Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
On the calendar today …
- MEETING: CA Water Commission beginning at 9:30am. The Commission will consider options to provide pro-rata inflationary increases to WSIP projects’ Maximum Conditional Eligibility Determination (MCED) amounts and hold a public hearing to remove the dollar cap for early funding as set forth in the WSIP regulations. Other agenda items include updates on groundwater conditions, groundwater trading, and subsidence best management practices. Click here for the full agenda.
- WEBINAR: Birdy Hour with Sirena Lao: SF Bay National Wildlife Refuges, Introduction, Challenges, and How to Help from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex is made up of seven national wildlife refuges, protecting tens of thousands of acres of habitat for birds, endangered species, and other wildlife. Learn about these incredible places, with a focus on our largest, the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in the South Bay, at this free San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory virtual presentation. Sirena will also discuss what the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society and other partners do to help the refuges, the challenges the Refuge System is facing, and some ways you can help. Register here.
New report highlights Delta Conveyance Project as necessary action …
Newsom says California needs to build a water tunnel. Opponents argue costs are too high
“As Gov. Gavin Newsom pushes for building a giant water tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, his administration is saying it‘s the “single most effective” way for California to provide enough water as the warming climate brings deeper droughts and more intense storms. Environmental advocates and political leaders in the Delta, among other opponents, condemned a new state analysis that draws that conclusion, arguing that building the tunnel would harm the environment and several types of fish and would push water rates much higher for millions of Californians. The potential costs of building the 45-mile tunnel are generating heated debate. The state has estimated the project, if water agencies participate and contribute, would cost $20.1 billion. But in a separate analysis, economic research firm ECOnorthwest found the costs would probably range from about $60 billion to $100 billion or even more. “Unfortunately, the Newsom administration is brushing over and leaving out the real costs of the tunnel, both to the ratepayers and taxpayers and the environment,” said Carolee Krieger, executive director of the California Water Impact Network, a nonprofit group that commissioned the economic analysis. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
New report highlights the Delta Conveyance Project as the single most effective action for a sustainable water future for California
“A new report released today by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) examines how a combination of strategies, most importantly the Delta Conveyance Project, can help the State Water Project (SWP) maintain reliable water deliveries to 27 million Californians despite hotter temperatures, more extreme storms, more severe droughts, and higher sea levels. This first-ever State Water Project Adaptation Strategy details over a dozen different actions DWR is already taking or evaluating. The plan concludes that while climate change makes a long-term decline in SWP annual average water deliveries likely, a portfolio of actions can offset much of the decline. The plan focuses on five actions to help DWR understand which holds the greatest potential to help climate-proof the SWP. The most promising action to improve water supply reliability is the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project for the following reasons: The project is the single most effective strategy on its own, but it also amplifies the impact of other strategies. … ” Read more from DWR News.
Delta tunnel key piece to strategic water sustainability plan
“The state Department of Water Resources on Tuesday released the first-ever State Water Project Adaptation Strategy, which unsurprisingly highlights the Delta Conveyance Project as the “single most effective action” for a “sustainable water future for California.” The Delta tunnel project, after all, is DWR’s centerpiece project. “Anything that compromises the State Water Project poses a threat to public health and economic success,” DWR Director Karla Nemeth said in the statement announcing the new strategy report. “This analysis helps us understand the best science-based strategies to ensure continued SWP deliveries in the face of both greater aridity and more powerful storms. We need that not just for the public water agencies that pay for the State Water Project, but to continue the role the State Water Project plays in protecting Delta water quality during drought and upstream communities during floods,” Nemeth said. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Statements from water interests, Delta advocates
From the Delta Counties Coalition:
In response to the California Department of Water Resources’ announcement today promoting its latest “report” claiming the Delta Tunnel Conveyance Project (Delta Tunnel) will solve California’s water crisis made worse by climate change, Patrick Hume, Chair of the Delta Counties Coalition (DCC), issued the following statement on behalf of the five counties and 4 million California residents that stand to be most negatively impacted by this controversial megaproject:
“The Delta Counties Coalition strongly rejects the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) recent claim that the Delta Tunnel will address climate change and provide a resilient, statewide water supply. These assertions are misleading and unsupported by evidence. Despite being portrayed as a climate adaptation project, the Delta Tunnel would do nothing to solve the root issue of California’s over-allocated water system, which is already pushed beyond its limits by long- term drought, unsustainable groundwater pumping, and shifting weather patterns. Transporting water in a big new tunnel to places water already goes is not climate resilience — it’s wishful and wasteful thinking.
As California continues to face extended droughts and flood events, the tunnel offers no real solution. It’s a transport system that cannot realistically capture significant amounts of flood flows and does nothing to address the State’s very real infrastructure maintenance and repair needs. Nor will it provide security in dry years when water supplies are dangerously low. DWR’s claims use scare tactics in the absence of scientific or operational evidence that a tunnel will increase water reliability under real climate stress.
