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In California water news today …
Lawmakers push to map groundwater before it swamps America’s infrastructure
“A Bay Area representative and other federal lawmakers mounted a push on Tuesday for action on groundwater rise, which they warned will worsen flooding across the United States in the decades to come, with the potential to damage critical infrastructure, harm freshwater supplies and spread toxic chemicals into communities. Rising seas and extreme rainfall press the thin layer of water just below the ground up all along the country’s coasts. In Virginia, sewage stored in septic tanks has already overflowed into homes and spilled onto lawns. Flooding from below could affect the lives of around 7 million people in South Florida. California climate scientists warn that future groundwater rise could move dangerous contaminants into schoolyards. “Drinking water systems are compromised, roadways are deteriorating and wastewater infrastructure is failing, leading to sewage spills and leaks polluting coastal waterways, posing danger to the public,” Emma Haydocy, senior manager with Surfrider Foundation, said in a statement. … ” Read more from KQED.
‘A hidden threat’: San Mateo lawmaker warns of rising groundwater risks, seeks study funding
“A Bay Area lawmaker is pushing for new federal legislation to study the threat rising groundwater poses — a hidden but growing environmental danger that experts say could worsen flooding, damage infrastructure, and contaminate drinking water. U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, last month introduced the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill co-authored with Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., that seeks $5 million in initial funding to assess the risks rising groundwater poses to public health and critical infrastructure like roads, utilities, and sewer systems. The measure would also support the development of long-term mitigation strategies. Mullin held a press conference Tuesday morning in South San Francisco to discuss his new legislation and the region’s flood and groundwater rise threats with local environmental and government leaders…. ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
State Board staff supports Voluntary Agreements in draft update to the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan
“On July 24, 2025, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) staff released a revised draft of proposed updates (2025 Draft Update) to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan). Notably, the 2025 Draft Update, which is focused on the Sacramento River watershed, Delta eastside tributaries, and Delta, recommends moving forward with the approach proposed through a series of Voluntary Agreements (VAs) between a large coalition of water users, state agencies, and the federal Bureau of Reclamation. … ” Read more from Somach, Simmons & Dunn.
Scientists issue urgent warnings about future of Suisun Marsh: ‘We don’t have a lot of time’
“A large California wetland has shrunk significantly, new research showed, and faces a major threat because of rising sea levels. The Suisun Marsh, California’s largest tidal wetland, is a part of the San Francisco Estuary, which provides water to millions of people and a home to thousands of wildlife species. In short, it’s a vital ecological system in one of the United States’ most populated areas. A new study showed that the marsh has undergone drastic changes since California achieved statehood, according to Maven’s Notebook, a publication dedicated to California water issues. Since the mid-19th century, the study stated, the Suisun’s tidal marsh area has shrunk by roughly 80%, and more than 33,000 acres of diked wetland have fallen below mean tide levels. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Farming in the Delta – New resource available for farmers interested in sustainable practices
Annika Ragsdale writes, “About a year ago, before joining the Delta Stewardship Council, I finished my master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) at the University of California, Davis. A unique component of the EPM program is the Environmental Policy Clinic, which pairs student teams with clients to conduct policy analysis or environmental management projects. For my project, I worked with four classmates and the Ocean Science Trust to research the benefits of blue carbon ecosystems to California’s disadvantaged communities. Fast forward one year, and I am in the Environmental Policy Clinic once again, this time as a client. I was excited to have the opportunity to mentor a team of EPM students over the past two quarters as they completed their Policy Clinic project with me and other Council staff. I am pleased to share their work on climate-smart agriculture strategies and alternative revenue streams available to farmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which came together into a user-friendly catalog of practices for farmers focused on cost savings and improved productivity and resiliency. … ” Read more from the Delta Stewardship Council.
