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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Regional Water Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include numerous Waste Discharge Requirements and NPDES permits, and an informational item on San Joaquin River dissolved oxygen TMDL implementation. Click here for the agenda.
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board from 9am to 3pm. Agenda items include presentation of Army Corps levee inspection results for the American River Flood Control District, a briefing on the Folsom Dam Raise Project, and presentation of the Board’s Operations Branch Activities. Click here for the full agenda.
In California water news today …
Improving recharge outcomes and soil health: combining cover cropping and on-farm recharge in California pistachio orchards
“California’s specialty crop industry stands at a critical juncture. As groundwater restrictions tighten and climate change intensifies water challenges, the agricultural community is committed to keeping working lands in production while protecting communities and ecosystems. Enter On-Farm Recharge (OFR), a practice that’s gaining momentum as one of the most promising approaches to support groundwater sustainability. By capturing extra surface water directly on agricultural fields and helping it percolate into the aquifer, OFR allows farmers to become active partners in groundwater management while maintaining productive operations. But what if we could make OFR even better? What if we could enhance water infiltration, reduce nutrient leaching, and improve soil health all at the same time? That’s exactly what we’re exploring through this Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program project combining cover cropping with on-farm recharge in California pistachio orchards. … ” Read more from Sustainable Conservation.
Santa Cruz water utility grapples with a paradox: what to do when conservation becomes bad for business
“History is an increasingly unreliable teacher for water utility managers. The memory of everything that has gone wrong – floods, droughts, broken pipes, porous levees, unstable dams, or inadequate interties – and the record of how utilities fixed things and paid for the fixes – have traditionally been chapters in the textbook of rules for the future. California’s coastal Santa Cruz Water Department used the textbook of experience for decades as it gathered water from the San Lorenzo River and small groundwater wells, and stored it in the Loch Lomond reservoir behind the Newell Creek dam. The same lessons applied when treating water at the Graham HIll plant and delivering it though the Newell Creek pipeline. But climactic and political changes are rendering the 20th century textbook obsolete in the 21st century. The need to deliver clean water is the same. The weather, the financing, and the growing threat of unaffordability are not. The efforts the Santa Cruz Water Department is making to update the text parallels work being undertaken by many other utilities. … ” Read more from & the West.
Go Deep’ to make desal work along California’s coast
“The world is running out of fresh water and now companies are using the high pressure of the ocean depths to push seawater through a membrane leaving salt behind.This month Scientific American reports a breakthrough in strategy of how to apply reverse osmosis without huge energy costs or negative environmental issues by allowing it to” happen naturally” – using technology that harnesses pressure hundreds of meters underwater. “Reverse osmosis pods are submerged to depths of around 400 to 500 meters (1,600 feet) where immense hydrostatic pressure does the heavy lifting of separating water from salt. Purified water is then pumped back to shore. Far-fetched as it may sound, there are multiple prototypes already at work; the companies behind them aim to take cheap, large-scale desalination from pipe dream to reality.” … ” Read more from Sierra 2 the Sea.
How AI helped a California city insure against flood risk
“Sitting high and dry on a hill, the police complex in Fremont, Calif., was the one municipal facility with flood insurance. This was because the hill was technically in a flood plain and the building served as collateral for a bond. Steven Schwarz, Fremont’s risk manager, found this frustrating. “I have to insure a building for flood that’s never going to be flooded, whereas I’ve got other places in the city that potentially could be flooded,” he says. When Schwarz brought this up in a conversation with his insurance broker, the broker introduced him to another option: A policy that could protect the city in the event of flooding anywhere in Fremont’s entire geographical area. The policy would make payouts based on predetermined parameters (namely, trigger events), rather than damage to a specific building or piece of city infrastructure. … ” Continue reading at Governing.
