Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
In California water news this weekend …
State Water Board releases new analysis to advance latest proposed Bay-Delta Plan updates
“The State Water Resources Control Board today released updated San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Bay-Delta Plan) amendment language, along with a new chapter (Chapter 13) to its 2023 draft staff report that provides additional environmental and economic analysis and an updated project description. These Bay-Delta Plan updates are similar to those proposed in July 2025, with the overall content and approach largely unchanged. Specifically, the amendments retain two distinct pathways for water right holders: (1) a voluntary agreement (VA) pathway for flow and habitat commitments under the Healthy River and Landscapes (HRL) program; and (2) a regulatory pathway for water right holders that are not part of the HRL proposal. Both pathways create enforceable requirements to improve conditions in the Bay-Delta watershed. … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
REACTIONS: Healthy Rivers and Landscapes participants, Tribes, and environmental advocates react to revised update to Bay Delta Plan
Last Friday, the State Water Board released an update to the proposed update to the Sacramento/Delta portion of the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan and the analysis of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program. Here’s what folks had to say … Read more at Maven’s Notebook.
SEE ALSO:
- State Water Board releases flawed Bay-Delta Plan just prior to the Holidays, from the Daily Kos
- Updated analysis released by State Water Resources Control Board to advance newest proposed Bay-Delta water quality control plan, from Action News Now
Green California’s big oil problem
“Thousands of gallons of oil and toxic wastewater poured out of a pipe running through a Monterey County oil field on Friday, Dec. 5, in the latest of several recent spills around the state. The pipe released 168 gallons of oil and nearly 4,000 gallons of toxic wastewater from drilling operations managed by Aera Energy at the San Ardo Oil Field, which sits near olive groves, row crops and ranches at the southern end of the county’s $5 billion agricultural region. For environmental justice communities and their allies, it’s yet another sign that California is failing to live up to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s claims of being a global climate leader. Over the past three months, California has averaged more than 70 oil spills per month, with petroleum polluting ports, harbors, streams and oil field soils, state data shows. In the past month alone, oil has poured out of malfunctioning pipes and tanks into ditches and dirt roads in Kern County, onto the shoulder of a highway in Tulare County, into a seasonally dry creek bed that feeds Los Angeles County’s Santa Clara River and into another creek that ultimately flows into the Santa Clara, known as the only wild river in Southern California. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Reclamation seeks public input on draft environmental impact statement for Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir Project
“The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking public comment on a draft environmental impact statement for the Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir Project, a proposed new offstream reservoir south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta west of Patterson, California. The project would store up to 82,000 acre-feet of water and aims to improve agricultural water supply reliability, enhance refuge water deliveries, and provide flood control. “This project marks a major step forward in securing California’s water future,” said Acting Regional Director Adam Nickels. “Reclamation is proud to collaborate with our partners to advance this critical water infrastructure and deliver lasting benefits to the communities we serve.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Some big water agencies in farming areas get water for free. Critics say that needs to end
“The water that flows down irrigation canals to some of the West’s biggest expanses of farmland comes courtesy of the federal government for a very low price — even, in some cases, for free. In a new study, researchers analyzed wholesale prices charged by the federal government in California, Arizona and Nevada, and found that large agricultural water agencies pay only a fraction of what cities pay, if anything at all. They said these “dirt-cheap” prices cost taxpayers, add to the strains on scarce water, and discourage conservation — even as the Colorado River’s depleted reservoirs continue to decline. “Federal taxpayers have been subsidizing effectively free water for a very, very long time,” said Noah Garrison, a researcher at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. “We can’t address the growing water scarcity in the West while we continue to give that water away for free or close to it.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
California bans harvest of ocean delicacy until 2036
“Just outside Mendocino in the middle of Van Damme Beach, a weathered placard educates bystanders about the region’s red abalone, a once prolific sea snail whose mild taste and iridescent shell attracted throngs of divers up the Northern California coast. But in November, the beach was quiet aside from small waves lapping against the shoreline and a steady stream of cars racing along Highway 1. Commercial abalone fishing has been illegal for decades, and recreational diving for abalone has been banned since 2018 due to significant population decline. Now all that remains of abalone culture here is the old sign, with its illustrated abalone fading in the sun. “Abalone diving was part of Northern California culture. It was huge,” said Matt Mattison, a lifelong abalone diver and president of NorCal Underwater Hunters, a spearfishing nonprofit based in the region. “It was a big deal for a lot of families.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board approves wildfire and forest resilience grants to help protect communities
