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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Division of Water Rights: launch of the California Water Accounting, Tracking, and Reporting System; and an informational update on implementation of the Central Valley Salt and Nitrate Control Programs. Click here for the full agenda.
- ONLINE EVENT: California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC) Funding Fair from 9am to 12pm. The funding fairs provide the opportunity to learn more about available grant, loan, and bond financing options for infrastructure projects from federal, state, and local agencies. Representatives from water industry professionals, public works, local governments, and California Native American Tribes should attend. This includes city managers and planners, economic development and engineering professionals, officials from privately owned facilities, water and irrigation district managers, financial advisors, and project consultants. We look forward to your attendance at the virtual funding fairs. For more information about CFCC, please visit the website at www.cfcc.ca.gov. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Understanding Inflow and Infiltration: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions from 10am to 11am. Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) – which occurs when stormwater and groundwater enter the sewage collection system – poses a wide array of challenges for wastewater utilities, from overwhelmed wastewater treatment plants to basement back-ups. This webinar, featuring Moonshot Mission’s recently released Inflow and Infiltration Guidance Document, will provide an overview of the causes of I&I, describe its impacts on stormwater and wastewater management, and share approaches that communities can use to understand and address inflow and infiltration challenges in their own systems. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Securing Our Water Future: Cybersecurity Strategies for the Water Sector from 11am to 12pm. Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) for an informative webinar focused on strengthening cybersecurity across the water and wastewater sector. As cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication, protecting critical infrastructure has never been more essential. This session will cover current threats facing the water sector, available federal resources, best practices for risk management, and actionable steps utilities can take to enhance their cyber resilience. ACWA members, utility leaders, IT professionals, and cybersecurity officials are encouraged to attend and engage with EPA experts and industry peers to build a more secure and sustainable water future. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Appeals court paves way for divisive California water tunnel
“A controversial proposal to build a 14-mile underground tunnel to transport water from Northern California southward got a boost from the state Court of Appeals, which ruled that preliminary work can begin on the project. Last year, a judge in Sacramento County agreed with a collection of counties, water districts, environmental groups and native tribes seeking to stop the Delta Conveyance Project. The judge found that preconstruction geotechnical work had to be certified by a state agency before it could begin, and issued a preliminary injunction preventing that work from moving forward. But on Friday, a three-judge panel from the state appellate court reversed that ruling. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
State pulls Bay Delta Plan; local agencies push for Healthy Rivers alternative
“The State Water Resource Control Board recently rescinded its draft proposal of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. “Updating the Sacramento/Delta components of the Bay Delta Plan is one of the State Water Board’s top priorities, and the board is working expeditiously to complete this update,” the agency said in its Sept. 16 notice. “Board staff anticipate a limited recirculation of the draft Staff Report (and) Substitute Environmental Document in support of the Sacramento/Delta updates to the Bay Delta Plan together with the updated draft Plan in December,” the notice added. “New dates for a public hearing and comment period will be announced upon release.” Chris Lee, the general manager of the Solano County Water Agency, said the state action does not have any “immediate impacts” for the county. “We are urging the State Board to move forward with their revised CEQA document (which will include Healthy Rivers and Landscapes as a viable alternative) and push out the revised Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan,” Lee said. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
New reports show progress in community actions to make groundwater sustainability a reality in California
“As California enters a new water year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released two new groundwater reports – the Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions Update and a draft of California’s Groundwater Update 2025– that show measurable progress towards achieving groundwater sustainability in California. Combined, the two reports along with DWR’s California’s Groundwater Live (CalGW Live) incorporate historical data with near real-time insights to help groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) monitor conditions in their region and adjust custom-tailored solutions to meet sustainability objectives defined in their groundwater sustainability plans and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). “California’s groundwater-reliant communities are no stranger to the impacts of our changing climate and since 2020, we’ve seen incredible progress from our local partners to invest in flexible strategies to respond to changing hydrologic conditions,” said Paul Gosselin, DWR Deputy Director of Sustainable Water Management. “It’s incredible to think about the work that we and local agencies have accomplished, and how we can continue momentum in maintaining this critical water supply as we adjust to our changing climate.” … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