It’s time to stop subsidence
“The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 was intended to fix the undesirable results of over-pumping groundwater. Undesirable results include the chronic lowering of groundwater levels, reduction of groundwater storage, seawater intrusion, degraded groundwater quality, subsidence, and depletion of surface water. Under SGMA, groundwater sustainability agencies have until 2040 to address and correct these issues. For most of the undesirable results, there may not be severe consequences if correction takes time. Not so for subsidence. Subsidence is an immediate and critical concern that will likely cost billions of dollars to fix. Subsidence is a sinking of the land surface in response to physical changes in an underlying aquifer. In the San Joaquin Valley, subsidence has been attributed to several mechanisms including hydro compaction of soils as well as oil and gas extraction, but the dominant cause of historical subsidence is believed to be groundwater overdraft, according to the Department of Water Resource’s Probabilistic Subsidence Forecast Model for the California Aqueduct Subsidence Program. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
Produced water supports farmers amid unreliable allocations
“Despite its title as one of the most productive agricultural regions in the nation, water supplies to Central Valley farmers are unreliable. According to the California Farm Water Coalition, while the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation raised water allocations for south-of-Delta agricultural contractors from 50% to 55% at the end of May, insufficient and unpredictable allocations hinder the nation’s food supply. “The recent increase to 55 percent is a welcome step, but it’s not enough to fully support the San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural engine or ensure equitable water access,” CFWC stated in a news release. Yet, as south-of-Delta farmers brace for another unreliable water year, one district has a steady source that keeps the crops alive even when state allocations run dry. Produced water — that is, wastewater that is brought to the surface during oil and gas extraction — is not a new concept to the Cawelo Water District in northern Kern County, which has relied upon it for decades. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
Tsunami warnings fading after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded. Here’s what to know
“One of this century’s most powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Russia and generated tsunami warnings and advisories for a broad section of the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast and as far south as New Zealand. Now warnings are being downgraded in most areas, though advisories remain in place as more aftershocks are possible. The quake registered a magnitude of 8.8 and was centered off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It struck early Wednesday local time, which was still Tuesday in the U.S. Here’s what to know … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SEE ALSO: Ominous empty harbors: Why water recedes right before a tsunami, from USA Today
Governor Newsom declares emergency for NorCal counties after severe storm damage
“Governor Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation for several counties in Northern California to aid in recovery efforts following severe storms in February and March. The proclamation includes Humboldt, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Shasta, Sonoma and Trinity counties. The Governor’s office said these counties’ roads and waterways were affected by landslides and widespread flooding, creating conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property. The proclamation authorizes the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to provide assistance to counties under the California Disaster Assistance Act. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Federal forestry cuts fuel wildfire, resource concerns
“As wildfire conditions across California are expected to increase steadily through the summer, state officials this month expressed concerns about cuts in staff and funding at federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, a division within the Agriculture Department that partners with the state to fight wildfires and manage forests. California is home to 18 national forests, with 48% of its land owned and managed by the federal government. “On critical priorities like wildfire, safety and water supplies, federal agency effectiveness is critical,” California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said during a webinar in which he and other state officials discussed potential impacts of federal staffing reductions to the state’s natural resources, including forests. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
California struck by lightning more than 18,000 times in one day — more is coming
“Northern California was struck by a record amount of lightning last week as a persistent weather pattern brought widespread thunderstorms to the mountains. The active thunderstorm pattern is expected to continue this week as a subtle but quick-moving weather system crosses Northern California. July 25 set a single-day record with 18,833 pulse strikes across Northern California. Most of the lightning was contained to the Sierra Nevada, southern Cascade Mountains, Klamath Mountains and Trinity Alps, but a few storms moved into the northern Sacramento Valley in the evening. Pulse strike lightning records from the National Interagency Fire Center date back to 2012 in the region stretching from Santa Cruz to South Lake Tahoe up to the Oregon border. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Why NEPA matters to trout and salmon—and what’s at stake with proposed changes
“Signed into law in 1970 by President Nixon, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has served as a bedrock environmental law, ensuring that federal agencies consider consequences of their actions on public lands and that the public has opportunity to engage and be heard. For trout, salmon, and the coldwater habitats they depend on, NEPA has been more than a procedural requirement—it’s been a lifeline. Sweeping changes to NEPA’s implementing regulations are underway. Several federal agencies – including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) – are proposing to revise their NEPA procedures and Congress is also considering legislation that would significantly alter how projects are reviewed and approved, raising serious concerns for fish and wildlife and any meaningful public input. Here’s what you should know … ” Read more from Trout Unlimited.
