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In California water news today …
La Niña is brewing. Here’s what it means for California weather
“Forecasters expect La Niña conditions to develop this fall and winter, according to an update Thursday by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. The agency has issued a La Niña watch, indicating that conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean are favorable for the climate pattern’s formation in the coming months. La Niña is defined by cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific along the equator. The ocean waters affect atmospheric activity, tilting the odds toward drier than normal conditions in Southern California and wetter than average conditions to the far north, especially in the winter. The Climate Prediction Center’s latest seasonal outlook for November, December and January hints at such a pattern. But the forecast isn’t guaranteed: La Niña may not emerge at all. And, even if it does, other factors could outweigh La Niña’s influence. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
SEE ALSO: For second straight year, La Niña weather coming to California, from SF Gate
The first atmospheric river of the season hits the West Coast. Here’s what California can expect.
“The first fall-like storm system of the season is pushing into to the West Coast. An AR-2 atmospheric river will be impacting the Pacific Northwest on Friday and early Saturday, bringing up to an inch of rain to the Seattle metro area and over 3 inches of rain to the high elevations of western Washington. Portland, Oregon, could pick up a half-inch of rain while the Oregon coast and Cascades receive an inch to two. The atmospheric river will quickly fall apart as it drops from Oregon into California, meaning – outside of the Shasta region – Northern California will largely miss out on precipitation from the early season storm. That being said, we’ll all benefit from some cooler temperatures! … ” Read more from ABC 10.
$1B is just the start, says Water Blueprint
“California Citrus Mutual says the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley is sounding the alarm on the region’s water future. Last week, the Blueprint sent formal letters to both the San Joaquin Valley Congressional Delegation and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, urging significant federal investment in California’s water infrastructure. The outreach follows passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which set aside $1 billion for certain water projects—a critical first step toward an estimated $12 billion need. … ” Read more from Ag Info.
Helping California track and protect its wetlands
“Previously, California had no standardized way to assess, track, and manage its wetlands. Permitting decisions under Clean Water Act Section 401—required for any project that discharges material into wetlands or waters of the state—often relied on best professional judgment rather than consistent data. That changed when the State Water Board adopted its Wetland Definition and Dredge & Fill Procedures, and began encouraging the use of science-based tools developed by the California Wetlands Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW) and San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI). At the core of this shift are three key tools: CRAM, EcoAtlas, and Project Tracker. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Estuary Institute.
Fourth District Court of Appeal rejects City of San Diego’s methodology for tiered rates
“On July 30, 2025, the California Fourth District Court of Appeal (“Fourth District”) rendered its opinion in Patz v. City of San Diego, which affirmed the lower court’s decision that the City of San Diego’s (“City”) tiered water service rate (“Tiered Rate”) structure for water users violates Proposition 218’s proportionality requirement. California voters enacted Proposition 218 in 1996, which added articles XIII C and XIII D to the State’s Constitution to provide procedural and substantive limitations to affect how public agencies levy and collect existing and future taxes, assessments, and property-related fees and charges. Article XIII D, section 6(b)(3) of the Constitution (“Section 6(b)(3)”), provides that public agencies implementing property-related fees “shall not exceed the proportional cost of the service attributable to the parcel.” The burden is therefore on public agencies to justify the proportionality of the cost of service. … ” Read more from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud, & Romo.
Grand Canyon’s Dragon Bravo megafire shows the growing wildfire threat to water systems
“As wildfire crews battled the Dragon Bravo Fire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in July 2025, the air turned toxic. A chlorine gas leak had erupted from the park’s water treatment facility as the building burned, forcing firefighters to pull back. The water treatment facility is part of a system that draws water from a fragile spring. It’s the only water source and system for the park facilities on both rims, including visitor lodging and park service housing. The fire also damaged some of the area’s water pipes and equipment, leaving fire crews to rely on a fleet of large water trucks to haul in water and raising concerns about contamination risks to the water system itself. Wildfires like this are increasingly affecting water supplies across the U.S. and creating a compounding crisis that experts in water, utilities and emergency management are only beginning to wrestle with. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
Research indicates more severe wildfires will result in more water quality challenges
“As outdoor recreationists are packing their bags to enjoy Nevada’s many scenic recreation areas, many will be heading to northeastern Nevada’s Ruby Mountains to hike Lamoille Canyon. Anglers are also heading out to fish trout, including the Lahontan cutthroat trout, out of the creek that runs through it. But, a study recently published by University of Nevada, Reno researchers finds that increasingly severe wildfires and drier conditions in places such as Lamoille Canyon are threatening water quality, fish and other aquatic life in streams. The research was led by doctoral student Maxwell Kay Strain, under the supervision of Erin Hanan, an associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science and principal investigator of the Fire and Dryland Ecosystems Lab. Housed in the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, Hanan also conducts research as part of the College’s Experiment Station. … ” Read more from Nevada Today.