Boswell demands correction: Only plans to sink Corcoran six feet, other areas 10 feet
“A wide-ranging letter from J.G. Boswell Company Vice President Jeof Wyrick accuses SJV Water of misrepresenting the farming giant’s plan to deal with subsidence, land sinking from excessive groundwater pumping, which has impacted huge swaths of the San Joaquin Valley, including around the small town of Corcoran. Wyrick is also the chair of the El Rico Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), which is controlled by Boswell and covers mostly Boswell land. El Rico doesn’t plan to sink Corcoran by another 10 feet, according to Wyrick’s Aug. 12 letter. Just six feet. It may be relevant to note that El Rico’s plan would possibly lower the Corcoran levee, which protects the town and two state prisons, to a height of 186 feet. During the 2023 floods, the state had to do an emergency rebuild of the Corcoran levee after it had sunk to 188 feet. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Keeping water affordable in California
“Water agencies all over California are experiencing water affordability and cost increase challenges. We spoke with Dan Denham, general manager of San Diego County Water Authority, to learn how his agency is working to keep prices affordable for its customers. Q: How much of a concern is water affordability for the San Diego County Water Authority? A: It is a topline issue. It’s not new: water affordability is something we’ve always had to deal with. But there’s an enhanced focus on affordability now, because rates have been outpacing income growth for most residents in San Diego County and elsewhere. It’s coming to the forefront because a couple of things have happened. First, demand is hardening, which means our customers can’t reduce water use too much more. And the customer base is flattening, if not declining, over time, so we’re selling less water with the same—or higher—fixed costs. Since water sales are the primary revenue source to cover our costs, these two trends are making it increasingly difficult to cover our costs. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
DWR highlights key actions to prepare for flooding, extreme weather during flood preparedness week
“Climate disasters, from wildfires to frequent floods, have accelerated in recent years – emphasizing the importance of being prepared and planning ahead for extreme weather events. That is why for California Flood Preparedness Week, which runs from October 18 through October 25, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is calling on all Californians to understand the risk posed by flooding and how to respond during an emergency. “As California experiences increasingly intense storms driven by our changing climate, the risk of severe flooding continues to grow,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Public safety depends on all of us being prepared. Flooding can happen suddenly, so every Californian should take steps now to stay alert and ready this flood season.” … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
A wild winter ahead thanks to La Niña
“Believe it or not, how much snow we see this winter or how much those thermometers drop in January is controlled, in part, by ocean water temperatures thousands of miles away. The Pacific Ocean along the equator is where a phenomenon called La Niña develops. La Niña is the “cool sister” to El Niño. It forms when stronger-than-normal easterly trade winds push the warm surface waters west toward Indonesia. This allows colder water from deep below to rise to the surface near South America. This ocean-atmosphere pattern, known as ENSO (the El Niño–Southern Oscillation), will shift high and low pressure areas out of their usual positions. La Niña will tilt the odds toward certain weather patterns around the world and here in the United States. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Best practices in meaningful Tribal engagement and consultation
At its September meeting, the California Water Commission heard from Anecita Agustinez, Tribal Affairs Executive Manager for the Department of Water Resources, who shared insights on fostering meaningful collaboration with Tribes and Tribal partners in the state’s work. Ms. Agustinez’s presentation highlighted key aspects of state policies and the importance of building strong government-to-government relationships. She discussed recent state initiatives that emphasize consultation practices designed to strengthen Tribal partnerships and support the comanagement of water resources. Her presentation also explored best practices for achieving meaningful engagement, the significance of Tribal sovereignty in consultation processes, and the role of Tribal water interests and indigenous knowledge systems in shaping California’s water governance. Through this discussion, Ms. Agustinez underscored the value of integrating indigenous systems of knowledge into water resource management and emphasized the importance of collaboration to address Tribal water concerns across the state. … ” Continue reading at Maven’s Notebook.