This is on top of DWR’s misleading claims that the tunnel could have captured 956,000 acre-feet of water in 2024 yet offers no concrete plan for how or where that water would be stored — underground or otherwise.
If this Administration — and those before it — had prioritized common-sense, climate-smart water investments over a multi-decade, multi-billion-dollar tunnel, California would be far better prepared to weather our current crisis. Areas like Orange County and San Diego are already leading the way with investments in local water reuse, stormwater capture, and recycling — projects that provide real water and real resilience.
The State should re-focus on maintaining and strengthening levees to protect the Delta’s freshwater pathway through the Delta to the existing export pumps, investing in above- and below-ground water storage, and expanding conservation and reuse across all sectors. The State’s adopted budget makes no investments in protecting and strengthening Delta levees, despite wild claims of their imminent collapse. The Delta Tunnel is not a climate solution and has severe negative effects on the Delta ecosystem and communities. It is a costly distraction that risks sacrificing the Delta ecosystem without delivering meaningful benefits for California’s future.
It’s time to reject the Governor’s divisive tunnel politics and invest in water strategies that actually work — for people, the environment, and generations to come.”
From the Metropolitan Water District:
Metropolitan General Manager Deven Upadhyay issues the following statement on the California Department of Water Resources’ release of its first-ever State Water Project Adaptation Strategy:
“The findings in this report reaffirm that climate change is driving a long-term decline in supplies from the State Water Project. But these analyses also show we are not powerless – there are tangible actions we can take to reduce that decline and safeguard this critical water source.
“Among the strategies evaluated, the report identifies the Delta Conveyance Project as the single most effective adaptation measure. While Metropolitan’s board has not yet decided whether to invest in the project, the report’s findings – along with information gathered through the planning process – will be critical to that decision. This is why Metropolitan strongly supports Gov. Gavin Newsom’s legislative proposal to expedite the project’s planning, ensuring the board has the information needed to make a well-informed choice. The state’s plan also includes strategies to maintain existing infrastructure, add storage south of the Delta, repair canals damaged by groundwater over-pumping and use storm forecasting improvements to operate reservoirs.
“We commend the Department of Water Resources for its leadership in identifying strategies with the greatest potential to make California’s water system more resilient, flexible, and sustainable for the future.
“As Metropolitan continues advancing regional investments in local water supply projects, conservation and storage, we recognize that no single solution will secure our future. Through our Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water, we are strategically investing in Southern California’s water reliability.”
From Restore the Delta:
Today, Restore the Delta and allies denounced the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) newly released State Water Project Adaptation Strategy, calling it a performative effort to justify the controversial Delta Conveyance Project (DCP), rather than a serious evaluation of adaptation strategies.
While framed as an “evaluation,” the report repeats long-debunked talking points to present the Delta tunnel as the “optimal solution” to climate and infrastructure challenges, while ignoring more urgent, cost-effective measures like strengthening Delta levees and repairing existing State Water Project infrastructure.
“Framed as an evaluation, this report is DWR’s self-validating push for the Delta Conveyance Project, touting debunked half-truths while ignoring the most obvious investment needed: upgrades to existing Delta levees that protect SWP infrastructure, Delta residents, and the nearly $7 billion Delta economy,” said Morgen Snyder, Policy Manager with Restore the Delta.
Among the report’s most concerning flaws:
-
Overstated earthquake risk in the Delta, which independent experts have long warned is exaggerated to justify the tunnel.
-
Cherry-picked climate science, with DWR continuing a “high concern” framing on sea level rise while downplaying alternative adaptation options.
-
Failure to address Delta levee upgrades, despite clear evidence that continued land subsidence threatens both aqueducts and levees.
-
Mischaracterization of flood and storage risks, framing natural river flows as “wasted” water rather than vital ecological functions.
-
Repackaged stakeholder engagement promises, which echo past performative processes without meaningful input from Delta communities.
-
Costly distractions from real needs, with DWR leaning on Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) goals to justify the tunnel instead of addressing unsustainable water use and groundwater recharge infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the report acknowledges key issues Restore the Delta has flagged for years – such as subsidence threatening the California Aqueduct – but still steers attention back to the tunnel rather than investing in levee improvements or aqueduct repairs.
“The actual path to a sustainable water future – one that provides safe, accessible, and affordable water to people and the environment – involves reducing unsustainable corporate agriculture, restoring river flows, and prioritizing urban infill development over suburban sprawl,” said Max Gomberg, Independent Water Expert. “The Governor can put out as many cherry-picked reports supporting his tunnel as he wants, but it won’t change the fact that the true beneficiaries are agribusiness, highly-paid water managers, and developers – and neither they nor the Governor care about the rate impacts on hardworking Californians and the environmental destruction it will cause.”