Restoring forests or risking flames? Scientists debate active management
“On Sept. 8, 2020, a brush field in southern Oregon, in the northwestern U.S., caught fire. Over the next week, “walls” of flame tore through the towns of Talent and Phoenix in the Rogue River Valley. Here, hot, dry summers crisp low-lying vegetation, and convective winds — like those that kicked up in early September 2020 — can fan the spread of fire from even the smallest ignition. The 1,300-hectare (3,300-acre) Almeda Drive Fire was small by contemporary standards in the U.S. West, where blazes repeatedly shatter records. And this one was human-caused, as are more than 80% of fires in the U.S. But neither statistic made it any less devastating to the families of Talent and Phoenix, more than 2,600 of whom lost their homes to the blaze. Amid a swirling mix of past mismanagement of forests in the western U.S., an explosion of dense settlements, and hotter, drier conditions on account of climate change, there’s been a push in recent decades to actively manage forests for fire risk — aimed at avoiding disasters like the Almeda fire. … ” Read more from Mongabay.
California valley fever cases hit record highs again in 2025, state reports
“The latest California numbers suggest 2025 will be another record-smashing year for valley fever, the illness linked to drought and precipitation and spread by fungal spores. There were 6,761 cases reported through the end of July, according to state health officials — a significant increase over the 10-year average of 3,833 for that same time period and a slight jump from last year’s total of 6,364. The 10-year low was in 2016, when there was less than a quarter of what there is now. Last year’s total of nearly 12,500 cases is the most on record for California and far more than the 7,000 to 9,000 cases per year the state averaged between 2016 and 2024. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In commentary today …
Dan Walters: California Legislature’s final weeks could decide fate of Delta water tunnel
“Tanned, rested and presumably ready after a summer vacation break, state legislators will return to the Capitol next week for the final month of their 2025 session. … Despite the Capitol’s fixation on national political maneuvering — tinged by Newsom’s likely bid for the White House — there are pending matters that hit closer to home. None is more important than what’s been kicking around for at least six decades, a project to bolster California’s north-to-south shipments of water by bypassing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The project has gone by several names and morphed from a “peripheral canal” carrying water around the Delta to twin tunnels beneath the Delta and, most recently, to a single tunnel called the Delta Conveyance Project. Newsom’s administration believes it needs just one more thing to get the greenlight, legislation to exempt the project from the California Environmental Quality Act’s ponderous process, thereby denying critics the legal tools to delay the work. … ” Read more from Dan Walters.
