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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.
- EVENT: Adaptive Management Forum from 9am to 4:30pm. The forum will feature oral presentations, panel discussions, a poster session, and activities connecting participants across sectors and disciplines. Presenters and panelists will share lessons and insights from all stages of the adaptive management cycle to showcase successes, gaps, and future needs. Register to attend virtually.
- WEBINAR: Creek and Marsh Connections – Michael MacWilliams from 11am to 12pm. Learn about how creek flows affect restoring tidal marshes from Michael MacWilliams of FlowWest, who has modeled hydrodynamics where the Calabazas and San Tomas Aquino creeks meet the salt ponds in northern San Jose as part of Valley Water’s project to connect those creeks with Pond A4. Link to register
- SCOPING MEETING (Fortuna): EIR for the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Surrender and Decommissioning from 6pm to 8pm. The State Water Resources Control Board plans to prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) for the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Surrender and Decommissioning (Proposed Project). The State Water Board will hold scoping meetings to provide information about the Proposed Project, the CEQA process, and to receive written or oral comments from trustee agencies, responsible agencies, Tribes, and other interested persons concerning the range of alternatives, potential significant effects, and mitigation measures that should be analyzed in the EIR. Click here for the notice of preparation. Click here for notice of this additional scoping meeting.
In California water news today …
California’s first big storm of the season is just getting started — here’s what’s next
“California’s rainy season is off and running as a powerful storm system unleashed bands of heavy rain across the Bay Area, Sacramento and Santa Cruz on Monday night. By 4 a.m. Tuesday morning, rainfall totals ranged from about a half-inch to more than an inch across much of the Bay Area. That included 0.75 inches in downtown San Francisco, 0.9 inches in Oakland and an impressive 1.69 inches in San Jose, making Monday one of the city’s 10 wettest days in the past 25 years. The storm’s center will drift slowly down the California coast on Tuesday, unleashing heavy snow in the Sierra and severe thunderstorms in Southern California. Flash-flood risks will rise in the Sierra foothills, marking one of the state’s strongest October storms in the past decade. Here is the latest forecast. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Biggest Pacific storm in months soaking California, bringing mountain snow
“A storm will barrel across the West Coast this week, bringing much-needed rain and some mountain snow for the first time since early spring. Showers began breaking out across Oregon and Northern California on Monday morning. Rain and high-elevation snow are forecast to expand as the storm dives southward along the Pacific coast. Widespread rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are expected from Redding, California, to Los Angeles. “The heaviest rain will continue in the Los Angeles basin into Tuesday evening,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. This could contribute to travel delays on the roads and at airports across the region. “On a more serious note, where torrential rain falls on steep hillsides and burn scar locations, the potential for mudslides and other debris flows will be high,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski warned. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
SEE ALSO: California Storm Brings First ‘Winter-Like’ Widespread Rain, Heavy Sierra Snow Of Season, from the Weather Channel
Subsidence photo op stirs bad feelings in already bitter groundwater clash
“Already heated tensions flared Friday when a southern Tulare County dairy farmer noticed what appeared to be signs illustrating subsidence levels being affixed to a telephone pole across the street from his ranch in the Pixley Irrigation District. “This sh** has gotta stop. It’s not helping anybody,” said Frank Fernandes, who photographed the activity. He called neighbors and employees at Pixley ID to figure out what was happening, and reported the activity to Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux. Fernandes also posted the photos, and his frustration, on Facebook. He wrote in the post that attempts to speak to the people putting up the signs didn’t yield many answers, although one man’s hat offered a clue: Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District (DEID). According to Fernandes’ post, the man took off the hat and threw it in a truck when questioned. “DEID thinks it is in their best interest to throw us under the bus to help their own district,” Fernandes told SJV Water. “This was sabotage. This was a hit.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Board staff recommend Kaweah Subbasin return to DWR jurisdiction under SGMA
“State Water Resources Control Board staff released today a Staff Assessment of the Kaweah Subbasin recommending that the State Water Board return the subbasin to the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) jurisdiction under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The staff assessment analyzes the subbasin’s latest groundwater sustainability plans and finds that local agencies made significant progress in adequately addressing deficiencies in their groundwater sustainability plans. The release of the assessment starts a 30-day public comment period that ends Nov. 12, 2025. At its meeting on Dec. 2, 2025, the five-member board will consider acting on the recommendation. … ” Read more from the State Water Resources Control Board.
