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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Proposed Revised Notification and/or Response Levels for PFAS, and an update of the Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Broad Spectrum Project at Disadvantaged Communities. Click here for the full agenda.
- LUNCH-MAR: An Overview of the Groundwater Accounting Platform from 12:30 to 1:30pm. The Groundwater Accounting Platform is an open-source tool that helps California water managers, landowners, and water users track water budgets and usage more easily in near real-time. The California Water Data Consortium and Environmental Defense Fund have partnered to expand the Platform to new regions, and to provide additional features and functionalities to help more groundwater agencies and growers track water use allocations under SGMA. Come and learn more about new updates to the tool and a vision for the future on August 6, 2025. To join a Lunch-MAR Session, please use this link.
- WEBINAR: Why Eel River Dam Removal Is Urgent from 7pm to 8pm. Join Alicia Hamann of Friends of the Eel River for a free presentation entitled “Why Eel River Dam Removal Is Urgent.” Removal of the two dams in the Eel River headwaters is nearly assured. However, to secure the benefits of dam removal for salmonid recovery, the action needs to happen soon. This presentation will explore dam safety factors that are both driving momentum for dam removal and also reducing the reliability of Potter Valley Project water supply. It also will cover the range of environmental issues that dam removal will improve or solve, including mercury toxicity, invasive species proliferation, and the incredible hope for revitalization of the southernmost population of summer steelhead on Earth. The event will be held at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center starting at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A session, and carried live on Zoom at humboldtstate.zoom.us/j/88248246788?pwd=AuQSlOmC4Zwkq4hzWctlzTySkjKyjY.1#success
In California water news today …
New ways of saving California salmon emphasize collaboration
“In better times, droves of young winter-run Chinook salmon would travel 300 miles downstream from the Sacramento River, beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and into the Pacific. They would return as adults, shimmering silver and red, and spawn at their exact place of birth in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Today, fewer and fewer salmon are able to survive the journey. … California’s commercial salmon fishing ban and drought-induced water curtailment to agriculture have rallied an unlikely coalition of fishermen, farmers and water managers hoping to find solutions. And when California researchers identified a new nutritional stressor to salmon, fishermen set their distrust of the scientific community aside to assist with an all-hands-on-deck management plan.“We have so much in common,” said Johnny Atkinson, the Sausalito director for the Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association. “Instead of fighting each other, we’re sitting down and solving these issues.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
‘A dumping ground’: How, and why, did the Delta become a home for abandoned ships?
“The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta’s waterways span over a thousand miles. The region serves as a critical source of water for California, a transportation corridor linking ports in Sacramento and Stockton with the Bay Area, and a habitat for hundreds of wildlife species. But these rivers, streams and sloughs also conceal a man-made danger which poses significant environmental and navigational threats. Dozens of abandoned vessels — ranging from small speedboats and pleasure craft, to barges and cruise ships — litter the Delta, some of which have sat derelict for decades. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
California’s first National Heritage Area is getting a fresh brand identity
“Established by Congress in 2019, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area – California’s first and only National Heritage Area (NHA) – is set to be branded and marketed. The Delta Protection Commission (DPC) is teaming up with Honey, a design and marketing studio in Sacramento, to create a Tourism Brand and Marketing Plan for the NHA that will promote sustainable tourism and economic development in the region by encouraging responsible use of, and visitation to, the Delta’s unique resources and communities. “This project is a significant step,” says Program Manager Blake Roberts. “For two decades, we collaborated with our Congressional delegation and the public to establish the NHA. Now we are excited to embark on an important effort that will demonstrate to visitors what a special place the Delta truly is.” Honey “believes strong branding begins with listening,” says the agency’s president Maggie Hamilton Giordanengo. “We are honored to immerse ourselves in the voices, values, and lived experiences of the Delta communities to craft a brand that inspires sustainable tourism.” … ” Read more from the Delta Protection Commission.
