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In California water news today …
Ruling in groundwater case out of Kings County could have far-reaching effects
“Appellate court justices heard arguments Tuesday in the highly watched dispute over whether the state exceeded its authority when it placed the Tulare Lake subbasin on probation last year for failing to come up with an adequate plan to protect the region’s groundwater. Or, whether a Kings County judge erred by refusing to dismiss the case and issuing a preliminary injunction that has held probationary sanctions at bay all this time. A ruling by the 5th District Court of Appeal is expected “soon,” which could mean two months or longer. The Kings County Farm Bureau sued the Water Resources Control Board after the probationary designation, which requires farmers to meter and register wells at $300 each, report extractions and pay the state $20 per acre foot pumped. The injunction has prevented those actions in the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers most of Kings County. The outcome of Tuesday’s arguments could have far reaching effects throughout the San Joaquin Valley, most of which is severely overdrafted and struggling to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). … ” Read more from SJV Water.
How 1st-in-the-state technology is harnessing energy from East Bay water pipes
“Deep in the Piedmont Hills, Gregg Semler and Casey Leblanc are checking up on what could be described as the Bay Area’s newest and smallest hydroelectric power plant. Semler is the founder and CEO of Bay Area-based InPipe Energy. He says InPipe’s technology is a first of its kind in California. The team installed the miniaturized turbine in a pipeline connecting part of the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s water distribution system. It takes the place of the normal water pressure regulator, housed in a small building next door. But instead of just controlling the flow, they say it harnesses it to produce electricity, spinning the turbine-driven generator. “We’ve developed essentially a rig that taps into those pipelines and generates a new source of renewable energy,” Semler said. … ” Read more from ABC Bay Area.
Shannon Douglass: Leading California agriculture through opportunity and challenge
“California is one of the most diverse and productive agricultural states in the nation. From the vineyards of Napa to the citrus groves of the Central Valley, farms across the state feed the nation and the world. Yet the pressures facing California agriculture are unlike those anywhere else—regulatory hurdles, global competition, labor shortages, and water scarcity test the resilience of every farming family. At the center of this conversation is Shannon Douglas [sic], President of the California Farm Bureau (CFBF). Drawing on her lifelong experience in agriculture, Douglas represents more than 26,000 farmers and ranchers across the state. Her leadership emphasizes advocacy, education, innovation, and a deep commitment to preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders. In a recent conversation, Douglas[sic] shared her journey, her priorities, and her vision for the future of farming in California. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
70% of California sandy beaches will be lost by 2100: Surfrider
“More than half of America’s sandy beaches will be lost by 2100 due to climate-driven sea level rise, with that number at 70% in California, a nationally recognized environmental group said Tuesday. The Surfrider Foundation’s 2025 State of the Beach Report also highlights how coastal communities are successfully fighting back with nature-based solutions, even as federal climate support dwindles. “The predictions are grim. … But this report also reveals reasons for optimism,” Emma Haydocy, Surfrider’s coasts & climate initiative senior manager, said in a statement. “Through Surfrider’s Climate Action Program and regional policy campaigns, coastal communities are leading successful resilience efforts using nature-based solutions that traditional approaches like seawalls and sand renourishment cannot match.” … ” Read more from NBC 7.