The Delta supports a nearly $7 billion local economy, including $5 billion in agriculture, $1.5 billion in commercial salmon fishing, and $780 million in recreation – an economy left out of DWR’s calculations.
Restore the Delta calls on Governor Newsom and DWR to invest first in repairing and upgrading existing Delta levees and aqueducts, restoring river flows and floodplains, and ensuring real accountability for water use – instead of doubling down on a $100 billion tunnel project that jeopardizes the Delta’s environment, economy, and communities.
From the Southern California Water Coalition:
From Charley Wilson, Executive Director: “This isn’t just another report — it’s a wake-up call. The science is clear, the stakes are high, and the time for half-measures is over. The Delta Conveyance Project is the lifeline California needs to survive a future of climate extremes. Every delay puts our communities, our farms, and our economy at risk. Governor Newsom is right to demand action, and the Southern California Water Coalition stands with him in calling for bold, immediate progress.”
With Governor Newsom’s strong endorsement, this plan is a call to action in how California prepares for droughts, floods, and a shrinking snowpack. The Southern California Water Coalition urges swift implementation to protect our water future.
From the State Water Contractors:
Statement from Jennifer Pierre, General Manager: “The Governor’s landmark State Water Project Adaptation Strategy confirms what we’ve long known: climate change has already impacted the State Water Project, and without decisive action, future generations could face significant water shortages. The Department of Water Resources’ analysis makes it clear that the best way to preserve water reliability is through a portfolio of investments, including Delta Conveyance, groundwater and above-ground storage, forecast-informed reservoir operations and repairs to the subsided portions of the California Aqueduct.
“The State Water Contractors appreciate that the Department of Water Resources’ report validates that each climate adaptation action we are currently pursuing has significant benefits on its own and, together, can create an even greater impact. We stand ready to partner with state and federal agencies and our local communities to make these climate adaptation strategies a reality. We are already investing in groundwater recharge, stormwater capture and other projects that, if done as part of a comprehensive, statewide strategy, will give Californians the resilient water future they deserve.
“Climate change is not a distant threat. It is already impacting the State Water Project. The investments and decisions we make today will determine whether future generations have a reliable water supply. We need sustained, long-term funding, streamlined regulatory coordination and a shared commitment to climate-resilient infrastructure to protect the people, economy and ecosystems that rely on the State Water Project.”
SEE ALSO:
- Governor Newsom’s Delta Conveyance Project is single most effective action for California’s sustainable water future, study finds, press release from the Office of the Governor
- Groups Say ‘Hell No’ to Newsom and DWR’s Plan to Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel, by Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos
- California Department of Water Resources releases State Water Project Adaptation Strategy Report, from Action News Now
- Newsom cites new report to push for Delta tunnel approval, from SJV Sun
In other California water news …
Major heatwave to bring increased wildfire risk, and (finally!) a substantive monsoonal surge to California & Southwest
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “The latter portion of June and most of July was a notably cool summer period for much of California–contrary to both short- and medium-term expectations. But the first half of August has, once again, seen a return to warmer than even the recent (climate-warmed) average for August, at least across inland areas. The central and northern California immediate coastal zone did remain cooler than average during most of this period, though that has begun to change in recent days. In fact: the enormous and exceptional (and in some cases record-breaking) “warm blob” of surface ocean water that has been present all summer across most of the North Pacific has finally made it all the way to the central and northern California coast in the past few days. For the first time this year, warmer than average ocean temperatures are present not just along the immediate coastline of SoCal but also along the upwelling zone west of NorCal–including near the SF Bay Area and North Coast region. … ” Read more from Weather West.
SEE ALSO: Here’s where California extreme heat, red flag warnings are in effect, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Second Irrigated Lands Expert Panel meeting features Indigenous perspectives and a lot of data
“Day 2 of the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel’s “Kick Off Meeting” convened August 14, 2025, at Sacramento State University Downtown Campus. The panel has been convened to advise the State Water Board on next steps for the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP). The day was heavy on data. Themes addressed throughout the day included whether or not sufficient data exists to move forward with setting nitrogen (N) application and discharge targets and limits; challenges with interpreting data collected thus far due to discrepancies in how data are reported; the need to include acreage and location data with N data to be able to calculate field-level results and to independently verify calculations submitted by third parties; the relative value of the metrics N applied (A) minus N removed (R) [A-R] and A/R; and the need for regional flexibility in monitoring and reporting. … ” Continue reading at Maven’s Notebook.
A nightmare storm destroyed a NorCal bridge. 61 years later, cleanup begins.