SEE ALSO: Delta heritage area to get a branding makeover, from the Daily Republic
California almonds at the crossroads: Tariffs, trade, and hope for a better harvest
“California Almonds at the Crossroads: In today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, the AgMeter and Josh McGill dove deep into the challenges and opportunities shaping California’s almond industry, joined by Darren Rigg of Minturn Nut Company. Despite market turbulence, Darren shared a cautiously optimistic view for the coming harvest season. After a rollercoaster of pricing over the past few years—marked by suppressed returns and fluctuating global demand—Rigg emphasized that 2025 may finally offer a glimmer of hope, thanks in part to California’s ideal growing conditions this spring and summer. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Regenerative agriculture community charts way forward
“The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources-UC Merced Symposium ‘Regenerative Agriculture: The way forward’ on July 1 brought together stakeholders to showcase regenerative agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley. The symposium was an opportunity for participants to learn about successful ongoing work and target future objectives while considering possible implementation challenges, like bottlenecks. The day-long workshop offered three credits of Certified Crop Adviser continuing education units towards nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated pest management, crop management, professional development and sustainability. More than 100 people attended, including subject experts, growers, students, researchers, technical advisors, nonprofit and industry representatives, in addition to UC Cooperative Extension personnel. … ” Read more from UCANR.
Research project shows how aquaculture, agriculture, and restoration can work together
“Scientists from the University of California, Santa Cruz, partnered with Pie Ranch, an educational farm in Pescadero, to study the sustainability payoffs of fertilizing plants with water removed from aquaculture, an age-old practice. Since October, UC Santa Cruz researchers have filtered water, or “backwash,” out of aerated, recirculating tanks filled with 200 swimming rainbow trout—and then used that water to irrigate native plants at the farm. The team is investigating why the backwash might especially help the plants to grow, building on limited scientific literature on the topic. They plan to share findings next spring. In the meantime, the Amah Mutsun Land Trust, in partnership with Pie Ranch, are using some of the native plants from the study to restore the ranch’s CZU wildfire burn scars. … ” Read more from UC Santa Cruz.
Internship program empowers students to grow into future tech leaders
“For a small group of determined students, a summer internship surpassed expectations of simply offering work experience, it became a career launchpad. Through United Water Conservation District’s hands-on Technology Systems Internship Program, participants stepped into real-world IT environments, built practical skills, and gained the confidence to pursue occupations in tech, cybersecurity, and systems administration. Beginning in 2024, the program has welcomed students from a variety of backgrounds, some commuting more than two hours each day, united by a shared drive to learn and make a difference. They worked side by side with experienced mentors, explored everything from system upgrades to cloud tools, and contributed meaningful improvements that made daily operations run more smoothly. “Watching these interns grow has been nothing short of inspiring,” said General Manager Mauricio Guardado. “This program reflects what is possible when opportunity meets determination. We are honored to play a part in shaping the next generation of the water industry and grateful for the lasting impact this team has made on our organization.” … ” Continue reading this press release from United Water Conservation District.
Drought status update: California-Nevada faces continued risk of drought, heat, and wildfire impacts during remaining dry season
“Since the start of the water year, the area of California and Nevada in drought increased by ~28% and intensified. New areas of Abnormally Dry (D0) or worse conditions crept northward in the region, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Risk is elevated for extreme heat over the next week and beyond, while outlooks suggest limited monsoon precipitation in coming weeks. The National Interagency Fire Center predicts above-normal fire potential in northern California and much of northern and eastern Nevada in August and September due to dry fuel conditions and warm temperatures. The Gifford Fire recently ignited on August 1 in Central California under hot, dry, and windy conditions. … ” Read more from NIDIS.
