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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Delta Conveyance Project water right hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending Petitions for Change of Water Right Permits for the Delta Conveyance Project. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing without participating may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: bit.ly/aho-youtube. Click here for the meeting notice.
- IN-PERSON: California Water Efficiency Partnership Fall Plenary from 10am to 3pm in Los Angeles. CalWEP’s Fall Plenary is coming up, and you won’t want to miss it! This free event brings together water efficiency professionals from across California to connect, collaborate, and stay informed on the latest developments in the field. For the afternoon of this session, we will be providing the first look at CalWEP’s comprehensive non-functional turf toolkits. Download the draft agenda. CalWEP Plenary events are open to members, collaborators, and prospective members. If you’re not currently a CalWEP member but are interested in joining — or just want to check us out — email us and we’ll help you get registered. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: California’s Climate Future: Adapting to New Threats and Protecting Californians from 12pm to 1pm. The evidence is clear—Californians are on the front lines of climate change. Extreme heat waves and dangerous wildfire threats in recent weeks are the most recent example. Recognizing this, state leaders have directed world-leading action to protect our residents and build our resilience to these threats. Our Climate Adaptation Strategy guides our all-of-government effort to build community, economic and environmental resilience to wildfire, flood, heat, drought and sea level rise. Join us for an important discussion about a just-released update of this Strategy. We’ll share how this Strategy has changed, assess how it is delivering on its key priorities, and unpack important opportunities in the years to come. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Draft Subsidence Best Management Practices (Willows) from 1pm to 3pm. DWR is soliciting public feedback by hosting a series of public meetings across the state focused on a newly released DRAFT Subsidence Best Management Practices (BMP) document. The DRAFT BMP describes activities, practices, and procedures to support Groundwater Sustainability (GSP) implementation and to meet SGMA’s intent to avoid or minimize subsidence. The DRAFT BMP introduces fundamental concepts of subsidence and clarifies how to avoid new subsidence and minimize subsidence where already occurring. The DRAFT BMP provides guidance and examples to help Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) develop or update sustainable management criteria and management actions. Public comments can be provided in-person at the meetings and in writing to sgmps@water.ca.gov throughout the 60-day comment period. Registration is encouraged for planning purposes, but is not required. Walk-in registration will also be available for those who wish to partake. Click here to register.
Delta Conveyance Project trailer bills …
Newsom’s bid to fast-track Delta tunnel stalls again
“In a blow to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitions to replumb the Delta, California lawmakers once again punted on his plan to fast-track a deeply controversial $20 billion tunnel project that would funnel more water to the south. Multiple sources in the Legislature say the clock has run out on a sweeping measure that would overhaul permitting, financing and other road blocks to the Delta tunnel project. The news comes as lawmakers and Newsom race to reach a megadeal that encompasses carbon trading, wildfire funding, energy transmission, and refinery issues. The governor’s office did not respond to CalMatters’ inquiry. While supporters acknowledge the tunnel bill has hit a dead end for now, this isn’t the first time Newsom has tried to fast track the project. And water watchers expect that it won’t be the last. “Even if action is delayed this year, the need for modern delta conveyance has never been greater,” said Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, a staunch supporter of the bill, in a statement. “The need is urgent, the support is broad, and the time to move forward is now.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Newsom’s push to fast-track Delta water tunnel stalls in the California Legislature
“Gov. Gavin Newsom and some of California’s major water agencies hit a setback this week when a proposal to fast-track plans for a 45-mile water tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta died in the state Legislature. Newsom has been trying to streamline legal and environmental review of the proposed water tunnel through budget measures that also would give the state authority to issue bonds to pay for the project. Delta lawmakers said they were pleased that the governor’s proposal failed to move forward in the final days of the legislative session. Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) called it a “major victory for California and the Delta.” “The tunnel project not only would devastate much of the Delta region, but is also unaffordable and unnecessary,” McNerney said. “It’s very expensive. It’s very damaging to the environment.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Newsom’s push to fast-track Delta tunnel fails, moving fight to high-stakes hearing
“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attempt to fast-track his proposal for a 45-mile tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta failed to pass the Legislature before its deadline overnight Tuesday. The Newsom administration’s tunnel plan aims to send more Northern California water south and prop up the State Water Project as climate change threatens water supplies. Some water agencies are supportive of the plan, along with agricultural and business groups. After the trailer bill failed to pass before midnight, the fate of the tunnel plan is now in the hands of the State Water Resources Control Board, which is holding a monthslong hearing on the project’s viability and the delicate balance of water rights. That hearing, which is set to conclude next month but may be extended, will produce an opinion from the hearing officer as early as 2026 and a decision from the board members on whether to oppose the tunnel or side with Newsom. … ” Read more from KQED.
