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In California water news this weekend …
State zeroes in on the sinking San Joaquin Valley
“Newly released state guidelines on how to get a handle on subsidence, or land sinking, were received with mixed reactions after they were released by the Department of Water Resources on Thursday. The guidelines provide some basic, but pointed, advice on how San Joaquin Valley groundwater managers can best stop, slow or even reverse subsidence, which a 2014 report shows had cost billions of dollars up to that time in history. Managers should put more water, lots more, into withered aquifers to bring land elevations back up, according to the new guidelines. They should better understand the substrata of their regions in order to predict how over pumping will impact the land. And they should act regionally. One groundwater agency or water district can’t fix the problem without help from surrounding districts, the new guidelines state. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
The Winnemem Wintu Tribe welcomes 80,000 salmon eggs to McCloud river this summer
“The Winnemem Wintu Tribe, along with partners NOAA and CDFW, welcomes 80,000 salmon eggs to the Winnemem Waywaket (McCloud River) this summer as part of a groundbreaking mission to reintroduce salmon to the watershed. This is the fourth year of the project. The first batch of eggs was delivered on July 12th, with the remainder coming on July 26th, August 16th, and August 23rd, where the Tribe and partners will greet them with ceremony and prayer. The eggs, which originate from the Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery, will be raised in a “Nur Nature Base,” a remote egg incubation system located on the McCloud River that provides a more wild-like rearing setting than conventional hatchery operations. The alevins and fry will have a chance to imprint to the natural rocks and plants of the river, practice swimming in a variety of currents and temperatures, and choose when to leave into the river, where they will either stay in the upper tributaries of the McCloud to feed and grow, or start making their journey downstream toward the ocean. Traps will be placed in the lower McCloud River to catch salmon and move them around Shasta and Keswick Dams to be released into the Sacramento River, near Redding. … ” Read more from the Winnemem Wintu Tribe.
BAY-DELTA PLAN UPDATE
New development on the Bay-Delta Plan
“The State Water Resources Control Board has significant control and authority over how water flows through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Delta is essentially the valve through which Northern California surface water passes through on its way to the ocean. A limited amount of that flow is diverted to the aqueducts for use in the Central Valley, Southern California and the Bay Area. For a number of years, the State Water Board has been in the process of updating the Delta water regulations. The existing rules have resulted in significant reductions in exports of water to people and farms, while not improving, and in some cases worsening, the condition of endangered fish species. The State Water Board is required to balance all of the beneficial uses of water, including water for people and farms, in their regulations. … ” Read more from the Milk Producers Council.
State Water Board releases controversial Bay-Delta Water Plan Update amid civil rights investigation
“The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) released its long-awaited proposed updates to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (“Bay-Delta Plan”), a critical policy governing water quality and ecosystem health for California’s largest and most imperiled estuary. The updates and revisions include “voluntary agreements” (VAs), in which powerful water districts commit to provide limited additional river flows and funding in exchange for regulatory exemptions. This approach is drawing sharp criticism from Tribes, environmental justice organizations, and conservation advocates, who argue it represents a step backward for ecological protection and water rights. The release of the plan updates come despite an ongoing Title VI Civil Rights Act complaint filed by the Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition (DTEC), comprised of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Little Manila Rising, Restore the Delta, and Save California Salmon. The complaint is driven by the State Water Board’s failure to uphold basic environmental protections in the Bay-Delta, disproportionately harming Tribes and other communities of color. … ” Read more from Restore the Delta.
Water Blueprint for the SJ Valley applauds progress toward a healthier, more reliable water future
“The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley joins water agencies across California and Governor Newsom to applaud forward progress by the State Water Board for advancing an innovative approach to improve healthy rivers and landscapes throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The Blueprint strongly supports the goal of restoring ecological function in California’s watersheds while meeting the water needs of our farms, communities, businesses, and environment. s a coalition deeply committed to sustainable water outcomes, the Blueprint recognizes the potential of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program now under consideration in the Bay-Delta Plan update. The program represents an opportunity to balance improved environmental outcomes and greater water supply certainty to the San Joaquin Valley, where water scarcity already threatens farms, communities, and disadvantaged populations, as compared to the flow-only alternative. … ” Read more from the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
POTTER VALLEY PROJECT DAM REMOVAL
PG&E submits plan to tear down Potter Valley Project
“For over a century, the Potter Valley Project has been funneling water from the wild Eel River to the Russian River Valley’s thirsty vineyards, towns and farms. But that engineered connection, sustained by a pair of aging PG&E dams in the hills of Mendocino and Lake counties, may soon become history. On July 24, PG&E formally submitted its Surrender Application and Decommissioning Plan for the Potter Valley Project to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, marking a pivotal step in the utility’s plan to walk away from the century-old water diversion system. The long-anticipated move follows years of public debate, environmental review and bitter divides between water users, conservationists and tribal leaders over the project’s future. … ” Read more from MendoFever.
