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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: CAP University: Deeper Dive on the Status of the Colorado River from 9am to 10am. This session will provide information and updates on the status of the post-2026 negotiations, Colorado River conditions, and more. Click here to register.
- WORKSHOP: Urban Water Use Objective (UWUO) Reporting Form from 10am to 11am. Urban retail water suppliers subject to the Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation must use the Urban Water Use Objective Reporting Form to report data to the State Water Board by January 1, 2026. State Water Board staff have provided a guidance document and supplemental guidance document on the reporting form, available now at the Making Conservation a California Way of Life webpage, for the staff, leadership, or contractors of urban retail water suppliers as they complete the reporting form. In addition, State Water Board staff will host two webinars on the form. The first webinar will provide a walk-through of the reporting form and allow time for Q&A. Register Here
- WEBINAR: Water Industry AI Questions Answered from 1pm to 3pm. This panel discussion will feature a series of candid presentations from California Data Collaborative members who are actively navigating their own AI journeys, sharing the nitty-gritty details of their goals, methods, and real-world results. Followed by a panel of experts providing targeted, actionable advice on implementing AI for tasks ranging from water loss management to data automation. Click here to register to attend virtually.
In California water news today …
California can enforce its landmark groundwater law, court rules
“California water officials can move ahead with enforcement of the state’s landmark groundwater regulation after an appellate court ruled Wednesday that a state crackdown on pumping in Kings County is likely, in large part, legal. State regulators had worried that their ability to enforce the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act had been eroded when a Superior Court judge last year temporarily halted state sanctions in a heavily pumped, agricultural stretch of the San Joaquin Valley. The Superior Court judge appeared to sympathize with local farmers, who had said the state exceeded its authority and was imposing costly fees and water-metering rules. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Appellate court tanks injunction that had held off state groundwater intervention in Kings County
“Dual appellate court opinions issued Wednesday in a closely watched groundwater case out of Kings County will likely mean three things: Farmers there will have to start reporting extractions and paying fees; the state will reopen communications with local water managers; and the lawsuit will continue. The Kings County Farm Bureau sued the Water Resources Control Board in May 2024 after the Water Board placed the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers most of Kings County, on probation for lacking an adequate groundwater plan. Under probation, farmers must meter and register their wells at $300 each, report extractions and pay the state a $20-per-acre-foot fee. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
MORE: Read the court document here.
Gov. signs bill to beam more sunlight on groundwater agency board members
“A bill that will require groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) to publish the names of their directors and provide links to their financial interest statements was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this month. The new mandate wasn’t well received by some. “We’re having all of our laundry put on display for everybody and I don’t think that’s right,” Craig Hornung, vice chair of the East Kaweah GSA, said at the GSA’s Oct. 27 meeting. Form 700s, which require elected officials and agency executives to disclose their financial interests, including income, investments and property, are already required by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). … ” Read more from SJV Water.
A lifeline for salmon: UCSC and NOAA join forces to secure a future for California’s most iconic fish
“Nearly every day for the past 20 years, scientists from UC Santa Cruz and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have waded into Scott Creek, a 12-mile-long burbling stream in Santa Cruz County just a few miles north of Davenport. Dressed in waders and toting bags and buckets, these scientists navigate the stream’s chilly waters and muddy banks in search of coho salmon. Along the coast of central California, coho salmon are endangered. But the young salmon in Scott Creek may hold the key to the species’ recovery. As the southernmost population of coho in the state, the salmon in Scott Creek are adapted to warmer and drier conditions than their more northern cousins. By studying the evolution, ecology, and genetics of this population, scientists at UCSC and NOAA hope to gain insights that could help them ensure the survival of the species throughout California. … ” Read more from UC Santa Cruz.