California is on pace for its worst wildfire year in recent memory, and SoCal is mostly to blame
“More than halfway through the year, California is currently on pace to have more fires and burn significantly more acreage than it did last year, with a weekend blaze in the rugged Central California mountains posing the latest challenge for firefighters. As of mid-July, California has seen more than 220,000 acres burn this year, almost 100,000 acres more than the state had seen on average at this point in the year over the last five years, according to statistics from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection that include data from both state and federal lands. That total doesn’t yet include the 65,000 acres burned in the Gifford fire, which ignited Friday in a rural, mountainous stretch across the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county line and continues to grow. It also doesn’t include the acreage from three fires that started in Southern California on Monday, including the 348-acre Gold fire in San Bernardino County. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
California fires are burning and incoming heat wave could make things worse
“Authorities in California are bracing themselves for a prolonged heat wave this week that could amplify the risks of a wildfire and intensify fires already burning in the southern and central portions of the state. The warming trend is forecast to bake almost all of inland California over the next week, dialing up the heat on what’s already been a fiery summer in the state’s southern half, and raising the risks up north after a relatively quiet start to the season. “This week will definitely bring those elevated fire weather conditions,” said Adam Roser, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Diego. In Southern California, “the vegetation is still very dry. … [and] these are definitely some of the hotter temperatures we’ve seen so far this summer.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Fall forecast 2025: Warmth to fuel fires, hurricanes before cold air chills US
“Autumn is only a month away, but don’t expect calm, crisp days across the board. While some regions will slide into sweater weather, others could be dealing with wildfires, lingering summer heat or tropical storms that spin up close to home. Meteorological fall starts on Monday, Sept. 1, while astronomical autumn starts on the equinox at 2:19 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 22. But when will it actually feel like fall when you step outside? Warm, humid air will hold firm across the eastern United States through the start of autumn, delaying the true arrival of fall-like weather conditions. However, the warmest weather, compared to the historical average, will be focused on areas from California to Texas and northward into Oregon and Idaho. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Tsunami surprised Crescent City, caused $1 million in damage to harbor, officials say
“Poor H Dock. When 4-foot tsunami waves crashed into the Crescent City Harbor in rural Northern California last week, the dock nearest the harbor’s entrance — which was designed to absorb the brunt of the surge energy — took a beating. State Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), who represents the North Coast, called H Dock “a sacrificial lamb.” And the Crescent City Harbor District said in a statement that the dock “functioned as designed — sacrificing itself to protect other infrastructure.” But despite state and local officials’ relief over how well the dock performed during the storm, it appears the damage to the harbor in the small city in Del Norte County — which calls itself “Comeback Town” because of its history with tsunamis — was worse than initial assessments suggested. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Restoration project breaks ground on Scott River to help salmon and farms thrive
“A major restoration project is now underway on the Scott River, a key Klamath River tributary in Siskiyou County, aiming to improve salmon habitat and water security for local farms. The Yurok Tribe, Farmers Ditch Company (FDC), and CalTrout broke ground this week on a collaborative effort that will restore degraded fish habitat, improve river flows, and modernize aging irrigation infrastructure. The project is a major piece of California’s broader salmon recovery plan following the removal of dams on the Klamath River. The Scott River, one of the most productive coho salmon streams in California, has seen fish numbers plummet due to drought, gold mining legacy damage, and disease outbreaks. Decades-old mine tailings have restricted fish access to upstream habitat and left key sections dry during summer and fall migrations. This project will fix that by relocating FDC’s 155-year-old diversion point and enhancing irrigation systems. The goal is to reconnect cold-water habitats like Sugar Creek to the Scott River headwaters, benefiting fish and farms alike. … ” Read more from Active NorCal.
Lawsuit could force Humboldt County to regulate groundwater pumping in the Eel River Valley
“In extremely dry years like 2014, when the water level in the Lower Eel River gets so low that in some spots it goes completely underground, does Humboldt County have a responsibility to curtail groundwater pumping in the basin? A lawsuit brought by Friends of the Eel River (FOER) says it absolutely does. Appearing in Humboldt County Superior Court on Friday, the environmental nonprofit’s attorney, Michael Lozeau, argued that the county has failed to adequately consider, much less protect, the public trust resources in the Eel River during the late summer and early fall. In that time of year, farmers irrigate their crops with water pumped out of the alluvial aquifer, further degrading conditions in the nearby Eel, which serves as critical habitat for Chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead. “The county’s duties under the public trust [doctrine] don’t take the summer off,” Lozeau said before Judge Kelly Neel. “It applies all year round.” … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost.
