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On the calendar today …
- WORKSHOP: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Presentation on refinements to the California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Waters, Division 1 proposed fees, Presentation to focus on routine inspection fees, system improvement project fees, and waivers and deferrals; and Presentation on the Permit Application Portal. Click here for the agenda.
- MEETING: Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel (ILRP) Kickoff meeting Day 1 from 10am to 4pm. The State Water Resources Control Board will hold the kick-off meeting of the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel (Panel) on Friday, August 8, and Thursday, August 14, to evaluate the data currently collected as part of the State’s Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) and consider the approaches adopted in the State Water Board Order WQ 2018-0002, In the Matter of Review of Waste Discharge Requirements General Order No. R5-2012-0116 for Growers Within the Eastern San Joaquin River Watershed that are Members of the Third-Party Group (East San Joaquin Petition Order) and State Water Board Order WQ 2023-0081, In the Matter of Review of General Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands Order No. R3-2021-0040 (Central Coast Ag Petition Order). Click here for the meeting notice.
In California water news today …
Turning science into policy: ETSGSA pioneers a water credit for cover crops
“One of the tenets of Sustainable Conservation’s programs is the need for science to drive practical solutions. Over the past two years, our Solutions in Our Soil program has worked alongside growers, researchers, and water managers to gather and report the scientific consensus of the water and soil benefits associated with cover crops in California’s diverse agricultural contexts. Cover crops are a known practice in California agriculture for reducing water runoff, increasing the amount of water that can infiltrate and stay in the soil, improving biodiversity, limiting groundwater pollution, and supporting better air quality, among other benefits. But under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), concerns persist about whether cover crops “count against” growers’ limited water budgets and begs the question, is cover cropping worth the risk? … ” Read more from Sustainable Conservation.
How ocean creatures tell us the complicated story of LA sewage treatment
“Almost 400 feet beneath San Pedro, Rachel is stuck. Here on the surface at Averill Park, children play on the vibrant green hills. Books are open. Lunches are enjoyed. But Rachel — an 18-foot-diameter tunneling machine — awaits the signal to resume drilling through earth that no human has touched before. The tunnel she’s boring will eventually carry the treated wastewater of 5 million people from a plant in Carson 2 miles offshore from the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the Pacific Ocean. This tunneling project, delayed by a recent breach, is just one part of the mostly invisible system that takes care of everything we flush or drain down a toilet, sink or shower, hoping to never see again. The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts operate 11 wastewater treatment plants that clean the water so that, when we do see it again, it’s irrigating a green space like Averill Park. Or it’s been a benign addition to the ocean and its inhabitants (more on that later). … ” Read more from the LAist.
Rat infestation wreaks havoc on California almonds — industry suffers $300M in damage
“A massive rat infestation is wreaking havoc on almond orchards across California’s San Joaquin Valley, with crop losses and infrastructure damage now estimated to exceed $300 million, according to a new report from the Almond Board of California. Growers from Merced to Kern counties reported unprecedented destruction as roof rats chew through irrigation lines, strip bark from branches and feast on ripening nuts. “We live in an infinite sea of rats,” Niamh Quinn, a University of California Cooperative Extension wildlife adviser, told the Fresno Bee. “They are everywhere.” The almond board added that the rats are no longer confined to their traditional nests in trees. Many have turned to burrowing underground, particularly in orchards with limited winter ground cover — making them harder to detect and control. Researchers believe irrigation canals and waterways are acting as thoroughfares, enabling rodents to spread rapidly between fields and outmaneuver containment efforts. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: Almond farms battle Central California rodent surge. ‘An infinite sea of rats’, from the Fresno Bee
Rapidly spreading Canyon Fire joins California’s escalating wildfire crisis
“Wildfires are intensifying across California and the western United States, fueled by extreme heat, dry fuels and gusty winds pushing several into megafire territory. One of the latest threats is the rapidly spreading Canyon Fire north of Los Angeles, which ignited Thursday afternoon and expanded to more than 2.3 square miles in about five hours, according to Ventura County emergency officials. The fire prompted evacuation orders for approximately 4,200 residents and evacuation warnings for an additional 12,500, with crews battling the blaze in steep, rugged terrain using ground forces and air support, officials told The Associated Press. California is also facing 14 other active fires across the state, including the Gifford Fire raging in the Los Padres National Forest. Burning in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, the Gifford Fire has grown to nearly 100,000 acres and is 15% contained, according to CalFire. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