Securing statewide water supplies: Delta Conveyance Authority — a purpose-built agency for California’s water future
“The Delta Conveyance Design & Construction Authority (DCA) is a unique public agency created specifically to design and build the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). As a Joint Powers Authority governed by a seven-member Board representing the 16 Public Water Agencies funding the project, the DCA is focused solely on delivering a modern, reliable water conveyance system for California. This singular mission ensures clear oversight, transparent cost management and consistent attention to project efficiency. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
State announces new funding for Sites Reservoir
“Sites Reservoir received a major boost toward construction on Thursday by receiving nearly $220 million in new state funding. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the Sites Reservoir project has received $219 million in funding from the California Water Commission. Driving the news: Sites Reservoir would provide 1.5 million acre feet in an offstream storage project located in the Sacramento Valley. California expects the total project to cost between $6.2 billion and $6.8 billion with construction projected to start next year. The state expects the project to be finished by 2032. … ” Read more from the SJV Sun.
SEE ALSO: Sites Reservoir to receive $218.9 million more in Prop 1 funding, from Action News Now
UC Davis and WELL Water Governance Study Release
“On August 20, 2025, Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL), in partnership with UC Davis, hosted a legislative briefing at the State Capitol to unveil a groundbreaking study on inequities in California’s water governance. Assemblymembers Anamarie Ávila Farías (D-Martinez) and Celeste Rodriguez (D-San Fernando), both WELL UnTapped Fellowship graduates, led the event and introduced the findings. The briefing drew more than 50 participants, including state leaders, staff, advocates, and members of the press. The comprehensive study, led by Dr. Samuel Sandoval Solis, Professor of Water Public Policy at UC Davis, revealed stark underrepresentation of women, Latinos, and other communities of color on local and regional water boards as well as in executive leadership positions. While women represent half of California’s population, they hold only 27% of board seats. Latinos make up 42% of the population but occupy just 15% of seats, and other people of color, who account for nearly a quarter of Californians, hold only 5%. These disparities are especially significant given that these same communities disproportionately experience unsafe, unaffordable, and inaccessible water. … ” Continue reading from WELL.
SEE ALSO: UC Davis study reveals diversity gaps in California water management, from KCRA
Four impacts of salmon fishing restrictions in Northern California
“Salmon fishing restrictions in Northern California lead to both positive and negative effects. Articles collectively highlight the complexities of balancing economic needs with ecological conservation. A record number of salmon return to the Fresno stretch of the San Joaquin River, signifying a milestone in restoration efforts. The high water conditions allow juveniles to successfully migrate out to the ocean. Meanwhile, restrictions on commercial and recreational fishing devastate local economies dependent on salmon. Wooden boats decay in harbors, and charter boat captains struggle without steady work for years. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
Is extinction permanent? Resurrecting California’s xerces blue butterfly
“Alemany Farms is a lush urban garden just off a freeway in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood. Once a neglected plot of land, volunteers like Jake Hanft have lovingly turned it into a place where living things thrive. “If people can transform this vacant plot of land into a real hub of biodiversity, with dozens of birds and turtles and insects, there has to be more places like this in the Bay Area,” Hanft said. Turns out countless volunteer groups and organizations are working hard to restore native ecosystems across the state. But climate change is already reshaping local habitats, and some scientists are sounding the alarm about what could be the next big extinction crisis. All this has Bay Area scientists wondering: If humans can tip the scale towards destruction, can they also play a role in bringing long-lost species and ecosystems back? … ” Read more from KQED.
Summer 2025 drought and wildfire in 11 maps (updated)
“From the destructive Dragon Bravo Fire in the Grand Canyon to smokey skies in the Northeast due to Canadian wildfires, discover how drought and fire are impacting the U.S. this summer. Drought and wildfire interact in numerous ways. Many of the conditions that cause worsening drought can increase wildfire potential. Temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind speed, and fuel availability (vegetation) are all factors that interact to influence the frequency of large wildfires. When fire sparks in an area that is in drought, drought can affect the intensity and severity of the fire. For example, rapidly drying abundant fuels in forest understories and grasslands after a wet spring can feed larger fires. This summer, hot and dry conditions are driving large wildfires in the Western U.S. Check out the 11 maps below to better understand the conditions underlying current large fires and what’s forecast for fire and drought in the coming months. … ” Read more from NIDIS.