Playing fireman, Trump has actually increased California’s fire risk
Columnist Thomas Elias writes, “Many politicians love to play fireman, often visiting disaster scenes and advising real firefighters on how they can do things better. No politico does this more than President Trump, who frequently advises California governors they need to “rake the forests” to prevent fires. He conveniently ignores the fact that the federal government he controls owns most of the lands he wants raked and that any money to do it would have to come from the federal budget. Facts have rarely dissuaded Trump from things he believes in or disputes, though, including items like climate change and whether captured undocumented immigrants have the right to court hearings before they are summarily dumped back into their home countries — or others where languages they may not recognize or understand are spoken. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Letter writing workshop will urge regulators to swiftly remove Potter Valley Project dams
“The hydropower Potter Valley Project includes the Scott and Cape Horn dams, two century-old dams on the Eel River. It also has a mile-long diversion tunnel that feeds water from the Eel River into the Russian River. Sierra Club Mendocino Group chapter director Alicia Bales and Friends of the Eel River’s executive director Alicia Hamann will answer questions Friday in Willits about the Potter Valley Project, including how the dams have affected fish in the Eel River and what relief removing the dams may bring. On July 25, PG&E, the project owner, published its final license surrender application and plan to decommission the project and remove the dams. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
PG&E to begin Eel River Dam removal amid environmental concerns
“Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is set to commence the removal of the Eel River Dam, a move that has sparked mixed reactions among local communities. While some believe the project will aid in the restoration of native fish populations, others are worried about its potential impact on water supplies for the Russian River Basin. PG&E spokesperson Paul Moreno said, “Decommissioning this project will benefit customers in the long run because it wasn’t providing power economically.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
Coastal Commission OKs restoration project along mouth of Eel River
“Thursday the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved a massive restoration project south of the mouth of the Eel River. The project, involving conservation easements with five landowners, stretches over 1,500 acres of land west of Ferndale and involves changing tidal habitats decimated by historic ranching. It was both lauded by commissioners and tempered with words of caution after opposition was voiced by Wiyot tribal officials at the meeting. The Russ Creek and Centerville Slough Restoration Project aims to reestablish tidal flows by reconnecting historic sloughs — to restore full tidal connectivity to an approximately four-mile long stretch of the Centerville Slough channel. “The project represents one of the largest and most ambitious coastal restoration efforts ever proposed on private land,” the staff report said. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Herald.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
New tech is helping keep Lake Tahoe blue
“There’s a very good reason Cathleen Findley said she retired 11 years ago near Lake Tahoe. “We wanted to go to our happy place,” Findley said about Tahoe. “We have a boat. And we love the water and the mountains.” Findley is not the only one in love with the lake. Three to 6 million visitors a year flock to Lake Tahoe, due in large part to the crystal-clear blue water. The water’s health is something Findley said the local community takes very seriously. But a recently released study by UC Davis on the water’s health shows clarity is the third murkiest since records were taken in the 1960s, with visibility ending at 62.3 feet down — a fair distance from the best clarity level recorded of 102.4 feet. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Dangerous E. coli present in Big Chico Creek, CDC confirms
“Whatever is in Big Chico Creek that is making people sick, it’s likely not human feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Butte County Public Health announced Wednesday that the presence of a dangerous strain of E. coli in Big Chico Creek was confirmed by CDC tests of samples taken on July 17 and 24. Public Health Officer Jarett Beaudoin said in an interview Thursday that the strain of E. coli O157, detected in the CDC’s tests, is genetically consistent with at least five confirmed cases of E. coli infection this year in Butte County. Beaudoin said E. coli O157 is typically associated with food contamination, but genetic consistency in test results among creek samples and human cases suggest the source likely isn’t from food, but rather a continuous source of contamination in the creek, caused by a herd or flock of animals that share bacteria more readily. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
NAPA/SONOMA
Cloverdale warns: Save water now or face the squeeze later
“Cloverdale’s leaders aren’t waiting for the taps to slow to a trickle. With Russian River flows slipping and reservoir levels already lagging, the City Council is preparing to declare Stage 1 water conservation — telling residents to cut back now, while it’s still voluntary, or risk mandatory restrictions before summer’s done. At the Aug. 13 meeting, staff reported that local storage is lower than average for mid-August. State regulators have already reduced the minimum flows in the upper Russian River to preserve upstream storage. Cloverdale, which draws its entire supply from wells next to the river, is especially vulnerable to low-flow years. “We want to be proactive so we don’t find ourselves in a crisis later,” Mayor Todd Lands said. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Gazette.
Keeping Lake Sonoma safe from invasion
“Local officials are doubling down on efforts to protect Lake Sonoma from a tiny invasive mollusk with a massive destructive potential. At this week’s Sonoma County Board of Supervisors meeting, the board unanimously approved a plan to extend the Lake Sonoma Mussel Infestation Prevention Program, aiming to keep quagga and zebra mussels out of the reservoir. The board’s official resolution ratifies and approves Sonoma Water’s application for a state grant to fund two more years of mussel-prevention measures at Lake Sonoma. In plain terms, the county is trying to secure about $400,000 in state funding to continue boat inspections, public outreach, and early-detection monitoring on the lake through 2027. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Gazette.
