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In California water news this weekend …
Tsunami causes nearly $1M in damages to Crescent City dock after massive earthquake in Russia
“A Crescent City dock sustained nearly $1 million in damages after it was struck by a tsunami generated by a massive 8.8 magnitude quake that struck off the coast of Russia Tuesday, according to city officials. The Crescent City Harbor District released new photos Friday showing the extent of the damage. Crescent City recorded waves of up to 4 feet early Wednesday – the highest recorded anywhere in the continental United States. A surge of water lifted the dock off its pilings around 2:40 a.m., eventually submerging it, Harbormaster Mike Rademaker said at a news briefing. The dock was engineered to disrupt the waves’ force before they reach the inner harbor and appears to have functioned as intended, he said. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
SEE ALSO:
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- California city where tsunami waves hit hardest has $1 million in harbor damage, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Tsunami surge causes turbulence at Santa Cruz Harbor, from the San Jose Mercury News
Why is California so chilly this summer?
“San Francisco is seeing the coldest start to a summer in over two decades, and nobody has felt the chill more than the people tasked with painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Fred Mixon, the paint superintendent for the bridge, said his team has used heaters on most days this summer to warm up the steel before applying the International Orange paint that defines the bridge’s iconic vermilion hue. When the steel is cold, the paint doesn’t adhere as well and can flake off after it dries. “This is the first time in a long time that we’ve used the heaters in summer,” he said. “We are using them most days this summer, whereas in prior summers we might use them for a day or two all season.” … ” Read more from the New York Times.
California’s duck population continues rebound from drought impacts
“Three straight years of wet winters appear to be benefiting water bird species in the state, with some species showing a more than doubling in population since last year, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Total breeding duck populations in California increased 27%, with mallards increasing 49%. Gadwall numbers are up 104%. “The survey indicated an increase in mallard abundance, and habitat conditions were good in Northern California, so we expect average to above-average production for all waterfowl species,” said CDFW Waterfowl Program Biologist Melanie Weaver. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Back in the flow: Ducks Unlimited enhances wetlands and boosts recreation in California’s San Joaquin Valley
“In California’s San Joaquin Valley, a critical rest stop for millions of migrating birds, Ducks Unlimited wrapped up a major upgrade at the Blue Goose Unit, part of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. In this project, over 500 acres of wetlands and surrounding uplands have been enhanced by improving water and habitat management capabilities. ,To do this, crews replaced old water-control structures, removed outdated levees and constructed swales and reshaped the land to convey and distribute water efficiently. Excess dirt was used to build small islands and raise levee banks, which gives birds more places to rest and nest. As a result of project work, the acreage of summer wetland habitat in the project area is expected to more than double, giving nesting birds additional areas to raise their young. … ” Read more from Ducks Unlimited.
Two more small rural communities to join 98% of Californians who have safe drinking water
“The State Water Resources Control Board this past week joined two small, disadvantaged communities with longstanding water infrastructure problems—the town of Robbins in Sutter County and Nile Garden Elementary School in San Joaquin County— to celebrate major milestones on their journeys to a sustainable supply of safe and affordable drinking water. For the first time since 2017, Nile Garden School will have a reliable supply of safe drinking water when its 800 students and faculty return in August. After resolving multiple project complications since the pandemic, laying over a mile of new transmission line and building a new treatment facility, the City of Manteca completed the consolidation of the school’s water system this summer. The State Water Board provided technical support to the city and over $9 million to fund the project through grants from its Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program. “Thanks to your persistence and dedication, Nile Garden School and the community of Manteca will have a more secure future,” Board Member Nichole Morgan said to faculty and city staff Tuesday at the school’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. … ” Read more from the State Water Resources Control Board.
The price of water just got more complicated: San Diego’s legal battle over tiered rates
“On July 30, 2025, a divided California Court of Appeal issued its long-awaited opinion in Patz v. City of San Diego, affirming the trial court’s judgment that the City’s tiered residential water rates violated Proposition 218 of the California Constitution. The ruling reinforces the strict interpretation of cost-of-service requirements previously articulated in Coziahr v. Otay Water District. However, given the nearly 70-page dissenting opinion, the California Supreme Court may take up the case if the City seeks review. Patz was a class action challenge to the City of San Diego’s tiered water rate structure, under which residential customers were charged increasing rates (i.e., a tiered-rate structure) based on higher levels of water usage. The City argued that higher-volume users should pay more due to the increased infrastructure costs required to support peak demands, which is unnecessary for lower-use customers. The Court of Appeal rejected this rationale, holding that the City failed to demonstrate that its rates bore a reasonable relationship to the “proportional cost of service attributable to the parcel,” as required by Proposition 218. … ” Read more from Best Best & Krieger.