San Andreas, Cascadia faults could combine to set off huge double earthquake, new study finds
“It’s like a plot from a Hollywood movie. A massive earthquake on one West Coast fault triggers other earthquakes far away, causing vast destruction over hundreds of miles. A new study out Tuesday reveals the scenario might not be as far-fetched as previously thought. Scientists from Oregon State University studying sediment layers in the Pacific Ocean have discovered that two of the most notorious faults on the West Coast — the San Andreas Fault in Northern California and the Cascadia Subduction Zone off Oregon and Washington — may be synchronized, with earthquakes on one fault having the potential to set off the other. The study, published in the journal Geosphere, concluded that there are at least three instances in the past 1,500 years, including a most recent one from 1700, when the researchers believe huge ruptures occurred on each fault just minutes to hours apart. It appears that a large quake on the Cascadia Subduction Zone triggered the San Andreas Fault in these cases, the scientists said, causing another large quake in Northern California. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SEE ALSO: West Coast’s two monster faults could trigger back-to-back earthquakes, new research suggests, from the LA Times
GIS data helps California utility prepare for increasing wildfire threats
“The threat and impacts of wildfires across the U.S. show little signs of slowing down. Data is helping one local agency in California prepare critical resources to combat the growing risk and build community resilience against wildfires. About 50 miles south of Los Angeles, California, the Santa Margarita Water District is increasingly turning to geographic information system data to inform the utility’s efforts to manage and store water resources. The technology helps the Santa Margarita Water District allocate three billion gallons of water in reservoirs for aerial firefighting units and 9,000 fire hydrants across eight cities the utility serves in South Orange County. SWMD is also responsible for storing 500 million gallons of emergency drinking water for more than 220,000 residents, said Nate Adams, director of water resilience and customer care for SMWD. … ” Read more from Route Fifty.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Funding from Yuba Water supports critical wildfire resilience efforts and water supply infrastructure upgrades in Yuba County
“Yuba Water Agency approved nearly $350,000 in funding for critical wildfire resilience efforts in Yuba County, along with more than $500,000 for a water supply reliability and water efficiency project.Continuing efforts to protect the Yuba River watershed and reduce the risk of a catastrophic wildfire, Yuba Water approved a grant for $283,182 to help the Yuba Resource Conservation District build a stronger, countywide Wildfire Hazard Reduction Program in partnership with the Yuba Watershed Protection & Fire Safe Council and others. The effort builds upon a 2021 community needs assessment and aims to target hard-to-reach areas just beyond defensible space zones on small private lands, which are critical for reducing wildfire risk. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SYRCL invites families to public salmon expeditions on the Lower Yuba River
“he South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) is pleased to announce its 2025 Public Salmon Expeditions, led by our Education Department in partnership with H2O Adventures. Designed for the whole family, these expeditions offer a unique blend of recreation, education, and connection to the river’s salmon migration and watershed health. These Public Salmon Expeditions are truly meant for families — whether it’s parents, grandparents, kids, or neighbors — to experience the river together, learn about salmon life cycles, and better understand how human activity has impacted the watershed. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
BAY AREA
Land trust to preserve Bay Area property that’s currently acres of farmland
“A Palo Alto environmental nonprofit recently acquired 668 acres of farmland in the Pajaro River Valley with the hopes of returning parts of the property to its former wetland landscape. The property, situated along the Upper Pajaro River on the border of Santa Clara and San Benito counties, was formerly a privately owned farm along with two ranches used for livestock grazing and vegetable crops. Once a thriving wetland ecosystem and vital floodplain, the valley that houses these farms has been roiled by agricultural intervention since it was first developed, leading to disastrous flooding in communities downstream. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
CENTRAL COAST
Rancho Cañada Floodplain Restoration in Carmel moves to in-stream work
“The Rancho Cañada Floodplain Restoration project marked a major transition in September from heavy equipment work to shifting focus on planting and final in-stream work, according to a report from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District’s planning and conservation program manager. The major stream restoration project’s goal is to return the Carmel River’s natural flow through what was once a twin 18-hole golf course. About a mile of the waterway and surrounding land is part of the three-phase project designed to rewild the lower Carmel River, reconnect its historic floodplain and create a more resilient landscape for wildlife and the community. Phase one of the project officially broke ground in June and runs through June 2026 concentrating on the western, downstream half of what is now part of Palo Corona Regional Park. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Pacific La Niña pattern may bring more drought conditions to the Tri-Counties
“Climatologists say there’s a 71% chance of La Niña impacts this fall and winter. The lack of rain could mean increased wildfire conditions. The weather was disastrous last fall and winter for the Tri-Counties and Southern California. The Mountain Fire roared through Ventura County 11 months ago, burning nearly 20,000 acres of land and destroying 370 structures. It was followed two months later by the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which claimed dozens of lives and thousands of homes. The weather was at the heart of the fires. Extreme wind, yes. But also a lack of rain. We experienced a mild La Niña condition in the Pacific, a setup that contributed to rainfall levels well below normal. What about this year? … ” Read more from KCLU.