The start of California’s fire season has moved up 6 weeks since 1990 thanks to climate change
“You are not imagining it. Fire season in California is indeed starting earlier and lasting longer in virtually every region of California than it did two decades ago, researchers have found, thanks largely to human-caused climate change. In the Sierra Nevada, fire season starts about 24 days earlier than it did in the early 1990s. In the Northern Basin and Range region, which runs along the northernmost border with Nevada, it’s 31 days earlier. And in the Cascade Range, which runs into Oregon, fire season now begins 46 days earlier than it once did, according to a study published this week in the journal Science Advances. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In commentary today …
California groundwater reform sets a dangerous precedent. Lawmakers should think twice
David Saint-Amand, board president of the Indian Wells Valley Water District, writes, “Assembly Bill 1413 seeks to quietly rewrite California’s water laws, raising alarm among local water agencies, business groups, lawmakers and many advocates of California’s agriculture industry. The Indian Wells Valley Water District in eastern Kern County has serious concerns about the proposal’s threats to groundwater rights, due process, transparency and scientific accountability. The bill would limit judicial oversight and fundamentally alter the role of groundwater sustainability plans in California, potentially treating them as a legally binding determination of water rights. The Indian Wells water district is undergoing an adjudication process to protect property rights, and officials like me worry that AB 1413 would prohibit courts from reviewing the science behind these plans, as well as potential errors. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
15 teens. 300 miles. One mighty ancestral river, running free.
“The journey was no longer impossible, but that didn’t make it any less audacious. One great waterway, newly freed from the stranglehold of four hulking dams. More than 300 miles, through some of the most intense rapids in the West. And 15 young kayakers, nearly all of them new to the sport. Their goal: the first full descent of the Klamath River, from its headwaters near the Cascade Mountains in Oregon to its mouth on the Pacific coast of California. If they could pull it off, it would be monumental, marking the success of the largest dam removal project in American history. Yet for the teens, all descendants of the region’s Indigenous tribes, it would also be profoundly symbolic. Parents and grandparents had fought for decades to undam the Klamath, a sacred lifeblood. Now this generation would be the first to travel the river’s entirety. The challenge was daunting — and exhilarating. They would spend 30 days on the river, with The Washington Post following the odyssey. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Calif. senator picks up the fight for Lake Tahoe
“Sen. Adam Schiff leaned over the edge of the boat, peering straight down into the deep blue water. “I can see about 63 feet,” he said. “Any other guesses?” The junior senator from California was aboard the John LeConte, a research vessel used by scientists at the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. UC Davis Chancellor Gary May and his wife, LeShelle May, joined the senator and his wife Eve at the boat’s railing as Capt. Michael Cane lowered a Frisbee-shaped Secchi disk into the water. The Tahoe Environmental Research Center has been measuring clarity, or how far down you can see below the water’s surface, in Lake Tahoe using Secchi disks since 1968. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
New tech advances a decades long Tahoe algae monitoring program
“Innovations at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center are taking its decades-long algae monitoring program to new heights with the help of two aerial assets. The advancements could have important implications in the future for public safety and recreation. Previous monitoring was limited to diver sampling, but there’s only so much of the lake that divers can realistically cover. The program is now keeping tabs on the entire shoreline thanks to a helicopter and drone. Lake Tahoe’s 72 miles of shoreline and 191 square miles of surface area make any type of monitoring challenging. “It’s a big lake,” Brandon Berry says, staff researcher at the center, “so, that’s where the tech comes into it.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Water quality improving at Camp Richardson, nearby beaches safe
“Water quality near Camp Richardson Resort is improving, though daily testing continues, according to the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit via Facebook. The public is still advised to avoid water in the immediate area of the resort. Recent testing on August 2 showed that water near the Valhalla Boathouse and Pier (west of the resort) and Jameson Beach (east) meets state water quality standards. … ” Read more from KTVN.