California researcher finds Earth’s vital signs flashing red
“A new climate report emphasizes that not only was 2024 the hottest year on record, but it may have also been the warmest in at least 125,000 years. In its sixth annual climate change assessment, published Wednesday in BioScience, an international coalition, including a Bay Area scientist, concluded that 22 of Earth’s 34 vital signs — like greenhouse gas concentrations, ocean acidity and ice mass — are flashing red. “These findings are global, but so many of them apply to California as well,” Peter Gleick, the co-founder of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, who contributed to the report, told SFGATE. “We’re already seeing a lot of the changes and challenges that this paper highlights here in California. And the purpose of this paper is not to just call attention to the worse impacts we’re seeing but to try to quantify them.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
In commentary today …
Edward Ring: Large scale desalination could transform California
Edward Ring writes, “Why is it axiomatic among California’s water agencies and policymakers that large scale desalination is inconceivable in California? That certainly isn’t the case in other arid locales. In 2024, an estimated 30 million acre feet of fresh water was produced by desalination plants worldwide. On the coast of the Red Sea, about 60 miles south of the port city Jeddah, and only slightly further from the inland city of Mecca, the Shoaiba Desalination Complex produces nearly 900,000 acre feet of fresh water per year. Situated on approximately 1,200 acres, this one installation could, if it were located in California, supply more than 12 percent of ALL California’s urban water consumption. That’s not very much land, for an awful lot of water. The energy cost of desalination is often overstated. Modern desalination plants require about 3,500 kilowatt-hours per acre foot. That equates to 3,500 gigawatt-hours (GWH) per million acre feet. California’s total electricity consumption is currently not quite 300,000 GWH per year, with the state legislature determined to ramp that up to at least 500,000 GWH per year by 2045. And if they’re serious about electrifying the state’s economy, they could require as much as twice that. … ” Read more from Edward Ring.
Dan Walters: Erie Canal creation contrasts with the glacial pace of public works in California
Dan Walters writes, “This week one of the nation’s earliest and most important public works projects, the 363-mile Erie Canal linking the Hudson River with Lake Erie, marked its 200th anniversary. There was only negligible media and political notice. That’s regrettable, because the canal opening in 1825 utterly transformed the nation’s economy and ignited its expansion from a few sparsely populated former colonies on the Atlantic Coast some 3,000 miles westward to the Pacific Ocean. Rugged mountains had stymied westward expansion from the coastal plain into the Ohio River valley and the Great Lakes region. But New York Gov. DeWitt Clinton saw an opportunity for New York City to become the nation’s commercial capital, outfoxing rival Philadelphia. … ” Continue reading at Cal Matters.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
After dam removal, salmon reach Upper Klamath Basin for first time in over 100 years
“Recent radio monitoring shows that chinook salmon have reached stretches of the Upper Klamath River Basin—an area that anadromous fish have been absent from for over a century, according to a press release from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW). The news is an indication that dam removal efforts on the Klamath River are working as expected. The Klamath is a 263-mile river that flows through the Cascade Mountains in southern Oregon and northern California. According to NOAA Fisheries, the river was once the third largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast, not to mention a famous steelhead fishery. But those anadromous fish runs suffered in large part from four hydroelectric dams that impacted water quality and impeded fish passage. Years of advocacy from a variety of stakeholders, including local Indigenous tribes, led to America’s largest dam removal; those four dams were demolished by September, 2024. … ” Read more from Field & Stream.
