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In California water news this weekend …
Most of California in for warm Christmas and drier than usual
“Flip a coin, California. Parts of the Golden State have about a 50/50 shot at being drier or wetter than usual in December, according to monthly winter weather predictions. A wet storm that will hit the Pacific Northwest as early as Saturday may bring rain to parts of Northern California off and on through Dec. 17, NOAA reported. It’s unlikely that precipitation will reach south of Santa Cruz. However, autumn storms have been fickle this year, stymying forecasters. Wet or dry, California will be warmer than average for most of December, forecasters said, even as a polar vortex plunges temperatures across the Midwest and Northeast. What precipitation falls on the state will likely be rain, not snow, except in mountain regions, according to NOAA. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
Under a resilient ridge, prolonged tule fog episode brings cold and damp weather to the Central Valley but anomalously warm/dry weather elsewhere
Daniel Swain writes, “Well, the final numbers are now in and they reflect what everyone has been talking about in Southern California: it genuinely was historically wet this fall in some places, and it was anomalously wet to some degree virtually everywhere south of the Interstate 80 corridor. Sep-Nov 2025 were the wettest on record (going back to at least the late 1800s) in some parts of Central California, including patchy areas in a northeastward-oriented swath from the Central Coast into the San Joaquin Valley and over the Southern Sierra into portions of the Great Basin. Elsewhere in SoCal, most spots experienced a top 10% wettest autumn (and more than a few places saw their wettest Sep-Nov period in decades). Notably, it was not an especially cool or cold period: in fact, even relative to the recent climate-changed baseline, temperatures in autumn were broadly warmer than average across California and even more so elsewhere across the interior West (where some parts of Nevada and adjacent states saw a record-warm fall). … ” Continue reading from Weather West.
King tides offer a stark preview of future sea levels on California coast
“As winter’s king tides returned this week, the global phenomenon offered a glimpse into the future of rising sea levels, drawing photographers, scientists, and locals to the California coast to document and to prepare. It was 8:22 a.m. and the tide at Kendall-Frost Marsh was at its peak for the day. Most days, the 40-acre wildlife preserve on the northeast corner of San Diego’s Mission Bay is a vast, muddy wetland home to migrating birds and other wildlife. But San Diego’s king tides on Thursday and Friday pushed the wetland tides much farther inland than normal. For the many photographers, conservationists, city officials and artists who converge at coastal areas like Kendall-Frost Marsh this time of year to document the tides across the California coast, it’s not just about sightseeing. For them, the king tides provide a naturally occurring model for the future of sea-level rise across the state. Since 2010, the California Coastal Commission has asked volunteers, professionals and amateurs to photograph and document the king tides along the California coast to better understand what the future might look like. … ” Read more from Courthouse News.
New federal plan for Delta water pumping conflicts with California requirements
“The Bureau of Reclamation on Thursday updated the long-term operations plan for the Central Valley Project to allow increased exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a move that conflicts with California’s own requirements, potentially shifts more of the water burden onto the state and threatens the Delta’s ecosystem and water quality. The decision follows a January executive order from President Donald Trump directing agencies to boost water deliveries and echoes earlier efforts during his first term to loosen pumping restrictions in the Delta. “The Trump administration is putting politics over people — catering to big donors instead of doing what’s right for Californians,” Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told The Sacramento Bee. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee (gift article).
