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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include reports from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Water Resources, an update on the 2027 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update, and a briefing on October 2024 Victoria Island Emergency Response and Repair. Click here for the agenda.
In California water news today …
For the future of water conservation, look to … Los Angeles?
” … there is one indisputable fact that keeps surfacing in the conversations I have about California water that feels like something of a beacon. The first time I heard it, it came as quite a surprise. Over the last half century or so, millions more people have moved to greater Los Angeles, settling in increasingly far-flung reaches of the desert and in the mountains, requiring more faucets, toilets and shower heads, producing more garbage and more gridlock on the 405 freeway, reinforcing all the clichés about excess and sprawl. And during this same time, Angelenos have been consuming less water. I don’t just mean per person, though that figure, according to state authorities, is down by a whopping 43 percent since 1990. I mean, residents and businesses in the Los Angeles area now consume less water in total. The population has grown, yet the city consumes less water. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Coming into focus: Results from revolutionary groundwater science
“The San Joaquin Valley is unlike any other region in the state and, arguably, the country. Sprawling across about 17.5 million acres, this valley boasts some of the most fertile soil found anywhere and has been feeding the world for 150 years. But recently these agricultural and dairy operations have changed—trees and fields that once fed tens of millions are aging out, climate challenges like more intense droughts and floods have turned some of these farms into disaster zones, and some farmers have had enough of all of that. And while most people are interested in the fruit, vegetables, and dairy products this region produces, River Partners, which has a long history of restoring vast tracts of marginal farmland in the Valley to bring historic floodplains back, wants to know what lies beneath the surface—specifically, what the ancient underground aquifers look like. This will help us better understand how water moves from the surface to below the ground to refill depleted aquifers and increase water supplies critical to California’s environment, communities, and economy. … ” Read more from River Partners.
Regional climate plan sets course for a resilient Delta
“At its June 26, 2025, meeting, the Delta Stewardship Council adopted the first-ever comprehensive regional climate adaptation plan for California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Part of the Council’s Delta Adapts climate initiative, the Adaptation Plan details strategies and actions to improve regional resilience to climate change across four focus areas: flood risk reduction, ecosystems, agriculture, and water supply reliability. It also identifies equity considerations of adaptation, costs, and governance challenges. The Council will work with its partners and other interested parties to implement the Adaptation Plan’s strategies, which will benefit current and future generations. … ” Click here to read the Delta Adapts Plan.
Western states are stepping up to protect precious water supplies. Here’s how.
“As federal environmental programs and funding come under attack, states across the West are adopting major policies and dedicating more money to support long-term water resilience, underscoring how water bridges political divides. Here’s a roundup of the actions that were strongly supported by the EDF Water Team. … The California Legislature approved $12 million for the state’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program — the first installment of $200 million allocated to the program included in the $10 billion Proposition 4 climate bond approved by voters in November. The oversubscribed program pays farmers to voluntarily take irrigated agricultural land out of production and convert it to other uses that reduce groundwater pumping and deliver other benefits. … ” Read more from EDF.
What is ‘precipitation whiplash’? The new accelerating, climate change weather danger
“In recent decades, California residents have experienced a “whiplash” of weather conditions. After a few years of severe drought, heavy rains came in early 2023 that soaked the state for weeks. That rain led to mudslides, which were worsened by the fact that years of drought had dried out the soil, so it couldn’t absorb the rainfall. That rain also then led to an explosion of vegetation growth, which would dry out when the next drought period hit and fuel devastating wildfires. This rapid transition between wet and dry weather conditions is a hallmark of climate change, and it’s also an accelerating climate threat. This phenomenon is called “precipitation whiplashes,” and the forces that bring these drastic swings between drought and floods are speeding up. In a recent study, researchers say we could see an increase in precipitation whiplashes as early as 2028. … ” Read more from Fast Company.
