerplant—more than two months ahead of schedule and on budget. The work was supported by an $8.9 million investment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and is part of Reclamation’s continued effort to modernize critical water infrastructure across the West. “This is a smart, forward-looking infrastructure investment that will improve Colorado River water operations,” said Reclamation Acting Commissioner David Palumbo. “Finishing this project ahead of schedule and on budget speaks to the quality of planning, partnership, and execution by our team and contractors.” The outlets—also referred to as bypass tubes—consist of four large steel pipes that move water from Lake Powell directly into the Colorado River, bypassing the hydropower generating units. Their recoating is part of the regular, long-term maintenance of the dam. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Spring runoff in one western Colorado valley is worse this decade than the Dust Bowl era
“Water engineer Bob Hurford has a chart he often shares with communities in the Gunnison River Basin to drive home the seriousness of the region’s water conditions. It shows that the basin’s runoff in the 2020s, so far, is worse than the Dust Bowl era of the ’30s. “That’s the position that everybody’s in right now,” said Hurford, Colorado Division of Water Resources division engineer for the Gunnison River area. The western Colorado river basin spans mountainous, agricultural regions and communities like Crested Butte, Gunnison, Paonia, Montrose, Olathe and Delta. Snowpack in the basin this year was near normal — when based on 30 years of data. The 100-year look was much more bleak, Hurford found. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Airborne lasers are measuring Colorado’s snowpack, and the technology is taking off
“Before going to the University of Colorado Boulder and becoming a scientist who studies snow, Jeff Deems fell in love with skiing. “As backcountry enthusiasts, we’ve had to imagine what the snow patterns are on the landscape,” he said. “Same challenge that the water managers face: we have limited data.” That has changed in recent years, however, thanks in part to Deems. Measuring Colorado’s snowpack can be complicated, but it’s crucial — and not just for skiers. Water managers rely on snowpack measurements to decide how to change reservoir levels to optimize the amount of water for customers, as well as those recreating on bodies of water. “The snowpack is our biggest reservoir seasonally,” said Deems. “So the longer we can keep it on the mountains, the better.” … ” Read more from Channel 7.
In national water news today …
Trump cuts to NOAA, NASA ‘blinding’ farmers to risks, scientists warn
“The Trump administration’s cuts to climate research and federal weather forecasting agencies are “blinding” the U.S. to oncoming threats to its food supply — and kneecapping efforts to protect it. As Congress debates its own research and forecasting cuts, a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature suggests that fossil fuel-driven climate change poses an existential threat to key parts of the American food supply. Heat waves and drought driven by fossil fuel burning could mean a collapse of Midwestern corn and soy yields later this century, said study co-author Andrew Hultgren of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The region, Hultgren noted, is both one of the world’s richest breadbaskets and one of its most endangered. When temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, he told The Hill, “It starts to become a question of how tenable it is to keep farming corn.” “You do start to wonder if the Corn Belt is going to be the Corn Belt in the future,” he said. … ” Read more from The Hill.
EPA science revamp calls for ‘much smaller’ office
“EPA’s proposed science wing will likely be “much smaller” than the agency’s existing Office of Research and Development and consist of three divisions focusing on coastal areas, drinking water safety and methodologies for assessing environmental contamination, according to an internal summary viewed by POLITICO’s E&E News. The Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) “would be expected to operate quite differently from ORD,” with more of a focus on shorter-term projects that meet “statutorily required functions,” according to the emailed roundup. It was sent to research office staff this week to summarize a town hall meeting held last Wednesday, according to two employees granted anonymity. “OASES is expected to be much smaller than ORD, so teams will look much different and will have different goals, strategies, etc.,” one portion says. … ” Read more from E&E News.
EPA must revisit decision to not revise industrial pollution standards
“The Environmental Protection Agency isn’t required to revise every outdated wastewater pollution standard for various industries, but its decision in 2023 to not revise standards using new pollution control technologies is both arbitrary and capricious, a Ninth Circuit panel ruled Wednesday. In 2023 several environmental groups, including Waterkeeper Alliance and the Center for Biological Diversity, filed a complaint directly to the Ninth Circuit, challenging the EPA’s decision to not revise “effluent limitations, effluent limitation guidelines, standards of performance for new sources, and pretreatment standards” that haven’t been updated in decades. Passed in 1972, the Clean Water Act requires the agency to regulate industrial pollutants that make their way into the water, based on the best available wastewater treatment technology. But according to the plaintiffs, the EPA has never set limits on plants that mold and form plastic, and has gone nearly 40 years without updating wastewater limits on inorganic chemical plants and petroleum refineries. The agency hasn’t revised wastewater limits for pesticide makers since 1998. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