North Coast Water Board adopts waste discharge permit for vineyards
“On June 12, 2025, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board approved a general permit regulating waste discharges from commercial vineyards in the region. The new General Waste Discharge Requirements for Commercial Vineyards (“Vineyard Order,” Order No. R1-2024-0056) applies to about 65,000 acres of vineyards located primarily within the Big-Navarro-Garcia, Gualala-Salmon, and Russian River Hydrologic watersheds. These requirements are aimed at protecting rivers and groundwater from sediment, nutrient, and pesticide pollution associated with winegrowing. Vineyards still have time to comply with the Order’s requirements, as they do not require grower enrollment in the program until July 2028. … ” Read more from Hanson Bridgett.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Major Groveland infrastructure project launched to enhance local water system
“A significant water infrastructure improvement project in Groveland, aimed at supporting long-term water reliability for the community, begins next week and will result in traffic delays. The Groveland Community Services District (GCSD) reports that construction on the AWS WTP Relocation Pipeline Improvements Project is scheduled to begin Monday, August 11, 2025, and is expected to last about 60 working days. The total construction costs are estimated at $1,073,500.00 and paid entirely by the Urban Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant from the State of California Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from My Mother Lode.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte County: Registration open for webinar focusing on evaluation results for local Groundwater Sustainability Plans
“Registration is now open for a webinar series discussing the Joint Evaluation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) in the Northern Sacramento Valley. The series is organized by the Butte County Department of Water & Resource Conservation. The first webinar, scheduled for August 7, will focus on evaluation results for the Butte, Wyandotte Creek, North Yuba, and Sutter Subbasins. Participants will learn about monitoring networks, sustainability criteria, and regional coordination opportunities. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Yuba Water celebrates new facilities on Marysville Road
“The Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors marked the first public meeting at the agency’s new Power Systems facilities and held a ceremonial ribbon cutting.Located at 8897 Marysville Road in Oregon House, 10 acres of the 20-acre property have been developed and include a recently completed 14,000-square-foot administration building, communications tower, laydown yard and parking. The site’s warehouse and mechanics shop are still under construction, expected to be complete by the end of the year. Designed to work with the natural landscape and for the community, the facility is built with non-flammable materials and solar panels that feed excess power back onto the grid, a 150,000-gallon water tank for fire crews and a new, safer school bus stop for students with a turnout, crosswalk and lighting. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
Citrus Heights to break ground on two new water wells
“A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to be held on Wednesday in Citrus Heights as the city aims to boost water security. Officials say the new wells will help decrease the city’s reliance on Folsom Lake. While wells typically pull from the ground, officials with the Citrus Heights Water District say these wells are meant to pump water back into the ground – acting as a reserve to pull from when the area is struggling through dry times like a drought. When a drought hits, water officials say they rely heavily on groundwater. The new wells will help expand that resource. … ” Read more from CBS News.
BAY AREA
Tiburon flood board seeks funds for creek projects
“Flood-control efforts are advancing in the Bel Aire neighborhood in Tiburon. After preliminary study, local officials are asking county supervisors to allocate $693,000 to engineer a creek and drainage system restoration. The request comes before the board on Aug. 18. “This project has been in the works for more than two years,” said Kathryn Oliver, chair of the Flood Control Zone 4 Advisory Board. “I am pleased that at our recent FCAB meeting we were able to move ahead.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Cleanup of toxic Richmond waterway creates divisions
“Renewed efforts to clear toxic pesticides from a Richmond waterway are creating divisions between local environmental groups and the Environmental Protection Agency, which previously attempted to clean the site in the 1990s. The United Heckathorn Superfund Site spans 5 acres of land and 15 acres of marine sediments in Richmond Harbor’s Lauritzen Channel and Parr Canal. It was contaminated between 1947 and 1966 when multiple companies made, packaged and shipped pesticides in the area. After being designated as a polluted area in need of decontamination in 1990, the EPA spent the decade removing 111,300 cubic yards of contaminated soil and placing a concrete and asphalt cap over the former Heckathorn plant site. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Cleanup of polluted creek near Lehigh Cement Plant begins
“A Santa Clara County hillside polluted for decades by a controversial cement plant and quarry is on the path to restoration. Heidelberg Materials, which owns the Lehigh Permanente Quarry and Cement Plant, detailed its restoration plans for a roughly 1.7-mile stretch of Permanente Creek at an annual community meeting Thursday. Company representatives also gave updates on the reclamation plan for the 3,510-acre site. The creek restoration project will clear the waterway of thousands of tons of debris and contaminated sediment over the next five years, caused by decades of pollution from the cement plant and quarry in Santa Clara County’s foothills near Cupertino. … ” Read more from the Mountain View Voice.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