How to protect ecosystems that need groundwater
“Groundwater isn’t just important for California’s water users—it also sustains plants and wildlife all over the state. How does this work, and how can we protect ecosystems that rely on groundwater? We spoke with SUNY professor John Stella to find out. Q: What are groundwater-dependent ecosystems, and why do they matter? A: Groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are natural communities that depend on groundwater for some or all of the year. This includes riparian forests, wetlands, and streams that rely on groundwater for some or all of their flows. These ecosystems matter in arid and Mediterranean climates like California, where we experience frequent droughts like our long, hot summers. When there are no other water sources available, groundwater allows these ecosystems to function. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Podcast: Proposed change to Endangered Species Act threatens California’s sea otter haven; Klamath Dams removal
“The Trump Administration is considering a change to the federal Endangered Species Act that could create new risks for an area in California that has more sea otters than any other in the state. Last October, the state finished removing four dams from Klamath River up in far Northern California. In the year since the removal, there has been drastic changes to the area’s fish population, and overall water quality.” Listen to podcast from the California Report.
California’s first solar-covered water canal now generating power
“A climate innovation we first told you about here on ABC7 News is up and running. It’s California’s first solar-covered water canal. The advantages it offers could fast track the future of solar power. From the air, you could mistake it for the world’s largest beach umbrella. But this solar canopy near Turlock is not only shading the water flowing underneath it – it’s also producing enough clean electricity to power several thousand homes. Josh Weimer is with the Turlock Irrigation District, which operates the canal. He says the structure is one of two solar canopies with slightly different designs, now up and running as part of a pilot study called “Project Nexus.” … ” Read more from ABC 7.
California cracks down on water theft but spares data centers from disclosing how much they use
“Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed legislation that would have required data centers to report how much water they use. New data centers have been rapidly proliferating in California and other western states as the rise of artificial intelligence and growing investments in cloud computing drive a construction boom. The centers, full of equipment, generate lots of heat and can use large quantities of water to cool their servers and interiors. Many companies don’t reveal how much they use. Assembly Bill 93, introduced by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo), would have required new data centers to disclose their expected water use when they apply for a business license and would have required all to report their water consumption annually. In a message explaining his decision Saturday, Newsom said the widespread adoption of AI “is driving an unprecedented demand for data center capacity throughout the nation.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
ACWA-sponsored water theft bill signed by Governor
“Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 10 signed an ACWA-sponsored bill into law that will strengthen water agencies’ ability to protect against water theft. SB 394 (Allen), co-sponsored with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, will allow local water agencies to adopt an ordinance with enhanced penalties for water theft from a fire hydrant. Additionally, the bill will remove the one-year reset on existing penalties for the third and additional violations for water theft committed via meter tampering and other methods. It will also help agencies recover damages by authorizing utilities to pursue civil remedies against any person who tampers with or diverts water from a fire hydrant without authorization. ACWA and member agencies’ strong advocacy and coalition building throughout the legislative session helped secure passage of the bill through both houses of the Legislature and garner support from the governor.” (Source)
California enacts SB 72 to modernize water plan and set long-term supply targets
“California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 72 into law, establishing a new framework to secure a reliable and climate-resilient water supply for residents, businesses, farms, and ecosystems across the state. The legislation, authored by Senator Anna Caballero, passed the Legislature unanimously and is being recognized as a key milestone in modernizing California’s approach to water management. SB 72 directs the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to update and modernize the California Water Plan, the state’s primary strategic document guiding the coordinated management and use of water resources. Under the new law, DWR will develop a long-term water supply target for 2050 and beyond, while incorporating strategies to ensure sustainability amid changing climate conditions. … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
California governor rejects bill to phase out “forever” chemicals used in cookware, children’s products
“Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday vetoed legislation that would have phased out a range of popular consumer products, including nonstick pots and pans, that contain synthetic chemicals with potential links to cancer. “I appreciate the efforts to protect the health and safety of consumers, and while this bill is well-intentioned, I am deeply concerned about the impact this bill would have on the availability of affordable options in cooking products,” Newsom wrote in his veto statement. “I believe we must carefully consider the consequences that may result from a dramatic shift of products on our shelves.” The legislation would have prohibited the selling or distributing of cookware with intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, by 2030. It phased out PFAS in products for infants and children, ski wax, dental floss, food packaging and cleaning products starting in 2028. Previously used items would have been exempt. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Newsom’s veto of PFAS ban for cookware, other products puts millions of Californians at risk, from the Environmental Working Group
Painting with fire: How indigenous practices can help protect forests
