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.
On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9:00am. Council staff will present its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting the agency’s work in pursuit of the coequal goals, and United States Geological Survey representatives will join Delta Science Program staff to provide an update on Operation Baseline, a multi-year research effort to modernize water quality monitoring in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Additionally, Metropolitan Transportation Commission staff will present on the Draft Plan Bay Area 2050+, which is being produced in partnership with the Association of Bay Area Governments. Click here for the meeting notice.
- WEBINAR: SB 707 Explained: Understanding the Brown Act Changes That Will Shape 2026 from 11am to 12pm. Senate Bill 707 (SB 707)—signed into law earlier this fall—introduces important updates to California’s Ralph M. Brown Act, marking a significant step in modernizing public meeting requirements and improving accessibility for communities across the state. These changes will reshape how many public agencies conduct their meetings in the coming year, creating both new opportunities and new compliance challenges. This session will provide an overview to help public officials, agency staff, and legal practitioners understand how to navigate the new rules and implement compliant meeting procedures. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve as SB 707 reshapes how California’s public agencies meet, communicate and serve their communities. Click here to register.
- LUNCH MAR: Flood-MAR: Watershed-scale and Basin-scale Solutions from 12:30 to 1:30pm. The San Joaquin Flood-MAR Watershed Studies team will present and describe results from the five watershed studies that provide a compelling case for innovative and at-scale implementation. Register here.
- IN-PERSON: Salton Sea Community Meeting (Coachella) from 5:30 to 7:30pm. The Salton Sea Management Program invites you to join one of our upcoming community meetings to get the latest on the active restoration projects happening around the Salton Sea. Connect with the Salton Sea State team to hear the latest project updates, ask questions, and stay engaged as projects continue to be implemented. Everyone is welcome — community members, local leaders, and anyone interested in the future of the Salton Sea. The meeting will be held at Coachella Library, 1500 6th St, Coachella, CA 92236
In California water news today …
Northern California could see 8 straight days of rain. Here’s when it kicks off
“Something happened in San Francisco on Tuesday that hadn’t happened in nearly a month. It rained. On Wednesday morning, weather stations across the Bay Area recorded their first measurable precipitation in 27 days. That’s an impressive streak, especially given it occurred during what are usually two of the wettest months of the year. It was the longest November-December dry stretch in nearly 40 years. But it likely won’t be remembered for long. Rain and snow, potentially a significant amount of both, are back in the forecast for the Bay Area and much of Northern California. Tuesday’s light rain was simply the announcement that the Pacific storm door is open again. After nearly four weeks without precipitation, San Francisco could see eight consecutive days of measurable rain starting Friday and lasting through Christmas. That makes Thursday the likely final dry day before the holiday. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
California in for wet, white, potentially wild Christmas as Pineapple Express storm looms
“A powerful Pineapple Express storm could deliver a wet, white and potentially wild Christmas to California, with the possibility of snow in the Sierra Nevada and plenty of rainfall across the Southland. Although the forecast is still coming into focus, the incoming atmospheric river system is shaping up to be the strongest in years to hit the Los Angeles area on the holiday — and threatens a soggy slog for those hitting the road to visit friends or family. The most likely scenario for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties involves “high amounts” of rain: 2 to 4 inches on the coast and in the valleys between Dec. 24 and 26, according to Robbie Munroe, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Oxnard. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
California braces for atmospheric river. Which regions will get rain?
“Parts of California are bracing for a series of rain and wind events over the next week as back-to-back atmospheric rivers move through the state. Residents should prepare for wet roads, gusty winds, and potential impacts to holiday travel. “A mid-level ridge over the Bering Sea and a downstream trough in the northeastern Pacific favor continued atmospheric river events across western (contiguous United States),” the Climate Prediction Center wrote in an advisory. “Possible impacts during the busy holiday travel period include flooding, landslides, and challenging travel conditions across mountain passes. Recently burned areas may face an elevated risk of flash flooding and debris flows. Power outages are possible in some areas due to high winds and heavy precipitation,” the advisory added. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
A subtle return of La Niña
“After a several-month hiatus, La Niña returned to the equatorial Pacific Ocean in September 2025 and has continued into December. However, this occurrence of El Niño’s cooler counterpart is relatively weak, and its influence on weather and climate over the next several months remains to be seen. Part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, La Niña develops when strengthened easterly trade winds intensify the upwelling of cold, deep water in the eastern tropical Pacific. This process cools large swaths of the eastern and central equatorial Pacific while simultaneously pushing warm surface waters westward toward Asia and Australia. In a report published on December 11, the NOAA Climate Prediction Center confirmed that below-average sea surface temperatures associated with La Niña conditions were present and likely to continue for another month or two. … ” Read more from NASA’s Earth Observatory.