PRESS RELEASE: A Historic Investment in Local Water Security
“With hard hats, shovels, and a bold vision for the next century, South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) and Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) officially kicked off the Canyon Tunnel Project on August 4, 2025. The 12,000-foot water tunnel promises to revolutionize how water moves through the Sierra foothills. Built beneath steep canyon walls and through an ancient, buried riverbed, the tunnel will bypass a fragile section of the Joint Supply Canal (JSC), protecting critical water deliveries to cities, farms, and families across SSJID and OID’s districts for generations to come. “This tunnel is a lifeline for our communities,” said Glenn Spyksma, SSJID Board President. “We’re building a future where water keeps flowing no matter what nature throws our way.” … ” Read more from the South San Joaquin Irrigation District.
53 West Goshen homes connected to clean water thanks to $3.4M state grant
“A project nearly five years in the making, 53 homes in West Goshen now have access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water through their faucets. “They have been feeling a sense of relief and excitement. With the new service coming in, we have heard people talk about the water quality feels different to the skin. How it feels a lot softer and less harsh than well water,” says Erica Diaz, the Community Solutions Advocate with the Community Water Center. The non-profit has been working for years to provide safe water to residents in the area. … ” Read more from ABC 30.
VIDEO: Kern River Valley tribe excluded from river rights
“This is the first in our new series of videos exploring who owns the waters of the Kern River. The Tubatulabal tribe lived along the north and south forks of the Kern River for possibly as long as 6,000 years before the first settlers arrived. The tribe lost its lands and was suffered horribly. Its members, though, are still here and very much a part of the Kern River Valley community. And the river is still a key part of their heritage. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Southern California rainfall totals drop by as much as 75%
“While Southern California has managed to escape the worst of the summer heat (so far), mild June and July temperatures have probably helped obscure the region’s single biggest issue: water, or the lack thereof. Despite the easy weather, this part of the world has been hurtling deeper into drought conditions since early spring, and new data shows just how bad things have gotten from Santa Barbara to San Diego.Recent statewide precipitation data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows just how little rainfall Southern California has received since Oct. 1, the start of the state’s formal water year. Monitors in Santa Barbara have only collected 7.09 inches of rain in that time, compared to last year’s giant tally of 25.16 inches during that period. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment System as a scalable model for water security
“Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) is a leading example of advanced water reuse in action. This article explores the system’s role within a diversified water strategy and the technical, institutional, and financial factors that have shaped its success. Water reuse has rapidly moved from a niche innovation to a central pillar of sustainable water management. As cities and utilities grapple with the unpredictability of climate change and growing populations, the ability to diversify and secure water sources has never been more critical. Among the various strategies being deployed—network optimisation, demand management, and non-conventional resources—water reuse stands out as one of the most practical, environmentally sound, and socially promising approaches. One of the clearest examples of this is Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
In an Anaheim Hills neighborhood at risk of landslides, homeowners approve tax to fund groundwater pump system
“A system of pumps that protects an Anaheim Hills neighborhood from landslides should no longer have funding challenges after homeowners on Monday overwhelmingly approved taxing themselves — in some cases by thousands of dollars annually — to keep the pumps running. The 1993 Santiago landslide damaged a dozen homes in this area of Anaheim Hills, forcing many families to evacuate. Following the landslide, dewatering wells were installed that now protect more than 300 homes on the southern end of the hills community. But they cost $340,000 annually to keep running. Funding for the pumps was set to run out early next year — potentially during the rainy season. And homeowners in May had narrowly voted for a third time against continuing to fund the system. But on Monday, enough homeowners in the Santiago Geologic Hazard Abatement District, which manages the pumps, agreed to a permanent property tax assessment to keep the pumps running into the future. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SAN DIEGO
More trash booms might pop up following success in Tijuana River
“This past rainy season, a trash boom in the Tijuana River kept 500 tons of plastics, trash and other debris away from the Tijuana River Valley and the Pacific Ocean, far exceeding expectations. On Tuesday morning, Oscar Romo, director of Alter Terra, the non-profit in charge of the boom, gave a tour of the area to members of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, one of the agencies that helped secure funding for the trash boom. “It was decades in the making, something fantastic to celebrate for all the partners involved,” said Jennifer Hazard, director of Community Programs for RCAP, which has offices nationwide and is based in Washington, D.C. … ” Read more from the Border Report.