“A major project began this week to remove 750 tons of metal and concrete that had been sitting in the riverbed of the North Fork of the American River for decades. The debris is all that’s left after a Christmas storm destroyed the Georgetown Bridge near Auburn, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, 61 years ago. Torrential rain in the days before Christmas 1964 had caused rivers to swell and stoked fears of flooding across Northern California and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Higher up in the Sierra Nevada, on the Rubicon River, rain and snowmelt pounded against the Hell Hole Dam. But on the morning of Dec. 23, 1964, the partially built dam burst, releasing a “hurtling wall” of water downstream toward Auburn, where a surge of frothing, fast-moving water took out the Georgetown Bridge on Highway 49, near the confluence of the North Fork and the Middle Fork of the American River. Twisted metal and concrete from the bridge sank beneath the water at the bottom of the North Fork of the American River. More than 60 years later, the remnants are still there. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Costa, Edwards introduce bipartisan bill to fast-track emergency water aid for rural communities
“U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Chuck Edwards (NC-11) introduced the Emergency Rural Water Response Act, bipartisan legislation to cut the red tape and deploy emergency federal water funding to rural communities. “In the San Joaquin Valley, water emergencies don’t wait for red tape,” Congressman Costa said.“Whether it’s drought, flooding, or wildfire, every day without clean water puts lives, farms, and local economies at risk. This bill makes sure more communities can act immediately instead of waiting weeks or months for help.” “When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina last year, it exposed just how vulnerable our mountain communities are to the destruction caused by natural disasters. One of the most critical failures was the disruption of access to safe and reliable water – a basic necessity that became a daily struggle for many residents. This legislation will streamline emergency response efforts, improve coordination, and ensure that more rural towns receive the support they need without delay when disasters strike,” said Congressman Edwards. … ” Read more from Congressman Costa.
California researchers are still chasing whales, despite Trump
“As our boat lurches into motion under a steel wool gray sky, my hat flies off and vanishes into the churning water below. The Santa Cruz harbor becomes smaller and smaller on the distant horizon, until all I can see is fog. It’s just after dawn on a Wednesday morning in May, and our 27-foot research vessel is hurtling toward Moss Landing, a hot spot for thousands of whales and other marine life that pass through the area to migrate and feed. … Instead, we wordlessly scan the horizon for signs of life — a puff of discolored air or a dorsal fin peeking above the water. The minutes pass into hours as the swell rises and falls like craggy rock formations, lulling me into a meditative state. But the man at the helm, Ari Friedlaender, is on high alert. With a ball cap and sunglasses shielding his bearded face, and a pair of flip-flops on his feet, the world-renowned ecologist and professor behind UC Santa Cruz’s Friedlaender Lab seems unfazed by the elements. … ” Continue reading from SF Gate.
Water and debris are a recipe for lahars at California’s volcanoes
“Debris flows or mudflows that form from volcanic material are called lahars. The word lahar comes from Javanese, the language spoken on the island of Java in Indonesia. Lahars are hot or cold mixtures of water and rocks and ash that flow down the slopes of a volcano, usually in a river or stream valley. Volcanic eruptions can trigger lahars by melting snow and ice in a crater or by ejecting water from a crater lake. Hot pyroclastic flows can generate lahars by melting snow and ice as they travel rapidly down steep slopes. Finally, lahars can also be formed when large amounts of rainfall occur on the material deposited during eruptions. Lahars usually happen on the flanks of stratovolcanoes, such as in Alaska and the Cascade Range, but can occur anywhere there are volcanic slopes with a water source. In California, lahars are known to have happened at several volcanoes. Lahar deposits are found in drainages around Lassen Peak in Northern California, and the biggest of these was deposited during the eruption in May 1915 . … ” Read more from the USGS.
