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In California water news this weekend …
How California’s state and federal water projects can better protect fish
“At least two thirds of California’s population and more than 4 million acres of California farmland rely on water delivered by the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, two of the largest multipurpose water management projects in the world. A report released this week by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reviews these projects’ monitoring, modeling, and other scientific activities — specifically actions designed to help protect endangered fish. UC Davis Professor Jay Lund, a founding director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, and Associate Professor Steven Sadro were part of the 18-member committee authoring the report. The committee, chaired by Peter Goodwin of the University of Maryland, was established at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a biennial review of the scientific activities of the CVP and SWP. … ” Continue reading from UC Davis.
The $32bn question: Benchmarking California’s Delta Water Tunnel against global tunnelling risk
“Our benchmarking analysis, based on a reference class of 86 completed tunnel megaprojects, reveals that the Delta Tunnel’s current cost estimates and planned schedule are inconsistent with global evidence. The Delta Tunnel’s unit costs already place it near the 90th percentile of its global peers before construction begins, sitting on a steep curve where minor disruptions typically translate into massive cost escalation. Given the Delta Tunnel’s low design maturity (currently estimated at around 5−10%) and the high risk inherent to its extraordinary length and diameter, not to mention the uncertain geotechnical profiling of the delta, our Reference Class Forecasting (RCF) suggests that a conservative contingency requires a cost budget between 75% and 107% above the baseline estimate, pushing the likely final cost toward the $33bn (£25bn). … ” Read more from New Civil Engineer.
Delta commission pushes back tunnel certification vote
“The Delta Protection Commission continued its consideration on the Certification of Consistency for the Delta Conveyance Project. Of the 11 members present, two – Chair Diane Burgis, a Contra Costa County supervisor and member of the Delta Stewardship Council, and Gloria Sandoval, deputy secretary for Access at the California Natural Resources Agency – recused themselves and left prior to the beginning of discussion on the item,” a staff report following the Thursday meeting in Hood stated. That has been their consistent practice on the subject. “Two of the remaining members indicated they would abstain from voting on (the item): Josh Eddy, representing the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and Brian Bugsch, representing the State Lands Commission. This too has been the practice with the commission’s four state agency representatives. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Environmental groups send Trump administration legal notice for killing endangered species
“[Friday], a coalition of nonprofit environmental organizations issued a notice of intent to take legal action against the Trump administration for diverting water in the San Francisco Bay’s Delta and violating the Endangered Species Act in a way that harms imperiled species. Excessive pumping of water has harmed and killed winter-run Chinook Salmon, California Central Valley Steelhead, and Green Sturgeon, creating conditions that threaten these iconic species. These impacts are due to excessive water diversions by the federal Central Valley Project and the neighboring State Water Project. The two projects’ combined water exports from the Delta, for example, cause the Old and Middle Rivers to flow backwards on average rather than towards San Francisco Bay. The stronger this reverse flow, the higher the losses of native fish. … ” Continue reading this press release.
Northern California’s next kelp forests might be growing in a lab
“On a rainy day in September along a craggy slice of California shore, some young bull kelp floated around in a cement tub as if enjoying a bubble bath. Unlike some of their kin elsewhere at this marine laboratory, ecologists had collected these specimens earlier that day. The scientists working here at UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory hope the kelp will grow, reproduce and eventually spore — an essential step for restoring the kelp forests that once flourished off the coast of Northern California. This species — Nereocystis luetkeana, commonly known as bull kelp — is the foundational species in kelp forests, an ecosystem that provides habitat and food for countless other marine animals and plants. An algae, it only lives for a year but can grow up to a foot per day and reach heights of nearly 100 feet. That’s taller than many trees. Sadly, California’s kelp forests are in what researchers call “massive decline” as climate change disrupts natural processes in the Pacific Ocean. In around the past 10 years, they estimate more than 90% of these ecosystems have disappeared. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
In commentary this weekend …
Farm operations and industry challenges
Jason Gianelli, R&G Fanucci, Inc./Old River Farming Co. in Bakersfield, writes, “As we prepare for another growing season, our farm is actively engaged in tilling the land for planting wheat silage. We are also preparing other ranches for new projects aimed at improving irrigation efficiency. We continually strive to optimize our water usage, recognizing its importance in both our daily operations and long-term sustainability. The upcoming 2026 season is expected to be difficult for many growers and landowners. The year is starting off with unfavorable conditions, as most crop prices remain low. For example, many commodity crops are currently priced the same as they were in 1972, which is clearly not sustainable for farming. Meanwhile, input costs, regulatory burdens, and our water expenses continue to rise, placing additional strain on growers. As a fourth-generation farmer, I have witnessed periods of uncertainty, but the current environment is unique. Regulations, particularly those related to water, are now the primary stressors threatening growers’ livelihoods. Increasingly, government intervention is influencing outcomes, picking winners and losers rather than allowing market forces to operate. Even when consumers see rising prices in stores, it rarely, if ever, means those prices benefit the growers directly. … ” Read more from the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Michelle Paul selected as new California Farm Water Coalition Executive Director
The California Farm Water Coalition is pleased to announce the selection of Michelle Paul as its next executive director. Ms. Paul will replace Mike Wade, who is retiring in February from his role as the Coalition’s executive director, a position he has held since 1998. Ms. Paul was selected following a comprehensive statewide search led by the Coalition’s executive director selection committee, which considered a strong and diverse field of candidates from across California. She will join the Coalition in mid-January and assume full responsibilities on March 1. “We were fortunate to meet with a number of exceptional individuals who demonstrated a deep commitment to California agriculture and the vital role water plays in keeping our food system strong,” said Greg Johnson, President of the California Farm Water Coalition. “We are grateful to each of the highly qualified candidates who applied. Their expertise, passion, and vision were inspiring.” … ” Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition.