Mendocino supes debate resolution favoring Potter Valley Project dam decommissioning
“The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors recently discussed dueling resolutions on PG&E’s position in the decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project’s dams. For more than 100 years, the Potter Valley Project has diverted water from the Eel River to the Russian River Watershed through two dams — the Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury and Cape Horn Dam at Lake Van Arsdale — that have supplied water to communities throughout Mendocino and Sonoma counties. This water source has been crucial for agricultural, municipal, and environmental uses. As soon as 2028, PG&E plans on decommissioning the Potter Valley Project, which could help fish restoration on the Eel River but also decrease water availability and negatively impact local communities. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
Collaboration is key to Mendocino County’s water security
“Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) had a ribbon cutting event on Oct. 22 at Lake Mendocino. FIRO enables water managers to use the latest technology and weather forecasts in the Lake Mendocino watershed to guide their decisions. This is the first time in the U.S. that this approach has been used. This will allow for 20% more storage, which is the equivalent amount of water for approximately 22,000 homes a year. Another step towards greater water security and it starts here. The Board discussed the Potter Valley Project and heard from the public at the Oct. 21 BoS meeting. With PG&E’s application to decommission (remove) the Scott and Van Arsdale Dams, no one can compel PG&E to divert water to the Russian River. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Clean Up The Lake completes Tahoe deep dive pilot project
“Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) has completed its Tahoe Deep Dive Pilot Project, a six-month effort that explored litter accumulation and underwater health at depths of 35 to 55 feet in Lake Tahoe. The research tested new diving methods and gathered data to guide future large-scale cleanup operations. Between February and July 2025, CUTL held 14 cleanup days and 29 dives, with 26 volunteers filling 80 positions and contributing 480 hours both underwater and onshore. Divers removed 1,933 pounds of debris, totaling 1,042 individual items, from 6.1 miles of lakebed and 4.75 miles of shoreline in Placer County. … ” Read more from Channel 2.
Are Tahoe boat inspections a boondoggle? We answer reader mail on mussels
Amy Alonzo writes, “Earlier this month, I wrote about the risk aquatic invasive mussels pose to Lake Mead and other Nevada waterways. Invasive mussels aren’t your typical dinner-table conversation topic, but they are front and center for many Nevada water managers. Readers who also had opinions on the diminutive creatures emailed me with comments ranging from someone questioning whether they could serve as a food source or fertilizer to someone who disagreed with the idea that the mussels could live in Lake Tahoe. “University biologists have determined that any type of muscle [sic] cannot live in Lake Tahoe due to the fact that muscles [sic] are filter feeders, and there is not enough food in the water at Lake Tahoe for any muscle [sic] to survive. Studies have proven this yet many useless boat inspection stations exist to this day wasting millions of dollars,” one reader wrote. “I have spoken to the various water agencies in the area and they all acknowledge that that fact is true. Yet they continue to waste money on inspection stations, and various other programs anyway.” … ” Read more from the Nevada Independent.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Wet or dry winter in Redding, Shasta Cascade? What AccuWeather, Farmer’s Almanac say
“Forecasters at AccuWeather released their predictions for the 2025-2026 winter season, revealing what Shasta and Siskiyou residents should expect for this winter season. Winter starts Sunday, Dec. 21, and as we creep closer, The Old Farmer’s Almanac and AccuWeather have both released their predictions for what the following winter months should bring. AccuWeather makes predictions for expected precipitation, temperatures and snowfall based on historical data as well as current weather trends. However, those long term predictions are hard to pin down, thanks in part thanks to El Niño and La Niña weather patterns. To best understand what North State weather should bring for this winter season, 2025 to 2026, review both The Old Farmer’s Almanac as well as this AccuWeather prediction. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
Water year starts strong in Butte County
“The new water year began Oct. 1 with encouraging signs of above-average precipitation, snowpack and reservoir storage, according to a presentation by Water Resources Scientist Kelly Peterson to the Butte County Water and Resource Conservation Commission. Butte County’s water year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2026, aligning with the state’s seasonal hydrology. This period captures the full cycle of fall and winter precipitation, spring snowmelt and summer irrigation demand. According to Peterson, the region is experiencing a rare window of hydrologic opportunity. “So, it’s a really good time for us in terms of getting a lot of water on the ground … and good conditions to hopefully benefit our groundwater conditions as well,” Peterson told the Water Commission earlier this month. … ” Read more from the Gridley Herald.