Does logging really reduce wildfire danger? New California study finds key exception
“The timber industry and its supporters, joined by many in the Trump administration, have long promoted logging as a way to reduce fire danger. Some even blame declining timber operations in recent decades for the uptick in catastrophic wildfire. A growing body of research, however, suggests the benefits of logging are far more limited. The latest study to examine the impact of harvesting trees on fire behavior, published Wednesday in the journal Global Change Biology, finds that lands administered by private timber companies were nearly 1½ times more likely to burn at “high severity” levels than public lands with less timber production. The reason, say the authors, is that commercial logging sites tend to have trees that are tightly packed, evenly spaced out and structured with “laddered” rows of branches — all of which is ideal for starting and spreading flames. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Farmers discover simple method to combat devastating impacts of wildfires: ‘The foundation of a healthy ecosystem’
“California-based native plant farms are leading the way in showing how native seed farming promotes biodiversity restoration after wildfires. Thanks to seeds from Rancho De Las Flores, forest land hit by the Los Angeles fires of 2025 is ablaze with perennial flowers, according to Civil Eats. The farm continues to support initiatives to plant native grasses and wildflowers beyond the state. Wildfires not only damage trees but also degrade soil quality. Research on Peruvian forest fires, published in the journal Trees, Forests and People, has shown that such events lead to an increase in the soil’s acidity. At the same time, fire lowers soil’s water retention and nutrient-circulating capacities. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
“The oceans are choking on plastic:” Environmentalists, lawmakers urge Newsom not to weaken plastic pollution law
“A coalition of environmental groups and state lawmakers on Tuesday called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to put in place tougher rules to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans and across California’s landscape, five months after he halted proposed new regulations that plastics companies opposed. At a news conference outside the state Capitol building featuring a large pile of plastic food containers, bubble wrap and other used plastic packaging, the environmentalists said Tuesday that under industry pressure, the Newsom administration has weakened proposed rules that the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, known as CalRecycle, drafted after he signed a landmark law, SB 54, three years ago. That first-in-the-nation law set targets to force companies to use less plastic in packaging at supermarkets, retail stores and other outlets, and to pay to recycle and recover much of it — costs that are now shouldered mostly by cities and taxpayers through municipal recycling programs. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
In commentary today …
The State Water Project’s dirty little secret
By Brett Baker, a sixth generation Delta farmer and attorney representing the Central Delta Water Agency and various Delta landowners, writes, “Earlier this month The Governor’s Press office announced a $200 Million Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) accountability plan to use taxpayer dollars to buy off local opposition to his fatally flawed DCP. Just this week the Governor doubled down and released a report claiming the DCP is the single most effective action for our state’s water future. This is simply not true, and is his latest effort in a long line to impregnate our state taxpayers and ratepayers with yet another megaproject. Spoiler alert: This one doesn’t pencil out either, there just isn’t enough water to put in it. The State and the State Water Project (SWP) contractors continue to foster new permanent demand by way of development in desert areas while shifting Project costs onto State and federal taxpayers for added facilities, repair and replacement of aging aqueducts, dams and other facilities, and mitigation of adverse environmental and regulatory impacts despite knowing the Project cannot meet existing commitments during a multi-year drought. Project operators don’t even bother to measure or account for how much Project water has been put to beneficial use on a given year. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Story map: A brief history of the Klamath Irrigation District
“The chronicles of the Klamath Irrigation District (and the Klamath Project) begin with the legacy of ancient Lake Modoc . Samuel and Emily Dicken’s study of ancient Lake Modoc describes the formation of the complex geography across the Klamath Basin. The formation of the area created the conditions for water to be entrapped between layers of lava flows, for vast water bodies to be covered with volcanic ash thus creating a fossil record while simultaneously forming numerous impervious layers of chalk rock covered by yonna soils. The effects of the eruption of Mount Mazama (which formed the area now known as Crater Lake) over 7,000 years ago, and the numerous fault lines constantly change the landscape. Ancient Lake Modoc (about the size of Maryland) once covered every acre currently irrigated by the Klamath Project. … Read the story map here.
CDFW sweeps illegal cannabis farms operating on sensitive NorCal habitats
“Tens of thousands of pounds of processed cannabis were destroyed last week during an investigation into illicit cultivations on sensitive fish and wildlife habitats in Northern California, officials announced Tuesday. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Cannabis Enforcement Program executed 21 search warrants during the week of August 11 in areas of Ukiah and Laytonville. Wildlife officers located and eradicated more than 46,000 cannabis plants during the operation, officials said, and destroyed 13,600 pounds of processed cannabis. A total of 213 violations of Fish and Game Code were documented, according to CDFW, which “directly and indirectly impacted the Eel River and Russian River, and tributaries.” Officers found 19 illegal water diversions during the searches. One of the water diversions was on state land. … ” Read more from KRON.
New rules limit vineyard runoff in Mendocino and Sonoma counties to protect waterways
“The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has approved an order that recently went into effect to limit the amount of waste discharged by commercial vineyards in both Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The order, called the General Waste Discharge Requirements for Commercial Vineyards, is a policy designed to protect local rivers and streams, groundwater supplies and aquatic species by regulating runoff from an estimated 65,000 acres of commercial vineyards. The North Coast Water Board is an autonomous agency representing the North Coast with its main office located in Santa Rosa. Its goal is to protect surface and groundwater sources to ensure water quality meets environmental and public health standards. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe City Utility District opens new West Shore water treatment plant
“The Tahoe City Public Utility District has completed construction of the new West Lake Tahoe Regional Water Treatment Plant, a long-planned facility that replaces a temporary seasonal plant and now delivers year-round drinking water and fire protection to communities along the West Shore. The facility, located near Chambers Landing just north of Tahoma, marks a significant investment in drought-resilient infrastructure and is now the primary water source for the area. TCPUD officials say the plant will enhance fire protection capabilities and improve reliability throughout the water system. “This project transforms the way TCPUD delivers water to our customers on the West Shore,” said TCPUD Board President Judy Friedman. “By transitioning to drought-resilient surface water, we are ensuring safe, dependable drinking water year-round and significantly improving water availability for firefighting to help protect our community against wildfire.” … ” Read more from KTVN.