Two dams in Northern California could be razed under PG&E plan
“Pacific Gas & Electric Co. submitted a request to federal regulators Friday to tear down an aging hydroelectric project in Mendocino and Lake counties, a $530 million demolition that would include removal of two dams on the Eel River. The Potter Valley Project, according to PG&E, is no longer financially fit for power generation. However, the project’s greatest asset has become the water it provides, and the beneficiaries of that water, which include cities and towns in Sonoma and Marin counties as well as the region’s celebrated grape-growing industry, have been on edge about losing supplies. The decommissioning plan that PG&E filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission calls for preserving the project’s water-delivery system, which those worried about water were hoping for. Under PG&E’s proposal, a new agency run by local communities would take over some of the existing project facilities and continue water shipments. The agency, though, wouldn’t be able to ship as much water and would likely charge more for it. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read via MSN News.
Editorial: Two-basin solution offers water security
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial board writes, “PG&E, which owns the plumbing connecting the Eel and Russian rivers, couldn’t find a buyer for the Potter Valley Project. It’s easy to understand why. The century-old hydro power plant at the northeastern tip of Mendocino County is obsolete. It hasn’t generated a single kilowatt of electricity in four years and would need millions of dollars in repairs before the turbines could be restarted. Even then, the Potter Valley Project would be a money loser. Yet it remains a vital source of water for Mendocino and northern Sonoma County. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
SEE ALSO:
- PG&E files long-awaited application to decommission Potter Valley Project, opening public comment window, from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
- Eel River Deal Trades Dam Removal for Monitored Diversion and Restoration Funds, from the Redheaded Blackbelt
- PG&E Makes it Official – Submits Plan to Remove Potter Valley Project Dams and Modernize Water Infrastructure, from Cal Trout
Podcasts …
CAPITOL WEEKLY: A chat with Jennifer Pierre of the State Water Contractors
We won’t use that old Mark Twain quote (that he probably never wrote anyway) but fighting over water has been California’s favorite pastime for at least 175 years. If you think norcal/socal baseball rivalries are bitter – try the socal vs. Delta water wars. One of the people tasked with managing that aqua drama is Jennifer Pierre, General Manager for the State Water Contractors – a statewide, non-profit association of the public water agencies that contract with the Department of Water Resources to receive water from the State Water Project. The SWP provides water for 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. A UC Davis alumna with a bachelor’s in environmental biology and conservation, Pierre has 20 years of experience in Delta management and uses that experience to help improve water supply and operations for the SWC. She joined us to talk about challenges of climate change, issues from overpumping groundwater, and if DC and and California can make nice on Water Policy.
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: Assemblyman David Tangipa – Applying common sense to California’s problems
Assemblyman David Tangipa joins Darcy and Darcy for a great conversation that covers a wide range of California issues and topics! For those that don’t know him yet, David is the youngest person serving in the California legislature. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 2024 and represents District 8, which includes Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne counties. Darcy & Darcy discuss with David his perspective on the business of California’s legislature, his first six months in office, some great ideas he has about putting existing infrastructure to work doing double duty, the impact the Groundwater Sustainability Act has had on his constituents, and most importantly, lessons learned. One thing is clear: David is an upcoming California policy leader.
