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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Conservation Casefiles: Stories from the Field from 12pm to 1:30pm. This lecture will highlight the vital role of CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division (LED) in protecting California’s fish, wildlife and habitats. Wildlife officers Tiffany Wolvek, Matthew Gil and Trevor Pell will share experiences from the field, discuss how California Wildlife Officers support conservation efforts and recount real cases that illustrate the challenges and successes of enforcing environmental and conservation laws. Whether you’re a conservation enthusiast, educator, hunter, angler, outdoor recreationist or true crime fan, this session offers a behind-the-scenes look at the vital intersection of law, wildlife and public service. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
‘Brutal’ groundwater plan may be only path forward for Tulare County growers
“Farmers in southeastern Tulare County left hanging after their old groundwater agency disintegrated have new leadership but their path forward will not be easy. “We’ve got some serious issues to deal with and our groundwater sustainability plan will be brutal,” said Mike George, chairman of the new Tule East Joint Powers Authority Groundwater Sustainability Agency. He told SJV Water he expects the new GSA will have to fallow at least half its irrigated land. That will be a huge economic hit to the region. “I’m prepared for everyone to criticize me,” he said. The new Tule East GSA was created from lands left behind as water districts fled the Eastern Tule GSA. The exodus began after the state Water Resources Control Board put the region on probation in 2024 and specifically called out Eastern Tule for continued subsidence and what it said were “alarming” groundwater accounting methods. Eastern Tule had covered 162,000 acres, about 86,000 of which are so-called “white lands.” That means they are not within the boundaries of water districts, which are typically color coded on maps. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Kings County groundwater legal battle gets appellate court hearing date
“Arguments over a preliminary injunction that has held off state groundwater sanctions in Kings County since last year are set to be heard before the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Fresno Oct. 7. The State Water Resources Control Board will argue to dismiss both the injunction and the underlying lawsuit, according to an email from Water Board Spokesperson Edward Ortiz. The Kings County Farm Bureau sued the Water Board after claiming it exceeded its jurisdiction when it placed the Tulare Lake subbasin on probation in April 2024 under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which aims to have local entities bring aquifers into balance by 2040. The Water Board cited subsidence, dry wells and a lack of coordination between groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) for its probationary finding. “I do not expect any kind of an answer from the appellate court on the seventh; they’ll take into consideration what is said, in addition to the written brief, and then make a ruling and notify us of that ruling sometime after the seventh,” Farm Bureau Executive Director Dusty Ference told SJV Water. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
The storm over California won’t budge. Here’s how it will impact weather
“The upper-level low-pressure system that cooled the Bay Area and sparked showers Wednesday isn’t done yet. Unlike most California weather systems that sweep through in a day or two, this one has been unusually persistent, lingering offshore before sliding inland toward the Sierra on Thursday. That slow drift keeps the low in charge of California’s weather through the weekend. A typical upper-level low latches onto the jet stream and races east. This one, by contrast, has acted like an anchor, cut off from the main flow and reluctant to budge. The result has been days of influence that cooled Bay Area highs by 15 to 20 degrees, stirred up Central Coast thunderstorms and are now driving weather farther south. On Thursday, Tahoe, Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes could all see strong afternoon thunderstorms with lightning and bursts of heavy rain. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Stockton City Council opposes Delta tunnel project
“The Stockton City Council voted to formally oppose the state of California’s Delta Conveyance Project, known as the Delta Tunnel, due to concerns about water quality and environmental impacts. The city resolution states that the project would degrade water quality for the Stockton region, threaten fish and wildlife, increase harmful algae blooms, and increase salinity intrusion in the Delta. The project involves building a 45-mile tunnel under the Delta, designed to deliver water from Northern California to Southern California. It would impact Delta farms that have operated for generations. However, the state says the project is needed to ensure the safety of drinking water for millions of people. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is continuing to ask state lawmakers to pass a “trailer bill” to fast-track the project. … ” Read more from KCRA.