Here’s what a second straight year of La Niña means for Ventura County’s fire season
“Ventura County may be headed toward a long fire season as experts say the area could see its second dry winter in a row. Local cities recorded around 5 to 9 inches of rainfall in the 2024-25 water year, which runs from October through September. That is less than half of normal rainfall totals, according to preliminary figures from the Ventura County Watershed Protection District. Vegetation has reached close to critically dry levels, and experts say La Niña conditions are expected to return for a second straight winter. The cooler waters at the equator typically mean drier-than-normal conditions for the region. “Not every La Niña is dry in Southern California, but it definitely tilts the odds,” said climatologist William Patzert. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Massive Calif. water park set to get even bigger with major expansion
“When it reopens next year, one of California’s largest water parks is slated to be even bigger than it is now: Wild Water Adventure Park in Clovis has broken ground on an expansion that will add an attraction that has been in the works for decades. “This is a major addition. It’s going to change the flow of the park attendance throughout the day, and it’s going to reorganize how we do things,” owner Kathy Siggers told the Business Journal. Her husband, CEO Greg Siggers, founded the park in 1973, and she has been chief operating officer since 1983. The park closed for the season in September. This offseason, Wild Water is set to add a 900-foot lazy river. The attraction, called Endless River, will have a zero-depth entry and access points throughout the river’s loop. It’s meant to be a relaxing counterpoint to the park’s more intense water experiences. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Kern water banking project gets another $22 million in Proposition 1 funding
“The only San Joaquin Valley water storage project to qualify for Proposition 1 funding recently got another $22 million from the California Water Commission. The Kern Fan Groundwater Storage Project, a joint effort between Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District and Irvine Ranch Water District, initially received approval from the commission for $89 million. After $459 million of Prop. 1 funding promised to the Los Vaqueros Reservoir expansion project was dropped back in the kitty in 2024, Rosedale and Irvine applied for more funding. The project was awarded another $22 million in August bringing its total Prop. 1 funding to $111 million. The project has also received $8.6 million in federal funds. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Tehachapi water dispute intensifies as city and district remain at odds
“The ongoing water distribution dispute between the City of Tehachapi and the Tehachapi Cummings County Water District has escalated, with both parties taking their grievances to social media. The conflict, which began three years ago, centers on the allocation of water from the California State Water Project (SWP). City Manager Greg Garrett claims that the majority of water from the SWP is being allocated to agriculture, leaving the city with insufficient resources for residents and future developments. “The water that’s pulled up from the hill, State Water Project from the California Aqueduct, it’s going to an overwhelming majority to agriculture,” Garrett said. He argues that the city has a right to purchase 1,150 acre-feet of SWP water annually, but is only seeking a few hundred acre-feet to support local needs. In contrast, Thomas Neisler, general manager of the water district, insists that the city’s goals can be met without additional SWP water. “We are here to serve all of our customers. Not just the small minority of Tehachapi and their thirst, no pun intended, for growth,” Neisler said. He emphasized that residential customers have never faced cutbacks, even when water supplies are limited. … ” Read more from Bakersfield Now.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SCV Water shares update on PFAS-removal project
“Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency officials hosted a virtual meeting Monday to share their project update on plans to build a water-treatment facility next to Valencia’s Bridgeport Park. The facility is the agency’s latest plan to treat PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, cancer-causing “forever chemicals” found in local drinking wells. During the opening of the Honby Wells PFAS Groundwater Treatment Facility in Canyon Country in November, SCV Water board President Gary Martin said the use of PFAS has been in manufacturing for decades, which has led to its detection in local water supplies. “While we did not put the PFAS chemicals in our water supply, it is our responsibility to take immediate steps to address them,” Martin said at the plant’s opening. … ” Read more from SCV Water.
