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In California water news this weekend …
‘Water brings life’: Plans to revive Tulare Lake take shape in the San Joaquin Valley
“Tulare Lake was drained by farmers more than a century ago, and it has reappeared only rarely when floods have reclaimed farmlands in its ancient lake bed in the San Joaquin Valley. Now, a coalition of tribal leaders, community activists and environmental advocates has begun an effort to restore the lake. They have been discussing a proposal to bring back a portion of its once-vast waters by building a reservoir fringed with wetlands on the west side of the valley, within sight of Interstate 5. “Water brings life,” said Robert Jeff, vice chairman of the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe. “Putting that water back on the land is going to benefit everybody and everything.” Jeff and other supporters of the concept, including leaders of the nonprofit group Friends of the River, say setting aside space for lake restoration would provide an outlet to capture floodwaters when needed, helping to protect low-lying towns and farms. They say restoring part of the lake and its marshes would revive vital habitat for wildlife, bringing the area a new park where people could fish, watch migrating birds and walk along the water’s edge. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Years-old groundwater dominates spring mountain streams
“As winter gives way to spring, seasonal snowpack in the American West begins to melt. Though some of that melt flows over and through shallow alpine soil, new research shows that much of it sinks into bedrock where it percolates for years before resurfacing. Fresh snowmelt makes up less than half of the water in the region’s gushing spring streams, according to the study. The new finding could improve water resources forecasts. Hydrologic models, which inform the forecasts, largely overlook groundwater contributions and assume the spring’s heavy flows come directly from seasonal snowmelt. The authors of the study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, used a radioactive isotope of hydrogen known as tritium to measure when the water in 42 western U.S. catchments fell as precipitation. They found that during late winter, when rain and snowmelt were scarce and streams were fed primarily by groundwater, the water fell as precipitation an average of 10.4 years ago. Even during spring, when the same streams were overflowing with fresh runoff, their chilly waters had an average age of 5.7 years, still indicating significant contributions from groundwater. … ” Read more from EOS.
Violating California residents’ right to water
“After the couple finished the rough frame of the house on Bluff Road, they installed a high-tech water filtration system in the kitchen, but it clogged around the mid-1990s. And, after years of working on the place, Trindade lacked the funds and the will to replace it. … So when Trindade heard about a project to pipe safe drinking water to the taps of homes in Moss Landing and other unincorporated agricultural communities in northern Monterey County, he signed on. He’d have to figure out how to pay the water bill later. In December, the Biden administration awarded a $20 million Community Change grant designed to help disadvantaged communities address environmental and climate justice challenges to the nonprofit Community Water Center, founded 20 years ago to help underserved rural communities without access to clean drinking water. That grant, combined with funding from the state, would have finally provided safe drinking water to Trindade and thousands of others like him who had contaminated wells or were hooked up to failing public water systems in the low-income Pajaro, Sunny Mesa and Springfield communities. But the project barely had a chance to get off the ground. On May 1, the same day Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin claimed the Trump administration was “ensuring America has the cleanest air, land and water on the planet,” the EPA canceled the Community Water Center’s grant. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Water, land, and policy: Farmer Andrew Leimgruber speaks out
Fourth-generation Imperial Valley farmer Andrew Leimgruber of Leimgruber Farms has become a national voice for California agriculture, speaking candidly on Fox News and with AgNet West about some of the most pressing issues facing farmers today: water access, overregulation, and foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. Farming in Holtville near El Centro, Leimgruber specializes in alfalfa and a rotation of vegetables. Despite extreme heat and minimal rainfall—only about two inches annually—his farm has decreased water use by 25–30% while increasing yields. That innovation is crucial in a region where every drop counts. “We live in an era of allocations and limits. We want to utilize every bit of technology and technique to get the most crop per drop,” he said. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
The next big California heat wave is on the way. Here’s where it will hit hardest
“California’s first significant summer heat wave is poised to arrive next week. After a cooler than normal June and a moderately warm Fourth of July, forecast models are now locking onto a familiar summer pattern: a sprawling ridge of high pressure poised to drive widespread heat across the West by midweek. This style of ridge, sometimes referred to as a heat dome, compresses the atmosphere and trap heat at the surface, setting the stage for broad, multi-day heat waves. The most intense stretch looks to unfold between Tuesday and Friday. So how hot could it get in California, and where could the temperature be most intense? … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California is running out of safe places to build homes due to fires, rising seas
“California, gripped by a housing shortage that is forcing families from the state, wants to build 2.5 million homes. But it’s running out of safe places to put them. Much of the land best suited for new housing — wind-swept, grassy hills surrounding the state’s major cities — now faces an extreme threat of wildfire, brutally illustrated by the Los Angeles-area blazes in January that killed 30 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures. Fires have also leveled entire towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills, often considered an affordable place to buy a home. With California’s peak fire season on the way, the state’s main firefighting agency recently updated its maps showing the places at risk, and the danger zone now encompasses an area the size of Georgia. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Effective immediately: CEQA reform legislation
“On June 30, 2025, Governor Newsom signed two budget trailer bills into law: Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131, which reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) effective immediately. As explained by the Governor, the bills constitute “the most consequential housing and infrastructure reform in recent state history.” The Governor made it clear that his approval of the 2025-2026 state budget was contingent on these bills, which helped expedite an otherwise controversial and lengthy approval process by the State Legislature. The bills, which include provisions from Senate Bill 607 (Wiener) and Assembly Bill 609 (Wicks), touch almost every major land use statute in California and include changes that affect various types of development projects. A summary of the most significant changes is provided below. … ” Read more from Allen Matkins.