El Dorado County says South Lake Tahoe resident tests positive for plague
“El Dorado County’s Public Health Division announced Tuesday that a South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for plague and is recovering at home under medical care. Health officials said they believe the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area. An investigation into the exact circumstances is underway. “Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,” said Kyle Fliflet, acting director of public health for the county. “It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking, or camping in areas where wild rodents are present.” … ” Read more from CBS News.
SEE ALSO: El Dorado County resident tests positive for plague after camping in Tahoe area, from the Sacramento Bee
Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs reintroduced in landmark event
“Two weeks ago, 43 endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs took to the skies in a helicopter from the Oakland Zoo. A team transported them to their new home in the high country of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.The zoo has now successfully translocated its 1,000th frog to its mountain home. This marks a milestone for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs and the zoo.This high-profile release is the latest chapter in a long fight to save the species. … ” Read more from Earth.com.
BAY AREA
Feds ghost climate action but locals stay the course
“With the Trump administration turning climate change denial into Federal government policy, climate action at the state and local level becomes even more essential. According to Ryan Schleeter, communications director for The Climate Center, “What we do in California to address the climate crisis has a ripple effect across the world.” The Climate Center is one of hundreds of Bay Area climate action groups that bring the efforts of thousands of people to bear on mitigating and building resilience to the climate crisis. Each of these groups has its own personality; no two are the same. Though they may share a common goal of halting climate change, their histories, methods, focal issues, and even member demographics vary. This article offers a brief primer on what’s out there. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
Hottest temperatures of year coming to Bay Area amid heat wave
“Temperatures will soar across the Bay Area on Wednesday, increasing as much as 10 degrees from Tuesday’s highs. The mercury will climb even higher on Thursday, which could be the hottest day so far this summer in the Bay Area as a large high-pressure system quickly builds over the region. Widespread 90-degree temperatures are forecast Wednesday in the interior North Bay, East Bay, South Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains. Downtown San Francisco should even reach the 70s before noon, but an afternoon sea breeze should keep 80-degree readings away from the city and likely in Oakland. Wednesday night will be warm in the hills, especially above 1,000 feet, where lows will remain in the 60s. On Thursday, inland heat advisories will go into effect at 10 a.m. Concord, Livermore, San Rafael and Santa Rosa could hit triple digits. Each of those cities could also record its highest temperature so far of 2025. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
CENTRAL COAST
With no water tax, Paso Basin managers scramble for funding. What’s next?
“Without a water tax, the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority is on the hunt for funding to support its operating costs for the rest of the year. The agency’s Board of Directors was forced to abandon water use fees during a meeting on Aug. 1 after a majority of property owners objected to them. Now, the agency is almost $300,000 short of funds needed to cover the rest of the year’s operating costs, such as paying consultants and preparing the state-mandated annual report. Because the basin is considered “critically overdrafted” by the California Department of Water Resources, the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority is required to bring the basin into balance by 2040. Part of that process includes submitting an annual report on the health of the basin to the state. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Patterson’s water is more than just ‘hard,’ it’s contaminated
“Patterson stopped efforts to address a drinking water contaminant not because it was no longer an issue but because the city couldn’t afford remediation. Now residents say Patterson needs to do more to address their growing concerns. Yolanda Magaña moved to Patterson four years ago. After buying her house but before moving in, she wanted to get to know her new neighborhood so she looked at community pages on Facebook. She came across a group that blamed the city’s water for an increase in cancer in the area. “That’s when I learned about the water issues and I was like, ‘Oh no,’” Magaña said. She began to have second thoughts about moving to the area, but settled on installing a reverse osmosis system in her home to filter out hexavalent chromium (CR6). … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Mary’s Chicken sewage overwhelmed Fresno-area city with ‘rotten eggs and poop’ smell
“For years, residents of the Fresno County city of Sanger endured foul, overbearing odors caused by a wastewater treatment plant stressed by immense amounts of raw sewage from the nearby Pitman Family Farms chicken processing plant. The stench worsened from August to October, when the local winery entered “crush season” and poultry production ramped up for Thanksgiving, locals and city officials say. During summer months, one resident said she could smell a mix of “rotten eggs and poop” from her home about a mile from the wastewater treatment plant so overbearing she refused to open her windows. A city councilmember said the pungent odor reached his home more than four miles across town from the treatment plant. Another resident complained to regional water officials that the smell of sewage seeped into their car and home. Today, most of the smell is gone, locals say, but only after the problem became too big for city officials to ignore. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Thanks to a $5,000 rebate and DIY skills, their L.A. yard has it all — except grass
“When it’s hot in Los Angeles, hummingbirds, butterflies and bees flock to the gardens that Lexie Glass and her husband, Evan Hursley, have been building in Harvard Park for the past three years. “Their garden is a good example of how your landscape can be a universe for wildlife,” says Katie Tilford, development director at Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, which has featured Glass and Hursley’s garden on its annual Native Plant Garden Tour. For Glass, the gardens are not just “their space,” but an environment to be shared with the natural world. “The [COVID-19] pandemic really stressed the importance we hold for the landscape around Southern California,” says Glass, who is originally from Arkansas, “so creating our own around our house was an exciting opportunity.” … ” Check it out at the LA Times.