Pollution from wildfires can contaminate our water for up to 8 years, study finds
“When wildfires devastated a wide swath of Los Angeles last winter, officials warned residents of several ZIP codes not to drink the water, or boil it first if they must. They worried that soot, ash, and other debris from the blazes might have infiltrated the groundwater, or that damaged pipes might allow toxins into the supply. The last of these “do not drink” orders was lifted last month. But the first large-scale study of post-wildfire water quality has found that pollution created by such a blaze can threaten water supplies for eight years — far longer than previous studies indicated. Researchers at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, or CIRES, at the University of Colorado Boulder analyzed 100,000 samples from 500 watersheds across the western United States. They found “contaminants like organic carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment” throughout those that had burned. At their peak, those pollutants can be found at levels up to 103 times higher than before the fire. There also can be 9 to 286 times as much sediment in water after a fire. … ” Read more from Grist.
Study shows controlled burns can reduce wildfire intensity and smoke pollution
“A new Stanford-led study finds that controlled, low-intensity fires known as prescribed burns can slash wildfire intensity and dangerous smoke pollution across the western United States. As wildfires increasingly threaten lives, landscapes, and air quality across the U.S., a Stanford-led study published in AGU Advances June 26 finds that prescribed burns can help reduce risks. The research reveals that prescribed burns can reduce the severity of subsequent wildfires by an average of 16% and net smoke pollution by an average of 14%. “Prescribed fire is often promoted as a promising tool in theory to dampen wildfire impacts, but we show clear empirical evidence that prescribed burning works in practice,” said lead author Makoto Kelp, a postdoctoral fellow in Earth system science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. “It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a strategy that can reduce harm from extreme wildfires when used effectively.” … ” Read more from Stanford.
In commentary today …
Heat domes, wildfires, floods and drought. Where’s the outrage?
Eugene Linden, author of “Fire & Flood: A People’s History of Climate Change From 1979 to the Present, writes, “As I write this, the temperature is climbing past 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the mid-Atlantic states, and 170 million Americans are under warnings about a dangerous combination of intense heat and humidity. Is this latest weather extreme linked to global warming? Of course it is, as has been the case with record-setting floods, extreme hurricanes, droughts and wildfires that go back decades and afflict every corner of the globe. Amid these extremes, we have the Trump administration seemingly trying to roll back or reverse every environmental initiative of the past 55 years. Yet nobody seems to care. In the early 1990s, I gave a lot of talks about how environmental awareness had become an American value. The early 1970s saw the passage of the Clean Air and Clean Water acts, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Within 20 years, Time magazine was making planet Earth its “Man of the Year,” and the first Earth Summit met. But now I think I spoke too soon. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Indigenous kayakers traverse 6 dam sites on the Klamath River and head for the ocean
“A group of young Indigenous kayakers is headed to the mouth of the Klamath River in free-flowing water after portaging around two dams and paddling through four former dam sites. They launched into the Klamath River headwaters two weeks ago and are now more than halfway through a momentous 30-day journey. So far, they’ve paddled through waves on a treacherous lake, portaged around the two remaining dams on the river, plunged into canyons with class 3, 4 and 5 rapids, and paddled through four former dam sites where removal operations wrapped up last fall. The nonprofit Rios to Rivers organized the event, which is the first source-to-sea descent of the Klamath since dam removal. Their Paddle Tribal Waters team aims to reach the mouth of the river by July 11 and celebrate the removal of J.C. Boyle, Copco 1, Copco 2 and Iron Gate dams. … ” Read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting.
SEE ALSO: Tribal Youth Learn, Paddle, and Lead on Restored River, from Save Our Salmon via the Redheaded Blackbelt
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
More than a pipe dream: Tahoe bolsters water infrastructure for larger fires
“As wildfires grow in size and intensity, older communities are recognizing the need to update their municipal water systems. In Lake Tahoe, a robust water infrastructure is now considered one of the three cornerstones of wildfire readiness, alongside forest and fuels management and community and home hardening. Each summer, utility companies on both sides of the lake race to complete water system upgrades within the limited six-month construction window. Today, the Lake Tahoe community is leading the way in ensuring that firefighters always have access to water. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Tahoe’s fatal June snowstorm was rare — but not unheard of. What summer Sierra visitors should know
“Eight people died last weekend on Lake Tahoe in a boat accident during a rare June storm, three of them from the Bay Area. The powerful storm flipped their boat near the southern reaches of the lake, in a sudden weather shift that took aback beachgoers on the shore, who were expecting a warm summer day out on the lake, and also dusted nearby mountaintops with fresh snow. This storm, known as a microburst, blew through the region quickly, bringing wind gusts up to 35 mph and creating waves up to 10 feet high, witnessed at the lake, according to the National Weather Service. … ” Read more from KQED.