Suisun City accepts California Forever’s application for 22,900-acre expansion
Suisun City forever? A group of Silicon Valley investors behind the real estate company California Forever had their application to become part of Suisun City accepted this week, moving the project into more detailed planning stages for annexation that will include an environmental impact report and water use plan. The plan broadly calls for two, 20-year buildouts of neighborhoods, commercial, mixed-use and greenspace that would expand the boundaries of Suisun City in Solano County to stretch eastward past state Highway 113 and ultimately include about 400,000 residents, with phase one initially preparing for up to 150,000 residents, according to the plan and Jan Sramek, California Forever’s founder and CEO, who is a former Goldman Sachs trader. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
SEE ALSO: California Forever: A closer look at Suisun Expansion Plan, from the San Jose Mercury News
New legislation adds invasive mute swan to list of nongame birds that may be taken
“State legislation signed into law earlier this month will allow invasive mute swans to be taken or possessed at any time by those with a valid California hunting license beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The legislation, which has a sunset date of Jan. 1, 2031, was introduced to address the growing concerns about the spread of these destructive, non-native species throughout the state. Mute swans now join the short list of invasive nongame birds – the English sparrow and the European starling being the two others – listed in the California Fish and Game Code, Section 3801 that can be taken at any time by licensed hunters. Landowners and lessees may also take or possess mute swans at any time without needing a hunting license or depredation permit. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
SB 394: Cracking own on water theft from fire hydrants
“On October 10, 2025, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 394 (SB 394) into law. This legislation is designed to strengthen existing legal protections for utility service providers against utility theft, particularly water theft resulting from the unauthorized use or tampering of fire hydrants. Under existing California law, a utility provider may bring a civil action for damages against any person who diverts, attempts to divert, or aids in utility theft. In certain cases, such as where a device was used to steal the utility, or when a meter is tampered with, there is a rebuttable presumption that the party who controls the premises or receives the direct benefit of the utility is liable for damages. SB 394 authorizes a utility service provider to bring a cause of action for damages for the unauthorized diversion of water from fire hydrants and related facilities. SB 394 also creates a rebuttable presumption that a violation of statute occurs in cases where a party does so without authorization to obtain water and without paying the full lawful charge of the water. … ” Read more from AALRR.
Senate Ag committee to consider Fix Our Forests Act
“A major federal wildfire policy bill is expected to pass through the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Tuesday. The committee will hold a markup of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act. The big picture: The Fix Our Forests Act is bipartisan legislation that will streamline tools for forest health projects and establish high-priority firesheds to reduce wildfire risk. It will expedite environmental reviews for forest management projects and enhance grant programs and new research. It will also stop frivolous litigation and consultations that delay forest management activities. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Costs of climate change: Financial impacts on California and U.S. households
“Climate change is driving up costs across every sector of the economy. Disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and heat waves are becoming more severe, causing expensive damage to health, property, and businesses. Rising temperatures and extreme events are straining energy systems, reducing productivity, and increasing costs for households and businesses. California, Florida, and Texas account for 40% of the costs from climate-driven extreme events since 1980. California is especially vulnerable due to its climate, water supply challenges, and reliance on sectors like agriculture and tourism. The state is already feeling the severe impacts of climate change, with impacts expected to worsen. CLEE’s new report, developed in partnership with Next 10, Costs of Climate Change: Financial Impacts on California and U.S. Households, summarizes how climate change is raising costs for households, businesses, and the public sector in California and nationwide.”
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Salmon reach headwaters for first time in a century after California dam removal
“Salmon on the Klamath River have crossed a major threshold a year after four dams were removed along the California-Oregon border, with the fish reaching the river’s headwaters for the first time in more than a century. Oregon wildlife officials said Friday that multiple salmon were observed in Upper Klamath Lake, as well as its major tributaries, which confirms the 300-mile migration of salmon from the Pacific Ocean in Northern California to their historical spawning grounds in southern Oregon. The fish had been kept from going upriver by the now-demolished dams since the early 1900s. Concerns had persisted that two existing dams farther upstream would continue to hamper fish passage. However, at least a portion of this year’s fall run of chinook salmon is now known to have made it past these obstacles. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Proponent of Potter Valley dams removal argues: “You can’t own water”
“Most of the arguments for and against the proposed removal of the Potter Valley Project dams in recent years have pitted the rights of humans against the rights of fish when it comes to determining the best use of the water that has been trapped and pulled from the Eel River for more than 100 years. But one woman representing the Round Valley Tribes of Mendocino County recently argued that the rights of the Eel River itself should reign supreme, as she described the water in the river “as a living thing” that deserves to be freed from both Scott Dam and Cape Horn dams as soon as possible. “We see the water as having rights of its own and needing protection, as well as being respected as a living being, and that the natural system of this river is to be flowing,” Nikcole Whipple told the California State Water Board Friday during one of four “scoping meetings” held while state officials prepare an Environmental Impact Report for the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Surrender and Decommissioning, which was applied for by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the owner of the facility built 12 decades ago. … ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Placer County Water Agency sees results in water savings and more at Placer County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden at Loomis Library