In commentary this weekend …
Sending more freshwater through the Delta does not benefit Delta Smelt and is keeping California from meeting the Delta Reform Act’s “co-equal goals”
Dennis Murphy writes, “The federal and state resources agencies operating in Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta should be lauded for suspending the so-called Summer-Fall Management Action. The action required a combination of reservoir releases and limits on water exports from the south Delta with the intent of bolstering numbers of the beleaguered delta smelt. From the outset in 2008, implementation of the action was based on an incomplete understanding of the resources necessary to sustain the delta smelt population. Since then, research and observations have demonstrated an absence of benefits to delta smelt from the Summer-Fall Management Action, even as the costs of implementing the action ran into millions of acre-feet of freshwater and billions of dollars. … ” Read more from the Center for California Water Resources Policy & Management.
California water history in a minute – Subsidence
Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Director of Regulatory and Economic Affairs for the Milk Producers Council, writes, “The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) recently released a document on subsidence and how to stop it. When groundwater is pumped, particularly from wells deep underground, the ground above can sink, as the clays between the aquifer and the ground surface compress. This phenomenon of the ground surface sinking is called subsidence. Subsidence has been a problem in California ever since we began using large capacity wells to do irrigation. The DWR document describes the history this way: “From 1926 to 1970, an area in the Central Valley southwest of Mendota had documented subsidence of more than 28 feet. Construction of the Central Valley Project began in the late 1930s to address water supply and distribution in California’s Central Valley. The introduction of Central Valley Project surface water imports via the Friant-Kern and Delta-Mendota Canals in the 1950s, and Central Valley Project and State Water Project surface water imports via the California Aqueduct in the 1970s, significantly reduced groundwater reliance, initiated groundwater level recoveries, and slowed—and even reversed—subsidence in some areas of the San Joaquin Valley. … ” Read more from the Milk Producers Council.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Online creators, led by MrBeast and Mark Rober, want to raise $40 million for clean water access
“Online creators from dozens of countries, led by MrBeast and popular science YouTuber Mark Rober, are launching a $40 million fundraiser to build water quality projects around the world. The monthlong crowdfunding campaign, touted as the biggest YouTube collaboration and called #TeamWater, promises to rally their combined 2 billion subscribers around combating unsafe water sources. Funds will primarily benefit WaterAid, an international nonprofit that builds community-tailored infrastructure ranging from solar-powered wells to rainwater harvesting systems. More than 2 billion people lacked access to safely managed drinking water as of 2022, according to the United Nations. Organizers want to put a dent in that figure by providing sustainable access for 2 million people — and instilling new generations with a lifelong commitment to advocacy. … ” Continue reading at the Associated Press.
Podcasts …
CENTRAL VALLEY DAILY: Can California fix the problems plaguing the Delta?
California’s water crises are perhaps best illustrated by the challenges seen along the so-called Delta. The Delta is a converging of rivers just east of the Bay Area that helps move water up and down the state. But it has long faced ecological challenges. But a new state plan could now offer new solutions to address them. Journalist Rachel Becker with CalMatters joins us to discuss the plans. Plus, the latest news headlines: The battle for a mega Costco in the Valley; and Kern County officials propose slashing the public health budget.
WATER MATTERS: Why Does It Take So Long to Build a Water Project?
California needs water infrastructure urgently. But why does it take decades to build something as essential as a reservoir? In this episode of What Matters Water, host Charley Wilson explores the complex, often frustrating world of water project development in California. From environmental reviews to legal red tape, we dig into the reasons why progress moves at a glacial pace—and what’s being done to change that. Charley is joined by three powerhouse guests and together, they unpack California’s permitting reform efforts, the real-world challenges of building water infrastructure, and what it will take to finally get shovels in the ground. If you’ve ever wondered why it takes so long to build the water systems we all depend on—this episode is for you.
AG NET NEWS HOUR: Fixing groundwater policy from the ground up
On today’s AgNet News Hour, Nick Papagni and Josh McGill dive into one of the most critical issues facing California agriculture: water. And at the heart of the conversation is Madera County farmer and water expert Matt Angell, who shares an eye-opening, data-rich analysis of groundwater, regulations, and the future of farming in the Central Valley.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Caretakers of Our Food
Joe Del Bosque knows. Farmers need soil. California has the right climate. Farms need labor. But water is a farmers life blood. The diversity of the crops in California can only be accomplished with all of this. So, what happens when consecutive year drought happens? Listen to what Joe Del Bosque Farms experienced in 2009 and just imagine what it is like for his farm this year. 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
AG NET NEWSHOUR: California dairy in the spotlight: Generations of dedication and a future of uncertainty
Today’s AgNet News Hour highlighted the resilience and passion of California’s dairy industry, featuring an in-depth interview with Joseph Bakker of Back Road Ranch and Countryside Dairy in the Tulare–Visalia area. A third-generation dairyman, Bakker shared his journey in agriculture, managing over 6,000 cows and farming 2,000 acres with his family. His deep ties to both the land and the community reflect the strength and legacy of California’s dairy families.