“As wildfires intensify and pose a growing risk in the American West, tribal leaders and community members are bringing fire back to their forests to save them. For thousands of years, Indigenous people stewarded their forests with fire. This cultural burning is part traditional food and craft production, part environmental protection and part ceremony with the land. Western settlement transformed the region with mining and logging, uprooting Native peoples and putting out cultural fire practices. In the 19th century, California lawmakers suppressed the burns. An 1850 law made it legal to fine or punish anyone burning land. The 1911 Weeks Act instituted a policy of total fire suppression, dictating that state and federal agencies should control wildland fires to prevent their spread. This made cultural fire illegal at a federal level. Native people were shot and imprisoned for starting fires. Now, after a new generation of tribal and community members organizing, educating and lobbying about the benefits of bringing fire back to the land, this time-honored practice is returning. Last fall, California enacted legislation allowing federally recognized Native American tribes to conduct cultural burning, acknowledging their sovereignty and history with the land. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
In commentary today …
Rethinking subsidies for California farms
Roberto “Bobby” Escobar, general counsel and an environmental and labor and immigration advisor, writes, “While the term “farm subsidies” often conjures images of endless Midwestern grain fields, California’s agriculture is different — defined by almonds, pistachios, wine grapes, strawberries, and a vibrant mix of fruits, vegetables and dairy spread across regions as varied as the Sierra foothills and the Central Valley. Yet the nation’s largest agricultural state by cash receipts, which supplies a rich array of specialty crops to both domestic and international markets, is often under-served by subsidy programs built for row crops like corn and soybeans. For decades, the federal government’s support system has been rooted in traditional commodity models. Program design and distribution formulas emphasize land area and yield for a narrow group of crops, favoring regions where those commodities dominate both acreage and politics. This system made sense for an era of bulk grain exports and weather-driven volatility. But it breaks down badly for California’s farms, which operate under markedly different economic realities. … ” Continue reading from the Daily Journal.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath Tribes walk out of summit
“The Klamath Tribes walked out of a summit for Oregon’s tribal governments and the governor this week, calling for action from the governor’s office over concerns about the preservation of their resources. The Klamath Tribes say their goal is the restoration of the Klamath watershed, citing a series of events that infringe on rights guaranteed through a treaty signed in 1864. In 1909, four dams were built on the Klamath River, restricting access to fish, which made up a third of their diet for over 124 years. As of 1986, the tribes have not fished for two culturally significant species, which are now on the verge of extinction. This past summer, the tribes say outfitters and guides infringed on tribal members’ fishing, creating confrontational situations and prompting requests for consultation. … ” Read more from KOBI.
How a Chronicle photographer captured a moment of generational healing on the Klamath River
“The Klamath River is a behemoth waterway that snakes over 250 miles through Southern Oregon and Northern California before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. … In 2023, after generations of activism by local tribes and environmentalists, all four dams were slated for demolition as part of the Klamath River restoration project. A year later, the last dam was finally breached, liberating the river for the first time in 100 years and opening new habitat for the state’s plummeting salmon populations. The first people to travel the newly undammed stretch of river were a group of Indigenous teenagers, who made a historic kayak trip this summer from the Klamath headwaters all the way to the coast. Chronicle photographer Brontë Wittpenn followed their paddle and spent time reporting on the healing of the river and its people. I spoke with Wittpenn about how this image was made, its significance for the tribal community, and how this journey has impacted her own. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lower Yuba River Salmon return numbers: March– September 2025
“At the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), we track salmon returns closely because healthy populations of this keystone species are a key indicator of a thriving river ecosystem. Through SYRCL’s participation in the River Management Team (RMT), our staff receives monthly updates on the number of Chinook and steelhead adults utilizing the fish ladders at Daguerre Point Dam. This information is collected using VAKI River Watcher camera systems installed in the North and South ladders, which snap a photo every time a fish swims past it. It’s important to remember that fish ladder counts are only one piece of the puzzle. To estimate overall adult salmon populations in the lower Yuba River, scientists also collect data from redd (spawning nest) and carcass surveys. These datasets are combined in population models to provide a more complete picture of salmon returning to spawn. All RMT data shared here is provisional and subject to further analysis. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
Tuolumne Utilities District expands wildfire defense with new fire water draft points
“Tuolumne Utilities District is expanding Tuolumne County’s wildfire defense network with the addition of four new fire water draft points, giving firefighters faster access to raw water for suppression in remote areas while preserving potable supplies for residents. The draft points, located along the district’s raw water ditches and reservoirs, allow emergency crews to refill engines and tenders more quickly during wildfires. The effort is part of TUD’s newly adopted Wildfire Defense Plan, supported by a $249,927 USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant. The plan outlines 49 strategic draft point sites throughout the district’s system. Tuolumne Fire District Chief Jeff Santi said the new draft points will be “vital in reducing refill time for fire apparatus and reducing the impact on potable water systems.” … ” Read more from My Mother Lode.