California’s ‘twilight zone’ of endless fog is finally clearing
“For three weeks, David Mas Masumoto, a peach farmer in California’s San Joaquin Valley, has worked under a dense fog that has blocked nearly all sunshine. It has been good for the fruit trees, which benefit from the cool, clammy weather, Mr. Masumoto said, “but it can get depressing for humans.” “It’s like going into a dream stage where you can’t see anything around you,” he said. “You feel like you’re in this twilight zone.” The gloom that has gripped California’s Central Valley since before Thanksgiving is known as a tule fog, named after a tall native grass that grows in the area’s freshwater marshes. Its size, location and thickness have ebbed daily, expanding and contracting in varying configurations across the 450 miles between Redding and Bakersfield, with fog banks sometimes hugging the valleys and obscuring roads. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Costa, Gray propose $4.4 Billion for Central Valley water projects
“Legislation put forth by Reps. Adam Gray, D-Merced, and Jim Costa, D-Fresno, would provide $4.4 billion to water agencies to build out wells, repair canals, and increase conveyance. Gray’s End California Water Crisis Package builds out water infrastructure to improve delivery and storage, according to a news release. The package sends millions of dollars to irrigation and storage districts and cities to build or repair wells and canals. Gray said the investment helps keep Valley farms competitive. “A reliable water supply is essential for Valley families and our economy,” Gray said in a statement. “My End California Water Crisis Package aims to strengthen and grow California’s water infrastructure so we can maintain dependable water supplies, reduce flood risks, and responsibly manage water flow to preserve our environment while unleashing agricultural production.” … ” Read more from GV Wire.
SEE ALSO: Reps. Gray, Costa introduce water project legislation, from the Mid Valley Times
Ninth Circuit reaffirms traditional balancing under Fish & Game Code Section 5937
“In a recent opinion, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals resolved a longstanding disagreement about the balancing required under Section 5937 of the California Fish & Game Code (“Section 5937”). Section 5937 requires that dam owners allow sufficient water to pass to keep fish “in good condition.” The Ninth Circuit’s ruling in San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper v. County of San Luis Obispo (Dec. 3, 2025, No. 24-7807) makes clear that Section 5937 does not categorically prioritize the preservation of fisheries over other beneficial uses of water, such as water supply for residential, agricultural, and municipal purposes. In San Luis Obispo, a group of non-governmental organizations sued the County of San Luis Obispo, alleging that its operation of the Lopez Dam and Reservoir (1) constituted an unlawful take of steelhead under the Endangered Species Act and (2) violated Section 5937 by failing to release sufficient water to maintain fish in “good condition.” … ” Read more from Hanson Bridgett.
Five years of championing social science integration – what do we have to show for it?
“In 2020, a panel of social scientists from across the country provided a roadmap and motivation for increasing social science in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Five years later, we’re asking — “What do we have to show for it?” Humans are a central part of the Delta system. A truly resilient Delta that supports a reliable statewide water supply and healthy ecosystems — as well as thriving communities — must understand 1) the people who live, work, and recreate in and around the estuary, 2) how the region impacts their health and well-being, and 3) how their behavior influences environmental issues. The social sciences can help us design management approaches that earn trust, reflect shared values, and advance equity. … ” Read more from the Delta Stewardship Council.