SEE ALSO: Stockton City Council opposes proposed Delta tunnel, from Stocktonia
Ted Cooke reflects on turmoil over his nomination to Bureau of Reclamation
“Ted Cooke, the former nominee for commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, called the decision to scuttle his nomination “feckless.” President Donald Trump had nominated Cooke, the former director of the Central Arizona Project, in June to head the bureau, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The bureau manages the Colorado River. It’s a fraught time for the Colorado River. … Cooke’s nomination was greeted with applause from the Lower Basin states, and a certain amount of skepticism from the Upper Basin states. In June, Eric Kuhn, the retired general manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District, pointed out the number of senators from the Upper Basin states, both Republican and Democrat, who sit on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which would confirm Cooke’s appointment. That includes its chair, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah; ranking member, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico; Colorado’s Sen. John Hickenlooper; and Sen. John Barasso, R-Wyoming, the Senate Republican whip. … ” Read more from Colorado Politics.
Storm to affect parts of California, Southwest with locally heavy rain, isolated flash flooding
“In the wake of a soaking rain and even mudslides in parts of the West earlier this week, a new storm is targeting the region for this week, say AccuWeather meteorologists. The new storm, similar to the last one, but centered farther north, will bring a plethora of impacts to the region, especially in Central California, with localized flooding downpours, lightning and even an increased risk of wildfires is expected. “Following the rain event from former Tropical Storm Mario that brought a month’s worth of rain to many locales in California, another storm is expected to pump moisture into California this week” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
California to consider protections for western spadefoot
“A conservation group on Wednesday formally petitioned for the western spadefoot frog to receive protection under California’s Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for federal protection for two frog populations separated by Southern California’s Transverse Ranges. It recommends listing the northern group as threatened and the southern group as endangered, citing different threats and warning the species could decline further without safeguards. “Their habitat is disappearing by the day, so California officials need to act,” said Sofia Prado-Irwin, a scientist at the center, in a statement. “These little cryptic frogs are struggling as their home turf gets eaten up by roads and poorly planned development.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
California bill would require builders to release how much water data facilities use
“As California’s population grows, the pressure increases on its finite natural resources. And one of those, water, is the subject of some concern, with the increase in data generation in the state. The data facilities use a lot of water, but at this point, officials don’t know how much. New legislation aims to find out. Santa Clara isn’t just the home of the 49ers; it’s also where the internet lives. The city has 55 huge data centers already in operation, with three more on the way. While that takes an awful lot of energy, it also uses water. Mike Kiparsky, director of the Wheeler Water Institute at the UC Berkeley School of Law, said the need is about to explode with the advent of artificial Intelligence. “The data centers that we see now will just multiply,” he said. “And their need to cool their servers will multiply along with them.” … ” Read more from CBS News.
SEE ALSO: California lawmakers wanted to get tough on data centers. Here’s what survived, from Cal Matters
CDFW awards $2.5 million for golden mussel response and boating access projects
“Today the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced the award of $2.5 million in grants for five projects to support public recreational boating access to state waterways. These projects will help prevent the spread of invasive golden mussels, improve public access to California’s waterways, expand recreational boating opportunities, and promote stewardship of aquatic resources. ”Supporting safe and reliable access for all boaters and anglers means investing in boating facilities as well as protecting our waterways from invasive species,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “A portion of this grant funding will directly support California’s response to limiting the spread of golden mussels as part of a larger ongoing coordinated effort.” … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
NASA data powers new tool to protect water supply after fires
“When wildfires scorch a landscape, the flames are just the beginning. NASA is helping communities across the nation foresee and prepare for what can follow: mudslides, flash flooding, and contaminated surface water supplies. A new online tool called HydroFlame, built with support from NASA’s Earth Science Division, relies on satellite data, hydrologic modeling, and artificial intelligence to predict how wildfires could affect water resources, from tap water to the rivers and streams where people fish. The project is being developed with the University of Texas at Arlington, Purdue University, the U.S. Geological Survey, and other partners. For now, the tool includes data only for Montana’s Clark Fork Basin, where it is being piloted. But new applications are underway in California and Utah. Researchers will soon begin fieldwork in Los Angeles County to collect on-the-ground data to refine HydroFlame’s predictive approach — an important step toward expanding it beyond the pilot site. “As wildfires intensify across the country, so do their ripple effects on regional water resources,” said Erin Urquhart, program manager for NASA’s water resources program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “HydroFlame could help communities in the U.S. see what’s coming and plan for it, before a fire becomes a water crisis.” That kind of foresight is exactly what local officials are looking for. … ” Read more from NASA.