BAY AREA
Will this week’s atmospheric river impact the Bay Area?
“An early season atmospheric river is expected to bring widespread rain, breezy winds and cooler temps to all of western Washington and northwest Oregon Thursday night through Saturday afternoon. Locally, many residents are wondering what impact, if any, the weather system will bring to the Bay Area. … “The Bay Area will see limited impacts,” said KRON4 Meteorologist Gayle Ong. But that is not to say we will be completely unaffected locally. … ” Read more from KRON.
New Bay PFAS data show reasons for optimism and concern
“Monitoring for PFAS, or forever chemicals, has come a long way in the 16 years since the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) first tested water and sediment from the Bay for the toxic compounds. Forever chemicals are toxic and one of the most concerning under-regulated contaminants in San Francisco Bay. Newer methods let scientists screen the Bay’s water and bottom for 40 kinds of forever chemicals, plus precursors that transform into forever chemicals in the environment. Thanks to these advances and ramping up monitoring in recent years, a new report on forever chemicals in the Bay’s sediment and water gives the most complete view yet of trends for this persistent pollutant. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Estuary Institute.
CENTRAL COAST
The CPUC approves current water supply and future demand, clearing the way for desal plant.
“After months of delay, the California Public Utilities Commission, the state’s regulator of private utilities, finally voted on Thursday, Aug. 14 on a critical procedural step in California American Water’s quest to build a desalination plant: Establishing the current water supply in Cal Am’s local system, and the projected demand in the year 2050. … Last spring, Administrative Law Judges Robert Haga and Jack Chang issued a proposed decision that adopted a projected water demand of 13,732 acre-feet by 2050—the number Cal Am had pushed for—and a current supply of 11,204 acre-feet per year, which was a good bit higher than Cal Am had put forward. On Aug. 14, the commissioners voted 4-0 to adopt that proposed decision, sort of. Somewhere along the way, a typo snuck in—1,210 acre-feet was transposed as 1,120 acre-feet—and as a result, the proposed decision, as adopted Thursday, establishes a current supply of 11,114 acre-feet, 90 acre-feet less than the original proposed decision. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
SEE ALSO:
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- Regulators side with Cal Am on Monterey Peninsula water supply, from the Monterey Herald
- Monterey Peninsula desalination plant approved amid public debate, from KSBY
- California Public Utilities Commission Approves Water Supply Decision Supporting California American Water’s Monterey Peninsula Desalination Project, press release from Cal American Water
The origins of Soquel Creek Water District
“In the early 1960s, amid growing concerns over flood control and water management in California’s developing coastal communities of Santa Cruz County, residents of Soquel and its neighboring beachside towns took decisive action. In 1961, a local ballot measure approved the formation of a new public agency — the Soquel Creek County Water District — under California’s County Water District Law (Division XII of the Water Code), tasking it with addressing both flooding threats and long-term water needs. The region’s challenges were twofold. Historically, Soquel Creek and other waterways regularly overflowed, inundating downtown Soquel, damaging properties, roads, and farmland. Winter storms frequently swept debris downstream — everything from logs to car parts — sometimes transforming creeks into instant rivers . Though flood-control measures predated the District, structural planning was fragmented and short-term. … ” Read more from TPG Online.
EPA, Vistra outline battery removal timeline following Moss Landing fire
“Kazami Brockman of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirmed Wednesday that no damaged batteries have been removed yet from the site of the Jan. 16 fire at the Moss Landing Battery Storage facility. Brockman, the EPA’s on-site coordinator, did say preparatory work is still underway following a formal agreement between the EPA and Vistra that was finalized last month. “Since the finalization of the agreement, on-site work has ramped up,” Brockman said during a Monterey County press briefing Wednesday. “This includes building stabilization, partial demolition and the installation of structural supports to allow for safe battery retrieval.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Gonzales water tower restoration underway
“The Gonzales water tower is undergoing restoration work to repaint and clean the structure. Painting was estimated to be completed by Wednesday, July 23. The cleaning portion started about noon. … ” Read more from KSBY.