In commentary today …
Delta tunnel plans echo California’s troubled history of trying to control water
Devon Provo, an urban planner and senior policy manager at Accelerate Resilience L.A., writes, “Most mornings, I walk my dog at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena, pausing by the reservoir to watch grebes and ducks glide across the water. It’s a quiet routine, but since the fire tore through Eaton Canyon in January, the silence feels louder, like this place has something to say. As an urban planner, I’ve spent years working on land use and water policy. When I walk through my Altadena neighborhood, I don’t see a freak disaster. I see a moment of reckoning, in a much older story about the quest to control nature and consequences that echo across generations. As Californians struggle to recover from compounding climate disasters, Gov. Gavin Newsom is moving to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project, presenting lawmakers with a familiar choice. But before committing billions to yet another major water project, we must confront some hard lessons from our past. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
Sites Reservoir is a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Save California Salmon writes, “Today’s announcement that Governor Newsom’s California Water Commission allocated another $219 million for the proposed Sites Reservoir is a harmful regression for California’s rivers, their salmon, and for Tribal and rural communities. The Governor claims Sites will prepare California for a “hotter, drier future.” In reality this massive, $6.8 billion boondoggle will siphon water from the already overallocated Sacramento River, threatening endangered salmon runs, Tribal cultural sites, and the health of the Bay-Delta ecosystem. By diverting the river’s cold, clean flows into a reservoir without natural flushing, Sites would create stagnant waters that would produce toxic algal blooms, release methane gas, and concentrate mercury. Rather than providing safe drinking water, it would contaminate the supply for roughly 27 million Californians who depend on the Bay-Delta. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
Will the state stand by its own groundwater law?
Phillip Peters, First District Supervisor on the Kern County Board of Supervisors and board member of the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority, writes, “For the past decade, the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) has worked to secure the future of our water supply across nearly 600 square miles in Kern, Inyo, and San Bernardino counties. Like many others across California, this agency was born of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). In 2014, the Legislature passed SGMA which mandated local agencies in critically overdrafted basins to develop groundwater sustainability plans. These plans had to be backed by science, vetted by the public, and approved by the state. The state made the rules — and we followed them. That work wasn’t easy or cheap. In Indian Wells Valley, it took years of data collection, stakeholder engagement, over $13 million in local taxpayer investment, and close collaboration with the U.S. Navy to ensure both community survival and national security. In 2022, the state approved our plan. To be clear, SGMA has its flaws, and we have grappled with the State in our efforts to be in compliance. But in places like Indian Wells Valley, where aquifers were being pushed toward collapse, SGMA forced long-overdue action. It compelled communities to face hard realities and begin working toward sustainable solutions after decades of watching water tables decline. Now, that progress is in jeopardy — not because the science was flawed, but because the state may refuse to back its own process. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
Yvon Chouinard says Newsom’s billion-dollar salmon bet is doomed to fail
Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder, and Matt Stoecker, a California farmer and fisheries ecologist, write, “In May, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced upgrades to 21 state-run fish hatcheries and truck salmon around dams in an effort to increase salmon populations. But Newsom’s plans are misguided and misleading. These schemes would waste our tax dollars on ineffective and never-ending boondoggles that fail to solve the destructive impacts of dams on our fisheries and watersheds. Hatcheries harm endangered California salmon without addressing a major cause of their decline: migration-blocking dams that degrade our treasured watersheds. These hatcheries and their derelict relative, trap-and-truck, which are also promoted by Newsom, require carbon-intensive facilities, diesel-powered fish “migration,” and billions in tax dollars to keep stumbling along indefinitely. No amount of upgrades can retrofit an entirely misguided concept. Advertising them to the taxpayer as climate resiliency measures is disingenuous. … ” Continue reading from Outside Online.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
The Fortuna wastewater treatment plan is going to be a bit stinky for most of the rest of the year, and you can blame that on earthquakes
“During the last large earthquake, the city suffered damage to the anaerobic digester at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This required it to be taken offline for repair. This must happen during our lowest flow period of the year, which is late summer. We are in the process of emptying the digester and are operating in an aerobic condition which unfortunately results in more odorous treatment. … ” Continue reading from the Lost Coast Outpost.