Fatality at Yuba Water Agency construction site
“A contractor working on behalf of Yuba Water Agency was tragically killed today near the New Colgate Powerhouse in Dobbins. The victim died following an accident while operating construction equipment that fell down an embankment near the New Colgate Powerhouse. “We are just devastated and still processing what exactly happened,” said Willie Whittlesey, general manager of Yuba Water. “Our hearts are with the family, friends and coworkers who are suffering through unimaginable loss, and with our own staff who supported the accident response today.” No other details about the accident or victim are available at this time. Yuba Water Agency is supporting the investigation and is committed to transparency throughout this process.” (Source)
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte County leaders discuss groundwater sustainability, Feather River Corridor
“Butte County leaders, alongside members of Montgomery & Associates, discussed the Feather River Corridor results from the Joint Evaluation of Groundwater Sustainability plans on Thursday. The Feather River Corridor consists of the Butte, Wyandotte Creek, Sutter and North Yuba sub-basins. Surface water is the primary water source for the basin. The Butte sub-basin is utilized for cultivating rice and tree crops, which rely on groundwater for irrigation. This groundwater comes from various sources, including Big Chico Creek and the Feather River. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Sacramento nonprofits respond to loss of federal tree grant funds
“In Sacramento neighborhoods like Meadowview, efforts to expand tree cover were just beginning to take root when a $1 million federal climate grant was suddenly cut. Consequently, the city of Sacramento announced in June it joined a lawsuit against the federal government over the termination of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental and Climate Justice Grant program. The city joins Earthjustice, the Southern Environmental Law Center, Public Rights Projects and Lawyers for Good Government. The grants provided $1 million to the city and were intended to further the city’s Urban Forest Plan, adopted in June. Ninety percent of Sacramento’s tree canopy resides on private property, according to Rachel Patten, climate action lead for the city. The plan would expand the number of public tree canopies from 19-35% by 2045, improve air quality, reduce the heat island effect and provide shade for Sacramentans to engage in physical activity. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Driving the Yolo Causeway as sun sets? You might catch a glimpse of 250,000 bats
“If you drive across the Yolo Causeway as the sun sets, you may see ribbon-like streams of bats surge from underneath the bridge and into the open air. The causeway supports tens of thousands of commuters a day. It is also home to at least 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats — the largest urban colony of their kind in California. Bats don’t just sneak under the cloak of night, evading the human eye. In the summer, they fly every sunset in search of food, traveling as far as 50 miles from the causeway. Curious visitors can see the flyouts up close through the Yolo Basin Foundation’s Bat Talk and Tour series. Tours run almost every evening from June through September near the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. Over 5,000 people attend the tours each year. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Army Corps concludes physical levee inspections in Wilton, Sloughhouse, Sheldon
“When Reclamation District 800 (RD 800) was selected as one of only four private levee districts nationwide to take part in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pilot study in late 2022, it was already a major win. The program promised expert inspection, risk analysis, and long-term data — all at no cost to the district. But what may be even more rewarding, district leaders say, is that it also brought long-sought recognition and support from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) – the most likely source for future funding. … ” Read more from the Elk Grove Citizen.
BAY AREA
Wetland restoration planned for Tomales Bay beach
“A $1.3 million restoration project is set to begin on a wetland that neighbors Chicken Ranch Beach at Tomales Bay. The former estuary is next to the beach, a popular county park along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard north of Inverness. The Tomales Bay Foundation and Marin County Parks are working to enhance the area as a wildlife habitat. “This has been 25 years in getting it organized,” foundation president Tom Gaman said during a site tour. The two-month construction project is slated to start at the approximately 1-acre site on Aug. 15. Work will be done by contractors with the Tomales Bay Foundation. Project organizers said that the beach will remain open to the public during construction, but nearby parking will be reduced. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Struggling monarchs sure picked some inconvenient habitat
“Scientists are all searching for hope for monarchs these days. The latest California count found 9,119 individuals—a 99 percent decline since the Xerces Society started monitoring in 1997 and found 1,235,490 butterflies. … Of the 62 overwintering sites it identifies across California as “critical habitat,” 16 groves are in Alameda, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Marin counties—including the grove in Bolinas where Fusco has been working. The designation prohibits federal agencies from doing anything that degrades the groves. Each grove is somewhere monarchs have congregated in thousands over the past decades. Every Bay Area grove also includes eucalyptus trees—the non-native species vilified across California for, among other issues, its tendency to catch fire. “It would be way more convenient for all of us if they used native trees,” says Emma Pelton, a conservation biologist at the Xerces Society. … ” Read the full story at Bay Nature.