Delta Caucus, Solano ring victory bell on rejected fast-track tunnel effort
“The attempt to fast-track the Delta tunnel project has died for one more year after the state Legislature this week rejected Gov. Gavin Newsom’s streamline plan. “I am relieved to see that the proposed Delta Tunnel trailer bills did not move forward. Once a short-sighted policy, always a short-sighted policy and no amount of money, including the attempted $200 million payoff to Delta communities, can make up for the lasting harm this project would cause,” Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, and co-chair of the caucus, said in a statement. “This conversation has gone on for decades, and make no mistake: alongside Senator (Jerry) McNerney and our Delta Caucus partners, we will continue to stand strong and fight for the Delta and the communities who call it home,” she added. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Victory: Broad coalition defeats governor’s trailer bills to fast-track Delta tunnel
“A broad coalition of Tribes, environmental justice groups, family farmers, fishing groups, conservationists, Delta communities and elected officials celebrated victory today in their campaign to stop Governor Gavin Newsom’s trailer bills to fast-track the Delta Tunnel, a project that would destroy the imperiled Sacramento-San Joaquin River ecosystem and Delta communities. At midnight, Gov. Newsom’s Delta Tunnel trailer bills died after no legislator stepped up to carry them forward because of the massive opposition to the bills. In a statement, Delta Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) and Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) on Wednesday applauded the defeat of what they called “the governor’s controversial proposal to fast-track the costly and destructive Delta Tunnel Project.” … ” Read more from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos.
Restore the Delta: Delta communities, Tribes, and advocates defeat Newsom’s Delta trailer bills
“A coalition of Tribes, environmental justice organizations, fishing groups, conservation advocates, and Delta communities successfully stopped a package of Delta trailer bills that would have had disastrous consequences for the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. Working in close collaboration with the Delta Caucus, co-chaired by Senator Jerry McNerney and Assemblymember Lori Wilson, and with the leadership of Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, advocates ensured that proposals advanced by Governor Newsom, the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Natural Resources Agency, and the State Water Contractors did not move forward in this legislative session. The defeated trailer bills would have stripped Tribes and Delta communities of their ability to participate in CEQA review of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan and would have advanced construction and bonding for the controversial Delta Conveyance Project, including unlimited bonding authority for the Department of Water Resources.” … ” Read more from Restore the Delta.
So Cal Water Coalition speaks out on Delta Conveyance Project permit streamlining
Charley Wilson, Executive Director of the Southern California Water Coalition, writes, “After months of thoughtful dialogue about Southern California’s critical reliance on the State Water Project and the transformative potential of the Delta Conveyance Project, we are deeply disappointed that the DCP permit streamlining bill was not given the opportunity for a full legislative vote. Southern California showed up — loud, clear, and united. From lawmakers to labor, social justice advocates, water managers and business leaders, we rallied around a solution to secure our water future. That momentum isn’t going anywhere. We remain committed to advancing education and process improvements for vital water infrastructure with both the community and policymakers in the years to come.” … ” Read more from the Southern California Water Coalition.
Delta Counties Coalition responds to Legislature’s actions to stop Delta Conveyance Project trailer bills
“In response to the California Legislature’s actions to stop the Administration’s Delta Tunnel Conveyance Project trailer bill language, Patrick Hume, Chair of the Delta Counties Coalition (DCC), issued the following statement on behalf of the five counties and the 4 million California residents who stand to be most negatively impacted by this controversial, divisive, multi-billion-dollar megaproject: “The Delta Counties Coalition applauds the Legislature’s actions to stop trailer bill language that would have pushed through the controversial Delta Tunnel Conveyance Project. This outcome is a direct result of the tireless advocacy by Delta stakeholders, California tribes, environmental, business, and community organizations from across the state—and most critically, the unyielding leadership of the California Legislative Delta Caucus. We want to personally thank Senator Jerry McNerney, Assemblymember Lori Wilson, Senator Roger Niello, and Assemblymember Heath Flora for their focused and principled leadership and express our appreciation to Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas for ensuring that the voices of Delta communities were not ignored. … ” Read more from the Delta Counties Coalition.