In commentary this weekend …
Politics and the cost of water infrastructure
Edward Ring writes, “When it comes to building water supply infrastructure, even if regulations are streamlined and litigation is contained, there are massive costs. Quantifying these variables is something we have focused on a great deal, most recently in WC#96, “The Economics of the Delta Tunnel.” In that and other reports we’ve offered a highly simplified cost/benefit equation: divide the total capital cost of a water supply project by the expected average annual yield in acre feet. While this ratio is an excellent way to begin to compare the cost-effectiveness of various water supply project options, it omits a result of great practical value, which is the ultimate wholesale and retail costs per acre foot that the project will eventually yield. We have steered clear of this depth of analysis because it introduces a great deal of added subjectivity, and almost always denies recipients of the estimate access to a coherent description of every variable that was considered and the assumptions behind each of them. But there is one level of detail we can add without going off the deep end, and that is the expected financing cost per acre foot. … ” Read more from Edward Ring.
Podcasts …
WATERLOOP: California’s Delta tunnel decision
California’s water future could be shaped by a $20 billion gamble with the controversial Delta Tunnel. This episode dives deep into the high-stakes project with Camille von Kaenel, California Environment Reporter for Politico. She unravels the complex plan to transport water from Northern to Southern California, detailing its immense cost, the decades-long permitting battles, and the stark divide between its proponents and opponents, , including Governor Gavin Newsom who champions it as a climate resiliency project as his term heads to an end. With Southern California utilities facing budget holes from successful conservation and a dwindling Colorado River supply, the conversation explores the decisions ahead and whether to invest in the massive tunnel infrastructure or prioritize ambitious local water recycling projects. Learn why this debate isn’t just about water, but about politics, endangered species, and the very identity of California’s communities.
BOILING POINT: A matter of degrees
This week, we’re sharing an episode of A Matter of Degrees. Hosted by Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, this award-winning series tells stories about the powerful forces behind climate change. This episode discusses how insurance companies are failing to accommodate for the impacts of climate change.
WILD IDEA: Roadless rule rescinded
In this urgent bonus episode of The Wild Idea, Bill and Anders sit down with Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited, and a central figure in the original creation of the 2001 Roadless Rule, to unpack what’s at stake now that Secretary Rollins has announced plans to rescind it. The Roadless Rule has protected over 58 million acres of public forestlands for nearly 25 years. But the move to eliminate it could have far-reaching consequences for water quality, wildlife habitat, hunting and fishing access, and fire-prone communities. Chris takes us inside the origins of the rule, its legal durability, and why the Forest Service today isn’t the same agency it was decades ago. Together, they explore whether this moment calls for resistance, or a recommitment to democratic action to protect our shared lands.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: The Green Island of Ischia, Italy
Appreciating water can be no better explained than an Australian that has been transplanted to the island of Ischia off the coast of Naples, Italy. Water has a way of influencing our live no matter where we live on the planet. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388In regional water news this weekend …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Illegal tree cutting in Lake Tahoe threatens protected areas
“In Lake Tahoe, a growing number of homeowners are illegally cutting down trees and trespassing on protected state land. Officials say this poses a threat to protected conservation areas. The Nevada Division of State Lands manages nearly 500 urban conservation parcels in the Lake Tahoe Basin. These lots, acquired in the 1980s, are meant to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk. But recently, some homeowners have overstepped property boundaries. “A number of homeowners are experiencing struggles with obtaining homeowners insurance due to the wildfire danger, and as a result, they’ve been taking it upon themselves to cut down trees and really take land management into their own hands,” said Kevin Fromherz, program manager with Nevada Tahoe Resource Team. Unauthorized pruning, landscaping, and even construction have increased, he said. … ” Read more from KUNR.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Oroville to spend $3.25M on Ruddy Creek lift station
“The reckoning of the Ruddy Creek lift station expansion has returned. Since the 1980s, the lift station has been serving water near the Oroville Municipal Airport, but developments built in the past — and planned for the future — toward the west side of the city, have prompted the Sewerage Commission-Oroville Region to pursue an expansion. City Councilors on Tuesday considered the expansion to the Ruddy Creek lift station after more than 40 years of delay. City Administrator Brian Ring said the city in mid ’80s reached an agreement with SC-OR to fund the lift station expansion, which has not been completed for a “number of unknown reasons.” The lift station was initially proposed to connect the airport area to the sewer system, and according to Councilor Chuck Reynolds, its cost at the time of planning was around $100,000. One reason it was delayed is because SC-OR didn’t secure the property before it made the announcement, he said, “so the battle with negations went on with the property owner went on quite some time.” … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury-Register.