CENTRAL COAST
Rep. Carbajal reintroduces bill to protect Central Coast land
“California District 24 Congressman Salud Carbajal is reintroducing his bill to bolster federal protection for land on the Central Coast. The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act aims to designate approximately 250,000 acres of public land in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness, providing it with the highest level of federal protection. In a statement, Carbajal said he proposed the bill in retaliation against the Trump administration’s “recent attacks on federal environmental protections.” … ” Read more from KSBY.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
$84 million Canyon Tunnel will secure water future for communities in California’s Central Valley
“In a landmark investment in regional water infrastructure, South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) and Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) have officially launched the $84 million Canyon Tunnel Project—an ambitious initiative to protect and modernize water delivery for thousands of Central Valley residents and farmers. On July 1, 2025, South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) officially awarded the construction contract to Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring, Inc., a firm with significant experience in complex tunneling and infrastructure work. The project broke ground in a ceremonial kickoff on August 4 near Goodwin Dam, drawing dozens of officials, stakeholders, and community members. … ” Read more from Smart Water.
Madera County water challenges explained by Matt Angell
“Matt Angell, a Madera County farmer and owner of a pump company, brings decades of experience at the intersection of agriculture, technology, and water management. In his conversation with Nick Papagni, Angell blends firsthand farming knowledge with technical insight into California’s groundwater systems.When asked bluntly if man has messed up water and if it can be fixed, Angell’s measured but hopeful response was clear: yes, it can — but only if we overcome significant technical, environmental, and political challenges.California’s water woes stem from a complex mix of climate variability, over-pumping, expanding crop demands, and fragmented regulation. Despite being one of the most regulated states, water management remains disjointed. The 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) aimed to curb overdraft through local collaboration, yet implementation has been uneven. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Tulare-Kings County districts in water battle
“In the water battle version of the Hatfields and McCoys neighboring districts continue to have their differences with agencies involved sending letters to each other in the last month.And has been the case before when it comes to trying to meet the requirements of the Sustainability Groundwater Management Act the dispute is over subsidence with two agencies claiming the other isn’t doing enough to deal with the issue. It’s part of the long running battle along the Tulare-Kings Counties line involving the Lower Tule River Irrigation and Pixley Districts and the Angiola Water District. Also involved is the Tri-Counties Water Authority Groundwater Sustainability Agency which covers areas in Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties in both the Tulare Lake and Tule Subbasins. AWD is part of the TCWA and the Tulare Lake Subbasin. LTRID and Pixley are in the Tule Subbasin. Both the Tulare Lake and Tule Subbasins have been placed on probation by the State Water Resources Control Board although the decision to place the Tulare Lake Subbasin on probation has been put on hold pending litigation. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
LAFCO approves Hope Water District annexation
“Another step was taken for the county of Tulare to form a groundwater sustainability agency. The Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission, LAFCO, board unanimous approved the expansion of the Hope Water District at its meeting on Wednesday. The board approved the annexation which increases the size of the district from 2,248 acres to 3,828 acres. The annexation provides for a larger area in which the entire area could have more access to surface water and and a mechanism for funding for a pipeline the district has planned to provide for more surface water for irrigation and from the Friant-Kern Canal to meet the district’s irrigation, water banking and groundwater recharged demands. The annexation is being done to potentially provide the area with water service that previously hasn’t been available. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Kern Subbasin Groundwater Plan adopted, awaits state meeting
“The Kern River Groundwater Sustainability Agency (KRGSA) adopted their final Kern County Subbasin groundwater sustainability plan Thursday, marking a significant step toward addressing state requirements for water management. This plan represents years of collaborative work between the KRGSA and 19 other agencies in the Kern Subbasin. It aims to satisfy corrective actions mandated by the State Water Resources Control Board under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). … “We’ve evolved this plan several times. We think it’s a very robust plan that addresses all of the issues required by SGMA and now this additional review, both by the Department of Water Resources and now the State Water Resources Control Board, so it’s our expectation that, you know, they will recommend that we go back to the DWR, the Department of Water Resources, purview,” said Steven Teglia. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
EASTERN SIERRA
At Mono Lake, visitors witness the stark toll of L.A.’s water use
“At a trailhead surrounded by sagebrush, a naturalist welcomes a group of visitors to Mono Lake beside a sign that reads “Oasis in the Desert.” Guide Ryan Garrett, his face alight, greets the group of vacationers and entreats them to see the value in the saline lake — it teems with migrating birds, it’s around a million years old, and it’s affected by water use in Southern California more than 300 miles away. In the early 20th century, Los Angeles built a massive aqueduct to take water from the Owens Valley and soon dried up Owens Lake. Reaching for even more water, L.A. leaders pushed farther and began tapping water from the mountain streams that feed Mono Lake. “Are they still taking water?” one woman asks. “Yes, they are still diverting water,” Garrett replies. As they continue, Garrett explains how Mono Lake rapidly declined from the 1940s to the 1980s. They pass interpretive signs showing how much the water level dropped: 7 feet by 1951, 25 feet by 1963. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Could LA face a deadly flood like Central Texas? Study maps the risk
“Last month, over the Fourth of July weekend, a destructive and deadly flood engulfed the Guadalupe River in Central Texas, killing at least 135 people, including 37 children. Could a flood happen here? Climate change is making natural disasters more commonplace. In 2023, Los Angeles experienced its first tropical storm since 1939. Earlier this year, a series of wildfires destroyed over 16,250 structures and claimed the lives of 31 people across the region (though recent research suggests the actual fire-related death toll may be much higher). Drought-plagued Los Angeles, however, has not seen a deadly flood in some time. But that doesn’t mean the region is immune. … ” Read more from the LA Public Press.