San Miguel water treatment plant receives approval for $54 million upgrades
“San Miguel’s wastewater facility needs updates—not only to accommodate a growing population, but to keep up with state mandates. Those enhancements are now in the realm of possibility after the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission unanimously approved the expansion of the Machado Wastewater Treatment Facility on July 24, allowing it to more than double its daily treatment capacity as part of a $54 million project. San Miguel Community Services District (CSD) General Manager Kelly Dodds urged the Planning Commission to approve the expansion on July 24 to comply with State Water Resource Control Board mandates requiring that wastewater facilities have the capacity to accommodate 30-year projected average daily flows and to produce recycled water for irrigation. … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
Restoration Round-Up: Arroyo Grande Creek Stream Gauge Modification Project
“In San Luis Obispo County, Arroyo Grande Creek winds from Lopez Lake to the Pacific Ocean, supporting aquatic and riparian ecosystems, agricultural lands, and local communities along the way. However, like many California waterways, it has been significantly altered for flood control and water supply. One remnant of these historic modifications — a concrete stream gage built in 1939 by the U.S. Geological Survey — had become a serious impediment to steelhead trout. Thanks to a coalition of local partners led by Creek Lands Conservation (CLC), this barrier has now been modified to allow federally threatened South-Central California Coast (SCCC) steelhead to once again access eight miles of upstream spawning and rearing habitat. According to CLC, barriers like the one on Arroyo Grande prevent the free migration of steelhead between the ocean and their freshwater spawning waters, consequently stranding them in isolated fragments of habitat. The organization saw this project as an opportunity to take a step towards a future where Central Coast streams provide uninterrupted, ancestral habitat for steelhead. … ” Read more from Sustainable Conservation.
HOA Fences with USACE: Fencing plans for Hollywood Beach raise concerns among residents
“A plan by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to reshape about 18 acres of Hollywood Beach sand dunes and surround them with wood-post and rope “permanent symbolic fencing” to protect nesting birds has angered neighbors. Many residents of the beach community near Oxnard say they knew nothing about the proposal until long after it was voted on by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) on May 10, 2024, which was part of a plan for future dredging operations around Channel Islands Harbor and the Port of Hueneme. The state meeting was held at the Sovereign Nation of the Elk Valley Rancheria in Crescent City, about 20 miles south of the Oregon border. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Reporter.
Coastal Commission opposes SpaceX’s bid to nearly double Vandenberg launches
“The California Coastal Commission has unanimously voted against SpaceX’s plan for a dramatic expansion of rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, citing environmental and regulatory concerns. “The sonic booms and their impacts on California’s people, wildlife and property are extremely concerning,” Commissioner Linda Escalante said at a hearing Thursday in Calabasas. “The negative impacts on public access, natural resources and environmental health warrant our scrutiny under California as a standard of review.” SpaceX wants to boost annual launches from 50 to 95 per year, a massive jump from when SpaceX started at the Santa Barbara County facility in 2024. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Golden State Water drilling a new well in Claremont
“Golden State Water Company is constructing a sound wall barrier in anticipation of drilling a new well and plant site at the northeast corner of Padua Avenue at Base Line Road in Claremont. City Manager Adam Pirrie said Golden State, Claremont’s water supplier, does not require a permit from the city. The company did not respond to the Courier’s request for comment for this story. The project — “Montana Lane – New Well and Plant Site” at gswater.com/claremont — involves crews installing a new well and water plant to improve the company’s distribution system, according to the company’s website description. … ” Read more from the Claremont Courier.