EPA moves to undo key climate rule; California vows to fight back
“The Environmental Protection Agency took a major step toward backing out of the business of fighting climate change on Tuesday, a move that California leaders vowed to push back on. The federal agency, after months of speculation, announced it was seeking to undo the scientific finding that authorizes greenhouse gas regulation. The “endangerment finding,” which asserts that greenhouse gases are harming humans and must be regulated, has helped spawn several federal policies that limit planet-warming pollution from vehicles, power plants and more. Without the finding, these regulations could be without legal merit and subject to weakening or removal. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, in announcing the agency’s plans at an auto dealership in Indiana, called specifically for eliminating emissions standards for cars and trucks. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
As Trump’s EPA reverses landmark climate policy, California could lead a resistance
“In a stunning move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed to repeal its landmark 2009 finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health. The proposal would also revoke the standards the agency has set for greenhouse gas emissions from all motor vehicles. The so-called endangerment finding is a formal determination affirming that planet-warming greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane pose a threat to human health and the environment. It forms the legal and scientific basis for regulating these emissions under the Clean Air Act and is derived from decades of expert research and analysis. If it is reversed, many standards that rely on it could crumble — leaving the auto industry and other polluting sectors free to emit greenhouse gases without limits. But experts and state regulators say it could also represent a golden opportunity for California to set a national example, as the move may open the door for stronger regulations at the state level. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
EPA attacks climate science. Here are the facts.
“The Trump administration’s proposal Tuesday to revoke the so-called endangerment finding is rife with climate disinformation, scientists say. The proposed rule — which would undo a key scientific finding that underpins federal climate regulations — relies heavily on legal arguments. But it also includes an “alternative” justification that attacks the scientific consensus on climate change, drawing from a Department of Energy report authored by scientists known for denying accepted climate science. … The proposed rule suggests that scientists’ projections of global warming are flawed, that scientists have overstated the dangers of climate change and that rising temperatures even pose a net benefit to humankind. It’s all part of the Trump administration’s efforts to overturn the endangerment finding, which determined that greenhouse gas emissions drive warming and endanger public health and welfare. Here is a fact check of some claims made in the EPA proposal. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO:
- Trump’s EPA proposes rollback of basis for climate change rules, from Stateline
- EPA Rescinds Finding That Greenhouse Gas Emissions Harm Human Health, Hobbling U.S. Climate Action, from Inside Climate News
- In game-changing climate rollback, E.P.A. aims to kill a bedrock scientific finding, from the New York Times
- US government may be abandoning the global climate fight, but new leaders are filling the void – including China, from The Conversation
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Under construction: A fish nursery on the Scott River
“It takes a village to raise a child, even if that child has fins. For CalTrout’s nearly completed restoration project on the South Fork Scott River, that village includes engineers, equipment operators, strategists, landowners, agency partners, Tribal communities, and funders—sharing a wide breadth of expertise between them. With the onset of fall rains, this Klamath River tributary will be reconnected to its historic floodplain, increasing much-needed spawning and rearing habitat for threatened coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead trout. Legacy gold-mining damage disconnected the Scott River from its floodplain, shunting the flow into a “bowling lane” where “flow came crashing down at high velocities,” said Preston Harris, Executive Director of the Scott River Water Trust. Coho salmon have historically spawned and reared here alongside steelhead and Chinook salmon, but fast, confined flows sharply decreased aquatic habitat diversity, making the river corridor almost unlivable for these fish. With just one channel, CalTrout project manager Dustin Revel pointed out that “there’s not a lot of space for fish to move into at higher flows” that result from spring snowmelt or heavy rain. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Ukiah press release: Major steps taken to secure water future for the Russian River region
“The region’s long-term water future just took two critical steps forward; first, with the approval of a landmark Water Diversion Agreement by the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC) and other partners, and second with PG&E’s submission of its Potter Valley Project (PVP) License Surrender Application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) which includes a provision for a new diversion facility to replace PVP infrastructure. The Water Diversion Agreement, developed by IWPC and key regional and Tribal partners, will guide how future water diversions are managed after PVP facilities are removed. The agreement also supports environmental restoration and ensures that communities relying on Russian River water have a sustainable, reliable supply. Anchored in a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year, the agreement protects the water supply relied upon by communities, farms, and businesses throughout Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties. … ” Continue reading from the City of Ukiah.