Redwood Valley farmers sound alarm on flood control plan
“A proposal to annex the entire Redwood Valley County Water District into the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District drew sharp opposition from farmers and property owners at the Flood Control Board’s August 4 meeting. The annexation application, which will be filed with the Mendocino County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), comes with a Negative Declaration—Flood Control’s assertion that the move will not have a significant impact on the environment and therefore does not require a full Environmental Impact Report. When Russian River Flood Control was formed, only a sliver of Redwood Valley joined, as voters believed they would not need Lake Mendocino water. Today, just a narrow stretch—from north of Highway 20 to Calpella—falls under Flood Control’s service area. Under the proposal, Redwood Valley would be able to use its existing 328.85 acre-feet contract districtwide, though the total amount would not increase. For many growers, that change raises old anxieties. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Watershed moment; From the snowy mountain peaks to a dead-end desert lake, follow the flow of Tahoe’s waters
“On a warm spring day, snowpack high in the peaks surrounding Lake Tahoe begins to melt. The water trickles down the granite rocks finding its way into winding seasonal creek beds, flushing into large meadows, flowing into backcountry alpine lakes, and joining larger streams as it makes its way down the mountain into the big blue lake below. Tahoe’s watershed — the land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt into a common body of water — is unique for a number of reasons. First and foremost is the size of the lake itself. The lake makes up 38% — a surface area of 192 square miles — of the 501-square-mile watershed, which is a major factor in the lake’s famed clarity. “The ridgelines that define the watershed boundaries are really obvious when you look at a map. The whole basin is basically a big bowl,” explains Theresa Cody, a hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. “The watershed for Lake Tahoe is completely self-contained, so all of the water that comes into the lake comes from rain and snow that falls in the basin, so in that sense, it’s a really unique situation where everything that happens in the basin affects the lake.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Liberty Utilities to begin fuels reduction work near Fallen Leaf Lake
“To reduce wildfire risk along powerline corridors, fuels reduction treatments and activities are underway this summer on National Forest System lands near Fallen Leaf Lake as part of the Liberty Utilities Resilience Corridor Project. Beginning this week, trucks are scheduled to transport logs from treated units along Fallen Leaf and Cathedral roads using Highway 89; mastication operations are scheduled to continue along Fallen Leaf Road; and mechanical fuels reduction treatments are scheduled to begin in the area between Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Baldwin Beach. When work is taking place, access to some areas may be temporarily disrupted. The public is reminded to be aware of fuels reduction activity and keep a safe distance from heavy equipment and work areas. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Restoring flow: Removing a 1960s haul road bridge from the Tuolumne River
“In the 1960s, during construction of Don Pedro Dam, a haul road bridge was built across the Tuolumne River to move heavy equipment and materials. When the work was complete, large chunks of the bridge — concrete blocks, steel beams, and sheet piles — were abandoned in the river. For decades, these remnants have been more than just an eyesore. They’ve created hazards for boaters, blocked salmon migration, and disrupted the river’s natural flow. This summer, our restoration crew mobilized to begin removing the remaining debris from the river. The work isn’t simple — it requires specialized equipment and careful planning to protect both the river and its wildlife. … ” Read more from the Tuolumne River Trust.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
Redding’s Nur Pon Open Space partially reopens amid ongoing repairs
“The Nur Pon Open Space in Redding has partially reopened to the public, with the city continuing repairs on the area. City officials said the final culvert, damaged by high river flows last fall, remains under repair. They are focusing on repairs that will not be affected by expected additional water releases from Shasta Dam in the coming months. “We want to reopen the entire loop to the public, but the smartest use of our resources and time is to wait until additional water is released from the dam,” says Travis Menne. “Our goal is to make as many repairs as possible to get this space open for public use.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