Oroville leaders propose wildlife refuge to protect Feather River and combat illegal dumping
“Oroville city leaders are actively working to combat illegal dumping along the Feather River by considering a new designation for the area. Councilmember Shawn Webber has proposed transforming the river stretch between Table Mountain Bridge and the Highway 70 Bridge into a city park. However, the proposal has evolved with growing support for establishing the area as a wildlife refuge, primarily to protect the sensitive salmon population that uses this section of the river for spawning after their journey from the Pacific Ocean. Designating the area as a wildlife refuge could unlock federal grant opportunities for enhanced beautification, removal of invasive plant species to improve visibility and reduce wildfire risks, and the addition of lighting for safety. The Oroville City Council recently reached out to Governor Gavin Newsom, requesting state support to preserve these vital salmon spawning grounds. … ” Read more from the Sierra Daily News.
BAY AREA
A ‘dry’ cold front is moving toward the Bay Area. Here’s how it will impact weather
“Winds are set to reverse and blow cooler air back into the Bay Area on Thursday, putting a temporary hold on a spell of warm weather. A “dry cold front” is forecast to move over the region early Thursday. Fall cold fronts often drop precipitation as they move across Northern California, but this one won’t bring any rain with it. However, winds will shift from offshore to onshore, allowing marine air to pour back toward San Francisco, dropping temperatures and raising humidity levels. Dense fog is possible throughout the Bay Area on Thursday morning, particularly along the coast and bay shoreline. Visibility could drop as low as a quarter of a mile in some coastal locations, including parts of San Francisco. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Dublin commentary: Planning for a Sustainable Future
Mira Shah writes, “As a high school junior in Dublin, I’ve grown up hearing the word “drought” almost every year. It’s become so routine that many people have stopped reacting to it. We conserve water for a few months, then slip back into old habits once the rain returns. Yet the data tells a different story. In 2021, the Tri-Valley received just 5.67 inches of rainfall for the entire water year, only 39% of the long-term average of more than 15 inches. That’s not a temporary shortage but a sign of a long-term shift. The truth is that the drought never really ends; it just pauses. Our region’s pattern of reaction and relaxation is no longer sustainable for a future that’s only getting hotter and drier. The Tri-Valley depends heavily on imported water, with about 70% of its supply coming from the California State Water Project through the Zone 7 Water Agency. Much of our water travels hundreds of miles and depends on rainfall and snowpack far from home. When those sources shrink, our local supply follows. … ” Continue reading at the Livermore Independent.
San Jose: Keeping streams ready for winter storms
“Santa Clara County’s creeks wind through neighborhoods, parks, commercial and industrial areas, and open spaces, carrying stormwater from the hills to the San Francisco and Monterey bays. When rain arrives, these waterways must be able to handle fast, sustained flows without threatening nearby homes and businesses. Keeping them ready takes year-round planning, ongoing maintenance, and the dedication of Valley Water crews. Our county has more than 800 miles of creeks, and Valley Water manages about 333 miles of those streams. Each year, our Stream Maintenance Program employees inspect and prioritize sections of these waterways for maintenance projects. We focus especially on creeks that have engineered flood protection projects in place, ensuring they continue to safeguard nearby homes and businesses. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
Salinas: As supplies thin, price of recycled water could go up
Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau, writes, “As we all manage the implementation of our groundwater management sustainability plans in the next 15 years, there will be some hard choices that communities will need to make. Most of these will include financing various water supply solutions, such as resource projects, land fallowing and repurposing, and even water allocations. Communities that rely exclusively on groundwater will have the hardest decisions to make. With our state’s human right to water, there are more discussions on how our stretched-thin supply can continue to manage a growing state population and continue to produce food to feed our hungry nation. Yes, many are moving out of California due to any number of reasons, including the high cost of living, but there is still incremental population growth in many regions. … ” Read more from the Salinas Valley Tribune.
Unsafe levels of bacteria fester in Pismo Lagoon, group says. Who will clean it up?