BAY AREA
Fairfield to add microplastics to drinking water monitoring
“The city has been tapped to be part of the first phase of a pending statewide study on microplastics in drinking water. “Studies of rodents exposed to some types of microplastics through drinking water indicate potentially adverse effects, including on the reproductive system,” Fairfield’s 2024 Consumer Confidence Report released on Monday states. “However, more research is needed to understand potential human health implications and at what concentrations adverse effects may occur. Therefore, California is monitoring microplastics in drinking water to understand its occurrence and is supporting ongoing research.” The report did not say when that monitoring will begin. A call to the state was not immediately returned. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Vacaville drinking water safe, but dealing with chromium levels
“The city’s drinking water met federal and state safety standards last year, but Vacaville is dealing with a new, tougher regulation on a known carcinogen. However, the California State Water Resources Control Board, effective Oct. 1, adopted a new regulation setting the maximum contaminant level for hexavalent chromium, which was detected in city water at levels that exceeded that new standard, the 2024 Annual Water Quality Report released Tuesday states. “Hexavalent chromium is a heavy metal that has been used in industrial applications and found naturally occurring throughout the environment. While chromium can exist in a nontoxic, trivalent form, the hexavalent form has been shown to be carcinogenic and toxic to the liver,” the state Water Resource Control Board reported. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Navy asks judge to dismiss claims over radioactive waste cleanup in San Francisco
“The U.S. Navy and Environmental Protection Agency asked a federal judge on Wednesday to dismiss multiple claims that the government is mismanaging a decades-long radioactive waste cleanup at Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco. At the hearing, the Navy argued that there is no claim in the lawsuit for the court to address and said that the environmental group bringing the lawsuit, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, was “fundamentally confused” as to the laws governing the waste cleanup. The military branch asked U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, a Barack Obama appointee, to dismiss three out of the lawsuit’s four claims for failure to state a claim. However, Greenaction argued that the Navy has created an ongoing violation of its previous cleanup agreement by being repeatedly late on its required five-year reviews of the cleanup effort, noting that the parties can’t agree on what timeline it should be on for these reviews. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
CENTRAL COAST
County crews reinforce Carmel River Lagoon sandbar
“Monterey County Public Works staff added sand and reinforced the sandbar on the westerly end of the Carmel River Lagoon last week. The reinforced sand was a recommendation from NOAA National Marine Fisheries Services and is meant to protect the presence of Steelhead Salmon and other endangered species from being prematurely washed into the ocean. Members of the public have previously been observed attempting to breach the lagoon sandbar, which is already narrow, further endangering juvenile species. “As Carmel River State Beach is a popular destination for the 4th of July holiday, County workers and State Parks Rangers are urging beach goers to enjoy the ocean and the beach but please leave the sandbar alone,” said a news release. Sandbars, collections of sand in shallow water, help shape habitats for marine life, providing safe and sheltered areas for feeding and spawning. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
United Water Conservation District sets the pace for groundwater recharge in California
“United Water Conservation District’s (UWCD) has once again solidified its status as California’s premier groundwater recharge agency. For the second consecutive year, UWCD’s Oxnard Basin ranked first in the State for groundwater recharge, according to the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) 2025 Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions Update. During Water Year 2024, UWCD successfully replenished 80,533 acre-feet of groundwater, or more than 26 billion gallons, across 57,888 acres, resulting in a recharge rate of 1.39 acre-feet per acre, or nearly half a million gallons per acre, the highest in California. UWCD’s recharge operations in the Forebay area played a central role in achieving this top ranking, demonstrating the continued effectiveness of local infrastructure and proactive water management strategies. This achievement is the direct result of UWCD’s aggressive, science-driven water management strategy that blends cutting-edge infrastructure, bold action, and long-term vision,” said Lynn Maulhardt, UWCD Board President. “Our team remains committed to managing this precious resource with a deep sense of responsibility to the communities we serve.” … ” Continue reading this press release.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Water agency, again, seeks to have judge booted from Kern River case
