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In California water news this weekend …
Groundwater agencies squabble as state announces restart of sanctions against Tulare Lake subbasin
“Two neighboring groundwater agencies in Kings County are preparing for a showdown over how much farmers can pump even as the state Water Resources Control Board restarted probationary sanctions for farmers in the Tulare Lake subbasin. Farmers will be required to report how much they pumped from July 14, 2024 through Sept. 25, 2025 by May 1, 2026, according to a Water Board press release issued Friday evening. Fees of $20-per-acre-foot pumped won’t be far behind. “Following the extraction reporting deadline, the (Water Board) will send fee invoices. Fees for first reports will be due 30 days after the invoice date,” the release states. This comes after the Fifth District Court of Appeal on Wednesday tossed out a preliminary injunction issued by a Kings County judge that had held those, and other, probationary sanctions at bay for the past year. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SEE ALSO: State Water Board extends groundwater extraction reporting deadlines for Tulare Lake Subbasin, press release from the State Water Board
Court of Appeal clears way for state intervention in local groundwater management under SGMA
“On October 29, 2025, the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Kings County Farm Bureau v. State Water Resources Control Board reversed a broad preliminary injunction that had barred the State Water Resources Control Board (“State Board”) from imposing regulatory fees and mandating groundwater extraction monitoring and reporting in the San Joaquin Valley’s critically overdrafted Tulare Lake Subbasin. The case arose when the Kings County Farm Bureau (“Farm Bureau”) challenged the State Board’s 2024 determination to put the entire Tulare Lake Subbasin on “probation,” based on a finding that the subbasin’s groundwater sustainability plan (“GSP”) failed to show a likelihood of achieving sustainability throughout the subbasin, as required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (“SGMA”). In reversing and remanding the trial court’s injunction against the State Board’s probation actions, the appellate court highlighted that the Farm Bureau likely would prevail at trial on its “good actor” claim that the State Board must exclude from probation sustainable portions of a groundwater basin or subbasin. … ” Read more from the Kronick Law Firm.
Some perspective on the Kings County Farm Bureau lawsuit against the State Water Board
“The State Court of Appeals issued two rulings this week on the Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB) lawsuit against the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board). KCFB filed suit over actions the State Board took in April of 2024, which placed the Tulare Lake Subbasin in probation under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). You can read the press release on the Appeals Court decision from KCFB here. You can read some news stories about the decisions here and here. From my perspective, this lawsuit has been an important and valuable effort, not just for the stakeholders and communities in the Tulare Lake Subbasin, but also for all of the other subbasins that were subject to State Board jurisdiction. … ” Read more from the Milk Producers Council.
Train of storms to drench the West this week
“In recent days, the familiar rhythm of gray skies and steady rain has returned in earnest once again to the West, and is on track to persist during much of the week ahead. From the misty coasts of Washington to the rich, forested valleys of Oregon and Northern California, a stormy pattern will usher in addition rain, wind and even snow to some. … From early to midweek, a zone of high pressure positioned over the Northwest will be replaced with a rather elongated band of rain along the coast. Precipitation will impact many areas along a potent cold front, expanding from Alaska and coastal British Columbia, Canada, through Northern California. … ” Read the full forecast at AccuWeather.
California prepares for La Niña and water uncertainty
“The new California Water Year began on October 1 and, according to the California Department of Water Resources, extreme flooding will be a concern this year. California water years run from October 1 until September 30, acting as the official 12-month timeframe for water managers to compile and compare hydrologic records. According to an Oct. 9 outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, weak La Niña conditions are present and expected to persist through December 2025 to February 2026. A common forecast for a La Niña winter is a drier and warmer pattern for Southern California, which could impact agriculture production in the San Joaquin Valley. But, with a weaker La Niña, effects on production remain uncertain. According to UC Davis’s Center for Watershed Sciences “WaterBlog,” the 2025 water year was close to average — not too wet, not too dry, and with no major floods or droughts. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
One year after their discovery, State of California working to stop spread of invasive golden mussel
“The State of California has been actively working to combat the spread of golden mussels since their discovery one year ago. The California Department of Water Resources, in partnership with California State Parks and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), has taken significant steps over the past year to address the issue. These groups are working together to protect California’s essential water infrastructure from the invasive species. Golden mussels pose a major threat to the State Water Project, which provides water to 27 million residents and 750,000 acres of farmland across California. Golden mussels range from three-quarters of an inch to two inches in size and have yellowish-brown shells. They reproduce quickly and spread easily through infested waters. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
California ag looks good on paper, but profits remain elusive
“In 2024, California agriculture reached $61.2 billion in production value — the highest on record — but this figure may paint an incomplete picture of an industry under immense strain. According to Dr. Aaron Hegde, professor of economics at California State University, Bakersfield and Executive Director at Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business, the record production value does not necessarily result in a larger profit for growers. “Anytime you have a record value of production, it’s great — somebody is benefiting,” Hedge said. “But that’s the revenue or projected revenue. It’s not profit because that doesn’t include the cost of production and things like that.” He explained that there are two ways to have an increase in revenue — produce the same amount and sell at higher prices or produce more and sell at the same price. Ideally, he noted, one would hope to increase both. Given that the California Department of Conservation says farmland declined by over 1.6 million acres between 1984 and 2018, it is unlikely that farmers are producing more. … ” Read more from the Valley Ag Voice.