“Helping a local library convert unused lawn into a “living classroom” has paid off big in water savings – and as another example of positive partnerships. At the Oct. 16 meeting of the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors, the Board heard an update on the UC Master Gardeners of Placer County demonstration garden at Loomis Library and Learning Center. Only a year since its March 2024 ribbon cutting, the demonstration garden has reduced water use by 24%, reported PCWA staff. Those savings are expected to increase as plants become more established. PCWA’s support of the project also earned high praise from a recent visit by leadership from the UC Cooperative Extension, which oversees master gardener programs statewide. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma, Marin water agencies ink 15-year supply deal to boost regional resiliency
“The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has approved a renewed 15-year water supply agreement with the Marin Municipal Water District that will run through 2040. The new agreement updates how Russian River water is delivered to Marin Water and includes a one-time $12.5 million payment from Marin Water to support regional water resiliency projects. It replaces all previous contracts between the two agencies. Under the renewed terms approved Tuesday, Marin Water will continue receiving up to 14,300 acre-feet of water annually, with a take-or-pay minimum of 5,300 acre-feet each year. The updated contract simplifies delivery rules, removes outdated provisions, and adds flexibility by allowing Marin Water to roll over undelivered minimum amounts into the following year if Sonoma Water cannot meet the full delivery, said the county board, which is acting as the Board of Directors for Sonoma Water. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
BAY AREA
First atmospheric river of season expected to hit Bay Area this week
“Less than a month into the new rainfall year, the Bay Area is expected to be hit with the first atmospheric river of the season. The storm is expected to arrive Friday, with the heaviest precipitation forecast to hit Northern California and Oregon. According to Monday’s forecast, Del Norte County along the Oregon border is expected to get 3 inches of rain. The storm is likely to bring heavy snow to higher elevations, including the Cascades and parts of the Northern Sierra. Roger Gass, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s San Francisco office, said the storm’s effects in the Bay Area will be more moderate. “We are expecting rain to return around Friday and continue at times through this upcoming weekend, and so we do see the focus shifting further north, but that could change, you know, as we move closer to the event,” Gass said. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Five sunny days, then fog and thunder? Here’s what is stirring off California’s coast, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Trump administration cuts billions from Bay Area projects amid government shutdown. Are they targeting Democrats?
“A billion-dollar hydrogen energy plant that would have supplied clean energy to Silicon Valley, the Port of Oakland and other parts of the Bay Area — along with creating hundreds of green jobs — was ready to begin construction this month. But the project has been put on pause after the Trump Administration canceled a $1.2 billion grant this month amid the current government shutdown. Across Bay Area congressional districts, more than $377 million in federal grant funding has been terminated for projects to expand power grid reliability, create low-carbon infrastructure materials and support A.I. data center development. Though the hydrogen plant would be based in Lodi, it’s a statewide project that would have provided relief to a Bay Area power grid that is increasingly stressed by the electricity demands of data centers. The terminated grants are part of more than $28 billion in cancellations across the country, almost all of it in Democrat-controlled districts like those of Rep. Lateefah Simon, whose 12th district has had the largest amount in grants canceled throughout the Bay Area, according to the Department of Energy. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Even with extension, FORTAG pond work will probably be delayed
“Though the California Department of Fish and Wildlife extended the permit for Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway work in the Frog Pond Wetland Preserve, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County now says it does not think tasks will be completed by the expiration of the permit. “We do not currently anticipate completing the work in the frog pond by Dec. 15,” said Laurie Williamson, TAMC spokesperson. TAMC requested a two-month extension to Dec. 15 of the CDFW permit in mid-August when it recognized that construction in the Frog Pond Wetland Preserve would not be finished by Oct. 15 due to a prior delay. “Construction projects, especially one of this size, are always subject to unforeseen circumstances that will impact the timeline,” said Del Rey Oaks Mayor Scott Donaldson. “I know work on other segments of the trail will continue and I’m hopeful that the overall project isn’t significantly delayed.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Bioblitz reveals hidden biodiversity in the Santa Barbara Channel
“The Santa Barbara Channel is a hotbed of biodiversity, thanks to the many species whose ranges meet and overlap in the area. As a transition zone between the cold water of the California Current and the warmer seawaters of Southern California, the channel hosts a variety of fish, birds and marine mammals that live in, feed in and travel through it. And yet, we may only still be scratching the surface of its biodiversity. “There’s a hidden biodiversity in our reefs. By ‘hidden,’ I mean the great number of small species that we generally overlook,” said UC Santa Barbara marine ecologist Bob Miller, who directs the National Science Foundation-supported Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research (SBC LTER) program, focused on kelp forests and their connections to the shoreline and open ocean. … ” Read more from The Current.