“On Thursday, December 11, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s (SNC) Board approved three separate grants totaling nearly $4.6 million to fund projects that will reduce fuels and create fuel breaks in efforts to restore forest health and protect nearby communities from wildfire. The grants, funded through Proposition 4 that voters passed in 2024, are the first awarded from the more than $33 million allotted from the state to the SNC for Wildfire and Forest Resilience programs. “I’m excited by the actions of our Board to approve these projects so our valuable partners can continue the vital work in the Sierra-Cascade that is restoring forest health and resilience to help protect both the natural landscape and nearby communities from major disturbances, such as damaging wildfire,” said Angela Avery, executive officer with the SNC. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Charlton “Chuck” Bonham named The Nature Conservancy’s California Executive Director
“The Nature Conservancy (TNC) today announced the selection of Charlton “Chuck” Bonham as Executive Director of its California business unit, effective January 26, 2026. Bonham steps into one of the organization’s most strategically important leadership roles as escalating climate change and biodiversity loss reshape California and global regions. “Chuck Bonham is an exceptional conservation leader,” said CEO of The Nature Conservancy Jennifer Morris. “His steadfast commitment to the people and nature of California, his vision for protecting biodiversity and his proven ability to guide complex organizations through intricate challenges will be instrumental in advancing TNC’s mission. California’s role in achieving TNC’s goals is pivotal, and Chuck will help us act with urgency to create a future where people and nature thrive.” … ” Read more from The Nature Conservancy.
Podcasts …
WATER TALK: Making good on the human right to water
A conversation with Susana De Anda (Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Community Water Center) about the gaps between legislating and enacting the Human Right to Water including accountability, affordability, and leveraging related water policies.
WATER MATTERS!: Is water for fighting over?
A decade ago, the Utton Center’s Writer in Residence John Fleck published his book, Water is For Fighting Over and Other Myths About Water in the West, an exploration of water governance in the Colorado River Basin. Water is For Fighting Over offered an optimistic narrative, stories of a governance structure adapting to scarcity and change, alongside communities thriving as they adapted to a future with less water. The Utton Center’s Rin Tara read Water is For Fighting Over as a college student, and it influenced the direction of their life, pursuing a law degree studying water law and policy and now working with Fleck at the Utton Center on the challenges of the Colorado River’s future. For this special episode of Water Matters, recorded at a time of deep uncertainty, conflict, and what some characterize as crisis on the Colorado River, Tara and Fleck look back at the book – what it said, what it got right, and what it got wrong – as they discuss the past, present, and future of the Colorado River.
WATER LOOP: Protecting the waters that flow in our national parks
Water is at the heart of America’s national parks, yet many of these rivers, lakes, coasts, and wetlands are under growing stress from pollution, climate impacts, and decisions made outside park boundaries. In this episode from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Ed Stierli of the National Parks Conservation Association explains how his organization serves as the independent voice for 433 national park sites, backed by nearly 2 million members. He breaks down why more than half of waterways in national parks remain impaired, connecting the dots between upstream land use, aging infrastructure, and weakened protections that shape water quality.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: A Common Link
It doesn’t work to only have an environmental agency; “take care of the environment.” Gabe Olsen saw a country that doesn’t have any environmental enforcement, like Kenya, and compared their environmental successes with the staunch environmental enforcement present in America. The current American solutions still aren’t enough to safeguard the environment. Communities need to come together, politically and non-politically. Everyone has an interaction with the environment and, many times, we take for granted these wonderful benefits in our lives. He witnessed the tribes of Kenya coming together through a common link; water. Community ownership and sustainable development ultimately are achieved in the long run when environment comes first. 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
Construction complete: Prairie Creek Floodplain Restoration at ‘O Rew marks the beginning of a new chapter
“Earlier this month, construction equipment was officially removed from the Prairie Creek Floodplain Restoration Project site at ‘O Rew. After five years of construction and more than a decade of planning, this milestone marks the completion of work on a 125-acre ecologically and culturally important property on California’s North Coast. Located just 3.5 miles from the ocean in Humboldt County, this project marks the final downstream opportunity to restore floodplain rearing habitat for salmon and steelhead in the Redwood Creek watershed. Restoration projects like this one are not about habitat alone. It’s about reconnection – of floodplains and creeks and of people and place. Over the past decade, CalTrout, the Yurok Tribe, Save the Redwoods League, and a team of dedicated local, state, and federal partners have worked side by side to transform this former mill site into thriving wetland and off-channel habitat that supports young salmon and steelhead as they prepare for their journey to the ocean, and welcomes them home to the Redwood Creek watershed to spawn. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Telling the story of Mendocino County’s largest natural lake took a bit of magic
“As historian Dot Brovarney says, many people who’ve lived their entire lives in Ukiah have never heard of Lake Leonard, an 18-acre natural lake on the 4,000-acre privately owned Leonard Lake Reserve. To get to the reserve, which once shared a border with Willits’ Ridgewood Ranch of racehorse Seabiscuit fame, one needs to travel 45 minutes through rugged Reeves Canyon, west of U.S. Highway 101 and Redwood Valley. The reserve rents a refurbished barn, historic house and several other buildings to groups, but that was not Brovarney’s interest. In researching the archives of the Grace Hudson Museum, she found a photograph that kickstarted a cascade of serendipitous events, culminating in her 2022 book “Mendocino Refuge: Lake Leonard & Reeves Canyon.” … ” Read more from Bay City News.