More news from the legislature …
SAFER water for California’s future: Legislature moves to continue safe drinking water program past 2030
“Today, the Governor and Legislature released a three-party deal that would protect safe drinking water investments through 2045 by extending the current continuous appropriation of up to $130 million for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. The Legislature also proposed to appropriate $180 million from Proposition 4, the Climate Bond, for safe drinking water and wastewater projects. This safety net for drinking water investments is critical because federal funding is at risk of being reduced by 90%, creating a concerning gap in resources available to tackle this issue. In a legislative session where environmental justice priorities were otherwise sidelined, these moves if enacted will help to protect drinking water access for some of the most vulnerable Californians. “SAFER is not just a program: it is hope for those of us that face the drinking water crisis,” said Silverio Perez, SAFER Advisory Group member and AGUA Coalition member from the Central Coast. “In the last elections we also voted for Prop 4 so that alongside SAFER, these resources can help the nearly 1 million Californians that still don’t have safe drinking water. Thanks to our legislators who listened to us during our visits to Sacramento and to our unity as a community, we’ve managed to protect resources like SAFER for the future.” … ” Continue reading this press release.
Legislation protecting Tribal water rights and salmon in Klamath River watershed passes Assembly
“On Monday, AB 263 passed the state Legislature. The bill protects salmon populations in two key tributaries of the Klamath River watershed by keeping minimum flow requirements in place until the State Water Board can establish new long-term flow regulations. The bill is now headed to Governor’s desk for his signature. “The Shasta and Scott rivers are currently under emergency regulations that took tribal voices and our state’s fisheries into consideration when they were developed,” said Assemblymember Rogers. “Maintaining minimum flows on these tributaries will help the critical salmon restoration projects in the Klamath watershed continue to flourish. The temporary flow requirements maintained by AB 263 will provide certainty to farmers, fishermen, and tribal communities alike.” … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
SEE ALSO: Newsom should support AB 263 to rebuild California’s salmon run, from the Eureka Times-Herald
California may help solar bloom where water runs dry
“Ross Franson stood on the road between two fields, where nothing grows under the Fresno County sun. As a teen, Franson hauled a water tank to spray down the dust on roads like this — rolling past rows of almond and pistachio trees, the CD on his Discman skipping with every bump. A quarter of a century later, with water supplies squeezed by climate change and regulation, the dust has spread beyond the sunbaked track to barren fields. Now, on one side of the road, a field sits empty — fallowed, tire-tracked and dry. On the other stands a new crop: solar panels, in glassy black rows behind a chain-link fence. “We’re farmers. We’d rather farm,” Franson said. Still, he added, “This is the only way I think people are going to survive out here, if they’re able to find out other uses for some of the ground like this.” … It’s an existential question for the most agriculturally productive state in the nation. Now, California lawmakers are wading in, with a bill that aims to clear away a financial hurdle for energy developers and landowners eager to plant solar farms with battery storage on fallowed fields. Authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, a Democrat from Oakland, the bill tackles the Williamson Act, 60-year-old law designed to fend off the creep of suburbia. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
New bill to address “forever chemical” filling CA’s water supply
“The California Legislature unanimously approved a bill to address PFAS pollution and California’s water supply on Wednesday, which was introduced by Senator Jerry McNerney. PFAs are chemicals containing substances also known as “forever chemicals,” as they linger in the environment for long periods of time. McNerney stated that the new bill will establish a state fund called the PFAS Mitigation Fund to provide financial support to local agencies and cities for cleaning toxic PFAS from California’s water. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
California expands ban on microbeads and glitter
“California lawmakers have approved Assembly Bill 823, extending the state’s restrictions on plastic microbeads to include plastic glitter, non-rinse-off cosmetics, and cleaning products. The legislation, passed September 3 in the Senate and enrolled September 5, reflects mounting concern over microplastic pollution and its effects on waterways, ecosystems, and human health. Microbeads—tiny plastic particles five millimeters or smaller—are intentionally added to products for their abrasive or exfoliating properties. Commonly used in face scrubs, toothpaste, and household cleaners, microbeads bypass wastewater treatment systems and accumulate in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Scientists have documented microbeads in fish, shellfish, drinking water, and even human tissue, underscoring the urgency of regulatory action. … ” Read more from Environment Energy Leader.