Order to boil water before drinking in Malibu continues due to bridge construction delays
“An order to boil water before drinking or using continued Thursday for some residents of Malibu following bridge construction work at Solstice Creek, according to the California Department of Transportation and Los Angeles County Waterworks. The agencies said that a water main was temporarily disrupted while the bridge construction took place. After concrete unexpectedly blocked the water line, water supply restoration was delayed. Crews finished repairs Wednesday at noon and were working to re-pressurize and test the water line for any pathogens or contaminants, according to a statement from L.A. County Waterworks in District 29. The work was expected to be completed by Friday, the department said. The boil order, which began on Wednesday, affected areas west of Corral Road and Solstice Canyon Road. Residents should boil water for at least one minute before drinking or using, as recommended by the State Water Resources Control Board to avoid “potential stomach or intestinal illness due to possible contaminants in the water system,” the order said. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Granada Hills and Porter Ranch urged to conserve water as ongoing utility troubles across LA linger
“Residents and businesses in Granada Hills and Porter Ranch are being urged to conserve tap water while restoration efforts continue. The area, along with parts of Malibu, remains under a water boil notice. Meanwhile, officials say the city of L.A. is ready for any emergency water needs. “In anticipation of ongoing high temperatures, we have pre-deployed firefighters, firetrucks, water tankers, and fire helicopters to make sure any emergency is quickly handled,” L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said in a news conference Wednesday night. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Long Beach likely to choose development over restoring nature along the LA River
Ben Harris, Senior Staff Attorney, Regulatory Affairs & Legal Policy at LA Waterkeeper, writes, “The Los Angeles River could be — and should be — one of the Los Angeles region’s most powerful tools for climate adaptation. Instead, it remains a symbol of past planning failures — and an example of how those mistakes continue to shape the future of cities along the river like Long Beach. Despite serious environmental concerns and years of public and community opposition, on June 5, 2025, the Long Beach Planning Commission voted to approve the development of a four-story RV and self-storage facility at the privately-owned 3701 Pacific Place site, adjacent to the LA River. If the City Council finalizes the decision at its upcoming meeting on August 12, it would mark a clear step back from the City’s long-standing commitment to create green space along the LA River for the benefit of communities lacking suitable park access. From a broader regional perspective, the decision to approve this project would represent another lost opportunity to revitalize the LA River after over a century of poor land use decisions. … ” Continue reading at the LA Waterkeeper.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego’s water sellers are thirsty for revenue
“It’s that time of year – August – when San Diego’s real summer heats up and notices that the city of San Diego is raising water rates hit our mailboxes. On Sept. 30, the San Diego City Council will take up the uncomfortable exercise of approving a 63 percent hike in water rates and a 31 percent hike in wastewater rates over the next four years. Ouchie. But we knew it was coming. The table explaining how that will affect your average monthly bill on the front page of the water rates “notice of a public hearing,” that unholy baby blue packet in the mail, may be a little confusing. Voice of San Diego to the rescue. … ” Continue reading from the Voice of San Diego.