Keep Tahoe Blue to celebrate grand opening of new environment, education center with community on July 11
“The League to Save Lake Tahoe — the donor-funded, science-based organization of environmental experts and Tahoe-lovers behind the movement to Keep Tahoe Blue — will commemorate the opening of its new headquarters with a community celebration on Friday, July 11. The Keep Tahoe Blue Spurlock/Evers Environment & Education Center, located at 2877 Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe, will serve as the new home for the organization’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, science, and community action. It will also act as an invitation for anyone to take part in the mission to protect and restore Lake Tahoe for all. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
BAY AREA
Fish restoration in Alameda Creek nears completion
“Dams and barriers placed on Alameda Creek have prevented migratory fish from entering their native spawning grounds for more than 50 years, but an $80 million effort to raze the last significant obstacles and restore trout, salmon and other fish to their historical habitat are now underway. A PG&E gas pipeline is the last major barrier to restoring 20 miles of upstream spawning habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead trout and will be relocated and buried by a coalition that includes the Alameda County Water District, PG&E and the San Francisco-based nonprofit California Trout. The project lies along Calaveras Road, one mile south of Interstate 680 and sandwiched between two basins of the Sunol Valley Aggregate Quarry. “It’s protecting our heritage and ensuring the future generations get to see and learn about and interact with these species down the road,” said Pat Samuel, Bay Area director for California Trout. “The fact that we still have them here in the Bay Area is remarkable.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Controversial project to widen one of Bay Area’s most congested highways is a step closer to reality
“Caltrans got one step closer to its controversial $500 million project to widen Highway 37, a notoriously trafficky corridor, with an infusion of funding Thursday. But critics said the money could be wasted as rising tides are expected to flood the low–lying highway within decades. On Thursday, the California Transportation Commission approved $73 million toward the plan, which calls for widening Highway 37 between Sears Point in Sonoma and Mare Island in Vallejo from two lanes to four. Caltrans said the project will greatly reduce congestion on a highway used by 47,000 daily. However, the highway is also expected to be inundated by rising tides by 2050, threats that will not be addressed by the project, Caltrans said. Instead, the agency has a separate $10 billion plan to elevate and protect the highway in the future. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
F-S Sewer District begins long-range infrastructure planning
“The Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, which provides wastewater service to Fairfield, Suisun City and Travis Air Force Base, is kicking off a long-range planning initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to “safeguard nearly $1 billion in aging infrastructure and control future costs.” “Our goal is to plan smarter now so we complete needed replacements and upgrades responsibly and efficiently,” Engineering Manager Irene O’Sullivan said in a statement. “This is about continuing safe and reliable sewer service to our community.” Many facilities are more than 50 years old. “The district is investing $2.8 million, 1.5% of its 10-year capital budget, into a series of master plans for sewer collection, treatment, recycled water, storm drainage and mapping systems,” the statement said. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Another delay for Pillar Point Harbor dredging
“Work on a long-awaited harbor dredging project — designed to stem erosion at Surfers Beach — originally set to begin in June, has been delayed a month to tentatively start at the end of July. Permitting issues for demolition and building on the project, which will dredge and relocate around 100,000 cubic yards of sand along the inside of the Pillar Point Harbor to the Surfers Beach area, have once again stymied work, Harbor District Commissioner Tom Mattusch said. “It’s been a nightmare of permitting issues for over two decades. There aren’t many agencies that have made it smooth for us,” he said. “The remaining couple [permits] we need are almost inconsequential.” … ” Read more from the San Mateo Daily Journal.
Protecting Morgan Hill: Flood relief in sight with final phase of Llagas Creek project
“During major storms, hundreds of households and businesses in Morgan Hill are at risk of flooding from Llagas Creek and its smaller streams. Flooding has happened multiple times over the years, including six times since 2000. I’ve seen the damage these floods leave behind, and I know how devastating they can be. That’s why I’m pleased to share that Valley Water is actively working on the third and final phase of the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project. This phase, called Phase 2B, targets four stretches, or reaches, of the creek that have long been vulnerable to flooding. Phase 2B includes improvements along approximately eight miles of Upper Llagas Creek and East and West Little Llagas creeks from Highway 101 to Llagas Road. This summer, our crews will widen and deepen the creeks, install stormwater culverts, relocate utilities, and create native habitats and recreational trails. Here’s a quick snapshot of work that’s happening this summer … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
Can Santa Barbara’s water supply keep up with housing?