Trump administration approves plan to export more water out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
“The Trump administration yesterday released a draconian plan to divert more Delta water that will go into effect today, posing an extreme threat to already imperiled salmon, steelhead and other fish populations and Delta and tribal communities in California. The plan released by the federal Bureau of Reclamation follows through on a federal order issued in January aimed at increasing agribusiness water deliveries to the valley south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the largest and most significant estuary on the West Coast. … The Westlands Water District and other agribusiness interests celebrated the signing of the plan, while California officials, environmental groups and fishing groups condemned the move, warning it could jeopardize water supplies for millions of residents and accelerate the collapse of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and other endangered species in the Delta. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
SEE ALSO:
- Trump and Newsom square off over valley water supply increase, from GV Wire
- Reclamation updates Central Valley Project to maximize water deliveries, protect fish, from KRCR
Artist Wyland raises money for conservation work, takes art on the ocean
“Marine artist Wyland’s stated mission is simple – inspire through art and give people information so they can come up with creative ways to protect the environment. “It’s a beautiful thing when you see your message connect with people, especially the children, because they are going to inherit all these challenges. But I’m optimistic,” said the renowned marine artist, who launched his art career in Laguna Beach. The Wyland Foundation recently announced $250,000 raised at a recent gala held in San Clemente will support clean water initiatives, from inland to the ocean, across the country. The event, held at Gray Matter Museum, brought together supporters, community members and art enthusiasts to help expand the foundation’s ocean conservation and youth environmental outreach through programs such as the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center, a traveling 1,000-square-foot science exhibit that brings hands-on watershed education to Title I schools and community events nationwide. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
Do wildlife encounters increase during periods of drought? Here’s what one study found
“You’ve likely seen videos of people in Southern California running into wildlife on hikes or finding bears in their pools during summer heat. Research shows there is science behind these sightings. A new study from UC Davis finds that interactions with wildlife increase during periods of drought, and it shows how climate change is bringing wild animals closer to humans. For every one-inch decrease in annual rainfall, researchers say there’s a 2-3% increase in clashes with wildlife in California. “So you can imagine during a drought – if we’re in multiple inches shorter of rainfall than an average year – that can quickly add up to the number of reported conflicts across the state,” said Kendall Calhoun, researcher at UCLA and UC Davis. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
New report paints damning picture of California’s aging infrastructure
“In 1989, as the Loma Prieta earthquake shook the ground up to 60 miles from its center, a section of the Bay Bridge collapsed. The bridge failure was a visible representation of California’s vulnerable infrastructure; a 53-year-old span that hadn’t been retrofitted adequately to withstand a disaster. A recently released report shows just how much of California’s infrastructure is in dire need of repair or replacement. The report, which assigns a grade to 17 different categories of infrastructure and is compiled by the American Society of Civil Engineers, gave the state’s cumulative infrastructure a C-, unchanged since 2019, but below the nation’s C grade. Since 2019, grades for aviation, energy, hazardous waste, levees, ports and rail all improved, while the state’s dams, drinking water, schools and stormwater declined. The study is completed about every six years. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Mike Wade receives Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Lifetime Achievement Award
“The California Farm Water Coalition (CFWC) is honored to announce that longtime Executive Director Mike Wade has received the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his decades of dedicated leadership and his lasting impact on California agriculture and water stewardship. The ACWA Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for individuals who have made “remarkable and lasting contributions to the California water community.” This honor reflects Wade’s sustained work bringing together agriculture, water agencies, and the public, ensuring that the essential role of farm water is clearly understood and valued across California. … Under Wade’s leadership, the California Farm Water Coalition evolved from a grassroots water-awareness initiative founded in 1989 into the state’s foremost educational voice for irrigated agriculture. Over nearly three decades of service, Wade helped build a broad coalition of farmers, water districts, and ag-related businesses statewide. … ” Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition.
Remembering Jim Cloern: The scientist and science I mourn
Ariel Rubissow Okamoto writes, “A man died recently who was one of my heroes. Inside his big brain lay the secrets of San Francisco Bay. In one sentence he could explain the relationships between the tiny plants drifting aimlessly in the shallows, the muscular salmon leaping upstream, and the health of the planet. He had a warm smile, a curl to his hair, a ready chuckle. But I did not know this man well. For decades he ran a monthly data gathering cruise between the southern tip of San Francisco Bay and its “headwaters” where two mighty California rivers empty into the blue bowl at the heart of my region. The data they collected — years of salinity and turbidity and water velocity levels, not to mention the number of tiny plants and animals in the water at any given time — helped everyone better understand the estuarine miracle in our midst. … ” Continue reading this article.