TALKING UNDER WATER: Small systems, big challenges: What’s ahead for water utilities
In this episode of Talking Under Water, Bob Crossen speaks with Elora Arnette, associate director of Water Finance Assistance, about the multifaceted challenges facing small water utilities in 2025. They explore workforce shortages, including the growing number of soon-to-retire operators and the difficulty in replacing them, particularly in rural communities. Arnette discusses how many small utilities rely on multitalented local staff and even second-career workers, but stresses that this model is not sustainable long-term. The conversation also covers funding cuts to state revolving funds, the growing threat of extreme weather events, and the resource limitations that prevent proactive planning. Arnette highlights available support options, such as discounted training and emergency planning services, and calls for strategic rate reviews to maintain system viability.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Water at 36000 Feet
Most of the time we tend to look up and view water falling out of the clouds or watch the snow gently floating downwards from above. An interesting contrast are experiences shared by Captain Andrew Barnes, United Airlines Pilot, during his thirty years of flying. Water creates an interesting tapestry that supports an aviator in some ways and must be carefully navigated in other ways. 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 530-205-6388
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Riding the rapids on a free-flowing Klamath River after dam removal
“The largest dam removal project in U.S. history was completed along the Klamath River last year. The main goal was to restore salmon habitat and reclaim tribal lands. But it’s also providing new stretches of whitewater to enjoy. On a warm spring day, a group of rafters made their way down the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border. The region has long been popular among whitewater fans, hosting a healthy number of rafting companies that offer daily floats during the warmer months. But what makes this trip special is that, until recently, the section of river they were on didn’t exist. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Yosemite to build new wastewater treatment plant
“Yosemite National Park broke ground on a new wastewater treatment plant, a move the park says will keep its infrastructure intact for the next half century. The project will cost $239 million in total. The big picture: The new El Portal Wastewater Treatment Plan was funded through the Great American Outdoors Act’s Legacy Restoration Fund, signed by President Donald Trump in 2020. … ” Read more from the SJV Sun.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Public comments being taken on groundwater management practices
“The state Department of Water Resources has released a draft on best management practices for land subsidence due to overuse of groundwater. Ninety-four basins or sub-basins have been identified as medium- or high-priority and are required to form a Groundwater Sustainability Agency and develop Groundwater Sustainability Plans. While Solano County is one of those basins, land subsidence has not been an issue in the county. There is one area within the county, Northwest Focus Area, that shows some decline. Water officials are looking into recharge options for the area. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
CENTRAL COAST
Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority releases water data for proposed charge
“The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority has released parcel-level water consumption data and proposed groundwater management charges for fiscal year 2025-2026 on its website, www.pasoroblesAGA.org. Parcel owners are encouraged to review their parcel data. The authority is proposing a groundwater management charge to fund the implementation of its Groundwater Sustainability Plan and comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Affected groundwater pumpers were previously notified by mail about the proposed charge, the basis for the proposed rate as outlined in a draft cost of service study, and the upcoming public hearing. The proposed charge would apply to agricultural groundwater pumpers, commercial operations including wineries, and public water supply systems. Rural domestic pumpers, categorized as de minimis extractors, will not be charged. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Hundreds of spring-run salmon rescued after taking detour into Tuolumne River
“More than 1,200 adult spring-run Chinook salmon meant to return to the San Joaquin River ended up in the Tuolumne River instead, prompting a five-part rescue operation. The fish were originally released as part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. But cooler, cleaner water and improved habitat conditions on the Tuolumne appeared to draw the fish off course, according to officials from the Turlock Irrigation District (TID). “Once the pulse flows had ended the plung pool was a little cut off from the main stem of the river,” said Constance Anderson, communications division manager for TID. “So we had to figure out a plan to move them back into cleaner, cooler water.” … ” Read more from CBS News.
Lemoore farmers unhappy with lack of representation on groundwater agency
“Growers in northwestern Kings County are fed up with a lack of representation on their groundwater agency and what they say has been an excessively slow process to get their voices heard. The board of the South Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) currently has five seats. It has been working since May to add two more to represent the northern portion of the GSA near Lemoore. Because the five existing seats are held by government agencies, the process to change the board configuration has been slow, said Johnny Gailey, manager of the GSA. But a document to initiate the change has been making the rounds to those agencies, which include the City of Lemoore, Empire Westside Irrigation District, Kings County, Stratford Irrigation District and Stratford Public Utility District. “It’s being circulated back and forth between attorneys of the different agencies and there are still edits being made to it; the draft is not final,” Gailey said during the GSA’s July 17 meeting. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Ana Water Board strengthens nutrient contaminant levels for Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake
“In a move designed to improve water quality in Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board today adopted stricter limits on nutrients that can lead to harmful algal bloom eruptions, threaten aquatic habitat and restrict recreational opportunities. The lakes in western Riverside County have long faced challenges related to excessive amounts of nutrients – primarily nitrogen and phosphorous – that fuel toxic algal growth and deplete oxygen needed for marine life, resulting in fish kills and posted advisories urging the public in affected areas not to participate in water-related outdoor activities. The Santa Ana Water Board initially adopted the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) – which define how much of a specific pollutant a waterbody can tolerate and meet water quality standards – in 2004. The revisions establish interim and final numeric targets for chlorophyll-a, ammonia and dissolved oxygen to reduce nutrient loads from both external sources (watershed runoff) and internal sources (lake bottom sediments). … ” Read more from the Santa Ana Water Board.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego water bills could soar over 60% by 2029 under new proposal
“San Diego water customers could see their bills increase by more than 60% over the next four years, according to a proposal presented by the city’s Public Utilities Department. The suggested rate hikes, which would begin in 2026 and continue through 2029, were outlined during a presentation to the City’s Environment Committee on Thursday. … ” Read more from KPBS.