“The question is inevitable: Does Santa Barbara County have enough water to support the new housing it desperately needs? A Grand Jury report released this month says yes. It’s an unusual twist. The watchdog group’s investigations usually highlight failures in local governance. However, the Water Management report found that Santa Barbara County, and all its individual water agencies, are operating “magnificently” and are adequately planning to meet the needs of new developments, according to foreperson Dale Kunkel. Kunkel, a current communications professor and former Congressional Science Fellow, spoke with notable verve about the Grand Jury’s work. A separate report from the Grand Jury this month was a reminder that the South Coast’s housing shortage is “reaching crisis levels,” especially for low- and moderate-income residents. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Avoid swimming here: Algal mats discovered in Sequoia National Forest, San Joaquin River
“Dangerous algal mats have been reported at a popular campground in Sequoia National Forest and a site on the San Joaquin River. Algal mats are dense, sheet-like accumulations of algae that don’t affect water clarity like an algal bloom. They can be found attached to the bottom of the waterway, floating in the water, or washed up on shore. While not all algae are dangerous, those formed by cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and diatoms can create harmful toxins. On June 11, two harmful algal mats were found in Salmon Creek tributaries, including a location at Horse Meadow campground in the Sequoia National Forest. A mat was also found Monday in the San Joaquin River, just West of Shields Avenue in Fresno County. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
Could developers buy the San Joaquin River Gorge in Fresno County?
“Much of the prized public land in the Sierras above Fresno that was at risk of getting sold off to real estate developers as part of President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” such as Huntington Lake and Edison Lake, was taken off the bargaining table Monday afternoon after senate officials ruled that selling these key parcels owned by the National Forest Service could not be voted on in its current state due to procedural issues. But one of Fresno’s top hiking spots, with cultural significance to local tribes – the San Joaquin River Gorge – could still be at risk of getting auctioned off. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
Kern County Water Agency extends deadline for Western Hills Water District to September 30
“At its meeting on June 26, 2025, the Kern County Water Agency’s Board of Directors took action to unconditionally extend the deadline relating to water supplied by the Agency to Western Hills Water District from June 30, 2025 to September 30, 2025. The Agency had previously granted a conditional extension through December 31, 2025 pending the outcome of the Proposition 218 rate hearing but
determined the shorter unconditional extension was warranted in light of the short time between the June 28 rate hearing and the June 30 deadline. If Western Hills’ proposed rate increases are approved without a majority protest at the June 28 rate hearing, then the December 31 deadline will remain in effect. … ” Read more from the Kern County Water Agency.
EASTERN SIERRA
DWP exporting water away from the Mono Basin
“Water that should be flowing to Mono Lake began leaving the Mono Basin and flowing instead toward Los Angeles on June 17 when the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) began exporting stream diversions into the Los Angeles Aqueduct. DWP started exports early this year, which is unusual; it plans to make certain it can export the maximum allowed volume of 16,000 acre-feet by the end of the runoff year (March 31, 2026). In addition to the exports that started last week, DWP is continuously exporting groundwater from the Mono Basin as well, because water pours into the aqueduct tunnel where it runs underneath the Mono Craters. The tunnel adds approximately 5,000 acre-feet of water to DWP’s exports every year. DWP taking 16,000 acre-feet of stream diversions plus 5,000 acre-feet of groundwater exports will translate to about half a foot of Mono Lake’s level lost this year. Mono Lake’s level would have remained stable this coming year if not for DWP’s water exports. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SEE ALSO: Mono Lake 2025–2026 lake level forecast report, from the Mono Lake Committee
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
ANALYSIS: LA Waterkeeper samples from LA River show shocking levels of PFAS contamination
“Today, Waterkeeper Alliance released a new analysis of American waterways that sounds the alarm on a PFAS pollution emergency. In a test of waterways from across the country, 98% were found to be contaminated with one or more types of PFAS chemicals, with concentrations frequently exceeding health-based criteria. Here in Los Angeles, LA Waterkeeper (a member of Waterkeeper Alliance) took samples in the LA River upstream and downstream of the LA-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant outfall into the river. The sampling showed that water both upstream and downstream of the outfall contained multiple types of PFAS, in line with the national report that demonstrates these “forever chemicals” are nearly ubiquitous in waterways around the country. Developed in partnership with the Hispanic Access Foundation and local Waterkeeper groups in 19 states, including LA Waterkeeper, samples were collected from U.S. surface waters upstream and downstream of 22 wastewater treatment plants and 10 permitted biosolids land application sites. The results were striking: 95% of sites downstream from wastewater treatment plants and 80% of sites downstream from biosolids fields showed elevated PFAS levels. … ” Read more from the LA Waterkeeper.