“The Kern County Water Agency is asking the 5th District Court of Appeal to order the Kern County Superior Court to remove Judge Gregory Pulskamp from the long-running Kern River case. The agency states the Kern court “abused its discretion” in denying the agency’s challenge to Pulskamp on June 10. The agency believes Pulskamp will be biased against it because a preliminary injunction he issued in 2023 mandating the City of Bakersfield keep some water in the river bed for fish was reversed by the 5th District in April. Because the plaintiffs are making the same claims and seeking the same remedies in the trial as they did for the injunction, Pulskamp should be disqualified, the agency states in its writ of mandate filed with the 5th District on Tuesday. Plaintiffs, including Water Audit California, Bring Back the Kern and several other public interest groups, are seeking “…instream flows associated with claims brought under the Public Trust Doctrine and Fish & Game Code section 5937,” the agency’s writ states. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
The situation at a ghostly California lake will likely worsen, scientists say
“In the early 20th century, when Los Angeles was still a nascent city in a dry California basin, William Mulholland, the former head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power — and the controversial figure who inspired Roman Polanski’s “Chinatown” — started to capitalize on an opportunity. At the time, the mayor of LA, Frederick Eaton, was reportedly sending undercover agents to mislead farmers into selling them their land in Owens Valley, an arid region in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada, more than 200 miles from LA. That’s because it had water, a precious natural resource that Mulholland promised to dedicate to the citizens of Los Angeles “for all time.” After constructing the city’s first 233-mile-long aqueduct in 1913 — and igniting violent protests and legal battles in the process — LA seized so much water that Owens Lake ran dry, exposing its toxic playa to neighboring communities and creating a lasting environmental crisis that’s still being resolved more than a century later. Now, scientists predict that it could worsen as global warming intensifies and natural resources dwindle. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Federal contractors improperly dumped wildfire-related asbestos waste at L.A. landfills
“Federal contractors tasked with clearing ash and debris from the Eaton and Palisades wildfires improperly sent truckloads of asbestos-tainted waste to nonhazardous landfills, including one where workers were not wearing respiratory protection, according to state and local records. From Feb. 28 to March 24, federal cleanup crews gathered up wreckage from six burned-down homes as part of the wildfire recovery efforts led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its primary contractor Environmental Chemical Corp. However, prior to reviewing mandated tests for asbestos, crews loaded the fire debris onto dump trucks bound for Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center, and possibly Calabasas Landfill in unincorporated Agoura and Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Los Angeles’ Sylmar neighborhood, according to reports by the California Office of Emergency Services and Ventura County. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Six months after the fires, are LA beaches safe?
“It’s been about six months since the Eaton and Palisades fires killed 30 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures. Since then, contamination has been a concern for nearby communities, including those along the coast. That’s because after the fires came the rains, which sent hazardous material straight from those burned sites through creeks and storm drains into the ocean. Shortly after the fires, the environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay and water quality officials gathered sand and water samples from Malibu, Palisades and Santa Monica beaches over several months, testing for hazardous forever chemicals, heavy metals and benzene. “What we can say is that based on what has been tested and what those results are, the risk appears to be low,” said Tracy Quinn, chief executive of Heal the Bay, which analyzed the samples. … ” Read more from the LAist.