U.S. and Mexico sign deal to stop sewage release into Tijuana River
“The United States and Mexico signed an agreement on Thursday to end the flow of raw sewage into the Tijuana River, which crosses the border into California and for years has contaminated and closed beaches and caused illnesses in both countries. The environmental cooperation comes at a time when the two countries have been otherwise sparring on issues like tariffs, immigration and drug trafficking. Every day, millions of gallons of sewage flow into the Tijuana River starting in Mexico and ending in California, where the polluted water is dumped in the ocean. The sewage frequently overwhelms wastewater treatment plants in both countries. The problem has worsened in recent years as Tijuana’s population has grown, treatment plants in both countries have fallen into disrepair, and climate change has fueled increasingly strong storms. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Along the Colorado River …
Longtime lawmaker shapes the debate as Arizona grapples with dwindling water supplies
“Throughout two decades marked by drought, climate change and growing demand for water, Arizona’s leaders have fiercely debated an increasingly urgent problem: how to manage dwindling water supplies in an arid state. At the crossroads sits Rep. Gail Griffin, a savvy and quietly assertive lawmaker who has for years used her status as the leader of key water and land use committees in the Republican-controlled Legislature to protect property owners’ rights, deciding which bills live and die. Griffin’s iron fist has infuriated residents and other lawmakers worried that unfettered groundwater pumping is causing wells to run dry. She’s also drawn the ire of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who considered her the barrier to legislation that stalled this year despite having others at the negotiating table. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
As Arizona becomes data center hub, utilities recognize ‘growing concern’ over energy demand
“The state’s largest utilities could see energy demand nearly triple if every data center that wants to set up shop in their service areas came to fruition, according to new filings. Arizona Public Service Co. and the Salt River Project are already seeing massive, unprecedented load growth — and dozens more data center projects are still waiting in their electric service pipelines. Those facilities house the physical equipment needed to power computing, and the utilities told state regulators that they are clamoring for immense demand. Both utilities saw customers break energy demand records earlier this month amid soaring temperatures in Phoenix. APS reported an all-time high of 8,527 megawatts as daily temperatures hit 118 degrees at Sky Harbor International Airport — the hottest day of the summer so far. SRP delivered 8,324 megawatts of energy. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Lake Powell is lower than last July. This boat ramp may be only the first to close.
“Boaters hoping to enjoy Lake Powell this summer may soon have to adjust their plans. Water levels at the reservoir are 29 feet lower than this time last year, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area said in a news release. “Lake level changes will influence the functionality of all launch ramps,” the release said. Halls Crossing Launch Ramp may be inoperable as soon as early August. Much of the Southwest, including the entire state of Utah, is currently experiencing drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Lake Powell faces critical power threat by 2026 as groundwater dwindles
“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is warning that Lake Powell may fall below its minimum power pool level by September 2026, a critical threshold that threatens the dam’s ability to generate hydroelectric power. Below this level, only emergency bypass tubes—never designed for constant use—could release water, but recent use already caused damage. So how did the lake reach this point after appearing relatively stable last year? Sarah Porter, Director of Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, says it comes down to two factors: low snowpack and overuse. … ” Read more from NBC Palm Springs.
River District offers proposal on Western Slope water deal
“In an effort to head off concerns about the state’s role in a major Western Slope water deal, a Western Slope water district has offered up a compromise proposal to Front Range water providers. In order to defuse what Colorado River Water Conservation District General Manager Andy Mueller called “an ugly contested hearing before the CWCB,” the River District is proposing that the state water board take a neutral position on the exact amount of water tied to the Shoshone hydropower plant water rights and let a water court determine a final number. “Although we believe this would be an unusual process, the River District believes it would address the primary concern (i.e., avoiding the state agency’s formal endorsement of the River District’s preliminary historical use analysis) that we heard expressed by your representatives at the May 21, 2025 CWCB meeting regarding the Shoshone instream flow proposal,” Mueller wrote in an email to officials from the Front Range Water Council. … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
In national water news this weekend …
Interior increases targets for layoffs
“The Interior Department is expanding its targets for layoffs to include more than 1,400 “competitive areas” — an increase of hundreds of categories since its first notice this spring — including new units within the Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and Office of the Secretary, according to an internal document. The newly released list of offices or units that could face layoffs was obtained by the National Parks Conservation Association and shared with POLITICO’s E&E News. The Interior Department declined to comment Friday afternoon. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE: Information for Presentation of Public Policy Statements on August 12, 2025, in the Water Right Hearing on the Proposed Delta Conveyance Project
NOTICE: Delta Farmland Conversion Study Comment Period – Through Sept. 8