ECONEWS REPORT: A new 353-acre reserve on Baduwa’t
Siskiyou Land Conservancy just finalized a new acquisition of 170 acres on Baduwa’t, joining a 183 acre property that the Conservancy acquired earlier in the year, to create a 353 acre reserve. Baduwa’t is, of course, important. It is home to coho salmon and a summer run of steelhead trout. And the river also provides domestic water for 70 percent of Humboldt County residents. Yet Baduwa’t remains the least protected of all of the fabled “six rivers” of the California North Coast. The new reserve will help to protect some of the headwaters of the river, including limited patches of old-growth forest. Greg King of Siskiyou Land Conservancy joins the program to discuss the new reserve and what this means for Baduwa’t.
TERRA VERDE: Silencing Science
Researchers at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) recently released a report documenting more than 400 attacks on science by the Trump administration in the first six months since his inauguration. Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and Terra Verde cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with two of the four coauthors of the report — Darya Minovi and Kristie Ellickson of UCS’ Center for Science and Democracy — about the insidious ways in which this administration is silencing the work and voices of scientists, and the implication of these attacks on the environment, public health, and our democracy.
THE DAILY: A ‘dagger in the heart’ of climate change regulation
After rolling back a slew of regulations aimed at reversing climate change, and pulling funding for the scientists who monitor it, the Trump administration is now taking its boldest action yet. It’s eliminating the scientific finding at the heart of the government’s ability to fight climate change in the first place. Lisa Friedman, who covers climate policy, discusses the history of the finding, what it did and what happens once it’s gone.
In regional water news this weekend …
With reforms in place, California’s Karuk Tribe works to reestablish cultural burning as ‘common practice’
“On a late June afternoon in the remote Northern California town of Orleans, Michael Sanchez hopped into a wildland fire truck. He’s the prescribed fire and fuel specialist for the Karuk Tribe, and helps organize their cultural burns, including the three planned that day. “One of the burns is my house,” he said. “So I’ve been kind of taking the main lead on preparing that.” While small, the burns represent a major step forward in the tribe’s longstanding effort to promote cultural burning. It’s the fruit of years of advocacy, and collaboration with federal agencies and nonprofits to bring down barriers to it. In 2022, California established a claims fund to reduce the financial risk when fires set by landowners and tribes cause damage. Then last fall, Senate Bill 310 (S.B. 310) was unanimously passed and signed. It allows federally recognized tribes to enter into agreements with the state’s natural resources agency to bypass permitting and regulatory requirements in order to conduct cultural burns. … ” Read more from Boise State Public Radio.
Bringing greener pastures: how the Sierra’s waters shaped Nevada County’s future
“On August 5, 1921, voters in Nevada County made a decision that would transform the future of their communities. With a vote of 636 to 163, residents approved the formation of the Nevada Irrigation District (NID). It was a pivotal moment that would bring Sierra Nevada water to the parched farms and ranches of the foothills. To some, it may have seemed like just another election. But for the families working the land, it marked the dawn of a new era—one not driven by gold or timber, but by the life-giving promise of water. The formation of NID brought more than just infrastructure. It sparked growth in the local ag industry, boosted the region’s economy, and launched a lasting legacy of resilience and resourcefulness. It was the beginning of a forward-looking movement that helped create the vibrant communities we cherish today. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
An area of Lake Tahoe has elevated levels of E. coli, testing revealed
“An area of Lake Tahoe tested for high levels of E. coli, prompting a warning to stay out of the water, the U.S. Forest Service said on Friday. The tested samples were from the South Shore of Lake Tahoe near Camp Richardson Resort. Due to the elevated levels of E. coli, the Forest Service said people should not swim in the area between Jameson Beach and the Valhalla Boathouse. Those two areas were tested and did not show elevated levels of E. coli as of Friday. After elevated levels of E. coli were found, the resort immediately inspected its sewer lines, the Forest Service said. A leak was found, and repairs are underway. … ” Read more from CBS News.
SEE ALSO: Swimmers warned to stay away from Tahoe beach after sewage leak, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Plans underway to recover submerged barge in Lake Tahoe; nearly all fireworks now collected
“Plans are now underway to recover the barge that sank after last month’s sudden storm, cancelling a popular July 4th fireworks show in Incline Village. Incline Fireworks Inc. say its recovered now 96% of the submerged fireworks from the privately owned barge. They say the fireworks found on July 4th were safely transported out of Incline Village in compliance with Nevada Department of Transportation regulations. An additional 18 fireworks found after July 4th were handed over to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad for proper disposal. They say the submerged barge rests at depths of 142 to 180 feet and will require the expertise of a certified dive team and most likely remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). They say video footage from the Washoe County ROV team has indicated that many of the missing fireworks are near the barge. … ” Read more from Channel 2.