The Palisades fire spewed toxins into the Pacific. Summer surf camps are paying the price
“The wave is all anger and elegance. Shaped like a cursive C, it hurtles toward the Santa Monica shore. A child on a surfboard balances on its crest. Or at least he tries to. The boy wipes out. Hard. But then he pops up in the whitewash, all smiles. His Aqua Surf School instructor is grinning too. On this happy day, the Palisades fire, which in January burned all the way to the shores of the Pacific about five miles north of this Santa Monica beach, feels like a distant memory for student and teacher. But back on the sand, surf camps — long mainstays of Santa Monica Bay’s shorelines — are suffering this summer. Several have seen a significant drop in attendance because families are concerned the surf or sand is contaminated with fire pollutants. At Aqua Surf’s camps alone, business is down by 20% to 30%, said Dylan Sohngen, executive director. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
LA Waterkeeper samples from LA River show shocking levels of PFAS contamination
“Two major California rivers contain dangerous levels of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ that significantly increase downstream from wastewater treatment plants, according to a new study that highlights widespread contamination across the state’s waterways. The Los Angeles and Santa Ana rivers both showed elevated concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) immediately downstream from municipal wastewater facilities, with some contamination levels exceeding federal drinking water safety limits by substantial margins, according to research released by Waterkeeper Alliance. … ” Read more from the Santa Monica Daily Press.
Firefighting helicopter system takes flight in the San Gorgonio Pass
“In a powerful show of innovation and collaboration, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) and its partners unveiled the first of seven life-saving Heli-Hydrants after just 18 months of development. More than 100 water leaders and elected officials attended the June 12th ribbon-cutting ceremony near the first Cabazon Water District Heli-Hydrant. The event highlighted how these tank-based systems allow helicopters to refill with water in under 10 seconds, often the difference between containment and catastrophe. “As a retired Fire Captain Specialist, I know personally how every second matters when fighting wildfires,” said SGPWA Board Secretary Kevin Walton. “These Heli-Hydrants give our firefighters a critical edge, and we are already seeing their impact as they are being used right now to fight the Wolf Fire. SGPWA is proud to lead this effort and work with local water agency partners to protect lives and property across the region.” … ” Click here to read more.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District opposes utility-scale solar projects in agricultural land
“The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors approved on Tuesday a resolution opposing the continued expansion of utility-scale solar projects on active or historically farmed agricultural land within the District’s service area. The action comes as more than 13,000 acres of Imperial Valley farmland have already been converted for solar energy development—projects that largely export electricity to urban centers like San Diego, providing little to no benefit for local communities, the IID said in a prepared statement. “Our identity and economy in the Imperial Valley are rooted in agriculture,” said IID Board Chairwoman Gina Dockstader. “Solar energy has a role in our region’s future, but it cannot come at the cost of our farmland, food supply, or the families who depend on agriculture. This resolution is about protecting our way of life.” … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
Supervisors approve more funds for delayed Lithium Valley plan
“The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved another increase to the contract for the Lithium Valley Specific Plan on Tuesday, July 1, adding more than $170,000 to the project’s budget as both costs and frustrations continue to climb. The board’s carrying vote brings the total contract amount to just over $3.2 million. That figure represents a roughly 33 percent increase over the original agreement signed with Encinitas-based Dudek Consulting in 2022, as project delays, expanded studies and additional technical work have steadily pushed the price higher. Supervisor Jesus Escobar criticized the growing costs and lack of progress during Tuesday’s meeting. “This is the fifth modification to this contract,” Escobar said. “That’s $800,000. $800,000 on a total contract that was supposed to be $2.4 (million). That’s over a 30 percent increase. That’s not chump change.” … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego beach closures, advisories posted as July Fourth holiday approaches
“One of San Diego’s biggest beach holidays comes with a warning this year. A handful of beaches up and down the county’s 70-mile coastline have been affected by closures or contamination advisories. One closure came in Coronado, though it was soon lifted. There, a sewage spill fouled the waters near Coronado Bay Road along the Silver Strand. “Yesterday the city of Coronado reported to our program that they had about a 1,300 gallon sewage spill. So they proactively reported that so we could take action and close that water area for contact,” said Heather Buonomo, who oversees San Diego County’s beach and bay monitoring. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
Monsoon season brings the promise of rain for the arid southwestern US
“Clouds build up in the early afternoon and gusty winds push in every direction. The skies darken and then comes the rain — often a downpour that is gone as quickly as it came. This seasonal dance choreographed by Mother Nature marks a special time for the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is when residents clasp their hands, hoping for much-needed moisture to dampen the threat of wildfire and keep rivers flowing. Forecasters say it has been a wet start to this year’s monsoon season, which officially began June 15 and runs through the end of September. Parts of New Mexico and West Texas have been doused with rain, while Arizona and Nevada have been hit with dust storms, which are a common hazard of the season. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Opinion: The Colorado River is speaking to us. Are we listening?