Comments due soon on San Joaquin River Tributary Proposal
“Voting on Nov. 4 isn’t the only way to voice perspectives on local issues impacting agriculture. If you’re in California, you can also submit comments. The California State Water Resources Control Board announced an opportunity for stakeholders to comment on a proposal dealing with the Tuolumne River under the state’s Bay-Delta Plan. The Tuolumne River is a San Joaquin River tributary that brings water from the Sierra Nevadas down into the agriculture-rich San Joaquin Valley. In general, the proposal document suggests various physical restorations to the river that would benefit salmon and trout in place of the flow requirements laid out in the Lower San Joaquin River portion of the Bay-Delta Plan. … ” Read more from The Packer.
Environmental studies professor wins grant to support community-engaged research on California watersheds
“California is one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the United States, but our watersheds face two problems: water scarcity and degraded water quality. To ensure the future of our food systems, we need to understand how soil health practices are applied in different climates and regions, and what policies inhibit or enable implementation. Environmental Studies Assistant Professor Hannah Waterhouse’s work seeks to understand how tillage influences carbon and nitrogen cycles, to be able to secure water resources into the future and build soil health. Her goal is to increase farmers’ adoption of best practices that benefit their land and natural resources. Waterhouse has recently been awarded the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award for her research on soil health practices. This award provides early-career scientists with funding to help cultivate thriving agroecosystems, food chains, and communities. It will enable Waterhouse to continue her community-engaged research efforts, in collaboration with UC Santa Cruz’s Agriculture Experimentation Station (AES) and a group of 30+ local farmers across Central California. … ” Read more from UC Santa Cruz.
In commentary this weekend …
New California law will set valley water targets. Can we meet the goal?
Tom Holyoke, professor of political science at Fresno State; and Laura Ramos, director of the California Water Institute at Fresno State, write, “Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 72 into law: a piece of legislation that may be of particular importance for both our region and the state. If predictions by stakeholders about SB 72, authored by Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced, turn out to be true, this new law might amount to a minor revolution in state water planning. The way California currently handles its contentious water policy feels like little more than quick — and seemingly ill-thought out — reactions to whatever the latest crisis may be. This new law, however, will require the Department of Water Resources to set specific targets for the amount of water to be provided for urban and agricultural use by 2050, as well as the needs of the state’s tribes and its environment. Notably, what appears revolutionary about this new law is that by setting long-range targets for the major sectors of water use, policymakers can track the state’s progress toward attaining goals and make adjustments and improvements along the way as needed to reach them. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
California salmon die in a place most don’t know exists. That’s a problem
Opinion writer Tom Philp writes, “In California’s dry years, it’s common for most young salmon to die in a place that few of us know exists. This is a vast region roughly the size of Rhode Island. It is where the rivers of the western Sierra Nevada merge in the heart of the state before heading to San Francisco Bay. It was once a safe haven for salmon, nature’s perfect rest stop. Its marshlands offered endless places to hide and feast. Now it’s too often a death trap. Reconfigured to be almost unrecognizable from its original form, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is now a channeled landscape devoid of nearly all its marshes. Now, salmon can get eaten by larger non-native fish that don’t belong there, or are drawn toward massive pumping facilities, or face starvation or rising spring water temperatures thanks to climate change. Two-thirds of California residents depend on the Delta for water. Yet one survey found that 78 percent didn’t know that the Delta even exists. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
UC climate scientist Daniel Swain named to TIME100 Next list
“Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, has been named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list — which honors 100 emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership. The TIME100 Next celebrates rising stars from every corner of life — from movies and music to sports, science, politics, and philanthropy. Daniel is best known for his Weather West blog and his approachable “office hours” on his YouTube channel, where he breaks down climate science and the causes of extreme weather in plain language. He also keeps up an active presence on Bluesky, helping people understand and prepare for what’s happening in real-time. “Daniel’s research and his ability to clearly explain climate science to the public and policymakers — especially during extreme and dangerous weather events — have been crucial for communities in California and across the globe,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources. “We are thrilled that TIME is recognizing his invaluable contributions to science and society.” … ” Read the full article at the UC California Newsroom.