“While surfers stretched and squeezed on their wetsuits one October morning, a biologist dipped a test jar into the Pismo Lagoon. For seven years, retired biologist Dr. Stanley Rice has taken regular water samples at Pismo Creek for the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force. Every year, he finds unsafe levels of bacteria in the water. That day, Pismo Creek flowed under Cypress Street Bridge into a warm, shallow pool known as the Pismo Lagoon. Long, green strands of duckweed grew on the surface of the water, while ducks squawked and paddled around. A berm of sand trapped the water in the lagoon — preventing the bacteria from escaping. “It’s really nasty water,” Rice said. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
San Luis Obispo County water reclamation plant finally moving forward after years of delay
“Cambria’s embattled, delayed water reclamation facility took a major step forward this month after years spent in permit limbo. County planners have officially accepted for processing the Cambria Community Services District’s project application, after finishing a lengthy review of all the documents and responses submitted, according district general manager Matthew McElhenie. He broke the long-awaited news during the North Coast Advisory Council’s Oct. 15 meeting and in a “blast-out” email he sent to community members the following day. The plant, which was built more than a decade ago, only operated sporadically during severe drought conditions, thanks to problems with its design that have required additional regulatory approvals. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Wildfire losses inspire changes in avocado orchards
“Lessons learned from destructive wildfires in Ventura County have given avocado growers a fighting chance to save their orchards when the next big blaze hits. One of those lessons, shared by Ben Faber, University of California Cooperative Extension citrus and avocado adviser for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, is that healthy avocado trees can survive a fast-moving wildfire. And, he said, the rescue operation starts before the flames and intense heat arrive. “If a sick tree isn’t picking up water, it’s going to burn,” Faber told growers and ranch managers at a fire-resilience workshop, held Aug. 19 in Somis and sponsored by the California Avocado Society. “Sick trees burn first.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Goshen consolidation to provide safe, clean water
“Forty-four residences struggling with failing private wells in the disadvantaged community of West Goshen now have access to safe, clean, reliable drinking water, as Cal Water completed connecting its water system to the homes. This consolidation was made possible by advocacy from community residents and funding obtained by the County of Tulare, with support by Community Water Center (CWC), from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Through DWR’s Small Community Drought Relief Program, CWC helped Tulare County secure $3.45 million in 2022 for the consolidation. The grant funds enabled Cal Water to extend its service and connect the 44 customers, whose private groundwater wells had gone dry or were found to contain harmful contaminants, no longer meeting California water quality standards. Cal Water had previously connected about 80 customers who were part of West Goshen Mutual Water Company to its Visalia system in 2014. … ” Read more from California American Water.
Elk are again roaming on lands that California has returned to the Tule River Indian Tribe
“In the scrub-brush foothills between the long flat fields of the San Joaquin Valley and the mighty peaks and Sequoia forests of the Sierra Nevada, state leaders and elders from the Tule River Indian Tribe gathered Wednesday to mark the return of 17,000 acres of ancestral land to Tule River Indian tribe. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office called it “the largest ancestral land return in the history of the region and a major step in addressing historical wrongs against California Native American tribes.” The former cattle ranches, one known as the “Hershey Ranch” and the other as the “Carothers Ranch,” include grasslands, oak woodlands and dark evergreen forests. They sit just south of the 55,000-acre Tule River reservation and abut the Giant Sequoia National Monument. They were purchased in 2024 and 2025 with support of the private funders, the Conservation Fund, and the California Natural Resources Agency’s Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program, which uses state bond funds to return ancestral lands to tribes. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via PhysOrg.
SEE ALSO:
- Tule River Indian Tribe of California reclaims over 17,000 acres and reintroduces tule elk on ancestral land, press release from the Office of Governor Newsom
- Major California ‘land-back’ deal with tribe preserves swath of southern Sierra, from the San Francisco Chronicle
EASTERN SIERRA
Why the world’s rarest fish is trapped in the hottest desert on earth
“With under 40 pupfish left in the wild, these are possibly the rarest fish on the planet. The Devils Hole pupfish have existed in isolation for thousands of years in an extreme environment where few species could survive. How did they end up in such an inhospitable place? And what makes their survival so important? Untold Earth explores the seeming impossibilities behind our planet’s strangest, most unique natural wonders. From fragile, untouched ecosystems to familiar but unexplained occurrences in our own backyard, this series chases insight into natural phenomena through the voices that know them best. Untold Earth is produced in partnership with Atlas Obscura and Nature.”