Cindell Dale, a OARS Grand Canyon dory guide, Colorado rancher and artist, writes, ” … I just came off my 152nd Grand Canyon trip, and lately I’ve been haunted by a fear I can’t shake: What if we’ve used her up? What if the Colorado River, the lifeblood of the American West, isn’t just struggling, but breaking? Spanning nearly 2,000 square miles and carved by 277 miles of the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is as wide as 18 miles in places and drops over a mile deep. Approximately 5 million people come each year to stand on the edge and take in the view, with only 22,000 dropping below the rim in 2023. From up top, it looks unshakable. But those of us who have spent years down on the water, rowing through her heart, we know she’s not invincible. We’ve felt the changes, seen the signs. The canyon speaks if you’re willing to listen — and I’ve been listening for decades. … ” Read the full commentary at the Colorado Sun.
Water advisory issued for Lake Powell ahead of holiday weekend after toxins detected
“Toxins detected in Lake Powell have led National Park Service officials to issue a Water Advisory for the lake ahead of the holiday weekend. The toxins, according to officials, are produced by certain types of algae blooms and can be harmful to humans and animals. Boaters on the lake are urged to use caution and avoid unnecessary exposure to the water if fishing, boating, or enjoying the water. Recreation on the lake will remain open throughout the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Meanwhile, Arizona officials are investigating a possible harmful algae bloom that resulted in the death of fish at Becker and Luna lakes in the Pinetop area. … ” Read more from Channel 15.
SEE ALSO: Park officials issue warning after Lake Powell tests positive for algae bloom, from KJZZ
Rural groundwater conservation plans failed this year in the GOP-controlled Arizona Legislature
“At the beginning of the year, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs introduced a plan to conserve shrinking rural groundwater supplies. But that, and similar efforts, died in the GOP-controlled Legislature. In rural areas of the state, many communities rely on dwindling groundwater supplies where there are no restrictions on water pumping. Rural Republicans stood with Hobbs in January when she announced her plan to address the problem by creating rural management areas around endangered groundwater basins where pumping would be restricted. But it didn’t get consideration by legislative Republicans. Hobbs said Tuesday she hasn’t given up. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Colorado finds larva of invasive zebra mussel in Colorado River for second year in a row
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife found a single zebra mussel larva in the Colorado River near New Castle in early June, the latest appearance of the invasive, fast-spreading nuisance in the river as it passes through western Colorado. No adult zebra mussels have been found in the Colorado River. That’s good news for the river: Once adult populations are established, eradication is nearly impossible and can cost millions of dollars. Colorado Parks and Wildlife and its federal partners are still searching for the source of the zebra mussel larvae, called veligers. Boaters, kayakers and those eager to play in Colorado’s lakes have a role in preventing the spread, especially during holiday weekends like the Fourth of July. They should make sure their watercraft are clean, drained and dry before entering any body of water, officials say. “Although not ideal, these results provide us with critical information as we continue working closely with our partners to protect our natural resources and infrastructure crucial to the Western Slope, including our goal of identifying the source,” Robert Walters with Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a news release on June 26. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news this weekend …
Trump administration acts to ‘severely weaken’ a key environmental law
“The Trump administration began this week to radically alter how the National Environmental Policy Act is implemented across the federal government, alarming environmentalists. Passed in 1970 and often called the “Magna Carta” of U.S. environmental law, NEPA requires agencies to assess the environmental impacts of their actions during the decision-making process. Its scope is broad, covering everything from permitting and federal land management to highway construction. Changes to NEPA rules were issued by the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Interior, Defense and Transportation, among others. In a press release, the White House said the president had “delivered on his promise to fix a broken permitting system,” and said the updates would “simplify this overly burdensome process and ensure efficient and timely environmental reviews.” The changes come following years of bipartisan calls for federal permitting reform, especially for energy projects. But legal experts say the administration’s changes will substantially limit public participation, transparency and accountability. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Federal exodus imperils Trump’s permitting goals
“President Donald Trump’s gutting of federal agencies could undermine his pro-fossil-fuel agenda as permit writers and energy experts head for the exit in droves, current and former government employees say. Agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department now have fewer people to review permit applications and roll back regulations seen as burdensome to the energy industry. While the Trump administration says it can accelerate project approvals by using artificial intelligence and emergency procedures, the loss of federal experts could slow down environmental reviews required for starting projects. “We just sent an enormous amount of brain power packing through the deferred resignation program and natural retirements,” Steve Tryon, who directs Interior’s Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, said during a webinar last week. “[It] struck our most senior levels … [and] our newest employees as well.” … ” Read more from E&E News.