Press release: Ukiah Valley Water Authority considers grant application to support regional water system integration
“The Ukiah Valley Water Authority (UVWA) is taking a major step toward building a unified and drought-resilient water system for the Greater Ukiah Valley. At a special meeting this week, UVWA staff presented the Executive Committee with a draft application for a state planning grant through California’s SAFER (Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience) Program. If awarded, the $13,620,452 million grant would cover the full scope of planning and design costs that UVWA member agencies would otherwise need to pay with local funds. As a state grant, the $13.6 million in funding does not need to be repaid, providing substantial cost savings for the region. The grant would fund engineering, design, and planning activities needed to consolidate infrastructure across the UVWA member agencies, laying the groundwork for a coordinated, efficient water system capable of moving water throughout the region – from the southern to the northern end of the Ukiah Valley. This critical effort will improve water availability, reliability, and equity for residents within UVWA boundaries. … ” Read more from the City of Ukiah.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
The depths of Tahoe’s photographical history
“In the panoramic photo of Fannette Island, the iconic landmass in Emerald Bay (and Lake Tahoe’s sole island), the view captures what many think of when they picture the Lake: thick pines by the beach that meet a view of vast, sapphire water. The panorama of Fannette was photographed by Peter Goin, a foundation professor of art within the College of Liberal Arts. Goin has taught photography for more than 40 years and his latest work, focused on the history of Lake Tahoe and our relationship to it, is now on display at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe campus. Located in the Wayne L. Prim Library building, the Goin Legacy Project serves as a multimedia archive of visual content that represents both Tahoe’s past and present, and asks us to think about its future. … ” Read more from Nevada Today.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Proposition in Fairfield initiated for water rate adjustments
“The Fairfield City Council has initiated a proposition that they said ensures long-term system reliability, according to city officials. Proposition 218 proposes an 8% annual increase as the water rate adjustment, over the next five years, as a way to fund critical infrastructure improvements. If Prop 218 is approved, the average single-family home is expected to see its monthly bill increase by $5 to $7 each year beginning January 2026 through January 2030. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
NAPA/SONOMA
Lake Mendocino tests safe from toxic bacteria, but everyone should be aware of risks
“A flurry of posts on Facebook in mid-June alarmed users about harmful algae blooms (HABs) caused by cyanobacteria in Lake Mendocino. The posts described an incident in which a dog died of neurotoxin poisoning after swimming in the lake. The poster was furious that no signage appeared at the lake about the dangers for pets. Nothing on Facebook goes unchallenged, and this was no exception. For one, the danger of HABs is usually a subject for late August and September, not mid-June. For another, Lake Mendocino has not been known for HABs (as opposed to Clear Lake, for example). Facebook posters objected to the story, saying that their dogs swam in the lake daily, their horses drank from the lake, and no one had noticed dead deer, raccoons, or fish nearby. The dog owner responded that a veterinarian said the dog’s death was consistent with neurotoxin poisoning. (The Mendocino Voice could not confirm this claim.) … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
BAY AREA
S.F.’s foggy days continue but nighttime weather has changed. Here’s why
“San Francisco is having its chilliest summer in decades. The city has surpassed 70 degrees just once this July. But while the pattern of cool, foggy days continues, something has changed at night. Overnight temperatures consistently dropped to the low 50s in the beginning of the month, including three straight 52-degree nights from July 5-7. But recent nights have been milder. Monday night dropped to just 58 degrees. A similar nighttime warming trend emerged in places like Half Moon Bay throughout July. The warmer nights are being caused by shifting ocean currents that have slowed down the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters from deeper in the Pacific. Strong northwest winds that whipped the coast in June have relaxed this month in response to a much weaker pressure gradient as a semi-stationary weather system sits just offshore. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
San Jose: Snell Pipeline Inspection and Rehabilitation Project officially complete
“Maintaining a reliable water supply requires ongoing investment in infrastructure. At Valley Water, that means regularly inspecting and upgrading the pipelines that deliver water across Santa Clara County. As part of this long-term commitment, we recently completed the Snell Pipeline Inspection and Rehabilitation Project. The Snell Pipeline project is part of Valley Water’s 10-Year Pipeline Inspection and Rehabilitation Program, which is focused on ensuring the reliability of our water delivery system. The project included improvements to approximately 8.5 miles of pipeline. Originally constructed in 1990, the Snell Pipeline runs from the Santa Teresa Water Treatment Plant through San Jose to the Evergreen area. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Experimental hatchery strays from the San Joaquin River Restoration Program find suitable habitat and cold water on the Tuolumne