Podcasts …
ECONEWS: The water remembers with Amy Bowers Cordalis
The Yurok people are a fishing people. Since time immemorial, the Klamath River provided for the Yurok, with salmon, eels, eulachon, and other food. Colonization fundamentally upset the balance that existed. The Yurok faced genocide, and those that survived were confined to a small portion of their territory. The Klamath, once a mighty salmon stronghold, was choked by fish-killing dams. But the Yurok persisted. In her new book, , Amy Bowers Cordalis details the long struggle by her family and people to resist, restore and renew tribal sovereignty and the Klamath River.
WATER TALK: Water budgeting and bankruptcy
A conversation with Brian Richter (Sustainable Waters) about budgeting water for the environment and water accounting for the future.
WATERLOOP: How utilities can adapt to ever-changing water quality
Utilities across the country are facing shifting water quality challenges — from changing influent chemistry to tightening discharge limits. This demands smarter monitoring and faster response. In this episode, Carlos Williams of Hach shares how utilities are adapting to this evolving landscape through advanced analysis and real-time data.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: Medicinal Cannabis
When you least expect it, life’s circumstances can send you in an entirely unexpected direction. If a loved one needs help, you will do anything you can even if it means administering medical cannabis to your child. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388In regional water news this weekend …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Calif. woman was on brink of death after swallowing toxic Lake Tahoe water, per claim
“An El Dorado County woman was on the brink of death last year due to serious health complications caused by toxic water in Lake Tahoe, reports said. The 24-year-old woman, who was a recent UC Santa Barbara graduate at the time, accumulated approximately $2 million in medical bills after she swallowed water contaminated with raw waste near Carnelian Bay in July 2024, according to documents reviewed by SFGATE. The woman filed a legal claim in July against Placer County and several other agencies, saying that after becoming sick, she was unconscious and hospitalized for weeks, the documents showed. She experienced both an E. coli infection called hemolytic uremic syndrome and renal failure due to the exposure to the water. “She almost died. She has not and will not fully recover,” according to the document. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
The water cycle and the change of seasons
“As the long golden days of summer fade into shorter, cooler ones, we enter a new chapter in the annual story of water. Late fall marks a critical turning point in the water cycle. It’s one that sets the stage for the year ahead and shapes how the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) manages its reservoirs, canals, and infrastructure. “At this time of year, every drop counts,” said Greg Jones, NID Assistant General Manager. “We’re watching how the first rains recharge the soil and streams, because that’s the foundation for everything that comes after. It will help us make sound water management decisions.” … Read more from the Nevada Irrigation District via YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Paradise Irrigation District: no PFAS found in water
“The Paradise Irrigation District recently conducted additional testing for PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in its drinking water. On Friday, PID announced that testing showed no detectable levels of PFAS. The EPA requires public water systems to monitor PFAS levels by 2027. PID took samples in 2023, which the EPA tested, revealing no PFAS presence. PID then conducted further testing in August of this year, confirming the absence of PFAS. “Our water is among the most tested in the nation and it continues to meet—and exceed—California and federal public health standards,” said Rebekah Sorensen, PID Treatment Plant Superintendent. Sorensen expressed confidence in the safety and quality of PID’s water, emphasizing the district’s commitment to transparency. PID treated and distributed over 1.36 billion gallons of water in 2024, originating from the district’s watershed around Paradise Lake and Magalia Reservoir. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
NAPA/SONOMA
Local contractors confront tougher stormwater rules
“The complex web of federal, state and local water-quality rules has recently become even more stringent, as was on display at a roundtable Wednesday in Santa Rosa that brought together more than two dozen local regulators, municipal officials and construction industry professionals to tackle what’s changed and what’s posing problems. The event, hosted by the Northern California Engineering Contractors Association and the North Coast Builders Exchange, revealed an evolving regulatory landscape for protecting streams, creeks and rivers from runoff of sediment, oils and other pollutants from construction sites. Walt Dragaloski, water resource control engineer for the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board said an audit by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found shortcomings in violation notifications, the regional board has increased enforcement. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Oceanic heat wave caused by climate change could endanger marine life, Bay Area scientists say
“Although you won’t see it in most weather reports, we’re being affected by a heat wave, and it could have a profound effect on creatures — from whales to sharks to threatened sea stars. We may not notice it, but marine creatures off the Bay Area coast are already feeling the heat. Ocean temperatures in the North Pacific have been recording historic highs due to what’s commonly known as a “blob,” or marine heat wave. The current mass of warm water is one of the largest on record. Jaime Jahncke is a marine ecologist with Pt. Blue Conservation Science. … ” Read more from KGO.