California legislators strike last-minute deal to help oil industry but limit offshore drilling
“Amid concerns that refinery closures could send gas prices soaring, California legislative leaders Wednesday introduced a last-minute deal aimed at increasing oil production to shore up the struggling fossil-fuel industry while further restricting offshore drilling. The compromise, brokered by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, would streamline environmental approvals for new wells in oil-rich Kern County and increase oil production. The bill also would make offshore drilling more difficult by tightening the safety and regulatory requirements for pipelines. With support from Rivas and McGuire, Senate Bill 237 is expected to pass as part of a flurry of last-minute activity during the Legislature’s final week. Newsom’s office said the governor “looks forward to signing it when it reaches his desk.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
CA environmental groups decry this year as the state’s worst legislative year for the environment and climate in recent history
“This legislative session was marred by significant deregulation and increased government handouts to the most polluting industries in the state, from Big Oil to massive manufacturing facilities, led by California’s own state Democratic leaders: Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas and Pro Tem McGuire. Many of the high-profile environmental bills this session were negotiated behind closed doors with only leadership in the room, like SB 131 and SB 237, making it difficult, if not impossible, for community advocates, average Californians, and even other state legislators to weigh in. Despite clear public commitments by legislative leaders to pass clean up legislation on SB 131 before the end of session, pressure from more than 230 advocate groups, and the urging of 35 legislators, none materialized this session. SB 131 – a bill that rolled back environmental protections from virtually all new manufacturing and production facilities in California and undercut critical endangered species protections – remains virtually unchanged, still eliminating tribal consultation, community input, and environmental regulation for some of the most toxic heavy industrial plants in the state, including mining, nuclear processing, refineries, metal shredding, waste incineration, chemical manufacturing, A.I.-based manufacturing, and semiconductor manufacturing, which created 23 toxic Superfund cleanup sites in Santa Clara County alone – the most in any county in the nation. … ” Continue reading this press release.
In other California water news today …
Trump seizes on California dams as Newsom faces growing pressure
“For more than a century, PG&E’s Potter Valley Project has funneled water from one Northern California river to another. Now, the century-old system has become the center of a political firestorm, cast by the Trump administration as a battle of “fish over people.” Earlier this summer, PG&E submitted its final proposal to federal regulators: Dismantle the project’s two dams, drain its reservoir and retire the diversion tunnel that has long carried Eel River water into the Russian River watershed. The company would replace the infrastructure with a smaller facility that sharply curtails diversions in order to restore the Eel River’s struggling salmon populations. Supporters along the Eel see a long, overdue chance to undo generations of ecological damage. On the Russian River side, critics warn of heightened wildfire danger, worsening water shortages and severe economic strain for farms and communities that rely on the supply. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Friant contractors ask U.S. Supreme Court to review water rights case
“The long, circuitous path of a lawsuit against the federal government for cutting off water during the crushing 2014 drought to farms and cities that rely on supplies from the Friant-Kern and Madera canals could lead all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. At least, that’s the goal of attorneys who filed a writ of certiorari on behalf of 20 Friant Water Authority districts, the City of Fresno and several San Joaquin Valley farmers on Sept. 5. The filing is a formal request for the high court to review the case. The lawsuit stems from when the Bureau of Reclamation issued a “zero allocation” to Friant water contractors in 2014 and again during the drought year of 2015. Contractors who get their water from the Friant system sued alleging the federal government breached its contract and that it illegally took their property rights to the water without just compensation. In 2016, the case went to the Court of Federal Claims, which dismissed the Friant districts’ illegal taking argument. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Tech and Agriculture: Can technology be an ally in solving water scarcity in the United States?
“Official reports and recent studies show that in key agricultural regions of the United States, freshwater scarcity has become a problem requiring urgent attention. Could technological innovation be part of the solution? The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) promotes Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to help countries adapt to climate change. In its 2022 report, “Blending Water Management Approaches and Climate Change Adaptation,” UNEP already warned about the growing problem of water stress worldwide, urging the most affected countries to begin working on potential solutions and improvements in the use of this vital natural resource. The United States stands out as one of the countries most impacted by this climate challenge. In recent years, areas such as California’s Central Valley have become a clear example of what it means to produce food under a structural water crisis. … ” Read more from Water Online.