“In an exciting and unexpected conservation success, 1,200 adult spring-run Chinook salmon—originally released as part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program—made their way to the Tuolumne River, where they’ve found abundant habitat and cold, clean water in which to spend the summer prior to spawning in the fall. This remarkable development represents an important milestone for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program and highlights the positive impact of the Tuolumne River Partners (Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) longstanding stewardship and science-based management of the Tuolumne River. These spring-run Chinook salmon, part of a long-term experimental reintroduction effort on the San Joaquin River, were drawn to the Tuolumne due to its robust spring pulse flows, favorable temperature conditions, and higher water volumes—conditions created under the Tuolumne River Partners’ annual operations to support fall-run Chinook. … ” Read more from the Turlock Irrigation District.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$11 Million Stormwater Project at Brookside Park Aims to Transform Pasadena’s Water Future
“Pasadena’s ambitious plan to capture and clean stormwater from more than 1,100 acres of the city could reshape both water quality and supply for years to come, but residents have only until Friday to use a survey to influence how the Brookside Park project will look and function. The $11 million initiative will enhance Parking Lot I at Brookside Park, which sits just south of the Rose Bowl, adjacent to the park. The project will divert flows from the historic Seco Street Drain through underground treatment components before reaching an 11-acre-foot subsurface infiltration gallery. The system will improve water quality in the Arroyo Seco and Los Angeles River while simultaneously increasing Pasadena’s water supply by recharging the Raymond Basin. … ” Read more from Pasadena Now.
Tetra Tech wins contract to modernize municipal water digital automation systems in Los Angeles
“Tetra Tech, a provider of consulting and engineering services in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure, announced that California’s West Basin Municipal Water District (MWD) has selected the company to upgrade its process control system for water treatment facilities that serve nearly one million residents in 17 cities within Los Angeles County, California. As part of the $10 million contract, Tetra Tech will deliver digital systems engineering and technical services to replace and modernize West Basin MWD’s distributed control system at its advanced water recycling facilities. The work aims to improve operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and system reliability. The company’s digital systems team will support platform evaluation and selection, system design, preparation of plans and technical specifications, and automation system programming and integration. … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
Southern Steelhead Coalition nearly doubles its impact area to accelerate watershed recovery
“The Southern Steelhead Coalition is expanding its reach across Southern California, nearly doubling the area it covers to advance landscape-scale restoration efforts for the iconic Southern California steelhead, a critically endangered species. The coalition now covers more than 10 watersheds from Santa Maria to the Santa Monica Mountains, coordinating projects across partners through cost-effective strategies to recover this endangered native fish. The coalition’s expansion is a necessary step towards achieving our collective mission of saving a species that serves as a vital indicator of watershed health throughout the region. … “Landscape-wide restoration requires covering such a large area of land that it is impossible for one group to do it all by themselves,” explains Elizabeth Burns, CalTrout’s Southern California Project Coordinator and leader of the Southern Steelhead Coalition. “It requires teamwork unifying people with diverse perspectives and experience.” … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Organization sues Coastal Commission over Ballona Wetlands gas project
“The community coalition Defend Ballona Wetlands filed a lawsuit on July 25 against the California Coastal Commission, alleging the agency unlawfully approved a fossil gas project that threatens the ecologically sensitive Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve in Playa del Rey. The suit, joined by Protect Ballona Wetlands and environmental scientist Robert van de Hoek, accuses the commission of violating state environmental laws by allowing Southern California Gas Co. to plug and abandon two natural gas monitoring wells, Del Rey 14 and 19, without proper review. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims the commission engaged in “piecemealing” by treating the well abandonment as a standalone project, despite its connection to a larger, now-decertified Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project. A 2023 court injunction halted activities at the site after a judge invalidated an environmental impact report (EIR) prepared by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), citing improper segmentation of the project. The coalition argues the commission’s April 11 approval of a Coastal Development permit disregards this ruling, risking nearly 30,000 square feet of protected vegetation. … ” Read more from Yo Venice.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Calipatria Council opposes solar development on ag land