Palisades reservoir that was empty ‘on the one day in history it was needed most’ is back online
“Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades, which was empty and undergoing repairs at the time of the January firestorm, is finally back online, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power announced Thursday. The reservoir had been out of service since early 2024 because its floating cover had a significant tear that needed to be fixed. DWP officials had thought the repairs were complete about three months ago, but in April crews discovered as they were refilling the reservoir that there were further tears and leaks in the floating cover. They then drained the reservoir again to allow for additional repairs. The DWP said that, as part of the work, a crew of divers helped find and repair “pinhole sized” leaks in the cover, and that the reservoir is now operational after workers finished inspections and testing.“Repairs took longer than expected, as rainstorm damage, sun exposure and wildfire embers had further deteriorated the cover’s condition,” said Adam Perez, the DWP’s interim director of water operations. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
San Clemente tests new sand, eyes offshore reef to combat beach erosion
“San Clemente is taking fresh steps to fight a familiar problem: beach erosion. Two weeks ago the city placed 10 cubic yards of gray-toned sand from Orcas Island, British Columbia on the shoreline just south of the pier. The test is part of a broader effort to evaluate alternative sand sources that could help replenish the city’s sand-starved beaches more quickly than traditional offshore dredging. The imported sand is slightly darker than what’s typically found along San Clemente’s coastline, but city officials say the priority is grain size, cleanliness, and availability—especially with few sources currently ready for immediate use. Sand from the British Columbia quarry is clean of contaminants and could be stockpiled at ports in Long Beach and San Diego for future deployment if it proves viable. … ” Read more from the San Clemente Times.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Officials turn to innovative method to address longstanding emblem of water crisis: ‘Difficult projects are possible’
“The Salton Sea has long been a worrying emblem of California’s water crisis. Based in the parched, desert-like lands, the decades-long project to bring new wetlands back to the scorched dirt is finally underway. In the midst of the Salton Sea’s years of evaporation, the waters have grown progressively saltier, killing native fish that acted as a food source for dozens of migrating birds like white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, and eared grebes — all of which have faced significant population declines. The wetlands will encourage desalination, reviving the lake’s once-prosperous ecosystem. This restoration will further benefit humans who live nearby and have faced respiratory issues from dust and hydrogen-sulfide gas. … ” Continue reading from The Cool Down.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego residents protest water rate hikes as county votes on new pricing
“San Diego residents from underserved communities, seniors, to recent flood victims, gathered to protest against proposed water rate increases at the San Diego County Water Authority on Thursday. The water authority’s board met to deliberate on future pricing. It’s why residents came to share during public comments their demands for any future rate hikes not to be passed down to customers. The protest comes just weeks after water rates in the City of San Diego increased at the beginning of May, adding financial pressure to many residents already struggling with high costs of living. “I’m asking that the water rates don’t go up since most San Diegans can’t afford rate increases, especially the flood victims,” Greg Montoya, a Southcrest resident and January 2024 flood victim, told the board during Thursday’s meeting. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
SEE ALSO: County wholesale water rate to rise 8.3% in January, less than half of earlier proposals, from the San Diego Union-Tribune
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River states see possible breakthrough as deadline looms
“State negotiators grappling with how to share the drought-ravaged Colorado River say they could be close to breaking free from gridlock just as the Trump administration warns that missing a November deadline could force the federal government to take control. Members of the Upper Colorado River Commission — which represents Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — announced Thursday that the states are weighing a new method of sharing the waterway based on the actual flow of the river, as opposed to projected flows and historical agreements. “The basin states have been exploring an explicit supply-driven operational framework based on the natural flow of the river,” said Becky Mitchell, who serves as both Colorado’s Colorado River commissioner and acting chair of the Upper Colorado River Commission. The plan — at the heart of which is a formula for declaring how much water can be shared among the seven states each year, based on actual flows from the preceding three years — was proposed by the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada, Mitchell said. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Colorado River managers present plan to share water based on supply, not demand