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Ana winds, heat trigger power shutoff for thousands of Southern Californians
“The first Santa Anas of the season triggered a power shutoff for thousands of Southern Californians on Wednesday as utilities, firefighters and health officials were put on alert for impacts from the strong winds and unseasonably warm temperatures. More than 2,000 Southern California Edison customers lost power as part of a public safety power shutoff, utility officials said, and another 22,373 shutoffs for customers were being considered. The outage affected customers in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside counties as a two-day Santa Ana wind event pushed temperatures into the 90s, with wind gusts hitting 50 mph in some areas. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Riverside: PFAS settlement buys RPU ratepayers one-year reprieve on water treatment surcharge
“Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) will delay implementing a water treatment surcharge by one year after receiving the first payment from settlements with PFAS manufacturers, officials announced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The utility expects to receive approximately $39 million over eight years from the settlements to help offset the costs of treating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment, in the city’s water supply. The delay provides relief for ratepayers who would have faced rate increases to fund three new treatment plants needed to comply with federal drinking water standards taking effect in 2031. More than 60% of RPU’s groundwater sources contain PFAS above the federal standards, requiring advanced treatment to ensure continued compliance. … ” Read more from the Raincross Gazette.
Riverside City Council talks funding for new water treatment facilities
“The Riverside City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to set aside lawsuit settlement funds and further discuss new monthly water bill fees to pay for the construction and yearly maintenance cost of three new water treatment facilities. Councilmember Chuck Conder was absent. The decision came as city officials work to decrease the amount of synthetic chemicals in the city’s water supply to comply with looming federal regulations. “The city has been doing everything we can to deal with this and hopefully try to scale this project completion time and push it out a little bit to give us more time to do this rate increase,” Councilmember Steven Robillard said at the October 28 meeting. “I think it is important that we do treat for these chemicals, but the cost of doing so is so high, and hopefully we get as much assistance as possible to offset those costs.” … ” Continue reading at the Riverside Record.
Long Beach to push for tighter rules on LA River trash, try to catch more garbage floating downstream
“Beset by demands to take stronger action, Long Beach unveiled Wednesday a glimpse at its plans to curb the amount of trash going into the Los Angeles River and washing ashore on its surf line. It’s a far-reaching strategy, one that calls for stricter enforcement on the 17 cities that bank the 51-mile river, and more money for Long Beach to cover its costly burden of cleaning up debris. According to the Public Works Department, the city has collected more than 12,500 tons of trash from 2020 to 2024, which cost a staggering $12.3 million. In the most recent fiscal year, the city paid seven times more for labor and materials than four years prior — an average $1,000 per ton of trash removed from the shoreline, according to previous reporting by the Long Beach Post. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Post.
SEE ALSO: Long Beach begins process to implement a new trash capture system along LA River, from the Long Beach Press Telegram
Orange taps well project to also add a small park
“The city of Orange has carved out a pocket of space to offer community members a place to enjoy the open air, while also improving the water they drink. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, city leaders celebrated the opening of Antepasado Park at Lemon Street and Maple Avenue. Also celebrated is a new well on the property that will add to the city’s water supply, but also has a new treatment system for removing “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. The Orange County Water District helped with funding for the project. The park, a pocket of green space on a corner among businesses, homes and Chapman University near Old Towne Orange, is named the Spanish word for ancestor, officials said, in honor of the Mexican-American community’s history in the Cypress Street Barrio. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego City Council narrowly approves water rate hikes
“Water rates for San Diegans will rise 14.7% next year and 14.5% the following year after the San Diego City Council Tuesday passed an amended water and wastewater rate hike. A staff proposal before the council was to increase water rates by 63% through 2029. The now-approved two-year plan passed by a 5-4 majority Tuesday was proposed by Councilman Stephen Whitburn. Wastewater rates will also increase by 31% over the next four years, which is unchanged from the original proposal. “I’m really disappointed in the decision today,” said Terri Altorelli, a longtime resident of San Diego who’s been outspoken against any rate hike. “Everything is going up. Wages are not going up. People just can’t afford it…. ” Read more from Channel 10.