“The Calipatria City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 25-24, titled “A Resolution of the City of Calipatria, California, Opposing the Expansion of Solar Development on Farmland” at its regular meeting on July 8. Introduced by Mayor Michael Luellen, the resolution affirms the city’s commitment to protecting Imperial Valley’s agricultural heritage, economy, and natural environment from the growing encroachment of utility-scale solar projects on productive farmland, according to a city press release. The resolution mirrors and supports a similar position adopted by the Imperial Irrigation District, emphasizing that the rapid conversion of irrigated, cultivated lands for energy development is producing net-negative impacts for the Calipatria area and the broader Imperial Valley. … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
SAN DIEGO
As climate-related wastewater threats grow, U.S. and Mexico sign a deal to end the Tijuana sewage crisis
“Every day, the Tijuana River spews millions of gallons of untreated sewage from Mexico into California, much of which ends up in the ocean. For decades, this steady churn of wastewater has overloaded aging infrastructure on both sides of the border, posing a major ecological and public health issue for communities in Tijuana and San Diego. Last week, the two countries took a major step toward slowing the flow. On Thursday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Mexico’s secretary of the environment and national resources, signed an agreement that pledges to “address and solve the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis” through major updates to wastewater treatment plants at the border, according to the EPA. “This is a huge win for millions of Americans and Mexicans who have been calling on us to end this decades old crisis,” Zeldin said in a statement. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Along the Colorado River …
State negotiator: Colorado River plans must dole out less water
“A top Colorado state negotiator said Monday that the Bureau of Reclamation must consider sending less Colorado River water to California, Arizona and Nevada if regulators want to avoid “running so close to the brink of crisis all the time.” The Interior Department and Reclamation are leading negotiations among the seven states that share the drought-stricken waterway, trying to come up with a new long-term operating plan. The states face a November deadline to meet an agreement, but for nearly two years have been at odds over how to divide cuts to the amount of water flowing to the Upper Basin — Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico — and the Lower Basin of California, Arizona and Nevada. Although negotiators from multiple states revealed last month that talks are coalescing around a proposal known as “natural flow” — sharing the river based on calculations of the supply of water in the river, based on an average of the three most recent years — questions remain over how much the Upper and Lower Basin could actually use, and how much would remain in storage in reservoirs and to provide hydropower. … ” Read more from E&E News (sorry, subscription required).
Crucial decision on Las Vegas water coming in August; are Lake Mead projections reliable?
“Each year around the middle of August, the federal government looks at projections for Lake Mead to decide on adjustments to water restrictions for Southern Nevada, Arizona and California. Currently, a Tier 1 water shortage is in place, and Southern Nevada is getting 7% less than its full allocation from the Colorado River. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation looks ahead about 4½ months to the expected level on Jan. 1 — or the end of December, as reflected in charts released in each month’s “24-month study.” As of noon on Monday, Lake Mead was at 1,054.45 feet (altitude: the lake’s surface compared to sea level). If projections indicate the lake will be lower than 1,050 feet on Jan. 1, there would be more water cuts. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
Navajo Nation pushes for water rights as Colorado River shrinks
“As the Colorado River faces historically low levels, Native American tribes that have depended on its life-sustaining waters for generations are raising concerns about the impacts on their communities, economies and cultural traditions. The Navajo Nation, which includes portions of southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico, is actively working to secure water rights settlements in Arizona crucial for their agricultural and municipal needs. Bidtah N. Becker, chief legal counsel for the Navajo Nation, told St. George News there is an urgency to secure the tribe’s legal rights to the Colorado River in Arizona, calling it their “No. 1 issue.” Becker explained that while the tribe secured water rights settlements in Utah in 2022 and in New Mexico in 2009, members still lack a legal water allocation in Arizona. A proposed bill in Congress, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, seeks to address this gap. … ” Read more from the Utah News Dispatch.