Pasadena Water and Power hosts events this fall to help capture rainwater and create water efficient landscapes
“This fall, Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) invites the community to participate in programs that help conserve one of Southern California’s most precious natural resources: water. At these events, attendees can capture rainwater for irrigation by participating in an upcoming rain barrel distribution and attending water efficient landscape workshops. All events are open to the public and can be found at PWPweb.com/TheRippleEffect. … ” Read more from Pasadena Now.
Phillips 66 Los Angeles refinery redevelopment unknown amid environmental, economic concerns
“For more than a century, the Phillips 66 Los Angeles refinery, in Wilmington and Carson, has symbolized the legacy of the region’s oil industry – which, in many ways, built Southern California. The industrial behemoth, however, now represents something else: the slow, but constant, decline of that once resolute legacy. By year’s end, Phillips 66 will shutter the refinery. … then there’s the question of how to redevelop a highly contaminated site, a process that will be costly and time-consuming – and will require clear eyes. “The reality is that is never possible,” Ann Alexander, an environmental policy consultant contracted by the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, said about whether the site could ever return to its pre-refinery state. “It’s not possible with most industrial sites and certainly not with something like a refinery.” … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
REPORT: Building resilient utilities: UCLA issues report on key water and power infrastructure needs
Photo by Deposit Photos.
“More than 100 engineers, utility leaders, scientists and public officials came together in the wake of January’s catastrophic Los Angeles firestorms to identify innovative strategies and emerging technologies that could build more resilient infrastructure, recognizing the broader challenges of growing climate and disaster risks. The intensive June 9 workshop — commissioned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and developed, organized and hosted by UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation with programmatic and logistical support from the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge (SLAGC)—created a unique opportunity for decision-makers to talk frankly and collaboratively to advance broader industry knowledge and capacity. The resulting report, “Innovation Opportunities for a Resilient L.A.,” emphasizes that no single strategy is sufficient. Instead, Los Angeles must pursue a mix of approaches, from upgrading infrastructure to improving coordination across agencies. Importantly, many of the ideas developed at the workshop are already informing LADWP requests for proposals and pilot projects. … ” Read more from UCLA.
SEE ALSO: L.A. County Water Bills Rising Faster Than Inflation, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation Finds, from UCLA
Water shortage worries amidst fire season
“As climate change drives drier winters and shrinking snowmelt across the West, Southern California and Arizona are rushing to diversify their water supplies — investing in recycling, storage and Colorado River imports to guard against another crippling drought. With fire season approaching, public officials in SoCal are debating not only whether the region has enough water to battle potential blazes like the one in Pacific Palisades, but also whether supplies will be sufficient in the coming months and years to meet basic drinking needs. SoCal’s tenuous access to water is tethered to the California Aqueduct in the north and to the Colorado River Aqueduct in the east, which looms large as a possible new source for potable supply serving the California communities. To make sure customers are not solely dependent on the upstate Bay-Delta, State Water Project source, Metropolitan Water District and its 26 Southern California member agencies announced in July that construction will begin on a new series of pipes and pumps that will allow water from the Colorado River to be pushed into local communities that previously haven’t been able to tap into it. … ” Read more from the West Valley View.
Can deep boreholes and Bulgaria help solve OC’s nuclear waste problem?