Odds of La Niña developing have increased. Here’s what it means for California weather
“Chances have gone up for La Niña conditions developing in the coming months, according to an update Thursday by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. Forecasters say there’s a 71% chance that La Niña develops this fall, up from the 53% chance given in the agency’s August outlook. “This is a significant shift, especially in the near term,” said Climate Prediction Center scientist Michelle L’Heureux. The updated forecast calls for La Niña conditions lasting into winter, when the climate pattern typically has its biggest influence on U.S. weather. Forecasters say there’s a 54% chance that La Niña continues into winter, up from the 45% chance described in last month’s outlook. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Securing statewide water supplies part 7: System flexibility means reliable water supplies
“Every water year is unique, with some being dry and others wet. California’s climate has always been highly variable, and as the climate changes, precipitation patterns are becoming even more unpredictable, wildly swinging from extreme drought to intense precipitation and flooding. Adding a new point of diversion with the Delta Conveyance Project creates flexibility to adapt to our changing climate while continuing to protect fish and water quality in the Delta, allowing the state to maximize the amount of water captured from high flows and stored for later use. Four years of data show the Delta Conveyance Project will provide critical
California Forever’s latest plan for Solano County: A ‘drone ship’ factory on the shoreline
“A “drone ship” factory employing 10,000 workers could be landing on a remote stretch of Solano County waterfront. On Tuesday California Forever’s plan to build a major industrial shipbuilding facility in the Solano County town of Collinsville cleared an early hurdle when the Solano County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support last-minute state legislation being pushed by the billionaire-backed developer and California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. While the legislation is still being drafted, Solano Maritime Projects Act would adjust the boundaries of an industrial area on the Collinsville waterfront that is currently zoned to allow “water dependent” industrial development. The legislation, sponsored by State Assemblymember Lori Wilson and State Senator Chris Cabaldon, would override Solano’s orderly growth initiative, which requires voter approvals for development in unincorporated parts of the county. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California’s first solar-covered canal is now fully online
“A novel solar power project just went online in California’s Central Valley, with panels that span across canals in the vast agricultural region. The 1.6-megawatt installation, called Project Nexus, was fully completed late last month. The $20 million state-funded pilot has turned stretches of the Turlock Irrigation District’s canals into hubs of clean electricity generation in a remote area where cotton, tomatoes, almonds, and hundreds of other crops are grown. Project Nexus is only the second canal-based solar array to operate in the United States — and one of just a handful in the world. America’s first solar-canal project started producing power in October 2024 for the Pima and Maricopa tribes, known together as the Gila River Indian Community, on their reservation near Phoenix, Arizona. Two more canal-top arrays are already in the works there. … ” Read more from Canary Media.
SEE ALSO: Construction complete on TID canal solar panel project, from the Turlock Journal
Rep. Jim Costa pushes to enhance federal incentives for water conservation and farmland restoration
“Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced H.R. 5111 – The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide stronger incentives for farmers and producers to restore farmland and conserve water. “Clean water and healthy soil are the foundation of American agriculture,” said Congressman Costa. “By modernizing the Conservation Reserve Program for the first time in nearly 40 years, we can meet the challenges of drought and climate change head-on. My bipartisan bill would put more dollars into conservation practices to conserve water, restore farmland, and keep family farms thriving for generations to come.” … ” Read more from Congressman Jim Costa.
Trump administration seeks to roll back rule prioritizing conservation on public lands across California, nation
“The Trump administration said Wednesday it’s planning to eliminate a key public lands rule that gave conservation equal standing with oil drilling, logging, mining and other activities on Bureau of Land Management properties. The Department of Interior, which oversees the sprawling acreage of the Bureau of Land Management, said the Biden-era rule was illegal because it legitimized a “no-use” of land at the expense of commercial use of land. The agency, which has made supporting industry a priority, says repealing the rule will facilitate greater economic development. “The previous administration’s Public Lands Rule had the potential to block access to hundreds of thousands of acres of multiple-use land — preventing energy and mineral production, timber management, grazing and recreation across the West,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
One year after dams were torn down, an Indigenous writer sees a healing Klamath River
Ian James writes, “Over the last two years, I have traveled repeatedly to the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border to report on the dismantling of four dams. I saw crews in excavators as they clawed at the remnants of the Copco No. 1 and Iron Gate dams. And as the giant reservoirs were drained, I saw newly planted seeds taking root in soil that had been underwater for generations. When the last of the dams was breached in August 2024, the river began flowing freely along about 40 miles for the first time in more than a century. While working on a series of stories about the undamming of the Klamath, I spoke with Indigenous leaders and activists who had spent two decades campaigning for the removal of dams, including by filing lawsuits, holding protests and speaking out at meetings of utility shareholders. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Humboldt Bay Municipal Water Distrtict completes 24-hour repair of ‘backbone’ water transmission line
“The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District has completed repairs on a damaged water transmission pipeline above Janes Creek this week. Crews began work early Tuesday morning, mobilizing at 1 a.m. and beginning the repairs at 3 p.m. They worked throughout the day, restoring water flow near midnight and completing repairs by 2 a.m. on Wednesday. The pipeline involved serves as a “backbone” to the water district’s system, distributing water to the cities of Eureka, Arcata and the surrounding areas serviced by the Humboldt Community Services District. The leak was discovered in late-August and it prompted the water district to declare an emergency in order to circumvent an onerous bidding process for contractors and move quickly to address the issue. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
An unprecedented expedition dove to Lake Tahoe’s depths. What did it discover?