BAY AREA
Bay Area rain: Biggest storm in seven months is here. How long will it last?
“It wasn’t a drenching atmospheric river. But the biggest storm to hit the Bay Area in roughly seven months began to douse much of California on Monday afternoon, slowing motorists, dropping snow in the Sierra Nevada, and providing a clear signal that the winter rainy season has begun. A cold front from the Gulf of Alaska was expected to bring half an inch to 1 inch of rain for most Bay Area cities, with up to 2 inches in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Big Sur by the time it was all over. The steady rain began around lunchtime Monday, hitting the North Bay first and working its way south. Forecasters said it was likely to continue overnight into early Tuesday, stopping around mid-morning as the system passes through to the east. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SEE ALSO: Chart: Rainfall totals from the Bay Area’s October storm, from the San Jose Mercury News
Work to fix flood-prone Highway 37 underway with law easing environmental restrictions
“For years, the State of California has been planning a fix for State Route 37, spanning a wetlands area between Vallejo and Marin County. There have been plenty of obstacles in the way, including the fact that much of it is a protected wildlife area. But the rain that moved into the area on Monday was a good reminder of why they’re doing it in the first place. Things move pretty slowly on Highway 37 as it is, but to make traffic come to a complete stop, all you have to do is add water. “We are just about to have our first major storm this year, and motorists kind of need to ‘know before they go.'” said Caltrans spokesperson Bart Ney. “So, when we get heavy storms and King Tides at the same time, we lose State Route 37. It floods. So, that happened in 2017. It happened in 2019 for significant periods of time. It happened just last year for about a day, maybe two days.” … ” Read more from CBS News.
Completed $552M San Mateo WWTP upgrade will prevent sewer overflows into San Francisco Bay
“Following more than five years of planning and construction, the San Mateo Wastewater Treatment Plant, on the shoreline of San Francisco Bay, has undergone a $552 million upgrade and expansion, becoming the largest public works investment in the city’s history. The facility is now one of the most advanced and sustainable wastewater treatment plants in the nation. The comprehensive five-year project, carried out in three phases, has significantly increased the plant’s capacity to handle major storm events and prevent sewer system overflows that threaten both public health and San Francisco Bay. The upgraded facility now produces high-quality treated wastewater that fully meets state and federal standards. Located beside the original 1933 facility along the shoreline, the upgraded plant serves approximately 170,000 residents in San Mateo, Foster City, Hillsborough, Belmont, and surrounding unincorporated areas. … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
CENTRAL COAST
How grand plans to restart oil drilling off Santa Barbara’s coast hit California’s green wall
“When a Texas oil company first announced controversial plans to reactivate three drilling rigs off the coast of Santa Barbara County, investor presentations boasted that the venture had “massive resource potential” and was “primed for cash flow generation.” But now, less than two years later, mounting legal setbacks and regulatory issues are casting increasing doubt on the project’s future. Most recently, the California attorney general filed suit against Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp., accusing it of repeatedly putting “profits over environmental protections.” The lawsuit, filed last week in Santa Barbara County Superor Court, accuses Sable of continually failing to follow state laws and regulations intended to protect water resources. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
First rain of weather year disrupts late almond harvest
“The frost has yet to appear on the pumpkins although the Northern San Joaquin Valley on Monday saw its first significant rain of the weather year that started Oct. 1. While the rain interrupted the harvest of later almond varieties until the ground dries, it was a good starting point for the new water season given some weather models are suggesting the Central Sierra and the Northern San Joaquin Valley could be experiencing a drier than normal winter. The United States Department of Agriculture drought has indicated the entire Central Sierra that Northern San Joaquin Valley irrigation districts — and by extension a number of cities such as Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy — rely on is experiencing drier than normal conditions. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Stanislaus could OK $23.6M in water facilities for Crows Landing business park
“The Crows Landing business park in western Stanislaus County has been in planning for many years. County supervisors are poised Tuesday to approve a $23.6 million contract to put water improvements in the ground for supplying the business park, which is proposed for 14,000 jobs. The decision comes in the middle of a growing debate over water scarcity and housing development in the western part of the county. The 1,528-acre business park at a former Navy airfield is proposed for light industry, possible warehouses and businesses supporting a public airport that’s part of the blueprint. The center about a mile from Interstate 5 would develop over 30 to 40 years. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Fresno offers rebates for drought-tolerant landscaping to improve water efficiency goals
“The City of Fresno is offering rebates to homeowners who convert their lawns to drought-tolerant landscaping. The program offers financial incentives for replacing water-intensive lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping. Open to all customers receiving water service through the City of Fresno Public Utilities, the program provides rebates of $2 per square foot for eligible lawn conversion projects. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, supported by a $5 million grant from the Department of Water Resources: Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program. … ” Read more from Fox 26.