Along the Colorado River …
Tucson buys 21,000 acre-feet of water credits to boost future supply
“The City of Tucson just bought 21,000 acre-feet of groundwater storage credits from the Bureau of Reclamation. In June, the City placed a bid with the federal agency which was selling 30,000 acre-feet of stored treated wastewater from an aquifer recharge project along the Santa Cruz River. The water credits are wet water amounts based on acre-feet within the Tucson aquifer that can be available for future use or projects within a cooperative agreement that allows government entities to control a share of effluent for future recovery through the Lower Santa Cruz Managed Recharge Project, which is now known as the Tres Ríos Reclamation Facility. “The local utilities have designations of assured water supply, so anytime we have additional renewable resources like effluent or CAP water that may go into aquifer stores, that all helps support our overall water portfolios with the state of Arizona,” said John Kmiec, director of Tucson Water. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
Utah dry spell worsens drought, fuels fire danger
“It’s been an entire month since a measurable amount of rain has fallen in Salt Lake City. And according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 60% of the state has fallen into severe drought. National Weather Service Lead Meteorologist Christine Kruse says little relief is expected in the coming weeks. If current conditions persist, drought and fire risks will likely worsen, and much of the next snowpack could be absorbed by parched soil before reaching reservoirs. “Right now, we’re looking quite dry through at least mid-August into late August,” Kruse said. “That’s starting to be a concern that will go into our winter season while we’re trying to put snow pack down with very dry soil moisture.” … ” Read more from KSL.
‘Cool Mix’ flows resume at Glen Canyon Dam
“In response to rising river temperatures, the Bureau of Reclamation will implement the release of colder water from deeper in Lake Powell through Glen Canyon Dam. This proactive measure aims to disrupt the establishment of nonnative fish that pose a danger to the threatened humpback chub. Currently, the trigger for releasing cooler water is three consecutive days of average river temperatures exceeding 60°F at river mile 30 below the dam. Reclamation initiated these flows on Aug. 3. However, due to changes in hydrology and observed river temperatures, these flows will be paused starting today, Aug.5. Cool mix flows will resume when the temperature trigger is again met. This adaptive process builds on lessons learned from last year’s operations and aims to minimize the impacts to hydropower production. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
In national water news today …
Trump EPA says it will defend tough lead pipe rule from Biden, but details to come
“The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it will defend the Biden administration’s aggressive rule for reducing lead in drinking water against a court challenge, though public health advocates worry officials could still weaken it. The rule gave cities and towns a 10-year deadline to replace all of their lead pipes and was the strongest overhaul of lead-in-water standards in roughly three decades. Litigation against the rule was on pause so the Trump administration could decide whether it supported the policy. On Tuesday, the agency said it would defend the tough standards. “At the same time, EPA will develop new tools and information to support practical implementation flexibilities and regulatory clarity. The agency will announce next steps in the coming months,” the agency said. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
EPA announces $9 million in grants to protect drinking water from natural hazards and cybersecurity threats
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 5, 2025, over $9 million in grant funding for midsize and large water systems to help protect drinking water from cybersecurity threats and improve resiliency for extreme weather events. The agency is also publishing a report highlighting 10 recommendations to strengthen resiliency to cyberattacks in the water sector. The Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability grant program is authorized by Congress through the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA is seeking grant applications from public water systems serving 10,000 people or more. This funding opportunity will remain open for 60 days. … ” Read more from Water World.