“Lowered into its famous cobalt blue waters, Emmy started a 1,075-foot descent to the bottom of Lake Tahoe. In the past two years, she practiced for this dive 20 times. But Emmy isn’t your average diver — she’s equipped with a custom-built 600-foot fiber optic tether, cameras and detachable hands. She also cost nearly $50,000 to build, according to Restore the Lake Depths Foundation development director Caroline Grossman. Deep Emerald, known by loved ones as “Emmy,” is a remotely operated vehicle. Her name is inspired by Tahoe’s “jewel of the Sierra” title, as the team viewed her as the “jewel” protecting the Tahoe ecosystems. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte County Supervisors push back Vina GSA board appointment
“After some discussion regarding filling a vacancy on the Vina Groundwater Sustainability board of directors, a vacancy that’s been open since Aug. 1, the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to hold off before selecting a permanent replacement. A committee was formed to solicit, interview and recommend a replacement and, on Tuesday, Jim Graydon was presented as the preferred choice from the committee. Had he been selected, Graydon would have served on the board as a representative of domestic well users for a term that lasts until Oct. 10, 2027. Supervisors Tami Ritter and Peter Durfee asked questions regarding the process by which a new board member is selected, both noting that the alternate was not considered during the selection. “To me, it makes sense,” Durfee said. “Even with the things we sit on, if I can’t attend, my alternate takes my place.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
Proud of the past, looking to the future: Celebrating 105 years of Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District
“Last Friday, community leaders, farmers, and conservation partners joined together on the Sacramento River in Hamilton City to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District (GCID). Under the shade of tall trees and beside the district’s iconic 1,100-foot fish screen, the gathering both honored a century-plus legacy and looked forward to the work ahead. The celebration opened with remarks from GCID General Manager Jeff Sutton, who traced the district’s roots back to pioneer Will S. Green—often called the “Father of Irrigation” in California. In 1883, Green nailed a handwritten notice to an oak tree on the riverbank near Hamilton City, establishing a water system that would ultimately transform the fertile plains of Glenn and Colusa Counties into one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water reaches new milestone for regional weather forecast system
“Sonoma Water, the County agency that delivers water to over 600,000 people, has reached a new radar milestone in its AQPI Project thanks to a powerful federal, state and regional partnership. Partners include federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, state Department of Water Resources, universities including Colorado State’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, and Scripps Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, and local water agency partners led by Sonoma Water. … ” Continue reading from the Sonoma Valley Sun.
BAY AREA
California working to count the Bay Area’s freakiest fish
Researchers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have spent the last few weeks out on the San Francisco Bay and Delta studying a species of prehistoric fish that has survived for hundreds of millions of years but now faces potential demise. Joe Rosato Jr. reports.
Nailing down opportunities for nature-based infrastructure
“Ever strolled along the Bay Trail and wondered about the muddy, sloshy border where the bay meets the land? What values it might have, besides beautiful bay views? Unless you’re a wetland ecologist, you likely don’t think about the hard work that wetlands do every day to soak up rains and tides, store carbon, filter dirty water running off streets, and support a host of incredible species that live precariously on the water’s edge. Though it’s mainly aimed at planners and engineers, a new tool from the SF Estuary Institute offers a way to see these local wetlands in a completely different light. The San Francisco Baylands Resilience Metrics Mapbook highlights key wetlands around the Bay Area, and identifies where and how we can place sediment to lift wetlands above rising seas, improve connections between habitats, and take other “nature-based” actions to increase the resilience of these hard-working ecosystems. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
CENTRAL COAST
California American Water upgrades critical well infrastructure after 2024 storms
“California American Water has returned its Pearce well to service in the Monterey Peninsula following extensive repairs and upgrades prompted by storm damage earlier this year. Two eucalyptus trees toppled onto the well during the winter storms of 2024, taking a significant water supply source offline. The utility has since completed a full replacement of the well head, submersible pump, electrical systems and control equipment. Crews also installed a new sterilization line and cleared 25 nearby eucalyptus trees to prevent future damage. “This project was a complete overhaul of the entire Pearce well infrastructure,” said Scott Ottmar, senior project engineer, in a press release. “Collaboration with other utilities to replace infrastructure was essential, and we could not have finished without working closely with our neighbors.” … ” Read more from Water World.