Commentary: U.S.-Mexico sewage deal proves that diplomacy can pay off
Duncan Wood, Ph.D, CEO of Hurst International Consulting in Washington, D.C., and Maria Elena Giner, Ph.D, former commissioner for the International Boundary and Water Commission, write, “In an era when headlines about U.S.-Mexico relations are dominated by tensions over migration, tariffs and security, it’s easy to lose sight of what the two countries can achieve when they sit down, negotiate and commit to solutions. Last month’s agreement to accelerate tackling the long‑running sewage crisis in the Tijuana River Valley is proof that — even now — quiet, institutional diplomacy can deliver. On July 24, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Mexican Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena Ibarra signed a memorandum of understanding in Mexico City to address one of the most stubborn environmental and public health challenges along the border. For decades, untreated wastewater from Tijuana has flowed north into Southern California, fouling beaches, harming marine life, and triggering respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses among residents and even U.S. Navy and Border Patrol personnel. Meanwhile, Tijuana’s population boomed, its sewage systems buckled due to lack of investment, and Southern California communities paid the price. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Preparing for a drier future on the Colorado River basin
“Arizona is about to enter a new era when it comes to water rights and distribution. The state’s main source of surface water — the Colorado River — has been dwindling as a result of climate change and increased water demand. That means less water for approximately 40 million people in two countries, seven states and 30 Native American tribes. And the rules that govern how states face water cuts are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2026. The seven states involved have struggled to reach an agreement regarding the future of these cuts. But whatever the outcome may be of negotiations or potential litigation between these seven states, experts say that Valley residents face significant water risks, including: Arizona could lose up to 40% of its water supply, the Central Arizona Water Project could be significantly cut and would deliver less water, and the reuse of water will become paramount to the state, including turning wastewater into drinking water. … ” Read more from Arizona State University.
Lake Mead faces historic low water levels amid ongoing drought
“Lake Mead is projected to reach some of its lowest water levels ever recorded by 2027, raising concerns about the future of the vital water source. Tourists and locals alike are witnessing the stark changes in the lake’s water levels, with the lake currently running 7 feet lower than it was in 2023 and 2024. Myat Han, a tourist visiting his family from South Dakota, expressed his observations while feeding catfish at the lake. “We just came to see the lake and feed the fish and things,” Han said. He noted the visible rock layers indicating previous water levels which were not their when his relatives saw the lake in the past, adding, “They said it has been going down since the last time they visited.” … ” Read more from Channel 3.
As a critical minerals mine nears approval in Arizona, residents fear it’s already affecting area water
“When Becky and John Ball retired from careers in firefighting, they found their dream home in the foothills of Arizona’s famed Patagonia mountains. But less than a year after moving in, they worry they made a mistake. In June, a letter arrived in the mail informing them their home was within the “cone of depression” that a proposed mine in the nearby mountains would create, which could cause their well to go dry. In the mountains above the mine, John Nordstrom got the same letter after his well’s water levels dropped 87 percent, according to data taken by the mine and shared with him. A local pond that was wet year-round on his property went dry after the mine began to dewater the aquifer to make way for underground mining. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Community outrage shut down Project Blue data center project in Tucson — but it’s not dead yet
“Tucson residents have been up in arms about a proposed data center dubbed Project Blue. The project, which is tied to tech giant Amazon, would have been built on 290 acres of unincorporated land the developer wanted annexed into Tucson so it could access water supplies. But, as residents relentlessly pointed out, that’s water that Tucson desperately needs. On Wednesday, the Tucson City Council heard those constituents loud and clear. Council members voted unanimously against bringing the massive project to Tucson. The move was cheered by a big crowd gathered at council chambers. Arizona Luminaria reporter Yana Kuchinoff was there, and she joined The Show to talk about what she saw and what happens next. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
In national water news today …
Civil cases against major polluters plummet under Trump
“The Trump administration has filed far fewer civil cases accusing companies of violating environmental rules than its predecessors, an analysis of federal data shows. In the first full six months of Mr. Trump’s second term, the Justice Department filed 11 civil lawsuits against major polluters for breaking bedrock environmental laws, compared with 30 of these cases in President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s first full six months in office, according to the analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project, an advocacy group. In addition, the Trump administration reached 18 settlements in civil cases against major polluters, compared with 53 settlements in the same period under Mr. Biden, the analysis found. Such settlements often require companies to pay millions of dollars in penalties.The slowdown in enforcement has let some polluters off the hook and left communities more exposed to hazardous pollution, former officials, environmental lawyers and activists say. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