‘A land that our ancestors walked’: L.A. County tribe wins land back for the first time
“On July 10, a church signed the deeds transferring a half-acre of land hosting a community center in the heart of San Gabriel — less than a mile down the road from the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel — to an Indigenous tribe’s nonprofit. On paper, it was a relatively ordinary transaction (except maybe for the $0 price tag); however, for the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians based in Los Angeles and Orange counties, it was anything but: For the first time in centuries, a piece of their ancestral territory belongs to them. “There were books when my daughters were in grammar school and high school that stated we were extinct,” said Art Morales, an elder and historian in the tribe. To Morales, persevering through that long, painful history is what makes the agreement so significant: The tribe is “basically on the map now.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Missing deadline to clear fire debris may get pricey for scores of LA property owners
“While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it had cleared its last pieces of debris in Altadena last week, you still may see charred rubble in the area. Early on in Los Angeles fire recovery efforts, affected homeowners got to choose between having the government handle debris removal or doing it themselves. Now, more than 200 properties where owners went solo are overdue. While some of these property owners are making progress, the county has started declaring dozens of lots public nuisances. Nearly 2,000 property owners officially opted out of government cleanup, while others essentially withdrew by not filing paperwork. … ” Read more from the LAist.
There’s a ‘lake’ of oil under LA’s soon-to-close refinery. Who’s going to clean it up?
“One of Los Angeles’ most polluted stretches of land soon will be cleared for new development, and a full accounting of the ground’s degradation will be left largely to an oil company. For almost 40 years in the middle of the 20th century, workers at an oil refinery with connected facilities in Wilmington and Carson buried truckloads of slop oil and acid sludge directly on site. Decades later, much of that waste still is in the soil and water table, state records show. Phillips 66, which now owns the century-old refinery, will idle the plants by the end of the year. In some areas, the contaminated underground layer is more than 16 feet thick. Yet the only estimates for how much it will cost to tear down the refinery and clean up the fouled land is from Phillips 66, which blamed “market dynamics” for its closing. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Approvals sought for new sand, including for Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach
“A new program to replenish beach sand at five local shorelines recently received approval from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors — and is now headed to the California Coastal Commission. Several agencies will have to review and approve the plan before work can begin. But the hope is that the commission will consider the overall plan before the end of the year, said Nicole Mooradian, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors. The targeted beaches are Zuma in Malibu, Will Rogers State in Pacific Palisades, Dockweiler State in Playa del Rey, and Manhattan and Redondo in the South Bay. … ” Read more from the Daily Breeze.
New bridge would benefit endangered trout and trails system in San Juan Capistrano
“A proposed trail bridge in San Juan Capistrano would allow for the removal of barriers in Trabuco Creek, making it easier for endangered southern steelhead trout to travel from the ocean to their spawning grounds in the Santa Ana Mountains. The $45 million project, which would also include removing non-native plant species along the creek, stabilizing soil along the banks and some other public safety features, is being spearheaded by California Trout, a nonprofit group with a mission to preserve the state’s salmon, steelhead trout and other wild trout populations. Planning has been in the works for more than a decade and could break ground by the end of next year if permits and approvals go through. It is being paid for by the nonprofit group. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SAN DIEGO
La Niña could soon raise wildfire threat in already parched San Diego County
“The already high risk of wildfires in San Diego County could soon jump with the arrival of La Niña, a natural, periodic form of climate change that can produce periods of unusually dry weather. The National Weather Service has issued a watch that says that La Niña could take hold in October and last into early next year. The western half of the county is currently experiencing severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The eastern half is in extreme drought. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River water conservation program remains stalled in US House
“A dry summer in Colorado and across the Colorado River Basin is ratcheting up the pressure to cut back on water use, fast, but one federal conservation program has been stalled in Congress since June. The reason why isn’t clear to U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat who represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District. The program, called the System Conservation Pilot Program, pays people in four Western states, including Colorado, to voluntarily and temporarily cut back on their water use. Officials re-launched it in 2022, with $125 million in federal funds, as a two-decade drought tightened water supplies across the basin. It initially ran from 2015 to 2018 and restarted in summer 2023. In December, federal lawmakers did not pass a bill to reauthorize spending for the project before the end of the last session. In June, a new reauthorization bill passed the Senate but its sister bill has stalled in the House. “We’ll dig in further as to the decision-making behind why Republicans in the House have decided to hold the bill at the desk,” Neguse, whose district includes parts of the Colorado River Basin, said Tuesday at the Colorado Water Congress Summer Meeting. “I don’t think that we have a clear answer as to why they’ve done that thus far.” … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