Arizona groundwater levels are in jeopardy, research shows
“New research from Arizona State University and NASA indicates Arizona’s reliance on groundwater is in jeopardy, as underground water storage faces significant depletion. The findings, however, are met with some disagreement regarding the problem’s extent and its causes. The research leverages an intriguing scientific method: measuring gravity. Satellites capable of detecting changes in the Earth’s gravitational field provided data on groundwater levels. Yet, some farmers contend that their on-the-ground measurements do not align with this satellite data. … ” Continue reading from Fox 10.
Utah has water problems now. What if the megadrought lasts another 25 years?
“The megadrought that’s lasted 25 years so far could continue parching Utah and the Southwest until 2050. Or maybe even the end of the century. New research from the University of Texas indicates global warming may disrupt a key atmospheric pattern that brings winter precipitation to the West — and could do so for decades to come. “Instead of saying that we’ve just been really unlucky the past few decades,” said researcher Victoria Todd, “what we’re hypothesizing is that this could actually be a shift in the climate state. That this could be basically the new normal.” Utah is already strapped for water. Drought conditions cover all of Utah — the only Western state where that’s the case — which increases water demand. Statewide reservoir levels dropped 10% in June, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources. The average decline during that month is just 2%. That prompted a plea from the governor to save water. … ” Read more from St. George News.
A dispute between Mexico and Texas over water is threatening to turn ugly
“After 30 consecutive months without rain, the townsfolk of San Francisco de Conchos gathered to plead for divine intervention. On the shores of Lake Toronto — the reservoir behind Chihuahua state’s most important dam, called La Boquilla — farmers on horseback and their families prayed for a very wet rainy season. In the congregation is Rafael Betance, who has monitored La Boquilla for the State Water Authority for 35 years. Few know the lake’s fluctuations as well as Betance, and he said he’s never seen the situation get this dire. “It’s impossible. We are not able to water crops. You can see that the dam lies idle,” he said. “There’s no hydroelectric power being generated, and we can’t use any water for agriculture. There just isn’t enough.” … ” Read more or listen to podcast at Marketplace.
In national water news today …
Seeing water from space
“Picture a remote Alaskan town connected to the outside world by a single bridge spanning a wild river. When massive ice blocks dam up rivers and then suddenly break free, the resulting floods can surge without warning and wash out that critical crossing, leaving an entire community stranded — cut off from supplies, medical care, and emergency services. This scenario plays out across Alaska’s rugged wilderness, where the Department of Transportation manages over 5,600 miles of highways and 839 bridges. Most of these wild lands don’t have flood monitoring capabilities. Now, new satellite technology is changing that reality. Satellites are helping remote communities like these protect themselves from flooding disasters by providing reliable access to water level data. For the first time, vulnerable neighborhoods can monitor their local waterways with comprehensive information that was previously unavailable, giving them critical insights to improve flood preparedness. This breakthrough comes through a new web application called Water Information from Space, or WISP, recently launched by the U.S. Geological Survey. The satellite-powered tool is transforming how communities understand and analyze their water systems, providing valuable data for flood recovery, infrastructure planning and long-term water resource management across America. … ” Read more from the USGS.
Big tech asked for looser Clean Water Act permitting. Trump wants to give it to them
“Last week, the Trump administration announced a set of sweeping AI policy recommendations to “usher in a new golden age of human flourishing.” Among the suggested environmental rollbacks laid out in both an executive order and a corresponding AI Action Plan is a set of specific recommendations to essentially loosen Clean Water Act permitting processes for data centers. They mirror suggestions made to regulators earlier this year by both a major data center lobbying group and Meta. … ” Read more from WIRED.
Trump’s environmental policies are reshaping everyday life. Here’s how.
“Over the last six months, Americans have been inundated with a near-constant stream of announcements from the federal government — programs shuttered, funding cut, jobs eliminated, and regulations gutted. President Donald Trump and his administration are executing a systematic dismantling of the environmental, economic, and scientific systems that underpin our society. The onslaught can feel overwhelming, opaque, or sometimes even distant, but these policies will have real effects on Americans’ daily lives. In this new guide, Grist examines the impact these changes could have, and are already having, on the things you do every day. Flipping on your lights. Turning on your faucet. Paying household bills. Visiting a park. Checking the weather forecast. Feeding your family. The decisions have left communities less safe from pollution, more vulnerable to climate disasters, and facing increasingly expensive energy bills, among other changes. Read on to see how. … ” Read more from Grist.