Bacterial disease threatening sea lions along CA’s central coast earlier than usual, experts say
“There’s an outbreak of a bacterial disease threatening sea lions on the central coast, and it’s starting earlier than usual. The disease attacks the kidneys of marine animals and is difficult to treat. The Marine Mammal Center says it used to spike every three to five years. Right now, it’s coming back strong, year-after-year in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. What’s also concerning is that it usually arrives later in the summer. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
Study links valley’s land subsidence to lower home values
“When over-pumping of groundwater causes land in the San Joaquin Valley to sink, it tends to take home values with it, according to new research out of the University of California, Riverside. The first study of its kind in California found that the value of single-family homes fell between 2.4% and 5.8%, depending on how much the land physically dropped. That’s between $6,689 and $16,165 per home. Researchers reached that conclusion by matching satellite data with home market resale information between 2015 and 2021. A report on the study’s results is planned to be published in the journal Land Economics. Land subsidence is already costly in the way it damages the valley’s bridges, canals and other infrastructure. The study’s leader, environmental economics assistant professor Mehdi Nemati at UCR’s School of Public Policy, said land subsidence damages home values by sapping the water families drink and reducing farming employment. … ” Read more from Bakersfield.
You can still swim in Avocado Lake, despite the E. coli, experts say
“Avocado Lake, which is typically filled with swimmers, was quiet Friday. “We just advise that [people] should be very careful with that surface water right now,” Environmental Health Specialist Matthew Gore said. Gore works with the Fresno County Department of Health, which received a disturbing notice from the California Water Board on Thursday. “They informed us of elevated levels of E. coli bacteria that were detected there at Avocado Beach,” Gore said. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
Ridgecrest warns of significantly higher water rates for residents following court ruling on Indian Wells Valley
“The city of Ridgecrest demanded the Indian Wells Valley Water District to actively oppose the initial court ruling for its groundwater availability, saying Ridgecrest residents will have to pay “significantly higher” water rates otherwise. On Thursday, the city posted about the recent ruling on their Facebook page. According to the post, a preliminary court ruling in Orange County on Tuesday limited the federal reserve right to groundwater in U.S. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake to 2,008 acre-feet per year. The Navy originally said they needed 6,783 in AFY for its future mission, according to city officials.“This ruling threatens the very foundation of water affordability in Ridgecrest and the ability for our community to grow and prosper,” Ridgecrest City Manager Ron Strand said in the post. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
This summer has been generally mild, but now August is bringing triple-digit temperatures to Southland
“After weeks of relatively mild summer temperatures across much of Southern California, Mother Nature is turning up the heat next week. Temperatures this weekend will hover in the mid-80s in downtown Los Angeles, and in the high 80s to mid-90s in the valleys, persisting through at least Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The low clouds and morning fog that hang along the coast and burn off by the early afternoon are also expected to continue — but not for long. The mercury is forecast to rise on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, it’ll be extra toasty across much of Los Angeles County with temperatures soaring past 100 degrees in the valleys and the low 80s along the coast, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Along the Colorado River …
Leaders calling Arizona’s new water law one of the most significant in state history
“Some state leaders are calling a bill Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law in late June as one of the most significant pieces of legislation in Arizona’s history. “The Ag-to-Urban Groundwater Conservation program, codified into law with the signing of Senate Bill 1611, is a win for Arizona families, for farmers and for our aquifers,” Hobbs said during a Tuesday event. The bill she signed, also known as the “Ag-to-Urban” Bill, will allow farmers to sell their groundwater rights to housing developers. This new law helps developers bypass another historic piece of Arizona water legislation, the 1980 Groundwater Management Act, which required some builders to prove they had access to 100 years’ worth of water before they could begin construction. … ” Read more from KTAR.
Artificial beaver dams benefit water quality at a critical source
“Colorado State University researchers and their partners are monitoring dozens of artificial beaver dams high in the Cache la Poudre watershed, and early assessments suggest the structures are helping to slow water flow and improve water quality in a critical Northern Colorado river basin in the aftermath of the record-breaking Cameron Peak Fire of 2020. Researchers worked with a civil engineering firm to install the dams in Fall 2024, and this spring and summer they are tracking their effectiveness in halting the unwanted flow of sediment and other problematic effects of wildfire. Structures have also been installed in the Willow Creek watershed, which was burned in 2020 by the East Troublesome Fire. … ” Read more from Colorado State University.