Water line repair job underway for desal plant in Santa Barbara involves a special barge
“A temporary water intake line will be going through repairs for about four weeks in the coastal waters off Santa Barbara where it starts the flow into the Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant. The Offshore Desal Pump Platform Stabilization Project is a vital link to two offshore intake pump structures. The pump structures are located about half a mile offshore in approximately 35 feet of water just east of Stearns Wharf. Pacific Maritime has a 270-foot-long barge named Ocean Protector loaded with necessary equipment and materials. The barge will be to the East of Stearns Wharf for about a month. That includes the rocks, the crane and the crew which will be on board 24 hours a day. There are also divers. It will be a 50-year strengthening plan. … ” Read more from KEYT.”
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
What bats are telling us about life in the Central Valley
“As River Partners Associate Restoration Scientists Claudia Delgado and Diego Garcia drove among the sprawling alfalfa fields at Island Dairy, our 480-acre future restoration site in Stanislaus County, the sun was peeking over the horizon. They were out there to gather a few pieces of equipment, and after less than 10 minutes of driving on a single-lane vehicle access road, they reached their first of three destinations for the day. Clamped to the top of a 12-foot-tall telescoping extension pole is what Delgado and Garcia came to get: A non-descript green-gray box measuring 3-by-5 inches. Visible among the contents inside were an on-off switch, eight AA batteries, and an SD memory card—the data on this SD card is what they were really after. Deepening its commitment to learning more about wildlife that live in and around our restoration sites across the state, River Partners is now looking more closely at an animal community it never has before: bats. … ” Read more from River Partners.
Riverdale Park Tract warns of PFOS and PFOA levels in local groundwater
“The Riverdale Park Tract Community Service District (RPTCSD) has notified the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors that levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in local groundwater have exceeded state notification levels, according to a letter submitted for discussion at the next board meeting. PFOS and PFOA are man-made chemicals classified under per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a group of emerging contaminants of significant concern. These chemicals are widely used in consumer products, including non-stick cookware, waterproof fabrics, carpets, paper food packaging, and fire-retardant foam. … ” Read more from ABC 10.
Tehachapi: TCCWD Board hears update on SWP issues, responds to public criticism
“The Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District Board of Directors heard an update on various issues related to the California State Water Project at a regular meeting Oct. 15 when the district’s general manager also responded to recent public criticism of the district. TCCWD General Manager Tom Neisler said he recently went to a Kern County Water Agency Member Unit Managers meeting, where the group heard from the California Department of Water Resources regarding the future of the State Water Project, which faces a number of challenges in the coming two decades that may be be addressed through a series of projects that would dramatically affect its capacity. Among those issues is the California Aqueduct, segments of which have subsided by several feet, seriously affecting it and the larger system’s capacity. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
SAN DIEGO
$650,000 in grants from San Diego Foundation aimed at reducing pollution in Tijuana River watershed
“The San Diego Foundation has awarded more than $650,000 in grants to 18 nonprofits in the U.S. and Mexico as part of the foundation’s Binational Resilience Initiative. Much of this year’s funding focuses on community-led projects in the Tijuana River watershed and Cali-Baja Coast to address sewage pollution and cross-border water management that have threatened public health and environmental resilience. This year’s grants range from $15,000 to $103,000 and will go to nonprofits to monitor water quality, restore the watershed and improve coastal resilience. This year’s grant recipients include six binational partnerships and three general support grants for nonprofits to work on water quality monitoring, watershed restoration and kelp forest recovery. Here are some of the projects receiving grants. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
A megadrought is reshaping birdlife in the Southwest
“Few birds have earned the moniker “elegant” quite like the elegant trogon. With a crimson belly and bronze-green head and back, the males of this species glow against the dry forests of the Sierra Madre. The females’ sandy-brown plumage is no less beautiful. Both sexes have a long, stripy tail that recalls their close relatives, the quetzals. While most of the 200,000-strong elegant trogon population lives in Mexico and Central America, a few hundred make an annual pilgrimage to breed in Arizona and New Mexico’s “sky islands,” a collection of mountain ranges whose prominence creates their own ecosystems. Since 2013, volunteers and staff at the Tucson Bird Alliance have surveyed trogon populations in southeastern Arizona each May. There are, on average, 136 trogons each year in five mountain ranges, with some fluctuations. “Anywhere from 100 to 180 is a standard number for most years,” said Jennie MacFarland, the director of bird conservation for Tucson Bird Alliance. This year, however, they found only 31. It was their lowest total ever. … ” Read more from Sierra Magazine.