In commentary today …
The cost and the upside of the “big gulp”
Edward Ring, Director of Water and Energy Policy at the California Policy Center, writes, “Of all the possible ways to increase California’s water supply, nothing compares to the potential of the so-called “big gulp,” that is, the ability of new and improved water infrastructure to safely divert millions of acre feet from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during high winter flows. How much water? A study published by the Public Policy Institute of California offers an answer to this question. They measured flows through the delta over a 37 year period through 2016 and classified the volumes of water into categories including diversions for farm irrigation and municipal use, flows essential to maintain the health of the delta ecosystems, and the intriguing category “uncaptured water.” They estimated the volume of “uncaptured water” to average 11.3 million acre feet per year over the 1980-2016 period. It’s important to avoid concluding that 100 percent of this uncaptured water could be safely diverted. … ” Read more from Edward Ring.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
State Water Board meets Oct. 8 in Crescent City to hear testimony on pesticide poisoning of the Lower Smith River
“With the pesticide poisoning of California’s wildest river now reaching a crisis stage, the California North Coast Regional Water Board (Water Board) has called a special meeting in Crescent City on October 8 to hear testimony from a growing coalition of residents, scientists, and conservation organizations who are seeking the elimination of toxic pesticide use on lands that surround the vital Smith River estuary. Siskiyou Land Conservancy (SLC) and the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) are encouraging North Coast residents to attend the Oct. 8 meeting and ask the Water Board to require that Easter lily farmers achieve “zero discharge” of all pesticide residues into the Smith River estuary. Currently, the Water Board is creating an “agricultural permit,” under the Federal Clean Water Act, that will allow lily farmers to continue polluting the Smith River estuary. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Increased flows on the Yuba River below the New Bullards Bar Dam due to taking powerhouse offline for maintenance
“Yuba Water Agency is set to increase the water flows on the Yuba River below the New Bullards Bar Dam starting September 29. Officials say the change is part of the Colgate Tunnel and Penstock Improvement Project. “This will be a significant change in conditions for this stretch of the river,” said Yuba Water Operations Manager Karl Parker. Parker explained that due to taking the powerhouse offline, the water flow will be higher than normal. Yuba Water Agency urged local recreators to avoid the area or exercise extreme caution. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
NAPA/SONOMA
Santa Rosa Water officials highlight sewer system needs during tour with federal partners
“Construction workers on Tuesday prepared to flush hot water through two rust colored hoses dropped into a manhole just off Llano Road. The water will help inflate a fabric liner inserted into a five-and-a-half-foot wide sewer trunk beneath the surface, sealing cracks and covering protruding rebar. The sewer pipe, known as the Llano Trunk, is a major component of the regional water reuse system, delivering wastewater to Santa Rosa’s nearby Laguna Treatment Plant, where it’s both recycled for agricultural uses and to recharge geothermal fields at The Geysers bordering Sonoma and Lake counties. But the plant’s 50-year-old pipe is deteriorating. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Wastewater treatment plant in San Mateo opens after major upgrade and expansion
“The State Water Resources Control Board joined the cities of San Mateo and Foster City, the Estero Municipal Improvement District and elected officials today to celebrate the completion of a $552 million upgrade and expansion of the San Mateo Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves over 150,000 people in San Mateo, Foster City, Hillsborough and other Bay Area communities. Constructed in three phases over five years, the upgrades to the treatment plant increased system capacity to better manage major storm events and prevent sewer system overflows that can threaten public health and San Francisco Bay. The upgrades enable the plant to produce high-quality treated wastewater that meets state and federal requirements. “Upgrading our wastewater infrastructure to withstand extreme weather is a critical part of adapting to climate change for most towns and cities,” said State Water Board Member Sean Maguire. “Infrastructure improvements are a major undertaking that require years of planning and extensive financing. We at the board are proud to partner with cities like San Mateo to provide grants and loans that make large-scale projects more affordable and, ultimately, achievable for municipalities and their customers.” … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