‘Deeply concerned’: Dangerous radiation levels detected in San Francisco
“Local health officials are asking the U.S. Navy why they were not warned about elevated radiation levels detected in the city last year. San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip said plutonium was found at the decommissioned Hunters Point Naval Shipyard back in November 2024, according to a letter addressed to Navy officials in charge of base closures and environmental issues first posted by Mission Local. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
CENTRAL COAST
Lake Piru drops, boating shuts down as United releases water downstream. Here’s why
“Recreational boating at Lake Piru in eastern Ventura County temporarily shut down as the water level dropped in recent weeks. The lake dropped significantly during a planned release, according to the United Water Conservation District. When there’s such a change, the district needs a little time to adjust to the new levels, said Bram Sercu, United’s water resources supervisor. The reservoir is expected to reopen for boaters around Nov. 8, in time for Veterans Day weekend, officials said. The release generally happens in the fall, to help replenish groundwater basins and deliver surface water for United’s customers downstream, according to the conservation district. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star.
EASTERN SIERRA
DWP Commission links local water supply expansion to Mono Lake protection
“The October 28 Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) Board of Commissioners meeting was a watershed moment for the future of Los Angeles—and Mono Lake. To applause from the packed audience, Commissioners approved a major expansion of the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys to recycle 40 million gallons of water per day. That volume is significantly more than what DWP diverts from Mono Lake and DWP Commission President Richard Katz underscored that this “new” local water means the city will have the capacity to raise Mono Lake to the healthy, mandated 6,392-foot level by reducing water diversions from Mono Lake and in the Owens Valley. Katz declared “This is a solution with a lot of winners.” Once the recycled water starts flowing, he said “we won’t need Mono Lake water to meet the supplies in LA.” … ” Read more from LA DWP.
‘You can’t drink money’: Mine drilling near Death Valley stokes groundwater fears
“Little-understood groundwater flows and mining in this desert region don’t mix — a complexity some feel is lost on a federal administration focused on “energy dominance” at all costs. That’s at least according to a somewhat unlikely coalition of environmentalists, Republican-leaning local governments and a tribe that are raising concerns about a new attempt to drill for minerals near a protected wildlife refuge. “You can’t drink money,” said Ken Watterson, a 64-year-old elder of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. He’s one of a few dozen of the tribe’s members who live on reservation lands in the world’s hottest place, Death Valley National Park, about 120 miles west of Las Vegas. At issue with some community and tribal members as of late is the Bureau of Land Management’s approval to drill 43 exploratory drill holes adjacent to St. Cloud Mining’s clinoptilolite mine that first gained federal permits in 1987. The mining company didn’t respond to requests for comment. … ” Continue reading at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Blog: Not just a flood channel- spending time with rivers in LA
“For Angelinos to care about conservation they first need to think of water as not just something that somehow gets piped in from wherever into their faucets and shower heads. They need to see it as part of what they love and want to preserve about this city.” This quote by Mark Gold of Water Scarcity Solutions makes the point that seeing and caring for our local water right here in our city is the first step towards solving the bigger water issues of the West. Yet in a city where many think there isn’t any water at all, how do you get Angelinos to see the rivers, creeks, springs, washes, and wetlands, that are still here and how can we connect to these local watersheds when well… admittedly they have been so drastically changed beyond recognition over the past hundred or so years? … ” Continue reading from the Sierra Club.