San Diego City Councilmember Elo-Rivera wants city to build solar to combat high water rates
“What if San Diego blanketed land, reservoirs and buildings its Public Utilities Department owned with solar and used the money it made off that power to subsidize skyrocketing water rates for poorer people? That’s the idea San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera pitched during an uncomfortable series of debates over raising water rates on San Diegans by 63 percent over the next four years. The Public Utilities department owns 42,550 acres of land – about the size of Washington D.C. It could, in theory, lease that land out to solar developers and help bring down water rates, fix dams or otherwise prop-up a city department key to ensuring water is treated and distributed to 1.4 million people. “We need to be more aggressive about finding sources besides ratepayers to find revenue,” Elo Rivera said during a 30-percent water rate increase vote on Oct. 28. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Poor water quality and noxious smells are a cross-border headache on the Tijuana River
“The Tijuana River has been in the news lately as pollution pours into the US from Mexico. To help us understand what’s happening, we spoke with former PPIC Water Policy Center advisory council chair Celeste Cantú, who currently sits on the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. Q: What are people who live and work along the Tijuana River experiencing? A: First, I’m not representing any organization. I’m only speaking for myself and my almost seven decades of living near the border and working on border issues. The Tijuana River watershed begins in the US, drains into Baja California, turns back into San Diego County, and then empties into the ocean. People ask why Tijuana allows pollution to flow into the US, but hydrology makes it happen—gravity is something we just can’t defy. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Along the Colorado River …
What’s holding up the Colorado River negotiations? Experts break down the sticking points.
“Seven states in the Colorado River Basin are days away from a Nov. 11 deadline to hash out a rough idea of how the water supply for 40 million people will be managed starting in fall 2026. And they’re still at loggerheads over what to do. The rules that govern how key reservoirs store and release water supplies expire Dec. 31. They’ll guide reservoir operations until fall 2026, and federal and state officials plan to use the winter months to nail down a new set of replacement rules. But negotiating those new rules raises questions about everything from when the new agreement will expire to who has to cut back on water use in the basin’s driest years. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Here is one idea how to help save the Colorado River
“The Colorado River is struggling and faces a shortfall that will forever shape the West. An easy enemy to blame is agriculture. But are there other unseen culprits? There are, according to Yaron Dycian, the chief strategy and product officer of Wint. Dycian points to massive buildings that do not even know how much water is being wasted. His goal is to reduce the water waste that comes from buildings that would otherwise go to the Great Salt Lake or the Colorado River. An AI-powered water management solution detects leaks and anomalies early to eliminate waste. It’s already helping commercial and residential properties in the U.S. and around the world, including in Colorado River–dependent states across the Southwest. … ” Read more from the Deseret News.
In national water news today …
Commentary: Traces of old farm chemicals contaminate water across the U.S.
Keith Schneider writes, “Even though it delivers airtight data and analysis essential for understanding and managing the risks industrial societies pose to water, land, and health, the U.S. Geological Survey is a federal science agency that rarely attracts public notice. So when my colleague, Brett Walton, told me about a new USGS study that found diminishing concentrations in groundwater for all but one of a group of twenty-two old-school pesticides widely known to cause disease in humans, I got interested. Maybe something to cheer about amid all the turmoil of the era. I took a close look. To some extent, the findings of the new study are a bit of good news. But as I considered the results presented by the report’s authors, and how they reached their findings, a much more significant measure of really bad news was revealed. It wasn’t about pesticides. Rather it’s about the expertise, capacity, and value of an environmental monitoring agency capable of conducting such a study that the Trump administration is intent on wrecking. … ” Read more from the Circle of Blue.