Podcasts …
TALKING UNDER WATER: Water’s role in climate resilience
In this episode of Talking Under Water, co-host Katie Johns spoke with Dr. Jeremy Hoffman, director of Impact Evaluation and Community Science at Groundwork USA, about water’s role in climate resilience. Dr. Hoffman spoke about his research with Groundwork USA, including heat and flood data; touches on the importance of community engagement and shares what challengees the industry is facing when it comes to resiliency.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Lake Mead
Build it and they will come. Just south of Las Vegas and close to the Arizona/Nevada border was the perfect spot to store water flowing in the Colorado River. The big S (for Storage) is critical for stability and reliable water deliveries and this is what Hoover Dam was built to accomplish. The birth of Lake Mead was created and this big news circulated quickly in the early 1930s. Waterscapes have a way of creating great benefits to people and the environment. 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 530-205-6388STATE OF NEVADA: Can a Nevada water rights buy-back program keep its groundwater from drying up?
A recent study found that thousands of wells across Nevada have experienced significant declines over the last 30 years.
WATERLOOP: Why Washington must do more for water
Water’s future depends on sustainable funding, bipartisan policy, and stronger public communication. In this conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Adam Krantz of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) explains how federal investments and advocacy are shaping the next chapter for America’s water infrastructure.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
State officials explain delays in providing fish screens
“Demands for fish screens by Klamath Basin groups impacted by the return of salmon on the Klamath River are being acknowledged by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, but it appears unlikely the devices will be installed quickly. Installing fish screens individually designed to prevent fish mortality and injuries at water diversions while allowing water to be delivered for irrigation and other uses is a complicated, expensive process, according to Philip Milburn, district manager for the Klamath and Malheur watersheds. “The irrigators rightfully so are pressuring for immediate action,” Milburn said of demands by officials with the Klamath Drainage District, Klamath Water Users Association, and the Klamath Tribes for fish screens to protect salmon and other fish returning to the Upper Klamath Basin following the removal of four Klamath River dams. … ” Read more from Herald & News.
Northern California Tribes sign treaty to restore Eel River, fish populations, after dams removed
“Two Northern California tribes announced Wednesday that they signed a treaty last month, committing to jointly restore the Eel River and its fish populations. Leaders from the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Mendocino County and the Yurok Tribe in Del Norte and Humboldt counties met at the Eel River Canyon Preserve in Trinity County last month to sign the “Treaty of Friendship.” The agreement commits the tribes to restoring the river and rebuilding its declining fish populations as Pacific Gas & Electric moves to decommission the Potter Valley Project hydroelectric system’s Scott Dam in Mendocino County and Cape Horn (also known as Van Arsdale) Dam in Lake County. … ” Read more from US News and World Report.