With a gush and a flush, Signal Hill unveils Water Well No. 10
“Signal Hill officials gathered on Oct. 23 for a celebration bursting with new opportunities, as the city’s newest water well spouted out its first of many gallons. Water Well No. 10, which can pump 1,100 gallons of water per minute, will allow the City to expand its ground water supply capacity, meaning the water Signal Hill pumps and keeps within the city. The more ground water supplies a city has, the less it has to purchase from outside sources. This is especially important during summer months, when water demand is at its peak. Mayor Keir Jones called the well “a step towards longterm, sustainable living.” … ” Read more from the Signal Tribune.
SAN DIEGO
Trump EPA slashes 12 years off sewage cleanup crisis that has rocked California for decades
“The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Thursday that it has shaved off additional months from construction efforts to resolve a chronic sewage crisis seeping into the San Diego area from Mexico. “The Trump Administration is doing everything in its power to urgently and permanently deliver the 100% solution to the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis that the residents of Southern California have demanded for decades,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said Thursday in a press release provided to Fox News Digital. Sewage has been flowing into San Diego from across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, going back decades. The situation has been described as a crisis by local leaders and residents, as the sewage impacts the city’s tourism and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, where Navy SEALs train. … ” Continue reading from Fox News.
Mexico, US advance binational plan to end Tijuana sewage crisis
“Mexico and the United States have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address the sanitation and environmental crisis caused by transboundary wastewater flows from Tijuana into the San Diego region. The agreement, signed by Mexico’s Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Alicia Bárcena, and Lee Zeldin, Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), builds upon International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) Minute 328, reinforcing binational collaboration to prevent untreated wastewater from contaminating coastal communities and harming public health. Back in July, the United States and Mexico finalized a US$93 million accord to tackle the decades-old sewage overflow in the Tijuana River, which has long polluted California beaches and posed serious public health risks. The agreement outlines a joint implementation plan through 2027 to modernize wastewater infrastructure on both sides of the border. … ” Read more from Mexico Business News.
Along the Colorado River …
The water war Trump hasn’t blown up
“President Donald Trump loves a good water war — and the biggest one yet is about to land in his lap. A quarter century of climate change and drought has driven water levels along the Colorado River and its two main reservoirs to historic lows, threatening supplies that support 40 million people and economies from Phoenix to Denver to Los Angeles. The seven states that share the West’s most important river are locked in battle over who must make sharp cuts in their water use to avoid a catastrophe that could hit as soon as next summer, in which federal dam managers would have to decide between cutting water deliveries to Arizona, California and Nevada or losing hydropower production that is critical to the stability of the region’s electrical grid and potentially damaging one of the nation’s largest dams. … ” Read more from Politico.
California’s 2025 use of Colorado River water is on track to be the lowest since 1949
Jon Fleck writes, “California’s projected use of Colorado River water this year, 3.76 million acre feet as of Reclamation’s Oct. 29 modeling runs, would be, as near as I can tell, the state’s lowest use since 1949. Also notable: Nevada’s 197,280 acre feet would be the lowest since 1992; The two lowest years in Imperial Irrigation District’s history (my dataset goes back to 1941) were last year and this year; and This will be the third year in a row that Arizona’s main stem use has been below 2 million acre feet. The last time that happened (three consecutive years below 2maf) was in the 1980s. Total take by the US Lower Basin states is projected to be 5.917 million acre feet, the lowest total US main stem use since 1983. … ” Read more from the Inkstain blog.
October Water Supply: Reservoir levels remain steady as drought conditions improve
“Southern Nevada’s primary water source showed stability through October 2025, with Lake Mead and Lake Powell reservoir levels remaining relatively unchanged from the previous month. Lake Mead currently sits at 32% capacity, though the reservoir is 3 feet lower compared to the same time in 2024. At the beginning of October, the elevation was 1,057 feet — remaining the same for November 1st. While the current water elevation remains above the historic low reached in July 2022, both reservoirs continue to show the effects of the Colorado River’s significant decline in recent years. Lake Mead’s current levels remain lower than those recorded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. … ” Read more from Channel 13.