Fish passage project in the Sunol Valley moves toward finish line by end of year
“Major construction on the Sunol Valley Fish Passage Project, an effort intended to restore fish passage and ecological function in the upper Alameda Creek, is expected to be completed this year. The project involves the removal of an existing Sunol Valley concrete erosion-control mat, which is protecting a 36-inch pipeline, L303, owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). The plan is to replace L303 with a new pipeline buried about 18 feet below the existing Alameda Creek grade to eliminate any need for an erosion-control structure in the creek bed that limits fish migration and ecological function. The new pipeline will be located approximately 114 feet north of the existing one to allow for an open trench with shallow side slopes to account for soil stability during the construction excavation. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
Pleasanton dry-cleaning contamination cleanup begins
“The Water Quality Control Board has issued a cleanup order to the owners of the former American Cleaners dry cleaner at 555 Main Street in response to contamination found at the site. The board sent the order to the current owner, Charles H. Stoll of the Stoll Main Street Trust, as well as two past property owners and several former dry-cleaner businesses dating back to 1943. Investigations between 2017 and 2024 detected tetrachloroethene (PCE), a toxic solvent commonly used in dry cleaning between 1940 and 2000, in the soil, groundwater, soil gas and indoor air. Samples of groundwater in the area’s upper aquifer, down to about 80 feet, revealed concentrations up to 25,600 micrograms per liter, compared to the 5 microgram-per-liter maximum contaminant level set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
LA Waterkeeper and Riverpark Coalition join forces in lawsuit against Long Beach over approval of Pacific Place Self-Storage Project
“LA Waterkeeper has long advocated to restore the Los Angeles River as a climate resilience corridor for frontline communities most burdened by pollution. Yet local governments along the river have repeatedly prioritized development over preservation, building permanent structures on its banks instead of reclaiming floodplains or protecting scarce open space. The City of Long Beach stands out as a particularly troubling example. Despite strong objections from LA Waterkeeper, Riverpark Coalition, and numerous concerned community members, the Long Beach City Council approved at its August 12 hearing a self-storage project at 3701 Pacific Place, along the LA River. Western Long Beach communities—located along the “diesel death zone” of highways from the ports—are in dire need of environmental justice and green space. In 2007, the City’s own RiverLink plan even identified 3701 Pacific Place as a potential park opportunity site. But by approving the self-storage project, Long Beach has rejected its own stated vision and squandered one of the last chances to preserve open space along the LA River. … ” Read more from the LA Waterkeeper.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District selects former Interior Deputy Secretary to bolster federal presence on water, power issues
“The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) announced on Tuesday it has enlisted Tommy Beaudreau, the former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the international law firm WilmerHale to significantly strengthen its advocacy in Washington, D.C., on pivotal interstate water and federal energy policies. Beaudreau, a figure respected across party lines for his leadership on natural resource policy, will partner with WilmerHale’s government relations team, including Republican lead Rob Lehman. The move signals IID’s intent to aggressively protect its interests as the Colorado River Basin faces a historic reckoning. “We are deeply aware of the stakes for the Colorado River and the communities it sustains,” said IID Board President Gina Dockstader. “Tommy Beaudreau’s bipartisan relationships and proven record of effectiveness make him the right person to assist IID in shaping solutions for the entire Basin.” … ” Read more from the Imperial Irrigation District.