Redway Community Services District seeks public comment on environmental study
“The Redway Community Services District (RCSD) has released a Notice of Intent to Adopt a Negative Declaration for its proposed Place and Purpose of Use, Extension of Time, and Instream Dedication Project. The public is invited to review and comment on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document through December 12, 2025. The project covers about 867 acres within the community of Redway and involves amendments to existing water rights on the South Fork of the Eel River. It includes expanding the area and purpose of water use, extending the time period for an existing water right, and dedicating a portion of water for long-term instream use to support recreation and fish and wildlife habitat. No new ground disturbance is proposed as part of this project. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
Ukiah Valley Water Authority plans water rate increases, public hearing set for February
“The Ukiah Valley Water Authority is considering a water rate increase for all city of Ukiah residents that would raise rates by 3% as soon as March. The Ukiah City Council is responsible for reviewing and approving the water rates, but it does so in conjunction with the Ukiah Valley Water Authority, a joint powers authority comprised of the city of Ukiah, the Millview County Water District, the Redwood Valley County Water District, the Willow County Water District, and the Calpella County Water District. At a Ukiah City Council meeting on Oct. 15, council members received recommendations and feedback from Mark Hildebrand, an outside consultant and owner of Hildebrand Consulting, a company that assisted in planning the proposed rate schedule. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
Workshop planned in Ukiah to update community on Potter Valley Project
“A workshop designed to inform local residents on the process of decommissioning the Potter Valley Project and “what’s being done to ensure the region’s future water supply” has been scheduled in Ukiah later this month, the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission announced. “The workshop will provide factual updates, answer questions, and support a collaborative, informed dialogue about this complex and evolving issue,” the IWPC explained a press release about the meeting, which has been scheduled for Monday, Nov. 24, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center in Ukiah. … ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Groundwater workshop looks at Shasta County water security, land subsidence
“The Enterprise-Anderson Groundwater Sustainability Agency will host a community workshop in Redding on groundwater. The event will explore what land subsidence means for Shasta County’s long-term infrastructure and water supply. It is scheduled 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 at Lema Ranch, 800 Shasta View Drive, the agency announced. The workshop aims to address concerns about groundwater declines and long-term water security in Shasta County. The evening will begin with a brief presentation, followed by a poster session. During the session, technical experts and staff will be available for interviews and questions. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
BAY AREA
Marin Municipal Water District courts partners for pipeline project
“The Marin Municipal Water District is developing potential collaborators for its proposed pipeline to bolster water supply during droughts, officials said. District staff said the North Marin Water District could offer land it owns near Stafford Lake, its reservoir in Novato, as a possible site for a new pump station to support the pipeline. “That’s a really significant contribution,” Paul Sellier, water resources director of the Marin Municipal Water District, said of the proposal. “Awesome, in terms of solving what is typically a very thorny problem: the acquisition of land for pump stations.” Sellier presented the news as part of an update this month on the so-called “atmospheric river capture” project. The proposed 13-mile, 36-inch pipe would tap into an aqueduct system that runs along Highway 101, carrying water from the Russian River into Marin. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Santa Clara Valley Water District picks five projects totaling $3.9 billion to boost water supplies by 2050
“Three months ago, Santa Clara County’s largest water agency voted to kill a $3.2 billion plan to build a huge new reservoir in the southern part of the county near Pacheco Pass. … Now the Santa Clara Valley Water District is back with new plans to boost water storage. This week, the district, a government agency in San Jose that provides water to 2 million South Bay residents, approved a roadmap for the next 25 years that combines new reservoir projects, groundwater storage and recycled water. The price tag: $3.9 billion. “When I meet people in groups, I’ll say ‘raise your hand if you’ve ever worried that clean, safe water won’t come out when you turn on your tap,’” said Shiloh Ballard, a water district board member. “Almost no hands go up. Our job is to make sure you never have to worry.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Stanislaus County resort hopes negotiations with Kern can resolve water crisis
“The Western Hills Water District is asking Diablo Grande residents for patience as it works toward an agreement with Kern County Water Agency. Earlier this year, the Kern agency threatened to terminate water transfers to the 600-home foothills community in western Stanislaus County if the Western Hills district did not start making payments for the water. Mark Kovich, president of Western Hills, said at Thursday’s board meeting that the district is making payments to Kern and is engaged in active negotiations. A new agreement for water must be in accordance with law and will take time to hammer out. “There is a lot happening,” Kovich said. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Tulare County Farm Bureau pledges more funds for Kings County fight
“The Tulare County Farm Bureau has pledged to provide more funds to support the Kings County Farm Bureau’s legal fight against the State Water Resources Control Board. TCFB posted on its Facebook page it would be providing more funds after KCFB executive director Dusty Ference appeared before the TCFB board on Thursday to provide an update on KFCB’s legal fight against the State Water Board. The update came after a recent decision in which the Fifth District Court of Appeal tossed out a preliminary injunction that halted the State Water Board’s action to place the Tulare Lake subbasin, which essentially covers Kings County, on probation. But the Fifth District Court’s ruling also stated KCFB could continue to seek legal action against the state water board. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles, Orange County evacuation orders and warnings canceled after storm brings mudslides, toppled trees and flooding
“Heavy rain that drenched most of Southern California on Saturday was expected to continue into Sunday, as a particularly stormy start to the rainy season heightened concerns about potential flooding and mudslides in communities scorched by recent wildfires. The rain, torrential at times on Saturday, could also lead to washed-out roads, debris flows and damaging winds — making travel difficult or dangerous, forecasters warned. However, after the worst of the storm passed, evacuation orders and warnings issued by the city and county of Los Angeles were all canceled Saturday evening. And an evacuation warning for the Airport fire burn scar was lifted in Orange County at 10 p.m. Saturday for Trabuco Creek, Hot Springs Canyon and Bell Canyon. … ” Continue reading from the LA Daily News.