Scenic fundraiser backs local conservancy’s effort to save a rare Newport Beach estuary
“For more than half a century, the Newport Bay Conservancy has wrapped its collective arms around the 1,000-acre Upper Newport Bay to protect the ecologically important habitat from the encroachment of development, invasive species and other worldly harms. Since 1967, a stalwart team of biologists, philanthropists and legions of volunteers have worked to educate the public about the estuary that provides a home, refuge and crossing to hundreds of species of fish birds and other wildlife, many of which are endangered. From school visits and kayak tours to coastal cleanups and a volunteer-run native plant nursery, the conservancy’s outreach touches more than 50,000 visitors annually. A broader, multiyear effort to reconstruct and restore the Bay and its watershed began in 2018 and is about to head into its largest and most transformative work to date. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
New Pacific Institute report: Shrinking Salton Sea just one part of a larger air pollution problem
“A new report released today by the Pacific Institute, a global nonpartisan think tank, assesses the complex and growing air quality threats in the Salton Sea region of southeastern California and outlines more effective strategies to protect public health. As the Salton Sea has shrunk by more than 60 square miles over the past 30 years due to reduced water use in the region, more dry lakebed—known as “playa”—has been exposed, contributing to dangerous dust levels in an area already burdened with some of the highest respiratory hospitalization rates in California. But the report finds that playa dust is only one piece of a broader pollution burden that includes unpaved roads, desert winds, farming practices, diesel emissions, and more. “Breathing Hazard: Air Pollution in the Salton Sea Region” synthesizes findings from dozens of published sources to improve understanding of what contributes to air pollution in the region and how to protect public health most effectively. … ” Read more from the Pacific Institute.
Shrinking Salton Sea puts 500,000 at risk as report warns of worsening air pollution crisis
“A new report released today by the Pacific Institute, a global nonpartisan think tank, assesses the complex and growing air quality threats in the Salton Sea region of southeastern California and outlines more effective strategies to protect public health. As the Salton Sea has shrunk by more than 60 square miles over the past 30 years due to reduced water use in the region, more dry lakebed—known as “playa”—has been exposed, contributing to dangerous dust levels in an area already burdened with some of the highest respiratory hospitalization rates in California. But the report finds that playa dust is only one piece of a broader pollution burden that includes unpaved roads, desert winds, farming practices, diesel emissions, and more. “Breathing Hazard: Air Pollution in the Salton Sea Region” synthesizes findings from dozens of published sources to improve understanding of what contributes to air pollution in the region and how to protect public health most effectively. … ” Read more from City Watch.
Researchers launch Salton Sea dust study to uncover health risks
“Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Inc. hosted an information session on August 14 on the receding Salton Sea and its potential impact on air quality, bringing together researchers and residents to address concerns about toxic dust. The project, a two-and-a-half-year collaboration between UC San Diego, UC Riverside, and community partners, aims to measure dust coming from Salton Sea’s exposed lake beds, or playa, identify its chemical composition, and assess the resulting health impact. Amato Evan, a professor at UC San Diego, said the work combines science with community involvement. “We don’t want to just have something where a bunch of scientists just come out and do stuff, and then you get nothing out of it,” he explained. “That’s part of this collaboration, to guide the work that we do so that there’s something useful for the community.” … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
SAN DIEGO
Contaminated air, water affect Navy training area in California
“For decades, the Tijuana River has been more than merely a geographical feature on the U.S.-Mexico border — it’s also persisted as an environmental hazard. Since the 1970’s, untreated sewage flows have polluted the river, contaminating beaches from the California communities of Coronado to La Jolla and disrupting both military operations and civilian life. Generations of service members stationed along the Silver Strand in San Diego County have trained, lived and worked under the shadow of this cross-border contamination problem. For Naval Special Warfare units, the ocean is an operational environment. SEAL candidates train daily in the surf zone, practicing timed swims, underwater navigation and small-boat handling. When bacterial counts spike, training is curtailed or moved, disrupting schedules and adding logistical strain. … ” Read more from The Navy Times.
Plan for Lake Hodges dam in question after cost jump
“The robust plan to start rebuilding Lake Hodges dam has come to a screeching halt as a new cost analysis has just jumped from $275 million to between roughly $500 million and $700 million. Now, the San Diego Water Authority says they will no longer cover their promised half of the repairs, and the City of San Diego is now weighing alternatives to repairing the 106-year-old dam. “Multiple arches and buttresses, you’re trying to have fail safes where stress gets passed from one area to another, make it last forever, however the ravages of time wreak their havoc,” said Pat Abbott, a geological professor from SDSU. Lake Hodges has been an emergency water supply for San Diego since World War I. Now with the State deeming the dam unsafe to operate in its current condition, 12 billion gallons of water has been released and uncertainty to this manmade lake is in the air. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Along the Colorado River …
Awaiting the Colorado River 24-month study
“As we await Friday’s (Aug. 15, 2025) release of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado River 24-Month Study, we need to remember a painful lesson of the last five years of crisis management: whatever you see in Reclamation’s report of the “Most Probable” reservoir levels for the next two years, we must prepare for things to be much worse. A year ago, Reclamation’s “Most Probable” forecast told us to expect Lake Powell to hold 10.36 million acre feet of water at the end of July 2025, with a surface elevation 3,593 feet above sea level. Actual storage in Powell at the end of July was 7.46 maf, 2.9 million acre feet less, and the reservoir is 38 feet lower, than the “Most Probable” forecast. Four years ago, one of us (Eric Kuhn) wrote this, which is helpful in understanding what is happening: The problem: the assumptions underlying the study do not fully capture the climate-change driven aridification of the Colorado River Basin. … ” Read more from the Inkstain Blog.