Zebra mussels found in Colorado River, lakes; golden mussels spreading in California
“In California, golden mussels were first found near Sacramento a year ago. Now they have spread to Southern California lakes. They have been found at Silverwood Lake, just south of where Interstate 15 descends into San Bernardino, but not yet at Lake Arrowhead. The golden mussels haven’t made it to the Colorado River or Lake Mead yet, but water managers are worried that boats could spread them directly into our water system. Boaters need to thoroughly inspect and clean their vessels before reuse. … ” Read more from KLAS.
Arizona: Home Builders Association raises concerns over new Ag-to-Urban program
“With Arizona’s Ag-to-Urban program now offering farmers new means to trade in their irrigated land to residential developers, some have begun expressing skepticism over the program’s rules and effectiveness. Ag-to-Urban officially went into effect on Sept. 26, allowing farmers to trade in their irrigation rights and sell their farmland to developers. The program aims to minimize water use and expand housing opportunities in the state by providing farmers with a means to transition efficiently from farmland to residential land. That said, while the program’s purpose is to convert farmland and save water, some builders are frustrated with its practicality and question whether it warrants enough participation from developers. … ” Read more from Arizona Capitol Times.
Arizona: Study: Groundwater pumping affecting Basin Aquifer water levels more than climate change
“A new study has found that groundwater pumping is having a greater effect in changing levels in the Tucson Basin Aquifer than climate change. The study found that in the last 30,000-years, groundwater recharge in the Tucson Basin has been pretty consistent. But the researchers say water tables dropped by as much as 105-feet during dry periods since about the end of the last ice age. However, that is only half of the drop seen in the last 70 years due to groundwater depletion. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
How is Colorado’s response to invasive mussels going? Funding and public education are key, experts say.
“Colorado is in its first year of responding to a zebra mussel infestation in a big river, the Colorado River. State staff say they have what they need to handle the high-priority needs — they just need their funding to stay off the chopping block. The fast-reproducing mussels, or their microscopic stage called veligers, were first detected in Colorado in 2022. Since then, the state’s Aquatic Nuisance Species team and its partners have been working to monitor water, decontaminate boats and educate the public to keep the mussels from spreading. That effort logged a serious failure this summer when state staff detected adult zebra mussels in the Colorado River, where treatment options are limited. “We’re continuing to sample the Colorado from below the Granby Dam all the way out to the (Utah-Colorado) state line,” said Robert Walters, who manages the invasive species program for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Interior divulges more details on layoff plans
“The Interior Department revealed Monday that it plans to eliminate more than 2,000 jobs, including major reductions to the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey and the Office of the Secretary, according to newly filed court documents. The disclosure — which details anticipated cuts across Interior’s individual agencies, at a level not previously shared — was submitted Monday by the Justice Department to comply with an order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California late Friday night. Senior Judge Susan Illston issued a temporary restraining order last week that temporarily bars the Trump administration from issuing layoffs to federal workers in some unionized offices during the ongoing federal government shutdown or from enforcing any reduction-in-force notices already issued. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO:
- EPA hit by largest round of furloughs yet amid shutdown confusion, from the Sacramento Bee
- Trump Targets Federal Employees Working on Conservation and Environmental Protection, from Inside Climate News
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
SITES RESERVOIR: State Water Board AHO requests additional information from the Sites Project Authority
YOUR INPUT WANTED: DWR Seeks Public Comment on Released Draft California’s Groundwater: Bulletin 118 – Update 2025, Releases Semi-Annual and CalGW Live Updates