SEE ALSO: Unusually strong storm system continues to batter California, from SF Gate
Schiavo: State projects Chiquita will burn for two decades
“Calling the trash burning underground at Chiquita Canyon a “literal dumpster fire,” Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, delivered some grim news Thursday: The problem appears to have tripled from its original size, and is likely to burn for at least 20 years. She also used the phrase “canary in the coal mine” during the news conference at Castaic Community AME Church, which also serves as the community’s food pantry. She called the gathering to promote her latest landfill regulation and remind residents about an upcoming meeting they can attend virtually on air-quality rules. “We’re really here to work towards real solutions at the California Air Resources Board, to do everything that they can to create transparency, build trust and ultimately protect communities from the catastrophe that we have right down the street at Chiquita Canyon Landfill,” she said. … ” Read more from the Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
Commentary: Securing local water reliability for Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach
SAN DIEGO
Heavy rains threaten polluted Tijuana River Valley with flooding, health risks
“As a North Pacific storm bearing down on San Diego County threatens to drop up to 3 inches of rain at the coast and more inland this weekend, residents of the Tijuana River Valley face compounded health risks from floodwaters mixing with the area’s severe pollution. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for San Diego County from late Friday night through Saturday evening. San Ysidro, at the southern edge of the county near the river valley, could receive 1.5 inches to 2 inches of rain. For communities already grappling with decades of sewage contamination flowing across the U.S.-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley, the storm presents immediate waterborne health threats, according to Paula Stigler Granados, an associate professor and division head of environmental health at San Diego State University’s School of Public Health. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Parts of Arizona are being sucked dry, with areas of land sinking 6 inches per year, satellite data reveals
“Satellite data reveals that some areas in Arizona’s Willcox Basin are sinking more than 6 inches (15 centimeters) per year — the fastest rate of subsidence in the state. This sinking is the result of intensive groundwater extraction to support agriculture in the region, which lowers the water table in the basin, taking the land surface down with it. Past research has shown that since the mid-20th century, parts of the basin have sunk by up to 12 feet (3.6 meters). The extraction and subsidence have caused wells to run dry and cracks to open up in the ground. The findings were presented Oct. 20 at The Geological Society of America Connects 2025 in San Antonio. … ” Read more from Live Science.
Arizona continues drought declarations as snowpack outlook remains challenging
“With nagging drought conditions now stretching well into a third decade in the Southwest, we have gotten used to hearing meteorologists utter the phrase “hotter and drier than normal” when announcing their seasonal weather predictions. And, so it was on November 12 when Mark O’Malley of the National Weather Service told the Drought Interagency Coordinating Group (ICG) that a relatively mild “La Nina” condition in the eastern Pacific Ocean could usher in those hotter and drier conditions to Arizona this winter. Hotter, drier winter conditions, of course, impact the capacity for Arizona’s mountainous regions to build up snowpack, a vital source of the state’s water supply. What’s more, in recent years, drier-than-normal conditions in the late summer and fall have contributed to dry soil conditions, which, come spring, have tended to soak up a much greater percentage of snowpack runoff that in normal years would flow into the region’s rivers. … ” Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
As Colorado finds more zebra mussels in the Colorado River, is removal out of the question?
“When it comes to zebra mussels in the Colorado River system, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis summed it up this way: “We look, we find.” While Colorado’s first detection of the highly invasive zebra mussel was in 2022, Parks and Wildlife, alongside federal and local partners, has ramped up testing for the species following a growing number of finds this summer on the Western Slope. “Because it’s in a river system, we kind of are in a space of probably removal is out of the question at this point,” Davis said. “But, we now work with our partners, water purveyors, producers, etc., to make sure that we can manage the presence of those species in the Colorado system.” … ” Read more from the Post Independent.
In national water news this weekend …
Environmental groups, Democrats warn EPA delays put drinking water at risk
“Environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers say delays at the Environmental Protection Agency are putting Americans’ drinking water at risk, accusing the agency of withholding critical public health information about PFAS chemicals. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said the EPA has failed for months to release a report on PFNA, a type of PFAS contaminant. PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are man-made substances found in air, groundwater and drinking water across the country. “There is no legitimate reason for this delay,” Pingree said. “This isn’t just a few states,” she added. “Every state has these impacts.” … ” Read more from KTLA.