“The seven states that share the Colorado River are floating a new concept for how water could be shared in the future, marking forward progress after a long standoff between the Upper Basin and Lower Basin states. Officials from Colorado laid out the proposal, which they are calling a supply-driven approach, at a meeting of the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC) in Grand Junction on Wednesday. The amount of water released from Lake Powell would be based on a percentage of a three-year rolling average of the “natural flow” at Lee Ferry, the dividing line between the Upper Basin (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) and the Lower Basin (Arizona, California and Nevada). The natural flow is what would flow past Lee Ferry if there weren’t any Upper Basin dams or diversions. A supply-driven approach adds a measure of annual variability, meaning that in dry years there would be less water released from Lake Powell and therefore less available for Lower Basin use. Exactly how much of the natural flow would be released to the Lower Basin is one of the big unanswered questions of the concept, still to be fleshed out. … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
Colorado River Basin states inch forward in high-stakes negotiations as deadlines loom
“Colorado River Basin states are almost, sort of, close to a small compromise in their negotiations that focuses on matching reservoir releases more closely to the river’s actual flow. Colorado water watchers seem to be rolling with it — so far. Top negotiators in Colorado and six basin states offered a glimpse into the high-stakes talks for the first time in months during several water meetings this week. The states are negotiating how to manage the future water supply for 40 million people once the existing rules expire in 2026. The opposing sides in the negotiations — four Upper Basin states, including Colorado, and three Lower Basin states — are setting aside legal posturing in favor of a tentative compromise that gives each basin a win and loss. They’ve spent a lot of time getting here, Becky Mitchell, Colorado’s lead negotiator, said during an Interbasin Compact Committee meeting in Grand Junction on Wednesday. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
‘We stand on the brink of system failure’: Feds up pressure for states to reach deal on the future of the Colorado River
“The clock is ticking for seven states to figure out how they’ll share dwindling water in the Colorado River for the foreseeable future. In a meeting at the Utah State Capitol Thursday, the river’s four Upper Basin state commissioners further embraced the idea of a “divorce” with their Lower Basin neighbors — an idea also floated at a meeting in eastern Utah last week, as reported by Fox 13. “Today we stand on the brink of system failure,” said Becky Mitchell, the commissioner for Colorado, “we also stand on the precipice of a major decision point.” Despite a few wet winters, storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead — the nation’s largest reservoirs — are teetering close to the dangerously low levels they hit in 2023. “We have to deal with reality,” said Gene Shawcroft, Utah’s commissioner. “We don’t have a choice.” … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
SEE ALSO: Trump admin urges Colorado River deal among states, but warns it will step in if necessary, from The Hill
Reclamation invests over $33M in drought resiliency projects in the West
“The Bureau of Reclamation is announcing $33.5 million for 14 projects to improve drought resiliency through water treatment, new or improved infrastructure, and implementation of new water management tools and technology. The projects are located in California, Nebraska, Utah and Washington. “These investments represent the continued commitment by the Department of the Interior to help build drought resilient communities throughout the West,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Scott Cameron. “We are empowering these local water management agencies to take the steps necessary to develop alternate water sources, transport water to areas in need, or treat previously unusable water to supplement their supplies.” The funding is made available through annual appropriations through the WaterSMART Drought Response program. The program provides a framework for federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. “Through WaterSMART, we are able to leverage federal and non-federal funding and work with states, tribes and other water management entities to plan and implement projects to increase the stability of their water supply,” said Acting Commissioner David Palumbo. “Clean, reliable water supply development continues to be a priority.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Nevada orders lithium mine to stop unauthorized water pumping, citing rancher dispute
“Cattle rancher Edward Bartell waited patiently to take pictures of Lithium Nevada pumping water from a well the mining company had recently lost the right to use. “I needed to make sure I caught them pumping and had photographs of them pumping, so I could prove that they were illegally using water,” said Bartell, who holds senior water rights in Thacker Pass. His photos confirmed what the Nevada Division of Water Resources already suspected during an earlier field investigation. Lithium Nevada was, without a permit and despite a court order to halt, still pumping water from a contested well. The state sent the mining company a cease and desist order Friday. The Nevada Division of Water Resources, which manages public waters in the state, said Lithium Nevada continued using the well despite being notified in April that their water permits were no longer valid. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current.