How to reconnect the floodplains
“In recent years, we’ve shared extensively about WHY reactivating floodplains is vital in the Sacramento River Basin. From reducing flood risk to creating habitat for fish and birds, floodplain reactivation delivers multiple benefits for people and the environment. Now, we’re focusing on the next step: HOW to make this vision a reality. We are excited to share three new resources that bring this story to life: A multi-page document that outlines the infrastructure and management practices needed to reconnect floodplains; a short video that showcases projects already underway and demonstrates the feasibility of scaling up this work; and a new webpage dedicated to the HOW, offering a clear hub of information and visuals that explain this effort in depth. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Public asked to take part in Tehama County groundwater survey
““Your voice matters,” said Justin Jenson, Tehama County Groundwater Sustainability Agency Program Manager, speaking on the data-gathering efforts of the Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) Groundwater Demand Management. The Tehama County Groundwater Commission and the Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Board of Directors, serving as the region’s Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), continues to work on the county’s state-required Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). The GSP is a requirement of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires local groundwater sustainability agencies to develop and implement a GSP as a roadmap for how groundwater basins will reach long-term sustainability. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
BAY AREA
A toxic foundry finally left East Oakland. Then the city allowed in a new polluter
“Three years ago, the AB&I metal foundry ceased all operations in East Oakland. After years of community advocacy, the plant’s 200 union jobs were gone. So were its foul-smelling toxic emissions, the subject of a $1.2 million settlement with the State of California, which said the plant had released air contaminants in violation of the law. The closure of the plant, on San Leandro Street near the Oakland Coliseum, came as a relief to many residents of the East Oakland community. But last year they began to notice something strange going on there. The years of metal smelting had left contaminants such as arsenic and lead in the hardscape, soil, and groundwater, and the polluted lot was supposed to be undergoing a yearslong remediation process. … ” Read more from Oaklandside.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Seven battles shaping the San Joaquin River’s future
“The curated articles discuss various challenges and efforts affecting the San Joaquin River’s future. They highlight conflicts and collaborations around water management, environmental protection, and community engagement. One article details CEMEX’s plan to open a 600-foot pit mine near Fresno, which faces community opposition and environmental review hurdles. Another article describes efforts to revitalize the riverfront with recreational developments like those in Sacramento’s American River Parkway. An article addresses the introduction of invasive nutria rodents, threatening local ecosystems along the river. Finally, an article discusses PG&E’s reluctance to implement safety measures for water releases in the San Joaquin River Gorge. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
Thousands of marijuana plants removed from California’s Sequoia National Park
“Law enforcement removed an illegal marijuana cultivation site where more than 2,000 plants were located in California’s Sequoia National Park last week, officials said on Thursday. The National Park Service said its law enforcement rangers removed 2,377 full-grown marijuana plants and about 2,000 pounds of trash and infrastructure from a 13-acre site in Sequoia National Park. The rangers also located a semi-automatic pistol and several hazardous chemicals, including methamidophos, a highly toxic insecticide that was banned in the United States in 2009. The same cultivation site was raided last year, but it was not rehabilitated until this year due to the presence of hazardous chemicals. … ” Read more from CBS News.