Six new members, three returning appointees named to State Water Board SAFER Advisory Group
“The State Water Resources Control Board today announced six new appointees and three re-appointments to the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Advisory Group. The advisory group, which meets quarterly, consists of volunteers who provide local perspectives to the State Water Board as it works to improve access to safe drinking water in disadvantaged communities throughout the state. The new and re-appointees join ten continuing members, all with diverse drinking water backgrounds and experiences. These include representatives of public water systems, local agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, and residents served by domestic wells or water systems in communities struggling with drinking water problems. “The advisory group’s input has been crucial as we innovate our approach to ensure that all Californians have access to safe and affordable drinking water,” said board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel. “The members bring knowledge and insight from their specific communities that helps us prioritize our financial assistance and identify the evolving water-system challenges and needs. I am immensely grateful to all the group’s past and current members and look forward to continuing to work together to ensure California’s Human Right to Water.” … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
Podcasts …
INSIGHT: Sacramento City Council approves Natomas Basin development, Conserving Battle Creek
CapRadio Local Government Reporter Riley Palmer joins us to talk about the Sacramento City Council voting 5 to 2 in favor of a commercial warehouse district to be developed on protected land in the Natomas Basin. Conservationists are celebrating a new project in the North State aimed at supporting wildlife and restoring a critical waterway. River Partners recently announced it has acquired the 1700 acre Battle Creek Ranch in Tehama County, which sits on the banks of one of the most important salmon and steelhead streams in the Sacramento River watershed.
WATER TALK: The Imperial Valley – winter produce basket and living border
A conversation with University of California Desert Research and Extension Center Director Dr. Jairo Diaz about water, agriculture, and border dynamics in the Imperial Valley spanning California, Arizona, and Mexico.
WATER TALK: Groundwater depletion, sea level rise, and satellites
A conversation with Jay Famiglietti (Global Futures Professor at Arizona State University and Director of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative) about groundwater depletion, sea level rise, mega-drying regions, and increasing public awareness of groundwater.
ARIZONA SCIENCE: Connecting indigenous communities with the science of water use
Many tribal communities are using sustainable practices associated with their culture, but water access is still an issue. University of Arizona environmental professor Karletta Chief discusses how tribes are adapting to drought conditions and ensuring there’s enough water for farms and homes. Karletta Chief spoke with Leslie Tolbert, Ph.D Regent’s professor in Neuroscience at the University of Arizona.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: WWII Life in the Navy
On this day, National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Private Second Class, John Baker, served in the Navy during World War II and was sent to Japanese waters of the South Pacific. Water for a Navy man is both good and shocking. Pacific Ocean storms, 150 battles, kamikaze suicide bombers, and the most spectacular views on the water. Water played an important part in lives saved and lives lost. I salute our military soldiers that lost their lives and the veterans that live today across our country. We thank you and know that your efforts have made a difference that you can be proud of today. Listen up. 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 530-205-6388
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Final plans approved for Klamath Drainage District Infrastructure Modernization Project
“The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon has released a Final Watershed Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Klamath Drainage District (KDD) Infrastructure Modernization Project. NRCS Oregon has determined that the project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts to the environment. With a Final Watershed Plan EA in place, the project is now eligible for federal funding (pending Plan authorization by NRCS Chief Bettencourt) and may move forward into final design and construction. The project will install a fish screen at the North Canal Diversion on the Klamath River; extend the North Canal and connect it to the P-1 Lateral; modify the North Canal to increase flow capacity; upgrade two pump stations for operational efficiency and to reduce water discharge to the Klamath River via the Klamath Straits Drain; and install flow monitoring and automated gates throughout the project area to improve water management. … ” Read more from the Klamath Drainage District.