Kings County Water District focuses on development
“Kings County Water District General Manager Dennis Mills informed the board that he met with City of Hanford staff to discuss proposed developments being planned near district-owned Smith Basin and other basins within the city at its Oct. 2 meeting. That development plan near Smith Basin will need approval from the district and Peoples Ditch Company before the plan goes before the city council, Mills told the board. Another proposed development near the Hanford Christian School on Flint and 12th avenues includes widening the road, which would impact a section of Peoples ditch. The city currently works with Peoples Ditch Company and the district to deliver excess water from the Kings River through about 125 acres of basins throughout the city in order to sink water. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Atmospheric river storm slams into Southern California amid evacuation and flood warnings
“An atmospheric river hit Los Angeles in the early hours of Tuesday morning, bringing with it scattered downpours, powerful winds and fears of flooding. Evacuation warnings have been issued in areas ravaged by January’s firestorm — including the burn scars from the Palisades fire, the Eaton fire in Altadena, the Hurst fire in Sylmar and the Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills — which are at a high risk of debris flows. A flash flood watch is in effect for most of the county through Tuesday afternoon, with the heaviest rain predicted for Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service warned that the “rare and very potent storm system” could fuel mudslides, thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds capable of knocking down trees and power lines. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Evacuation warnings, orders in place for Eaton, Palisades burn scar areas due to storm
“A strong storm moving across Southern California is expected to bring a significant amount of rain Tuesday, triggering a flash flood watch for much of the region. As rain drenches the region, there is concern for the burn scar areas from the January wildfires, especially in and around Altadena. The system is expected to bring several inches of rain by Wednesday morning. On Monday afternoon, evacuation warnings were issued for the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire burn scar areas due to the possibility of mud or debris flows. Warnings were also issued for the Hurst Fire in Sylmar and the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills. … ” Read more from KABC.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
From the Salton Sea to Sacramento: What AB 531 means for Imperial County
“The Imperial County sits on one of California’s richest subsurface energy prizes. For decades, our Valley has hosted steam and brine fields that power turbines and — increasingly — promise to produce lithium for the nation’s batteries. That history and the present-day reality matter because Assembly Bill 531 (Authored by Assemblymember Chris Rogers, D-Santa Rosa) changes how geothermal projects can be permitted in California. The law expands the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) “opt-in” certification framework to explicitly include geothermal power plants and multi-plant geothermal field projects, allowing certain projects to pursue an expedited state-level environmental review instead of moving entirely through local permitting and some county processes. What the change actually does is give developers an alternative pathway. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego Foundation awards $650K to combat pollution and build resilience in Tijuana River watershed and Cali-Baja Coast
“San Diego Foundation (SDF) today announced its 2025 Binational Resilience Initiative grantees, awarding more than $650,000 to 18 nonprofits in the United States and Mexico. Much of this year’s funding focuses on community-led projects in the Tijuana River watershed, where sewage pollution and cross-border water management challenges have long threatened public health and environmental resilience. “The Tijuana River watershed is one of our region’s most urgent and complex environmental challenges,” said Mark Stuart, President & CEO of San Diego Foundation. “Through the Binational Resilience Initiative, San Diego Foundation is helping organizations on both sides of the border advance practical, community-based solutions, from watershed restoration to coastal resilience, that strengthen the environment and improve quality of life for San Diegans and our neighbors in Baja California alike.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Foundation.