EASTERN SIERRA
A long-journeying bird connects lakes in California and Argentina — and two communities
“Thousands of birds fill the air over Mono Lake, banking and swooping in a swirling murmuration that resembles an aerial school of fish. As they sweep past, their beating wings whoosh in unison. This small species, the Wilson’s phalarope, arrives from the north in large numbers each summer to feed at the saline lake, preparing for a long journey to South America. After spending July gorging on the larvae of alkali flies, the birds are gradually departing this month to begin their migration to another saline lake about 6,000 miles away — Laguna Mar Chiquita in Argentina. Partly because of their remarkable transcontinental voyage between salt lakes, the grayish birds have inspired a close partnership between communities in California and Argentina. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
California district launches programs to promote water use efficiency
“The Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) in Perris, California, has launched new programs aimed at helping residents and businesses use water efficiently amid conservation efforts. A new portal called ‘Landscapes for Living‘ is now available to help residents create their ideal outdoor living space while using water efficiently. In California, approximately half of residential water consumption is used for outdoor irrigation, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. As temperatures climb and yards begin to brown, many residents are faced with the dilemma of keeping landscapes thriving while avoiding excessive water use and expensive bills. EMWD’s Landscapes for Living is an outdoor water use efficiency program that focuses on the ease and promise of a beautiful yard, with free landscape evaluations, water-saving equipment, rebates and more to help residential customers. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
State Water Board member tours San Bernardino County septic-to-sewer projects
“On Friday, Aug. 15, California State Water Resources Control Board Member Nichole Morgan toured and praised two major San Bernardino County septic-to-sewer projects — Arrowhead Farms in unincorporated San Bernardino and Arrow Route in unincorporated Fontana — both designed to improve water quality and public health. Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe said the projects demonstrate the county’s long-term commitment to protecting residents and local resources. “These projects are an important investment in the safety of our communities, ensuring cleaner water and stronger infrastructure for the future,” Rowe said. … ” Read more from San Bernardino County.
California’s Hi-Desert Water District breaks ground on $103 million sewer expansion
“The Hi-Desert Water District (HDWD) has broken ground on the second phase of a $103 million sewage collection system in Yucca Valley, California, marking a major step in a decade-long wastewater infrastructure program that will connect more than 2,000 households to centralized sewer services. When completed later this year, the new system will convey an estimated 210,000 gallons of wastewater per day through 32 miles of new pipelines to the Yucca Valley Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Facility. Commissioned in 2020, the facility is the region’s first centralized treatment plant and provides critical capacity for wastewater recycling and groundwater protection. … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
Moon jellies brings unusual sight to water’s surface on Southern California coast
“At first, just a few of the floating jellies made their way to the surface in Newport Harbor, catching the eye of passengers on a passing Duffy boat as the translucent sea creatures pulsed with the rhythm of the ocean. More of the moon jellies suddenly made their way to the sea’s surface, with hundreds of the gelatinous creatures suddenly blanketing the harbor water’s surface in an awe-inspiring sight. The moon jelly bloom was spotted Wednesday, Aug. 20, in a tucked-away area of the Rhine Channel. Jessica Brasher, director of husbandry at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, said adult moon jellies often collect in harbors in large numbers due to their unique life cycle and their planktonic lifestyle. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona mayors unite to fight in Colorado River negotiations
“Arizona cities are joining together under one banner to advocate for Arizona in ongoing Colorado River talks. Existing agreements determining Arizona’s allotted share of Colorado River water are set to expire next year. Because demand on water has grown and the supply has diminished over time, water cuts are inevitable. The seven basin states are in negotiations to decide which states will bear the brunt of those cuts. At a discussion on Wednesday, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego emphasized the need to get these negotiations right for the sake of Arizona’s future. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
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.
No snow, no flow: No grow?
“Some days, it’s crystal clear. We can literally see it. Over the same period of time, lake water levels in the dammed-up Colorado River at Lake Mead dropped by 27% and irrigated alfalfa acreage above the river basin’s aquifer grew by 27%. So let’s talk about that. It’s muddy water now until the end of the year, literally. That’s because the rules that guide river water withdrawal in the basin expire in 2026. The facts are grim. The region is in the grips of a two-decade drought, and groundwater levels are dropping. Droughts of 50 years persisted from the late 1500s until the mid-1800s in this region. Discussions on today’s alfalfa genetics and role in the decline of groundwater levels during a half-century drought stir up a lot of sediment and sentiment. … ” Continue reading at Ag Proud.