Boaters must not bring invasive mussels to Shasta-Trinity lakes
“The Shasta-Trinity National Forest banned the possession and transportation of three invasive mussel species to five lakes within the forest. Banned species include golden mussels, zebra mussels and quagga mussels, the U.S. Forest Service announced Friday. The order, which took effect Thursday, Dec. 4, stays in effect for a year through Dec. 4, 2027. It applies to areas below the high-water mark of Shasta Lake, Lewiston Lake, Trinity Lake, Iron Canyon Reservoir and McCloud Reservoir, as well as any boat ramp providing access to these lakes. Violating the order could result in a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals, $10,000 for organizations, or imprisonment for up to six months, or both, the forest service warned. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
SEE ALSO: Shasta-Trinity National Forest issues order to prevent spread of golden mussels until 2027, from KRCR
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
The Value of Water: Sustaining our way of life through innovation and investment
The Nevada Irrigation District writes, “Long before neighborhoods, farms, and forested recreation areas defined Nevada County, the first arrivals came chasing gold. Miners carved crude ditches into steep hillsides, hauling water to their claims with nothing more than grit, shovels, and hope. Later, companies built wooden flumes that carried mountain water miles downhill, powering machinery and feeding the Gold Rush. When the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) formed in 1921, its first directors acquired that patchwork of ditches and flumes to bring water to farmers and ranchers. What had once been engineered for fortune-seeking became the foundation of a growing community’s water supply. Today, the legacy of those early systems still flows through the region, but the purpose of water has transformed. Infrastructure built to support mining now delivers something far more valuable: water that makes farms productive, neighborhoods livable, and communities resilient. For more than a century, NID has worked to ensure this essential resource is always there when the community needs it; 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Sacramento’s levees, ports, state roads score poorly in infrastructure report
“The American Society of Civil Engineers gave California’s levees and roads D grades in its “Report Card for California’s Infrastructure,” while warning that extreme weather events becoming more common with climate change are straining already-stressed waterways and streets. In its report, ASCE analyzed the condition and future needs of 17 infrastructure categories, such as school facilities, airports, inland waterways, ports, levees and roads. The Sacramento area’s successes and failures were cited most in the analyses of inland waterways and ports, due to the West Sacramento port, as well as the analyses of levees, due to the significant flood risks posed by the Sacramento and American rivers. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
BAY AREA
The long tale of Methuselah: San Mateo County’s oldest tree stands tall for a reason
“Before the World Wars, the Declaration of Independence, Columbus’ voyage to America, the Magna Carta and the First Crusade, there was Methuselah. An old-growth redwood sprouting circa 217 A.D., Methuselah is a natural landmark that predates the split of Rome. … Marked by a simple, metal sign and a fenced path, with a 14-foot diameter and 44-foot circumference, Methuselah is the largest and oldest tree in the Santa Cruz Mountains outside of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. … Methuselah’s luck and solo battle for survival would eventually be eased by California Water Service’s 1936 acquisition of the land in which it is rooted. Bear Gulch Watershed, named after the local creek, is a 1,200-acre plot of land dedicated to the collection of drinking water. … ” Read the full story from the San Mateo Daily Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
New well registration program aims to protect Salinas Valley groundwater
“Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) and the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) have launched a new well registration program to better understand and protect groundwater resources in the Salinas Valley. All well owners are asked to register their wells for free by Jan. 31, 2026. The program, approved by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors earlier this year, is part of a statewide requirement under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which calls for all groundwater basins to be monitored to ensure long-term sustainability for all users. The new registration effort focuses on smaller residential wells, which are often the most vulnerable during periods of declining groundwater levels. However, all types of wells are encouraged to register. … ” Read more from the King City Rustler.
Over 4,000 gallons of oil and toxic wastewater spill in San Ardo.