Expert: The ‘ag-to-urban’ bill will lead to more Arizona homes, but no new water solutions
“State lawmakers have sent to Gov. Katie Hobbs a bill that some supporters are calling the most significant piece of water legislation since the landmark 1980 Groundwater Management Act. The measure, known as the “ag-to-urban” bill, would allow developers to buy the water rights from farmers who are ready to move on from agriculture. The aim is to increase the supply of housing while at the same time using less water, since homes generally use less water than farms. Kathleen Ferris, senior research fellow at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at ASU and a former director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, joined The Show to talk about the potential impact of this bill. … ” Listen or read more from KJZZ.
Empty dams, broken laws: Diné ranchers call for change
“A rusting water tank spray-painted with the words “Water is Life” sits beside a windmill outside in Greasewood Springs, Arizona. Cattle lie next to it, perhaps resting before wandering off into the overgrazed lands to seek nourishment. About 150 miles to the northeast, another herd of cattle seems to be waiting for rain to fill a dry earthen dam in Burnham, New Mexico. They stand quietly and still as rain clouds to their south attempt to bring the area’s monsoon rainstorms. So far, no rain has fallen in the area. Navajo farm board members and grazing officials gathered Saturday to deliver such stark reports to the Navajo Nation Resources and Development Committee. The meeting was held at the Twin Arrows Casino and Resort. They spoke of failing irrigation systems, overgrown farmland, outdated laws, and a lack of enforcement, making it nearly impossible for many to sustain their farms and livestock. Among the most urgent concerns was the breakdown of irrigation infrastructure during peak planting season. Dan Smith of the San Juan River Farm Board said a major siphon leak had cut off water, placing crops at risk. … ” Read more from the Navajo Times.
In national water news today …
The oil and gas industry has a water problem. EPA wants to help.
“Oil and gas companies are running out of options for disposing of polluted water they generate every day, a problem for the Trump administration’s “energy dominance” agenda. EPA is offering the industry a hand by promoting reuse of that wastewater. The effort worries environmentalists, but it could draw crucial political allies in oil-producing states. The agency plans to update rules for what can be done with water that emerges from the ground during oil and gas extraction. The goal is to allow the chemical-laden, super-salty brine to be substantially cleaned and reused for power generation, water-guzzling data centers and irrigating rangeland. Reusing the water could address a major industry challenge and help ease crippling drought in parts of Texas and New Mexico, two of the nation’s most prolific oil-producing states. A growing body of research suggests that the water — which is three or more times saltier than seawater — can now be safely treated for certain applications, from industrial cooling to growing alfalfa and other non-food crops, proponents say. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Trump terminates satellite data considered crucial to storm forecasting
“A Department of Defense weather satellite program that collects vital information for hurricane forecasts will stop distributing data products to users Monday. The termination of data products from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program could lead to dangerous declines in the quality of hurricane forecasts, meteorologists say. That’s especially worrying, they say, as the termination comes in the middle of this year’s hurricane season. “There is no sugar-coating it: hurricane forecasts will undoubtedly be worse after this loss,” said Brian McNoldy, a hurricane expert at the University of Miami, in an email to POLITICO’s E&E News. “For anyone near a hurricane-prone area, this is alarmingly bad news.” NOAA, which provides operational support for the program, issued a termination notice Wednesday. The agency did not provide reasons for the decision. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO: Pentagon sends hurricane forecasters scrambling after suddenly announcing shutdown of key satellites, from NOTUS
States fear critical funding from FEMA may be drying up
“Upheaval at the nation’s top disaster agency is raising anxiety among state and local emergency managers — and leaving major questions about the whereabouts of billions of federal dollars it pays out to them. The Federal Emergency Management Agency still has not opened applications for an enormous suite of grants, including ones that many states rely on to pay for basic emergency management operations. Some states pass on much of that money to their most rural, low-income counties to ensure they have an emergency manager on the payroll. FEMA has blown through the mid-May statutory deadline to start the grants’ application process, according to the National Emergency Management Association, with no word about why or what that might indicate. The delay appears to have little precedent. “There’s no transparency on why it’s not happening,” said Michael A. Coen Jr., who served as FEMA’s chief of staff under former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. … ” Read more from Pro Publica.