Cloverdale accepts Esmeralda developer’s report on water needs as residents press drought concerns
“Despite deep doubts aired by residents who packed Wednesday’s meeting, the Cloverdale City Council accepted a Bay Area developer’s assessment of the water needs tied to its large housing and resort project, proposed for a shuttered lumbermill and wood waste site at the south end of town. The 4-1 decision in favor of a consultant’s study tied to the Esmeralda Land Company project featured Councilmember Marjorie Morgenstern as the lone no vote. Morgenstern, like many residents on hand Wednesday, said she was concerned there were “too many variables” that prevented her from knowing whether the city would have enough water in the future for the residents it currently has. “We don’t know what’s coming down the pike. There could be droughts. There could be an earthquake. The unknown variables concern me,” Morgenstern said. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe warm spell persists, forecasters warn snow may only fall at 9,000 feet or above
“Only days away from the heart of the holiday season, the Tahoe Basin continues to warm up, showing no immediate signs of changing. The above-normal temperatures are set to stick around through early next week, possibly complicating plans for upcoming snow trips. In some areas of the Tahoe Basin, temperature readings this week have been 10 to 20 degrees above average, Hector Crespo, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told SFGATE. That pattern is expected to hold through Tuesday, and even by midweek, temperatures should remain about five to 10 degrees above normal, he said. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Despite slow start to Tahoe snow season, a ‘Christmas miracle’ is still possible
“Winter in the Sierra Nevada has kicked off somewhat disappointingly. Natural snow has yet to fall in December as ski areas are desperately running snow blowers to avoid shutting down before the holidays. But don’t put away your snow boots or skis just yet. Long-range weather models for the last two weeks of the year are sparking glimmers of hope in forecasters like Bryan Allegretto. “Today was probably the first time I had a positive attitude (about the weather),” Allegretto said. “I’m feeling better, I was pretty down a few days ago.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Feather River Fish Hatchery meets goal of collecting 2 million salmon eggs, salmon spawning operations complete
“The Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville has concluded its annual Chinook salmon spawning activities. This year, the Hatchery collected enough eggs to meet its production goal of 2 million spring-run fingerlings and 6 million fall-run fingerlings. To address recent declines in Central Valley Chinook salmon populations, the Hatchery is increasing production. They will produce an additional 1 million spring-run fingerlings and 2.5 million fall-run unfed fry, along with 1 million fall-run Chinook salmon fingerlings to support ocean fisheries. The spawning process at the Hatchery involves collecting eggs from returning adult female Chinook salmon and milt from adult males. The fertilized eggs are then placed in incubators for about 85 days. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Groundwater Commission to send updated well mitigation recommendations to directors
“The Tehama County Groundwater Commission met on Wednesday, and one of their meeting agenda items focused on a future well mitigation program within the county that would provide reimbursement to replace wells that have gone dry due to groundwater management issues. The commission was tasked with deciding which program recommendations to send to the Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Board of Directors.The directors will meet on Monday to further discuss and finalize the program. Their meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on Dec. 15, in the board chambers at the county administration building, located at 727 Oak St, Red Bluff. The meetings always include time for public comment, and Deputy Director of Public Works – Water Resources Justin Jenson encouraged the public to attend and provide their input at the commission and board of directors meetings at recent community meetings held in Red Bluff and Corning. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News.
Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency gets $32 million for Oroville area work
“The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency has received a $32 million grant from the state of California to restore a more natural river channel on gravel mining tailings along the Feather River at Oroville. The project is located just downstream of Highway 162. Plans are to excavate and reshape approximately 51 acres of former mining tailings to restore a more natural river channel complete with side channels, riffles, gravel bars, and seasonal floodplain habitat, according to a statement from SBFCA. The agency said that by giving high water flows room to spread out, the restored area is expected to meaningfully reduce flood stages in the Feather River – delivering greater protection to nearby communities while providing juvenile salmon and steelhead with rearing habitat. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
BAY AREA
The Bay Area neighborhood most vulnerable to sea level rise is also sinking: ‘A right now problem’
“During high-water events like the king tide earlier this month, Marin County’s densest neighborhood begins to drown. Near the harbor, saltwater trickles out from under an apartment building and swamps a restaurant patio, finding cracks in foundations and cement walls put up to staunch it. It inches up the tires of parked cars and pools over evacuation routes. Multistory buildings loom like islands. This San Rafael neighborhood, home to 12,000 people, is the Bay Area’s most vulnerable to sea level rise, for a multitude of reasons. It perches over a canal leading to the San Francisco Bay, and parts of it were originally built on soil added to fill in the wetlands and bay itself — a topography that is causing it to sink even as the ocean and bay rise. Even in the immediate term, a large earthquake or a huge, 100-year storm combined with a high tide could create inundation by several feet, experts say. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Now available: San Francisco Bay Wetlands and Flood Risk Reduction StoryMap
“The Wetlands and Flood Risk Reduction StoryMap was developed to support the WRMP People and Wetlands Workgroup’s priority of understanding how wetland restoration can reduce coastal hazards and improve community resilience across the San Francisco Bay Area. This bi-lingual interactive resource explores the protective role of wetlands in the face of increasing threats from sea level rise, storm surge, and recurrent flooding. Designed for a broad general audience, the StoryMap introduces key concepts around coastal flooding, wetland benefits, and community vulnerability, offering accessible explanations of how wetlands absorb wave energy, store floodwaters, and improve quality of life for shoreline communities. It also highlights the historical loss of wetlands due to development and bay fill, underscoring the urgent need for restoration and adaptive planning. … ” Read more and explore story map from the SF Estuary Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program.
Budweiser Fairfield closure could force water rate hikes, mayor says
“The planned closure of Anheuser-Busch’s Fairfield facility in early 2026 is expected to affect workers, families and city finances, with residents likely to see higher water and sewer rates, Mayor Catherine Moy said Thursday. Moy said she learned of the closure early Thursday morning after receiving a call from City Manager David Gassaway, who had just spoken with company representatives. She said the city had no advance notice of the decision. “This is a massive layoff. So we’re shocked, and I’m upset,” Moy said. “We did not know a month ago, three months ago, nothing until this morning.” … ” Read more from Channel 10.
SEE ALSO: Fairfield braces for job, revenue losses as Budweiser plant set to close next year, from Local News Matters
Palo Alto celebrates new ‘horizontal levee’ with planting event
“Palo Alto celebrated this week a Baylands project that city leaders hope can serve as a blueprint for protecting infrastructure from sea level rise while simultaneously improving the marsh habitat. Known as a “horizontal levee,” the 500-foot-long project runs along Harbor Marsh, next to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant on Embarcadero Road. The gently sloping levee will use treated water from the wastewater plant to irrigate the native plants that would be planted in the area between the coast and Embarcadero Road. Also known as a “living levee,” the landscaped strip represents as a contrast to the traditional riprap levee, which uses rocks and a more vertical alignment. … ” Read more from Palo Alto Online.
CENTRAL COAST
Now is the time to secure Ventura’s water future
Christy Weir, a former Ventura mayor and councilmember, writes, “I recently attended a presentation on Ventura’s water and wastewater systems at the Downtown Ventura Partners meeting, and it underscored something I have seen throughout my years of public service: Much of our city’s infrastructure is deteriorating and in need of repair and upgrades, and the cost of inaction rises every year. Ventura’s water systems protect our health, our local economy and our overall quality of life. When we delay major repairs or upgrades, the price of fixing these problems becomes higher for everyone in the years ahead. As someone who served on the city council during several major water policy decisions, I know firsthand how difficult these choices can be. … ” Continue reading at the Ventura County Reporter.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Proposed water rate increase for Clovis residents
“Clovis residents could soon be paying more for water. City leaders say they will propose a rate increase in January 2026. They say it’s necessary to cover infrastructure costs and to continue providing reliable, efficient water service to customers. The proposal involves a process that will include public hearings and an opportunity for residents to file protests. While specific dates for those hearings have not yet been set, leaders say they will take place during Clovis City Council meetings early next year. … ” Read more from ABC 30.