“As we continue to agonize over the fate of highly radioactive nuclear waste — and local cities throw their weight behind an effort to move San Onofre’s to higher ground on Camp Pendleton — we’d like to call your attention to baby steps toward an actual long-term solution that provides glimmers of hope. They involve a California company called Deep Isolation, and, well, Bulgaria. Stay with us here. Back in December, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed a $1.2 million grant agreement with the Bulgarian government to study the feasibility of underground disposal of nuclear waste. Deep Isolation — the Berkeley company specializing in deep borehole technology — was to carry out and cost-share the study. Enter then the Trump administration’s freeze on government grants. The Bulgaria study, and disbursements, hit the skids as the new administration scrutinized grants to ensure that dollars aligned with its values. Good news! Nuclear waste disposal is apparently not “woke,” so the study’s continuation was approved and disbursements resumed last month. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SAN DIEGO
Pine Hill Egg Ranch in Ramona has to watch its waste water
“A chicken factory farm in Ramona is being ordered by regulators to manage its waste better. To some of its neighbors, the new plan amounts to an expansion of operations at Pine Hill Egg Ranch, which houses approximately 1.5 million chickens and produces around 800,000 eggs per day. “I am not in favor of any plan that even remotely would allow them more access to air, soil or groundwater contamination,” reads a comment to the San Diego Water Board. On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the board will consider adopting a tentative order to address previous violations of state water code and protect ground and surface water from discharges of waste to land. It requires off-site hauling of wastewater, prohibits composting, and mandates annual monitoring reports. The order “does not serve as a permit for expanded or new agricultural operations nor is it a county major use permit,” the board’s report states. … ” Read more from the San Diego Reader.
The Famosa Slough — an inland wetland gem in urban San Diego
“From its ancient past to its promising future, it’s a place for San Diegans to learn and appreciate nature. It is a place to immerse yourself in nature, a serene wonder, nestled in an urban setting. It’s in the Loma Portal neighborhood and even though it’s 37 acres, you might never have noticed it. It is the Famosa Slough, and when you stand on its banks, you’re likely to see and hear birds; depending on the time of year, more than 200 different species. It is a place with an abundance of fish and crustaceans, which attract a diverse range of birds that rest and feed here. “We’ve seen 100 different species so far this year,” said Kelcy Coleman, conservation coordinator for the San Diego Bird Alliance. … ” Read more from KPBS.
San Diego Foundation awards $650K in binational grants for Tijuana River projects
“The San Diego Foundation Tuesday awarded more than $650,000 in grants, many of which are focused on fighting pollution in the Tijuana River watershed. The 2025 Binational Resilience Initiative grants were given to 18 nonprofits in the United States and Mexico. The awards include six binational partnerships and three general support grants to address environmental challenges such as water quality monitoring and watershed restoration. Foundation President and CEO Mark Stuart called the Tijuana River watershed “one of our region’s most urgent and complex environmental challenges.” … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Priscilla’s moisture to raise flash flood risk in southwestern US
“Tropical moisture from a powerful hurricane in the East Pacific basin could unleash more than a month’s worth of rain in a matter of days over portions of the Southwest later this week and into the weekend. Priscilla, a Category 2 hurricane as of Tuesday morning, will skirt the coastline of Baja California Sur while gradually losing wind intensity beyond midweek. Gusty winds and locally heavy rain can brush the immediate coastline, but the core of the hurricane is expected to remain offshore. A dip in the jet stream over the West Coast of the United States will help to pull some of Priscilla’s tropical moisture northeastward, aiming widespread showers and thunderstorms at the Four Corners region beginning later this week. “There is a growing risk that tropical moisture can bring heavy rain and some flooding into the Southwest Thursday night into the weekend,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Colorado River Indian Tribes may grant personhood rights to ‘living’ river