A second short recreational season for salmon fishing yields mixed results.
“California fishermen waited for three years since 2022 for an opportunity to catch Chinook salmon, aka king salmon. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife cited the need to let the population rebound before opening the fishery in 2025 to a limited recreational fishing window in June. CDFW opened the recreational fishery again for up to 7,500 salmon for a four-day window, from Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 4-7, while keeping the commercial fishery closed. It’s too soon for CDFW officials to know how they did numbers-wise and whether they will reopen the fishery again for a short time later this year, with possible additional open dates of Sept. 29-30. But anecdotal data from local fishermen shows mixed results. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
Santa Barbara expands lawn rebate program to include rain gardens
“We like to call ourselves the American Riviera. A landscape characterized by mountains covered in tan rocks and shrubs, leading down to sandy cliffs that overlook a blue ocean. Neon-green lawns are not a natural part of that vision. As the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden puts it, traditional lawns “are an outsized drain on our resources.” They offer little environmental benefit, require fertilizers and pesticides, and consume enormous amounts of water. And water, here, is never in abundance. Santa Barbara has a solution. Since 2009, the city’s Sustainable Lawn Replacement Rebate has encouraged residents to swap grass for drought-tolerant landscaping. More than 1,600 customers have participated. This spring, the city expanded the program to include a new incentive: rain gardens. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego just OK’d a plan to save Sunset Cliffs and city beaches from rising seas. Here’s what’s in it.
“San Diego has approved a sweeping plan to fight sea-level rise by reconfiguring iconic city locations including Sunset Cliffs, Ocean Beach and Tourmaline Surf Park. The coastal resilience master plan, which the City Council approved Tuesday unanimously despite some community backlash, opts for nature-based solutions like dunes instead of older methods like seawalls and culverts. “This is about resiliency and making sure we protect our natural recreation areas and our investments in public infrastructure and private property,” said Councilmember Joe LaCava, who represents La Jolla and Pacific Beach. “What we had yesterday won’t be there tomorrow unless we take action today.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Heavily polluted Tijuana River drives regional air quality crisis
“Intense industrial and urban wastewater pollution has plagued the Tijuana River for decades, causing long-term closure of neighboring beaches. Rico et al. showed that surging wastewater flows in the summer of 2024 enhanced water-to-air hydrogen sulfide (H2S) transfer at a turbulent hotspot, leading to nighttime atmospheric H2S peaks thousands of times greater than typical urban levels. This example makes it clear that poor water quality can drastically affect air quality—an observation with important implications for global waterways.” Read more from Science.
Along the Colorado River …
Commentary: Water rights won’t matter when ‘dead pool’ arrives
Todd Fitchette, editor of the Western Farm Press, writes, “How quickly can we turn around the decades-old overuse of water generated by the Colorado River system? Can we do it before we lose a major source of water and the ability to power our cities and farms in the Southwest? On the surface the solution seems rather simple: stop using more water than the system creates. The problem remains: more water is used every year from the Colorado River than is captured and stored. Though a couple of epic seasons in the early 1980s brought the two major reservoirs in the system to full pool, drought conditions over the past 25 years and a failure to reduce deliveries to states like California, which drinks a significant portion of the river, has made matters worse. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Monsoon? What monsoon? Las Vegas remains in severe drought, report says
“The sporadic showers of this summer’s monsoon season haven’t been enough to lift Southern Nevada out of federal drought conditions, according to a Tuesday report from the Nevada State Climate Office. Following a dry winter for Southern Nevada’s Spring Mountains, monsoon season hasn’t delivered for the region, either. Most of Southern Nevada remains under at least a designation of “moderate drought,” with pockets of extreme drought in Nye, White Pine and eastern Clark counties. Nearly two-thirds of the state was experiencing drought as of last Tuesday, a significant increase compared with last year, when only 28 percent of the state had been in drought. The data comes from the U.S. Drought Monitor, a tool breaking down a map of the country by drought conditions. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
EPA grants Arizona primacy to protect underground water resources
“Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule approving the State of Arizona’s request to administer all classes of underground injection wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This action recognizes that Arizona is best positioned to protect its underground sources of drinking water while bolstering economic growth and energy dominance. It supports EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which prioritizes clean and safe water for every American, restoring American energy dominance, and advancing cooperative federalism. “Efficient and effective permitting is essential to bolstering American industry and unleashing energy dominance while protecting our nation’s water resources. States know their water resources best and understand the needs of their business community, entrusting them to take on permitting makes common sense,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “I am excited to see the economic growth that will be spurred by granting Arizona primacy to regulate underground injection under the Safe Drinking Water Act.” … ” Read more from the EPA.