SAN DIEGO
City staff deflect blame away from Pure Water before San Diego’s big water rate vote
“As the San Diego City Council prepares to make major water rate hikes, city staff clearly want weary councilmembers to blame the San Diego County Water Authority and not the wastewater recycling project the city is building. Tuesday the City Council will vote on a 63 percent water rate hike and 31 percent wastewater rate increase over the next four years. City Hall is abuzz with chatter that there may not be enough votes to pass the rate increases, which could set in motion an unpredictable series of events. The city pays the Water Authority about $30 million per month for water. The Water Authority’s bills to the city will come due no matter what. But if elected leaders refuse to raise rates, San Diego’s utilities department can’t collect the money it needs to function. It’ll be a tough decision after several months of fee increases the City Council has approved. Last Friday, Council President Joe LaCava said he was worried the Council’s willingness to do those kinds of things was waning before the last of them: this big water rate increase. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Commentary: Lower Basin states are leading the effort to stabilize the Colorado River
Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, writes, “An equitable solution is needed to satisfy all water uses throughout the Colorado River Basin. However, some parties want to ignore or rewrite historic compacts, acts, and water rights laws to achieve a solution that doesn’t involve their direct participation. By the end of 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is expected to adopt new operational guidelines for the Colorado River. Average annual flows over the past 25 years failed to achieve the 15 million acre-feet of runoff calculated a century ago, which was split evenly between the Upper Basin (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico) and the Lower Basin (California, Arizona, and Nevada). As consumptive use, the No. 1 legal priority of the river is for food production, water for cities, and water for tribes. … ” Continue reading at the Western Farm Press.
Video: New study shows soil moisture holds key to Arizona’s water future
“We all know rain and snow help fill up the Colorado River —but a new study led by ASU researcher Swastik Ghimire shows the ground beneath our feet may be just as important. When the soil is too dry, much of the snowmelt goes into replenishing that dry ground, not our rivers and canals. And if spring weather is hot and dry, even more water is lost to evaporation. ABC15 Meteorologist Justin Hobbs is digging into how this research could help water leaders better forecast supply —and even shape future negotiations over the Colorado River. … ” Read more from ABC 15.
Strategy for battling the zebra mussel invasion in Colorado starts to shift
“Now that Colorado’s zebra mussel problem has been confirmed in the Colorado River, the strategy for fighting the invasion has started to shift. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said it won’t try chemical treatments on the river as they’ve done in the past with Highline Lake, one of the first spots CPW found the mussels. It believes the risks that could bring to native fish, along with the sheer scale of the waterway make that impossible. Instead, the focus now is on containing the spread and keeping mussels out of other lakes and reservoirs. Colorado wildlife experts know the stakes are big. Zebra mussels clog pipes, choke irrigation systems and threaten crops like Palisade peaches and vineyards who rely on that water, according to CPW’s Rachael Gonzales. Part of the problem is the zebra mussel’s reproduction rate; a single female can release up to a million eggs every year, making this a problem that can spiral out of control. “It sucks,” Madeline Baker, Invasive Species Specialist with CPW said, grabbing an adult mussel off the side of Highline Lake State Park near Grand Junction. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Persistent rain washes away the most extreme drought on Colorado’s Western Slope, but concerns remain
“Following an extremely warm, dry summer on the Western Slope, recent rainfall is beginning to chip away at the worst of Colorado’s drought conditions. In mid-August, “exceptional” drought conditions — the most severe among the national drought monitor rankings — developed across nearly 7% of the state in northwest Colorado for the first time since May 2023. The exceptional rating hit portions of Moffat, Routt, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, Gunnison, Delta, and Mesa counties following one of the hottest, driest summers on record for the region. “Fortunately, the exceptional drought that we had in early to mid-August is over in western Colorado with the persistent rains of the last few weeks,” said Russ Schumacher, Colorado’s state climatologist, at September’s Colorado Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meeting on Tuesday. … ” Read more from Summit Daily.
In national water news today …
Rivers are heating up faster than the air − that’s a problem for aquatic life and people
“When you think about heat waves, you might picture sweltering cities, shimmering asphalt and unbearable summer afternoons. These heat waves dominate the headlines because we feel them directly. Rivers, on the other hand, are often seen as cool refuges, places to escape the heat of summer. Yet rivers are heating up, too. In fact, they’re heating up faster than the air. New research from my team shows that riverine heat waves – periods of abnormally high water temperatures in rivers – are becoming more common, more intense and longer-lasting than they were 40 years ago. Their frequency, intensity and duration are also increasing at rates more than twice as fast as heat waves in the atmosphere. The increased heat puts more stress on aquatic ecosystems, water quality, energy production and agriculture, and it can threaten species that rely on cool streams. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
Announcements …
NOAA FISHERIES: Pacific Salmon Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review Call for Information