“Over 4,000 gallons of oil and toxic wastewater spilled in Monterey County’s San Ardo oil field, according to a hazardous materials spill report by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The spill occurred near Sargent Creek, just over a mile from where the creek feeds the Salinas River, which provides drinking and irrigation water for the Salinas Valley and the Central Coast of California. The flow to the pipe has been shut, and the release has been stopped. No reported injuries or evacuations are reported. Cleanup is currently underway, but the full extent of the damage remains unknown. The San Ardo oil field is operated by Chevron and Aera Energy LLC, which merged into California Resources Corporation in 2024. “Our environmental health bureau is monitoring the situation,” says Nicholas Pasculli, Monterey County communications director. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
San Luis Obispo County can release less water from Lopez Dam, court says. Here’s why
“San Luis Obispo County can reduce the amount of water it releases from Lopez Dam, a federal court ruled this week. Lopez Lake supplies drinking water to about 50,000 South County residents. Meanwhile, water released from the reservoir into Arroyo Grande Creek provides critical habitat to steelhead trout, which are designated as a threatened species by the Endangered Species Act. After a coalition of environmental groups sued the county, a U.S. District Court judge ordered the county last year to release more water from Lopez Dam to support steelhead trout migration through Arroyo Grande Creek. The county appealed the decision on Jan. 24, saying that releasing the prescribed amount of water into the creek would wash away the eggs of two other protected species: the tidewater goby and the California red-legged frog, according to a county news release. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
A brown pelican ‘feeding frenzy’ is an encouraging sign for the often-struggling large seabirds
“On a jagged coastline in Central California, brown pelicans gather on rock promontories, packed in like edgy commuters as they take flight to feed on a vast school of fish just offshore. The water churns in whitecaps as the big-billed birds plunge beneath the surface in search of northern anchovies, Pacific sardines and mackerel. If awkward and wobbly in appearance on land, they are graceful once airborne. The signature pouch dangling beneath the lower bill can scoop up to 3 gallons of water with every dip into the ocean — the largest pouch of any bird in the world. It is what scientists call a “feeding frenzy.” And it is an encouraging sign for a bird that has struggled in recent years with a warming ocean, inconsistent breeding patterns and toxic algae blooms in Southern California. “I would say the populations are somewhat stable, but some events are concerning,” says marine ornithologist Tammy Russell, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. … ” Read more from ABC News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
San Joaquin County DA shows support for Lodi Storm Drain Detectives
“The county’s top law enforcement official rewarded some of Lodi’s best environmental investigators this week with a donation to help with equipment and excursions. On a cold Tuesday afternoon, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas presented the Lodi Storm Drain Detectives with a $5,000 check at the Lodi Lake Discovery Center. “In my office, we have a large environmental unit that is making sure people dispose of things properly, and we take care of animal cruelty incidents,” Freitas said. “But one of the really neat things is I get to take money from criminals and give it to kids.” Throughout the year, Freitas’ office donated funds to local community-based organizations that work to positively engage children and teens, and provide services aimed at reducing gang- and narcotic-related activity. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel.
EASTERN SIERRA
Lake Manly is back after record rain in Death Valley
“After record-breaking rain in Death Valley, a shallow lake has formed at Badwater Basin, the national park said. The phenomenon known as Lake Manly is far smaller than it was last year, when it was about a foot deep over 18 square miles. The current one covers much less area and barely rises above shoe tops, the park said. Last month was Death Valley’s wettest November on record, with 1.76 inches of rain, a Dec. 4 park press release said. The previous mark, in 1923, was 1.7. The park also recorded the greatest rainfall for the September-November period, 2.41 inches, which is more than the yearly average. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The reservoir headache one Calif. desert city can’t leave behind
“Last summer, nearly 100 elected officials, water district staff and others gathered at the Littlerock Dam to celebrate the centennial anniversary of its once-glorious reservoir. The Littlerock Dam, located along the back edge of Angeles National Forest where the mountains give way to the desert, began service on June 1, 1924. For the century since, the dam and reservoir have provided water to the unincorporated community of Littlerock and the high desert city of Palmdale, while also serving as flood control infrastructure. This, of course, is the primary function of a dam and reservoir: to store water and hold off floods. But like many other Southern California reservoirs, over the years, Littlerock became more popularly known for its secondary purpose: recreation. In the hot yet fast-growing communities of Palmdale and Lancaster, the reservoir represents a rare opportunity for fishing, boating, swimming and just sitting by a body of water close to home. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Cemex headed for public showdown over water rights
“California’s 2nd District Court of Appeals dealt Cemex a blow and handed Santa Clarita an opportunity this week, in a long-running battle over sand-and-gravel mining rights in Soledad Canyon. Cemex sued the State Water Resources Control Board over the agency’s decision to renotice its water rights application. During a hearing on the appeal last month, attorneys for Cemex blamed the state water board for delaying its attempts to fulfill mining rights purchased in 1990. Cemex’s attorneys were suing the board, saying they should be able to appeal the state water board’s 2024 decision to renotice its applications for water rights. Attorneys for the State Water Resources Control Board said that there were many reasons why the mine had been delayed for so long, citing political efforts and objections from other agencies, including the federal Bureau of Land Management. … ” Read more from The Signal.