WIFA evaluating 6 proposed water importation projects
“Arizona’s Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) has six proposals it could fund for projects that could eventually import billions of gallons of water into the drought-stricken state. Why it matters: The Colorado River basin, which includes Arizona, has been in a historic “megadrought” for more than two decades, while demand for water is steadily increasing. Catch up quick: WIFA last year began the process of soliciting proposals for long-term water augmentation projects that could bring up to 100 billion gallons of water into Arizona. Driving the news: WIFA staff received six proposals in four categories: ocean water desalination, surface water sources, reclaimed water and other sources. … ” Read more from Axios.
Tucson passes ordinance regulating large water users after data center debate
“The Tucson Mayor and Council unanimously passed an ordinance that establishes regulations for large quantity water users at a meeting on Tuesday. The vote is a follow-up to the council’s decision two weeks ago to cancel the planned data center known as “Project Blue”. Mayor Regina Romero said that the city needs to act immediately to protect its resources from any future data center or any other “water gobbling” industry. “While we work for longer term changes that will protect all of us not just from water overuse but power and energy and so many other things,” she said. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
SEE ALSO: Proposed data center prompts Tucson to regulate large water users, require conservation, from the Associated Press
‘Drastic’ water level decline seen at Utah reservoirs, more than double normal rate
“A brutally hot and dry summer is taking its toll on Utah’s reservoirs, with water levels showing a “drastic decline,” which officials say is more than double the normal rate. The Utah Division of Water Resources shared Thursday that the state’s reservoir storage currently sits at 67 percent, which is slightly above the normal level of 65 percent for this time of year. That number is much lower than at the same point in 2024, when the storage levels were at 83 percent. In addition, the Great Salt Lake is now 2 feet below its peak in mid-April (4193.6 feet). … ” Read more from Fox 13.
Water Power Struggle: Upper basin states allege downstream ‘overuse’
“Colorado’s water experts expressed long-held worries about allocation among the Upper and Lower Basin states in this week’s Water Congress that is well underway in Steamboat Springs, notably fears of over-allocation of the river that some 40 million people and farming operations rely on. Upper Colorado River Commission member Becky Mitchell echoed people’s sentiments — often coming from officials in the Upper Basin territories — about the agreement with downstream states on the Colorado River, which “have been relying on something that’s not theirs and not there anymore.” “It’s not rocket science,” Mitchell said. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out. There is more leaving the system than is going in. The safety net is gone.” … ” Read more from Colorado Politics.
Groups sound alarm on ‘impending crisis’ at Glen Canyon Dam as long-term drought intensifies
“Environmental groups are sounding the alarm on what they call an “impending crisis” at Glen Canyon Dam. Last week the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released its 24-month forecast for the levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead. It predicted that by Jan. 1, 2026, Powell could drop to 3,538.47 feet, which is just 48 feet above what is known as “minimum power pool,” or the lowest level at which Glen Canyon Dam can generate hydropower. “This underscores the importance of immediate action to secure the future of the Colorado River,” says USBR’s Acting Commissioner David Palumbo. “We must develop new, sustainable operating guidelines that are robust enough to withstand ongoing drought and poor runoff conditions to ensure water security for more than 40 million people who rely on this vital resource.” … ” Read more from KNAU.
In national water news today …
The growing demand for data centers in the U.S.
“Greater computing power, more information consumption, and the rise of generative artificial intelligence means that the U.S. is facing a rapid increase in data generation. To meet those demands, data centers engineered for massive workloads have doubled in the past five years, with well over half of them located in the U.S. As data demand continues to grow, policymakers need to have a full comprehension of all the costs and benefits of data centers so that they can make the best decisions for their communities. To that end, the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues, or EPI Center, led a series of webinars this summer on the implications of data center growth for local governments, covering considerations from growing energy needs of AI to impacts on municipal water systems. … ” Read more from AAAS.