Why winter rains keep skipping the Southwest
“Climate change appears to have driven an ongoing 25-year shortfall in winter rains and mountain snows across the U.S. Southwest, worsening a regional water crisis that’s also related to hotter temperatures and growing demand. Multiple studies now suggest that human-caused climate change is boosting an atmospheric pattern in the North Pacific that favors unusually low winter precipitation across the Southwest. This weather pattern – known to scientists as a negative mode of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, or PDO – is one phase of a slow-moving swing between warm and cool temperatures in the northeast and tropical Pacific Ocean. The PDO’s monthly value for July was the lowest in 171 years of data. Climate change was already implicated in warming temperatures that pull more moisture from the landscape and shorten periods of mountain snow cover, thus exacerbating the impacts of dry spells. But scientists had previously assumed that the PDO’s variations over decades, which affect the rainfall and snowfall itself, were largely natural. A study published in Nature on Wednesday, August 13, finds that emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gases and tiny sun-blocking particles called aerosols have driven long-term PDO changes over the last few decades, depriving the Southwest of much-needed winter rain and snow. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
Las Vegas valley’s water use more efficient; SNWA’s goal is a 10% improvement
“So far this year, 88.3 billion gallons has been pumped from Lake Mead to the Las Vegas valley. And 47.6 billion gallons have gone back to the lake. While Arizona and California are projected to go over their Colorado River water allocations this year, Nevada is right on track, according to forecasts from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It’s a mind-boggling story of successful recycling, and a look at water use over the past 10 years shows it’s improving as more grass is removed and other steps are taken toward more efficient water use. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
EPCOR confident water system for Rio Verde Foothills will be built on time
“People who live in the Rio Verde Foothills, which is about 45 minutes northeast of Phoenix, are again worried they might run out of water at the end of the year. “It’s down to the wire. Four or five months out,” said Amy Schugar, a homeowner. She moved to the neighborhood six months ago. The homes are not connected to a network of water pipes, so people depend on well water or have it hauled in. For now, water is hauled in from the city of Scottsdale. However, that arrangement is set to end on Jan. 1. That’s when a company called EPCOR should wrap up construction of a standpipe, which is the solution to the Rio Verde Foothills water problem. … ” Read more from Arizona Big Media.
USBR invests almost $200 million in water reuse in the Colorado River Basin
“The Bureau of Reclamation is investing approximately $200 million in water reuse projects in Arizona and Utah as part of a continued commitment to developing long-term sustainability in the Colorado River Basin. An agreement being finalized with the City of Phoenix includes a $179 million investment in the city’s water purification infrastructure. This funding will be allocated to the design and construction of the city’s North Gateway Advanced Water Purification Facility. “Increased water recycling, reuse and conservation is necessary to address long-term drought in the Colorado River Basin and these partnerships with Arizona and Utah do just that,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Scott Cameron said. “We commend the commitment to sustainable water management by Phoenix as well as by the state of Arizona through the recent passage of the Ag to Urban legislation that will promote further conservation.” … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
Officials talk irrigation and how to keep salt out of the Colorado River
“Every year, millions of tons of salt flows down the Colorado River. The Colorado Department of Agriculture works with local irrigation companies and agricultural producers to limit the amount drawn from Colorado’s farming industry. On Thursday, members of the Department of Agriculture and others toured different areas around Palisade from a lined canal to a peach orchard to see what methods are being used to limit how much salt the Grand Valley washes into the river. Colorado Department of Agriculture Salinity Program Coordinator Paul Kehmeier explained that the soils around the Grand Valley contain salt that can be washed into the river by irrigating fields too deeply. “It doesn’t really feel like it this morning, but we’re actually standing on the bottom of an ocean right now,” Kehmeier said. “The water’s gone, but all the salt from the ocean is still here. When the water from the Colorado River gets in contact with it, it dissolves the salt and the salt gets into the water and it’s carried down on the river.” … ” Read more from the Grand Junction Sentinel.