Cleanup underway for oil spill in Santa Clara River
“A California Department of Fish and Wildlife official confirmed Friday a dayslong cleanup from an oil spill that reached the Santa Clara River is expected to continue into next week. Eric Laughlin, a DFW spokesman, said the total leak was estimated at eight to 10 barrels, at 42 gallons per barrel, adding the incident has been part of an active and ongoing investigation. The incident’s command center is set up east of San Martinez Grande Canyon Road, north of Henry Mayo Drive, in Castaic. Laughlin said the bulk of the spill is suspected to have taken place nearby in a dry creek bed north of the Santa Clara River, and petroleum from the Del Valle Oil Field later was reported downstream in the river. … ” Read more from The Signal.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District joins new state Salton Sea Conservancy
“The Imperial Irrigation District is officially joining California’s newly formed Salton Sea Conservancy, a move that shifts long-term restoration and air-quality responsibilities to a state-run agency. IID is transitioning away from the Salton Sea Authority, the regional group of cities and water agencies that has coordinated local efforts since the 1990s. Under the new structure, the district will work directly with the conservancy, which brings state, federal, tribal, and local partners into one coordinated system. IID leaders say the change is intended to speed up project delivery and strengthen collaboration. … ” Read more from KYMA.
Imperial Irrigation District schedules public workshop on topic of data centers
“According to a Dec. 5 press release, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) will hold a public workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 9, to discuss data center development and its potential impacts on the District’s service area. The workshop will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the IID Board Room, 1285 Broadway, El Centro. It will also be available by livestream on the IID website at www.iid.com/about-iid/news-resources/misc-live-meetings. Those unable to attend or view the livestream may email questions to publicworkshops@iid.com. During the workshop, an overview will be provided of the electrical infrastructure required to support new energy loads, as well as the steps IID is taking to ensure continued reliability and affordability for all customers. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
East County AWP construction boosts cost, but officials say recycled water supply is worth the price
“Three years into construction, the massive East County Advanced Water Purification Program is approaching the finish line late next year when the region’s sewage now being treated at Point Loma will be pumped to a new Santee plant and converted to drinkable, purified water. Last month, the four-person board that oversees the more than $1 billion AWP project approved a $34 million allocation for another phase of Package 5 of the project that broke ground in mid-2022. There are five packages for the AWP that is a collaboration among four agencies—Padre Dam Municipal Water District, San Diego County, the city of El Cajon, and Helix Water District. While the main sewage treatment and water purification plant is out of sight at the farthest end of Fanita Parkway in Santee, there’s plenty of pipeline work that’s evident to anyone driving in and around Santee and other parts of East County. … ” Read more from East County Magazine.
Loveland Reservoir draining underway brings pushback from East County residents
“It’s been three years since Loveland Reservoir was drained by Sweetwater Authority to “deadpool” level for the first time ever, leaving the area susceptible to environmental challenges, killing fish and increasing fire hazards. Now another extreme draining is underway by Sweetwater Authority (SWA), the special district that oversees Loveland Reservoir and Sweetwater Reservoir as well as the Sweetwater Dam. Locals are concerned again now, with the Alpine-housed reservoir dipping below 32 percent of capacity as of Thursday morning. The reservoir has been steadily dropping from its 63 percent capacity in mid-November, as water transfers continue with water flowing downstream to serve drinking water customers in Chula Vista, National City and Bonita. … ” Read more from East County Magazine.