What Trump’s budget proposal says about his environmental values
“To understand the federal government’s true priorities, follow the money. After months of saying his administration is committed to clean air and water for Americans, President Donald Trump has proposed a detailed budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for fiscal year 2026. The proposal is more consistent with his administration’s numerous recent actions and announcements that reduce protection for public health and the environment. To us, former EPA leaders – one a longtime career employee and the other a political appointee – the budget proposal reveals a lot about what Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin want to accomplish. According to the administration’s Budget in Brief document, total EPA funding for the fiscal year beginning October 2025 would drop from US$9.14 billion to $4.16 billion – a 54% decrease from the budget enacted by Congress for fiscal 2025 and less than half of EPA’s budget in any year of the first Trump administration. Without taking inflation into account, this would be the smallest EPA budget since 1986. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
Local governments, tribes, nonprofits sue Trump administration over EPA grants
“Nonprofits, tribes and local governments filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration over its termination of federal environmental justice and climate justice grants. Lead counsel Southern Environmental Law Center, along with Earthjustice, Lawyers for Good Government and other groups, filed the class-action lawsuit in federal court on behalf of grant recipients from at least a dozen states, including Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Vermont. The complaint against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency argues the grant terminations were unlawful because Congress approved them. Earlier this year, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin canceled more than 400 environmental justice grants totaling $1.7 billion. Tom Cormons, executive director of plaintiff Appalachian Voices, wrote in a statement that the lawsuit is “not just for our own grant and the communities it serves, but for this program as a whole.” … ” Read more from Stateline.
U.S. water-related expenditures for data centers to exceed us$4.1B through 2030
“The role of water in the high-growth data center market is fast becoming a critical factor in site selection, design, and operations. By 2030, annual water-related capital and operational expenditures are forecasted to reach US$797.1M, representing a 31.4% increase from today. According to a new report from Bluefield Research, U.S. Water for Data Centers: Market Trends, Opportunities, and Forecasts, 2025–2030, this surge in activity is accelerating—driven by artificial intelligence (AI)-fueled growth, mounting local concerns over water availability, and the tech sector’s urgent push to safeguard operational resilience amid growing environmental scrutiny. Hyperscale data centers, which currently represent 51.4% of total market demand, are forecasted to withdraw 150.4 billion gallons of water between 2025 and 2030. This volume is equivalent to the annual water withdrawals of 4.6 million U.S. households. “Data centers are no longer just digital infrastructure—they’re increasingly part of the water infrastructure equation,” says Amber Walsh, a senior analyst at Bluefield Research. “The scale of this demand is incredible, and the primary reason for solution providers rushing into the market with offerings to capitalize on the growing utilization of reuse and advanced treatment. … ” Read more from Water Online.
How carbon capture works and the debate about whether it’s a future climate solution
“Power plants and industrial facilities that emit carbon dioxide, the primary driver of global warming, are hopeful that Congress will keep tax credits for capturing the gas and storing it deep underground. The process, called carbon capture and sequestration, is seen by many as an important way to reduce pollution during a transition to renewable energy. But it faces criticism from some conservatives, who say it is expensive and unnecessary, and from environmentalists, who say it has consistently failed to capture as much pollution as promised and is simply a way for producers of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal to continue their use. Here’s a closer look … ” Read more from ABC News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Draft Environmental Assessment Released for Seasonal Pump-back Facilities
NOTICE: Reclamation’s final Shasta Temperature Management Plan now available