SEE ALSO: $140M in federal funds should be released, Colorado politicos tell water conference goers, from the Colorado Sun
Arizona farmers adjust to water restrictions as Colorado River cuts continue
“The Colorado River makes farming possible in Yuma County, but years of drought and ongoing restrictions are forcing growers to adjust. Lake Mead, the river’s largest reservoir, is about 30% full and federal officials have now said that shortages will last through 2026. Arizona depends on the river for one-third of its water, and with the restrictions, the state will go without 18% of that share. Tom Davis with the Yuma County Water Users’ Association said Yuma farms have not been hit as hard. The association manages irrigation canals across the region and delivers water to customers, including farmers. “We happen to be the senior rights on the Colorado River along with the Colorado Indian Tribe in Parker, so in that case, we would be the last ones to get hit,” Davis said. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
The Colorado River is this tribe’s ‘lifeblood,’ now they want to give it the same legal rights as a person
“In far western Arizona, the dusty beige expanse of desert stretches as far as the eye can see. Under the baking summer sun, which regularly pushes temperatures above 110 degrees in the summer, even scrubby desert bushes can struggle to survive. But in the middle of that desert, the Colorado River creates a striking strip of green. The river winds through the valleys and deserts of the Southwest, carrying Rocky Mountain snowmelt hundreds of miles away, giving life to places like Parker, Arizona. It’s home to the Colorado River Indian Tribes – one of 30 federally recognized tribes in the Colorado River Basin, but one of the few whose land includes a stretch of the river itself. “It’s our lifeblood,” said Dillon Esquerra, a member of the tribe who serves as its water resources director. “It’s who we are. It’s part of our identity.” … ” Read more from KUNC.
As Colorado River sees more cuts, Utah leaders feel pressure to strike a deal
“You can see how low the water levels are, even for this time of year. The “bathtub rings” are apparent on the shoreline and more sediment is exposed. “This year, we did not see the same snowpack, so we didn’t have near as close as a peak on the Colorado River, as we have the past two years,” said John “JC” Covington, a river guide who escorted Utah lawmakers, policymakers and advocates down a portion of the mighty river last week. FOX 13 News accompanied them for a portion of the trip. “In order for us to really understand that there’s no better way than spend a few a few minutes on the river,” said Gene Shawcroft, who is the Colorado River Commissioner for Utah and one of the state’s lead negotiator for the future of the river when agreements governing it expire in 2026. … ” Read more from Fox 13.
Heat, rather than a lack of rain, is driving drought in Utah and the West
“Hot summer days could be fueling Utah droughts even more than dry spells. Before 2000, drought severity in the West was mostly driven by the absence of precipitation, rather than the presence of heat. That’s flipped in the past couple of decades. Research from UCLA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that temperature has become the dominant factor in determining how intense and widespread drought becomes. “For the same precipitation deficit, drought is much stronger,” said UCLA professor Rong Fu, who worked on the study. “This is the main reason we’ve seen drought so much stronger.” … ” Read more from KUER.
Trump’s mining frenzy drives water fears in Utah
“President Donald Trump’s push for a nationwide mining boom is rattling landowners in this remote and water-stricken part of southeastern Utah, one of the driest states in the nation. About 40 miles east of the sprawling Bears Ears National Monument among the rust-colored mesas, gorges, canyons and cliffs near the La Sal Mountains, ranchers and owners of a bed and breakfast are girding for Lisbon Valley Mining to expand a nearby open-pit copper mine and other operations on more than 1,100 acres of public land. This part of the state is considered prized conservation land among environmental groups and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. It’s also seeing an uptick in bids to expand existing mines while other projects move quickly through a federal review process, bringing with them the prospect for more jobs — as well as intensified fights over dwindling water resources and fragile landscapes. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Protecting upper Colorado River is protecting food, rural communities
“Much of the recent mainstream coverage of Colorado River agriculture focuses on Arizona’s desert farms or the lettuce fields of California’s Imperial Valley. But upstream—in places like the snow-fed headwaters of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming—the river’s lifeblood sustains another equally critical resource: irrigated agriculture in the Upper Basin. Colorado River water grows wheat, corn, vegetables, and orchards. This region not only produces crops—it anchors rural economies, supports wildlife habitat, and supplies the feed that sustains America’s dairy and beef industries. As the Basin faces drought and shrinking reservoirs, some propose a “simple” fix: take water from agriculture and send it to cities. It sounds easy but is dangerously shortsighted. Once water leaves a farm permanently, the land changes forever. The ripple effects go far beyond the fence line—lost jobs, shuttered main streets, reduced food security, and degraded ecosystems. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