SEE ALSO: Fighting salt: protecting crops from natural buildup in the Colorado River, from Western Slope Now
Low water levels force closure of Lake Powell boat ramps
“Boaters looking to enjoy a day out on Lake Powell are being warned about launch ramp closures due to low water levels caused by drought conditions in and around southern Utah. The National Park Service announced the Wahweap Main Launch Ramp within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area will be closed starting Monday, August 18. While the ramp will be closed, all other services at the Wahweap location will remain open, as well as the courtesy dock. A photo shared by the park service showed the extremely low water levels at the Wahweap ramp. … ” Read more from Fox 13.
In national water news today …
PFAS ‘forever’ chemicals found in 98% of US waters tested
“A recent study from the U.S.-based environmental nonprofit Waterkeeper Alliance has found “forever chemicals” contamination in 98% of the waterways it tested in the United States. The findings come at a time when representatives from the world are gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, for the United Nations plastics treaty negotiations to hammer out a plan to address the growing plastic crisis. The issue of addressing the chemicals in plastic has emerged as a sticking point in the negotiations. One of the most widely used chemicals in single-use plastic is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. Also known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS can persist in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years. The study sampled both upstream and downstream from 22 wastewater treatment plants in the U.S. The researchers also collected data from waterways upstream and downstream of 10 areas where biosolids — or sewage sludge that is being used as a fertilizer — were applied, Kelly Hunter Foster, a senior attorney with Watekeeper Alliance, said in a video call. … ” Read more from Mongabay.
Countries deadlocked on plastic production and chemicals as talks on a global treaty draw to a close
“Negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution are drawing to a close Thursday, as nations remain deadlocked over whether to tackle the exponential growth of plastic production. A draft of the treaty released Wednesday wouldn’t limit plastic production or address chemicals used in plastic products. Instead, it’s centered on proposals where there’s broad agreement — such as reducing the number of problematic plastic products that often enter the environment and are difficult to recycle, promoting the redesign of plastic products so they can be recycled and reused, and improving waste management. It asks nations to make commitments to ending plastic pollution, rather than imposing global, legally-binding rules. French President Emmanuel Macron said the “lack of ambition” in the draft treaty was unacceptable, and that agreeing to a global treaty against plastic pollution “is our opportunity to make a difference.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: Plastic pollution talks collapse as oil states oppose tough treaty, from the New York Times
Temperatures and carbon emissions continue to rise
“Last year, Venezuela lost its last glacier. Neighboring Colombia also saw a glacier melt out of existence. Around the world, all 58 glaciers monitored by the American Meteorological Society lost mass during 2024. Since observations began in 1970, only one other year saw every monitored glacier shrink: 2023. Now 2024 appears to have broken grim records for global temperatures and greenhouse concentrations set just the year before, according to the annual AMS climate assessment released Thursday. “The annual global temperature across land and ocean was the highest recorded in the observational record,” said the 527-page State of the Climate report. “Anomalous warmth in 2024 occurred across most of the world and contributed to many of the continued changes in key climate indicators.” … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
July keeps the torrid pace going in one of Earth’s hottest years on record
“July 2025 was Earth’s third-warmest July in analyses of global weather data going back to 1850, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, or NCEI, reported August 12. NASA and the European Copernicus Climate Change Service also rated July 2025 as the third-warmest July on record, behind only 2024 and 2023. Data from the Japan Meteorological Agency and Berkeley Earth were not available at the time of this writing.Global land areas had their 7th-warmest July on record in 2025, and global oceans had their 3rd-warmest July, according to NOAA. July was the 4th-warmest on record for Asia, tied for the 4th-warmest in Europe, and ranked 8th-warmest in Africa and 9th-warmest in the Caribbean region. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