Groundwater is drying out, heating up, and causing sea level rise
“The Verde River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in Arizona, winding through what’s known as the Verde Valley before feeding into the Salt River. Agriculturally, the valley is relatively fertile, supporting crops like sweet corn, alfalfa, peaches, and pecans, as well as a small wine industry. Recently, though, residents have found that the water below their feet is drying up. Faith Kerns grew up in the area, and her parents still live in her childhood home. This summer when they tried to turn on the garden hose, which is connected to their groundwater well — a common source for household water in the region — nothing came out. “We’ve had some challenges here and there, but it’s definitely gotten worse over the last few years,” Kearns, who is the director of research communications at Arizona State University, told Grist. … ” Read more from Grist.
Following the USDA’s food and farm funding: Here’s what’s been canceled and frozen, and resources for those affected
“In the first seven months of President Donald Trump’s second administration, the federal funding landscape has been radically changed — especially for the people who grow, harvest, and distribute food. Thousands of government staffers were terminated; entire programs have been stripped down; and a grant freeze has immobilized state, regional, and local food systems that rely on federal funding. In all of the turmoil, the communication from the Department of Agriculture itself has lacked transparency and comprehensiveness. We’ve heard over and over from our sources — farmers, food organizations, agricultural networks, and advocates across the country — that they remain confused and in search of reliable information. Folks need clarity about what is happening, support during a difficult moment, and alternatives to the current faltering system. So, in response to those needs, we’ve put together this information guide. Below you’ll find more details about the status of various USDA programs; resources for those struggling with financial and/or mental health hardships; and some conversation starters to help you envision a more resilient food economy. … ” Read more from Grist.
Federal report sees climate change benefiting U.S. agriculture
“A U.S. Department of Energy report disputes that climate change will devastate agriculture, arguing that carbon dioxide stimulates plant growth and is “greening” the planet. The report largely contradicts the most-recent assessment by the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change and the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a congressionally mandated study last published in 2023. While those assessments warned climate change will make food less plentiful and more expensive, the new report produced by the Trump administration sees a higher level of carbon increasing crop yields. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
Environmental groups, EPA spar in court over Trump’s cancellation of resiliency funding
“Last month, the town of Dante in Southwest Virginia’s Appalachia region saw about 3.5 inches of rainfall over a couple of hours. The heavy downpour ran off the steep mountainside surrounding the town, and surged upward from nearby Lick Creek. The normal amount of rainfall for the town in July is about 5 inches, according to the National Weather Service’s office in Morristown, Tennessee. No one died in the flooding that ensued, according to local reports, but 13 people were injured in the town of about 600. The episode of rainfall leading to flooding is not new for the communities that are struggling to revitalize themselves after the decline of the coal industry. Damage and destruction hit the Virginia towns of Hurley in 2021 and Whitehood in 2022, and then swept across Southwest Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee last fall when Hurricane Helene devastated the region with intense rainfall and catastrophic flooding. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
For nature-based climate solutions to work, they must be restructured
“Humans have engineered climate change by manipulating the environment. There’s a hope that we may also be able to mitigate this, predominantly through reducing emissions, but in some cases by leveraging some of these same natural processes, a plan called Nature-based Climate Solutions (NbCS). A majority of the climate-altering carbon dioxide humans release into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels gets drawn into Earth’s oceans and landscapes through natural processes such as photosynthesis, where plants turn atmospheric carbon dioxide into biomass. Efforts to slow the climate crisis have long sought to harness nature, often through carbon “offsets,” aimed at bolstering forests, wetlands and agriculture, but have generally had only marginal success so far. New research out of the University of Utah, UC Santa Barbara and eight other institutions analyzes various strategies for improving such nature-based climate solutions, specifically exploring the role of the world’s forests in pulling carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it in long-lived trees and even in the ground. The results, published in the journal Nature, were funded by the National Science Foundation. … ” Read more from The Current.