US national parks staff in ‘survival mode’ to keep parks open amid Trump cuts
“Across the US’s fabled but overstretched national parks, unusual scenes are playing out this summer following budget cuts by Donald Trump’s administration. Archeologists are staffing ticket booths, ecologists are covering visitor centers and the superintendents of parks are even cleaning the toilets. The National Park Service (NPS), responsible for maintaining cherished wildernesses and sites of cultural importance from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty, has lost a quarter of its permanent staff since Trump took office in January, with the administration seeking to gut the service’s budget by a third. But the administration has also ordered parks to remain open and accessible to the public, meaning the NPS has had to scramble remaining staff into public-facing roles to maintain appearances to the crowds of visitors. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
July 2025 temperature and precipitation analysis: Record overnight warmth dominated the eastern U.S. in July and multiple regions across the country were impacted by flash flooding
“The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) in July 2025 was 75.4°F, 1.8°F above the 20th-century average, ranking in the warmest third of the 131-year record. Temperatures were above average across much of the Mountain West and much above average across the eastern U.S., while most of the Plains saw near-average conditions. Virginia and West Virginia each tied their warmest July on record, while all Atlantic coastal states from Florida to Delaware saw temperatures that ranked among their four warmest. Warmth during the overnight hours was especially notable, with record-warm average minimum temperatures in 12 states spanning the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley. For the year to date (January–July), the CONUS averaged 53.3°F, 2.0°F above average, also ranking in the warmest third of the historical record. Temperatures were above average across most of the country, with several states in the West and Southeast much above average. … ” Read more from NOAA.
The Republican campaign to stop the U.S. EPA from protecting the climate
“In a stark juxtaposition, while nearly half of all Americans sweltered under a life-threatening extreme heat wave made several times more likely by climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency declared this week that it will roll back the agency’s 2009 determination that climate pollution endangers public health and welfare. Known as the “endangerment finding,” this determination has been the basis of the EPA’s efforts over the past 15 years to regulate climate pollutants from vehicles, power plants, and other major sources. “Today is the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the head of the agency whose mission is to protect human health and the environment, using regulations as a primary tool. “We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion.” … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
Energy secretary says Trump administration may alter past National Climate Assessments
“U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said this week that the Trump administration plans to review and potentially alter the nation’s climate science reports. In a Tuesday appearance on CNN’s “The Source,” Wright told CNN host Kaitlan Collins the National Climate Assessments have been removed from government websites “because we’re reviewing them.” “We will come out with updated reports on those and with comments on those,” Wright said. The National Climate Assessments are mandated by Congress and have been released five times since 2000. The federal reports, prepared by hundreds of volunteer scientists, are subject to extensive peer review and detail how climate change is affecting each region of the United States so far and provide the latest scientific forecasts. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
National Academies will review endangerment finding science
“The nation’s premier group of scientific advisers announced Thursday that it will conduct an independent, fast-track review of the latest climate science. It will do so with an eye to weighing in on the Trump administration’s planned repeal of the government’s 2009 determination that greenhouse gas emissions harm human health and the environment. The move by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to self-fund the study is a departure from their typical practice of responding to requests by government agencies or Congress for advice. The Academies intend to publicly release it in September, in time to inform the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision on the so-called “endangerment finding,” they said in a prepared statement. “It is critical that federal policymaking is informed by the best available scientific evidence,” said Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences. “Decades of climate research and data have yielded expanded understanding of how greenhouse gases affect the climate. We are undertaking this fresh examination of the latest climate science in order to provide the most up-to-date assessment to policymakers and the public.” … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
The global plastics crisis explained in 6 charts
“Since plastic began to be mass-produced in the 1950s, the material has been building up in the environment and in people’s bodies. These five graphs illustrate just how bad the problem has gotten, and why delegates from more than 170 countries have committed to negotiating a global, legally binding treaty to “end plastic pollution.” The second part of the fifth round of talks began on Tuesday and is scheduled to run through August 14 in Geneva, Switzerland. The world produced 2 million metric tons of plastic in 1950. That number doubled to 4 million by 1955, then doubled again to 8 million in 1960, and has been increasing exponentially ever since. By 2019, the world was producing about 460 million metric tons of plastic every year — about the same weight as as 88 Great Pyramids of Giza. … ” Read more from Grist.