Here’s how land use patterns are changing in Arizona
“Industry-leading companies continue to choose Arizona as a worthwhile place to operate, creating new jobs and diversifying the state’s economy. These substantial investments act as a vote of confidence, making the market more tempting for other businesses. Arizona can capitalize on this surging interest thanks to having an abundance of the one resource nobody can make more of — land. Even with this natural bounty, where and how land is being developed is changing across the state. Greater Phoenix has long been an attractive place for newcomers, but the trend of where exactly they’re moving to is evolving. According to Greg Vogel, founder and chairman of Land Advisors Organization (LAO), more than half of the population growth will occur in the West Valley. This subregion is not only less built out than the East Valley, but it has recently added a slew of top-tier employers. According to LAO, TSMC, Microsoft, Amkor Technology, Amazon and Apple constitute around $175 billion in investment and will create more than 17,000 jobs by 2028. “What we’ve created here has been coined the Silicon Desert, and we expect more investment to occur,” Vogel says. “It has become global news.” … ” Read more from Arizona Big Media.
ASU program educates real estate professionals on Arizona water affairs
“When buying property in Arizona, water is often an important part of the decision, particularly in rural areas. The way real estate agents address questions like how secure the water supply is can influence a buyer’s confidence in their purchase. As Arizona continues to navigate long-term water challenges, ensuring that agents are informed and equipped to communicate accurately about water is critical for their clients and communities. That’s the motivation behind REAL Water Arizona — Improving Water Education for Real Estate Professionals, a new project led by Danielle Storey, user experience researcher with the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, and Harry Cooper, the initiative’s director of water conservation innovation. In partnership with the Arizona Department of Real Estate and supported by Impact Water — Arizona, the program is reimagining how water education is taught in the state’s mandatory continuing education course for licensed real estate professionals. … ” Read more from Arizona State University.
Queen Creek mulling $240 million water purchase
“Queen Creek Town Council this week is scheduled to take a step toward a possible $240 million deal to purchase Colorado River water from western Arizona landowners. On the agenda is the transfer of nearly $45.7 million in unused or excess funds from the town’s capital project accounts toward the deal, which will be part of an overall purchase scheduled to go before Council on Nov. 19. Town Manager Bruce Gardner told Council in a memo that Queen Creek “has an opportunity to purchase an additional 12,000 acre-feet to reduce its reliance on the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District and provide an assured water supply to its residents.” … ” Read more from the Queen Creek Tribune.
In national water news this weekend …
Expert: Clean Water Act disputes persist despite new WOTUS standard
“Despite the new “waters of the U.S.” definition, the Clean Water Act’s regulatory reach will likely continue generating legal controversy, according to an agricultural law expert. Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court created a new standard for WOTUS, disputes are already flaring up over the revised legal language, said Brigit Rollins, staff attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center. The definition of WOTUS determines which wetlands, ponds and channels are subject to Clean Water Act regulations, and while the nation’s highest court has cleaned up some ambiguities, there’s plenty of “wiggle room” left for lawyers to argue over, Rollins said. “I see some folks going, ‘Oh God, not again.’ Yeah. WOTUS is just an unending carousel. Just when you think that the ride has stopped — ha ha, no, the music starts again, and around we go,” Rollins said at the recent annual conference of the Oregonians for Food and Shelter agribusiness group. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
E.P.A. retreats from plans to end the Energy Star Program
“Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has quietly retreated from plans to eliminate Energy Star, a popular program whose iconic blue labels help consumers to choose energy efficient dishwashers, refrigerators and other home appliances. In a rare shift, Mr. Zeldin is reconsidering his announcement from May that he would end the program, which triggered intense pushback from business leaders and congressional Republicans, according to four people briefed on the matter who were not authorized to discuss it publicly. … “It is unclear what the economic activity generated by the Energy Star program is versus what the economic activity would be without this program,” Ms. Hirsch said, adding that “the Trump E.P.A. is committed to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.” … ” Read the full story at the New York Times.
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
STATE WATER BOARD: Notice of Water Quality Certification Application for Sites Reservoir Project
URBAN WATER USE OBJECTIVE: Annual and Seasonal Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Data Now Available
URBAN WATER USE OBJECTIVE: DWR Releases Datasets for Urban Water Use Objective Calculations