New sewage line break sends 120,000 gallons of raw waste to South Bay communities
“A new break in a Mexican sewer line has sent raw sewage to South Bay communities, taking a toll on residents who live by the Tijuana River and Imperial Beach in what locals call an ongoing “sewage saga.” Officials with the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission say they were working on improvements at the Hollister and Goats pump station when a sewage line broke in Mexico, sending 120,000 gallons of sewage through two layers of berms and vacuum trucks all the way to Monument Road. The line broke because of recent rain. At Imperial Beach, a bright yellow sign and empty coastline served as a reminder of the scope of the sewage stench. The beach was at one point closed for over 1,000 days because of contaminated water. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Along the Colorado River …
Autumn rains slow Colorado River losses
“Utah State University’s Jack Schmidt reported on December 3, 2025, that widespread October and November rainfall temporarily slowed the rapid depletion of Colorado River reservoirs. The two-month period brought one of the few basin-wide storage increases since 2010, offering short-term flexibility as the region heads into a winter snow season forecast to be below average. According to the report, the Colorado River Basin held 24.63 million acre-feet of active storage as of November 30. Roughly 90 percent of that volume was concentrated in twelve federally managed reservoirs, including Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Although this level mirrors conditions last seen in early 2022, which were described by experts as a crisis, the short-lived gains helped interrupt what has been a multi-year downward trajectory. … ” Read more from Western Water.
Colorado officials see no risk to drinking water from derailed coal train
“State water experts see no immediate risk to drinking water from a train derailment that sent a Union Pacific locomotive into the Gunnison River earlier this week. In total, two locomotives and five train cars carrying coal went off the tracks Tuesday night after hitting a rockslide near Whitewater, a community south of Grand Junction. Two train engineers had to be pulled from the overturned locomotive by Mesa County Search and Rescue and Grand Junction Fire Department personnel. Neither was injured. There was fuel leakage from the crashed locomotive, but a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said there are no threats to drinking water. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
Colorado ramps up water measurement on Western Slope
“The state of Colorado is ramping up an effort to measure water use on the Western Slope, developing rules and standards and rolling out a grant program to help water users pay for diversion measurement devices. With input from water users, officials from the Colorado Division of Water Resources are creating technical guidance for each of the four major Western Slope river basins on how agricultural water users should measure the water they take from streams. The state is now doling out $7 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to eligible water users with faulty or missing devices to install structures such as flumes, weirs and pumps at their point of diversion. … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
In national water news this weekend …
How EPA grant cancellations are affecting 3 low-income communities
“The monster storm that decimated Kipnuk in October threw into sharp relief how much the tiny Alaskan village needed federal help to prepare for climate change. The Native Alaskan settlement saw its $20 million grant to stabilize a river bank evaporate shortly after President Donald Trump took office. It’s an open question whether the award would have saved the village — but without that money, Kipnuk will have trouble rebuilding and preparing for the next climate-fueled disaster. Kipnuk is not alone: Numerous other communities throughout the country lost their Community Change Grants Program awards earlier this year. The Biden EPA selected 105 recipients — out of 2,700 applicants — from a cross section of states and territories. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Trump administration’s threats to shrink or eliminate national monuments could endanger drinking water for millions
“The 31 national monuments designated since the Clinton administration, which could be downsized as the Trump administration pushes to open more public lands to extractive industries, safeguard clean water for millions of Americans, according to a new analysis from the Center for American Progress. Using geospatial data to quantify the miles of rivers and watersheds within the studied national monument boundaries, as well as the number of users who depend on that water, the report found that the water supplies for more than 13 million Americans are directly provided by watersheds within or downstream of these national monuments. About 83 percent of the water passing through these public lands has no other protection besides the monument designations, it found. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