Along the Colorado River …
Wired, wired West: Data center boom is sparking concerns about energy and water
“Tech giants like Meta, Google and Amazon are transforming the Mountain West. Massive nondescript, warehouse-type buildings are popping up fast in neighborhoods, open plains, and rolling foothills. They’re called data centers and they are like the nervous system that supports the brains of artificial intelligence. Data centers are economic drivers, but also bring with them big questions about energy and water use, and pollution. Arizona, where driverless cars are a common sight, is one of the hot spots. “It’s really growing very fast in Arizona and around the country — more so in the last two years,” said DPR Construction project executive Tom Maples. His company builds data centers, including one in a Phoenix suburb for Meta Platforms Inc, Mark Zuckerberg’s tech conglomerate. … Data centers are also straining water supplies, raising questions about scarcity across the dry Mountain West – from the Colorado River and the communities it serves to the Great Basin region, in places like Reno, Nevada, where a data center park one-and-a-half times the size of the city is growing next door. U.S. data centers used 17 billion gallons of water, or enough for 150,000 homes for a year, according to a 2024 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report. That water demand is projected to double or even quadruple within the next few years, according to the federal report. … ” Read the full article at KJZZ.
Commentary: Shoshone negotiations open old Colorado water rights wounds
Greg Walcher, former director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, writes, “Washington Evening Star humorist Philander Chase Johnson created a great character named Senator Sorghum. A 1902 piece called “A Delicate Distinction” had one character saying, “That friend of yours seems to have a clear conscience.” Senator Sorghum answered, “No, not a clear conscience; merely a bad memory.” A convenient memory is common in politics. And current negotiations regarding the Colorado River District’s attempt to purchase the Shoshone water rights from Excel Energy provide a perfect example. Water providers up and down the Front Range, and especially Denver Water, seem to be conveniently forgetting the agreement made more than a decade ago – to support the purchase, and even help finance it. No water rights question in Colorado has larger implications than Excel’s old Shoshone power station in Glenwood Canyon, whose 1902 water rights are senior to all transmountain diversions. They are among the oldest water rights on the Colorado River, so the “Shoshone call” can curtail diversions to the Front Range, which otherwise amount to roughly half of the main stem of the Colorado River. … ” Read more from Complete Colorado.
In national water news today …
Tech firms create much-needed solution for major issue caused by AI data centers: ‘Ready for AI at scale’
“A pair of companies has unveiled a new system to cool data centers, helping to address the massive heat problem that modern data centers face. According to CNHI News, MIDAS, which specializes in immersion cooling for data centers, has partnered with OLEON, which specializes in sustainable, bio-based oleochemical fluids, to create a new system to keep data centers cool. Specifically, OLEON’s Qloe fluids have been approved for use in MIDAS’ systems, meaning they can provide significant energy savings and reduce the space needed for cooling systems. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
The world is failing to slow the loss of its forests
“Despite an international pledge to halt the destruction of forests by the end of this decade, the world continues to lose around 20 million acres a year, an area roughly the size of Ireland. That is the finding of a new report warning that global forests “remain in crisis.” Miners, loggers, and farmers are driving the loss of forest globally, buoyed by generous subsidies, according to an assessment from the group Climate Focus. The report notes that the agricultural sector has, since 2022, received $409 billion in yearly subsidies for industrial farming. Private money is also buoying destructive industries, according to a new analysis from Global Witness. The watchdog group finds that, since the Paris Agreement was adopted, banks and investors globally have garnered $26 billion in income from just 50 companies involved in cattle, soy, palm oil, rubber, timber, and pulp and paper — all industries tied to the loss of forest. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
SEE ALSO: To Meet Pledges to Save Forests Spending Must Triple, U.N. Report Says, from the New York Times
Fact-checking a Trump administration claim about climate change and crops
“A draft report commissioned by the Trump administration’s Department of Energy, or DOE, misleadingly claims that increasing levels of carbon dioxide could be beneficial for agriculture. In fact, mainstream climate experts have found that rising CO2 levels, by causing climate change, are harmful to agriculture overall – and likely to cause food prices to increase. The Trump administration’s claim arose from a draft “critical review” report commissioned by DOE and written by fringe experts. The DOE subsequently disbanded that group when faced with a lawsuit alleging that it violated a law requiring that such federal advisory committees must be transparent and unbiased. The Environmental Protection Agency cited the DOE report in a proposal to reverse its Obama-era determination that carbon pollution poses a threat to public health and welfare. The agency argued that higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will increase the amount of food that farmers produce, implying that carbon pollution is a good thing. “Recent data and analysis show that even marginal increases in CO2 concentrations have substantial beneficial impacts on plant growth and agricultural productivity, and that this benefit has been significantly greater than previously believed,” the agency wrote. Mainstream climate experts say that’s incorrect. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
PUBLIC COMMENTS WANTED: Draft Review of Subsidence in the Delta