Cantua Creek demands protection from Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan
Esther Ramirez, a Cantua Creek resident, writes, “On Dec. 16, the Westlands Water District Board will decide whether to approve the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan, a massive, 136,000 acre solar project proposed for rural West Fresno County, impacting eight disadvantaged unincorporated communities in or near the Project Area. I live in one of those communities: Cantua Creek. For neighborhoods like mine, this decision isn’t just about solar panels, it’s about whether our lives, well-being and voices will continue to be ignored in California’s clean energy future, or if this project will finally set a new precedent that protects communities like ours. … ” Continue reading at the Fresno Bee.
EASTERN SIERRA
Ancient lake from ice age comes back to life in Death Valley after record rainfall
“Between 128,000 and 186,000 years ago, when ice covered the Sierra Nevada, a lake 100 miles long and 600 feet deep sat in eastern California in what is now the Mojave Desert. As the climate warmed and the ice retreated, the lake dried up, leaving a white salt pan in its place. But a November of record rainfall has brought the ancient lake, known as Lake Manly, back to life. Now Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth and the lowest point in North America, has a desert lake framed by snow-capped mountains. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SAN DIEGO
Loveland water transfer sparks calls for transparency, recreation access
“Sweetwater Authority’s recent transfer of water out of Loveland Reservoir has reignited debate over whether water rates or public recreation should take priority. After local residents complained about being caught off-guard by the transfer, the authority’s board of directors last week called for increased transparency and for residents both down and upstream of the reservoir to be notified of upcoming transfers by the water agency’s administrators. The authority oversees Loveland Reservoir, located south of Alpine, and Sweetwater Reservoir, located south of Spring Valley, as well as the Sweetwater Dam. Water is perioidically released from Loveland, treated in Spring Valley and then supplied to 200,000 customers in South County. Authority officials said in mid-November that the agency would consider conducting a water transfer from Loveland Reservoir in anticipation of heavy rainfall to secure supply for the coming year. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Principles for guiding Colorado River water negotiations
“Columnist Brian McNeece writes, “Next week is the annual gathering of “water buffaloes” in Las Vegas. It’s the Colorado River Water Users Association convention. About 1700 people will attend, but probably around 100 of them are the key people—the government regulators, tribal leaders, and the directors and managers of the contracting agencies that receive Colorado River water. Anyone who is paying attention knows that we are in critical times on the river. Temporary agreements on how to distribute water during times of shortage are expiring. Negotiators have been talking for several years but haven’t been able to agree on anything concrete. I’m just an observer, but I’ve been observing fairly closely. Within the limits on how much information I can get as an outsider, I’d like to propose some principles or guidelines that I think are important for the negotiation process. … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
Colorado: Conservation studies’ findings have lessons for water managers
“The findings of recent water-conservation studies on the Western Slope could have implications for lawmakers and water managers as they plan for a future with less water. Researchers from Colorado State University have found that removing irrigation water from high-elevation grass pastures for an entire season could have long-lasting effects and may not conserve much water compared with lower-elevation crops. Western Slope water users prefer conservation programs that don’t require them to withhold water for the entire irrigation season, and having the Front Range simultaneously reduce its water use may persuade more people to participate. Researchers also found that water users who are resistant to conservation programs don’t feel much individual responsibility to contribute to what is a Colorado River basinwide water shortage. “It’s not a simple economic calculus to get somebody to the table and get them to sign a contract for a conservation agreement,” said Seth Mason, a Carbondale-based hydrologist and one of the researchers. “It involves a lot of nuance. It involves a lot of thinking about tradeoffs.” … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
In national water news this weekend …
Water group coalition calls for funding on Capitol Hill
“A coalition of national water sector leaders hosted an informational briefing on Dec. 10 for Congress to highlight the urgency of investing in America’s aging water infrastructure systems and the critical role of the Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds (SRFs). With the nation facing an estimated $3.4 trillion in infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, and billions more required for operations and maintenance, the discussion focused on sustained, reliable federal investment to ensure safe, affordable water access. Panelists at this Capitol Hill event represented all sectors involved in the water infrastructure financing: from the state-level authorities that distribute funding, to the local governments and utilities that utilize this funding to support their communities, to contractors and engineers delivering the projects supported by these programs. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