Arizona: How human-made Tres Rios Wetlands fits into Valley’s wastewater recycling process
“Half of the water from the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant is sent to the human-made wetlands known as Tres Rios before it can be reintroduced into the environment. Tres Rios is a partnership among the five cities who own the treatment plant through their Sub-Regional Operating Group (SROG) — Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale and Phoenix — and the Army Corps of Engineers. It covers nearly 700 acres of land near 91st Avenue just north of the Salt River. It sits just west of the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant, which can treat up to 230 million gallons of sewage water a day. The SROG saved over $300 million dollars in upgrades that would have been needed for the plant had the wetlands not been built from 2007 to 2012. The cost of the $100 million dollar project was split between the SROG and the Army Corps of Engineers. … ” Read more from KTAR.4
Monitoring well dries up on Arizona’s imperiled San Pedro River
“One of nine monitoring wells established by a judge to monitor water flows on the imperiled San Pedro River dried up over the summer, raising environmentalists’ concerns about the river’s health. “What more measurable proof does any decisionmaker need as a call to action to do more than posturing to help the San Pedro?” asked Robin Silver, co-founder of the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s time to fish or cut the bait if the San Pedro River, the last free flowing undammed river in the desert Southwest, its millions of dependent neotropical songbirds and many dependent endangered species, are to be saved.” The Summers well, lying on the river about seven miles downstream of Fort Huachuca, reported “D” for dry as of June 30, U.S. Geological Survey records show. The USGS maintains and monitors the network of wells — monitoring required by a 2023 court order. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Low Colorado River flows create ripple effects on Utah’s recreation industry
“The Colorado River once only powered farms and industry. Today, it powers communities whose economies depend on recreational activities such as rafting, tubing and fishing. In Southern Utah, businesses along the Colorado River and the Virgin River say low flows are reshaping seasons, straining logistics and forcing a reevaluation of century-old water policies. Dr. John (Jack) Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University, told St. George News the lowest sustained flows on record at the gauge in Cisco, which is downstream of the Dolores River near Westwater Canyon, have occurred in the last two decades. “If I compare the lowest episode of flow, which were 2002 to 2004 and 2020 to 2022, those were the two episodes that had really low flow,” Schmidt said. “Those flow numbers are approximately 50% of what the flows were like between 2005 and 2019, which is the main part of the 21st century. So during the really low flow periods, flow can be half what they are in more normal times in the 21st century.” … ” Read more from St. George News.
In national water news today …
Trump Administration puts limits on popular conservation program
“A parcel bordering Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, a historic ranch on the Yampa River in Colorado and land within the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument in New Mexico all have one thing in common: they were acquired in part with dollars from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The longstanding federal conservation program is funded by offshore oil and gas royalties. But now the program could see more constraints that environmental and recreation advocates worry will undermine its effectiveness. Congress created the LWCF in 1965 to protect natural and recreation areas. Since then, the fund has supported 45,000 projects across 8 million acres in every county in the U.S. It’s also enabled matching funds for state and local governments to buy and develop public parks and recreation sites. … ” Read more from KUNC.
Trump moves to scrap Biden rule that protected public lands
“The Trump administration moved on Wednesday to repeal a Biden-era rule that sought to protect millions of acres of public lands from the twin threats of climate change and industrial development. The proposal from the Bureau of Land Management would prioritize the use of public lands for oil and gas drilling, coal mining, timber production and livestock grazing. The Biden administration, in contrast, had championed their use for conservation, recreation and renewable energy development. If finalized, the proposal would advance what President Trump has termed his “drill, baby, drill” agenda. It also would herald a major shift in the management of roughly 245 million acres of public lands, which make up about one-tenth of the country. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
SEE ALSO: Trump Administration Moves to Dismantle Conservation as an Official Use of Public Lands, from Inside Climate News