“The Colorado River Indian Tribes may soon become the third Indigenous government in North America to grant personhood rights to a river. ‘Aha Kwahwat, or the Colorado River, has been at the heart of Mojave culture and history for millennia. The river is also critically important to the other three cultures that make up the Colorado River Indian Tribes: the Chemehuevi, whose ancestral lands lie to the northwest of CRIT’s lands, Navajo and Hopi who moved to the area in the 1940s. “All of the four tribes are connected to water, connected to the river,” said CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores. “It means life for all tribal members. It’s a living body of water.” Flores said the Colorado sustains not only tribal members but the ecosystem within the reservation. “We need to protect that ecosystem also. The birds, the fish, the habitat of the river,” she said. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
ADWR celebrates new, “alternative” assured water supply pathway
“Today Governor Katie Hobbs signed a proclamation celebrating the first implementation of the new “Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply Program,” commemorating a new pathway for increasing Arizona’s housing supply while at the same time maintaining the vital consumer protections of the State’s landmark Groundwater Management Act. “This program, dubbed ADAWS, represents the culmination of a challenging public stakeholder process that kept protection of Arizona’s groundwater supplies as a top priority,” said Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke. “I commend Governor Hobbs for her leadership in this effort, and I further commend my hard-working staff for the countless hours they have contributed to making this alternative pathway to an Assured Water Supply a reality for participating providers.” … ” Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Arizona: West Valley developers have a new water provider and path to growth
Under a new program developed by Arizona’s water department, West Valley housing developers have access to a new water provider. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs announced that EPCOR is the first company operating in Arizona to receive an Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply, or ADAWS. ADAWS went into effect in November and serves as a pathway for providers to prove they have enough water to last an area for 100 years. In EPCOR’s case, their designation proves they have enough water to supply an estimated 60,000 new homes spanning roughly 120 square miles in the West Valley. That’s a boon for homebuilders, who’ve faced a moratorium on new construction in cities like Buckeye and Surprise, where groundwater levels are low. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Arizona rural grassroots organizers take on industrial developers, aided by urban allies
“On the evening of August 21, 2025, Chris Giokaris hopped on the interstate heading southeast from his hometown of Tucson, Arizona. His destination was Benson, a town of about 5,500 people located 50 miles away. The small town is known as the gateway to the San Pedro Valley, in large part for the San Pedro River that winds its way north from Mexico as one of the last undammed rivers in the Sonoran Desert. Now, Benson residents worry their region’s environment could soon be jeopardized by plans for a 200-acre aluminum recycling plant operated by Aluminum Dynamics, Inc., a subsidiary of Steel Dynamics, Inc., one of the United States’ largest steel producers and metals recyclers. The proposed development has garnered outcry from residents concerned about the facility’s location, projected emissions, and potential adverse effects on the water supply. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Colorado: Federal funding suspended: Palisade sewage lagoon project in limbo
“Overlooked by sloping vineyards and peach orchards, Palisade’s four sewer lagoons will soon stand empty without the $3 million in what is known as B2E (Bucket 2 Environmental Drought Mitigation) funding from the Bureau of Reclamation. In the 1960s, the town of Palisade built four sewer lagoons on a raised bank of the Colorado River to provide sanitation for the town. That system has been updated and expanded in the decades since. Still, the aerated lagoons, which provide microbial digestion of organic load, are not capable of nutrient reduction; including ammonia, selenium, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which can be harmful if introduced to waterways like the adjacent river. In 2027 the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the EPA Water Quality Standards for discharge will come into effect and, if those new rules are not met, Palisade could face fines up to $54,833 per day per violation. … ” Read more from Colorado Politics.
Deadline for Mexico to pay water owed to US fast approaching
“The clock is ticking down on Mexico’s deadline this month to pay the United States water it owes under a 1944 international treaty. So far, Mexico has paid less than half what it owes during this five-year cycle, which ends on Oct. 25. Former McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, chairman of the Region M Water Planning Group, says Mexico has the water due to recent rains. But it hasn’t paid the United States, and specifically South Texas. “They do owe it and you don’t want to let them slide or they’ll never pay it back. So, you got the water you should pay it back,” Darling told Border Report on Tuesday. … ” Read more from the Border Report.