Nearly three-quarters of western US overdue for wildfires
“Wildfires can benefit forests by clearing old debris, leaving behind fertilizer, and more. For over a century, the United States has poured billions of dollars into fire suppression tactics to keep people, homes and critical environments safe, but suppression can deprive landscapes of necessary burns and increase potential fuel for large fires in the future. New research to be presented at AGU’s 2025 Annual Meeting in New Orleans has found nearly 38 million hectares of land in the western United States is historically behind on its burning, leaving those lands in a “fire deficit.” This acreage has been updated from 59 million in the abstract to the final number of 38 million. “Conditions are getting so warm and dry that it’s causing huge amounts of fire compared to the historical record,” said Winslow Hansen, director of the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative and scientist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. “However, we still are dealing with the legacy of 150 years of fire suppression. Together, drying conditions and overly dense fuels portend a challenging and more fiery future.” … ” Read more from AGU.
In commentary today …
Will the Delta pumps operate at capacity this winter?
Edward Ring, Director of Water and Energy Policy at the California Policy Center, writes, “With another series of drenching storms about to hit California, now is a good time to ask what has become a perennial question: why can’t we harvest more of this massive runoff and reserve it for our farms and cities? California must periodically cope with multi-year droughts, but these droughts are usually preceded by years with above average rainfall. And yet we not only fail to save water from wet years to sustain us through dry years, we aren’t even saving enough water during wet years to sustain us through wet years. There is plenty of water to work with. Publicly accessible reports available from the California Data Exchange Center provide comprehensive information on water management in the state. It is updated daily and goes back several years. Three variables are particularly revealing: (1) How many acre feet were pumped into the Delta-Mendota Canal, (2) how many acre feet were pumped into the California Aqueduct, and (3) how many acre feet ran through the delta and into the ocean. To update any of these three direct links, just change the characters at the end of the URLs, i.e., update “&End=2025-11-30” to reflect the current date. Let’s take a look at what happened during the peak four weeks of rain over the last three years. … ” Read more from Edward Ring.
More collaborative operational solutions for affordable water
Adán Ortega, Executive Director of CalMutuals, writes, “California is unique in that our state policy recognizes the human right to water – a principle that every resident deserves safe, clean, affordable and accessible water. Yet affordability, the ability for families to pay their utility bills without sacrificing other basic needs like rent, food or medicine is increasingly strained. Increasing costs for infrastructure development, regulatory and environmental compliance and climate resilience have made essential services such as water, energy and wastewater more expensive than ever. In many communities, utility rates are increasing faster than inflation, leaving even middle-class California families struggling to keep up. These rising operational costs inevitably trickle down to ratepayers, which disproportionately impacts those least able to pay. From small, rural regions to low-income urban communities, those with the fewest resources are supported by some of the smallest water systems with limited resources. This year, however, brought some welcome relief. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
CEQA reform could make or break California’s climate resilience
Erin Gustafson, an environmental planner and CEQA practitioner, writes, “In the South Bay, engineers are racing to finish a new levee system meant to shield thousands of homes from rising seas. Behind the levee, workers are restoring tidal wetlands to absorb storm surges. The South San Francisco Bay Shoreline project is a model for climate adaptation — and also a case study in how long it takes California to approve a project like this. The project has been slowed by over a decade of environmental review and multi-agency coordination under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), even as the water levels in the Bay creep higher each year. This is a pattern across California: From groundwater recharge basins in the Central Valley to coastal retreat fights in Pacifica, CEQA timelines, exemptions and litigation are directly influencing whether adaptation keeps pace with our changing climate. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Biomass is a money pit that won’t solve California’s energy or wildfire problems
Shaye Wolf, the climate science director at the Center for Biological Diversity, write, “California’s most expensive electricity source is finally poised to lose a government handout that props up its high costs and harmful pollution. In an era of clean, cheap solar and wind energy, policymakers are rightly beginning to treat biomass energy like the boondoggle it is. Biomass energy — electricity made by burning or gasifying trees — is an expensive, dirty relic that relies on industry misinformation and taxpayer money. In a vote later this month, the California Public Utilities Commission is expected to end the BioMAT subsidy program, which requires electric utilities to buy biomass power at exorbitant costs — four times the average. Californians get hit with those extra costs in our power bills, along with pollution that harms our health and climate. Utilities and environmental groups support ending this costly subsidy. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Possible storm on the horizon
“After a long dry spell, Tahoe’s holiday forecast is finally showing signs of life for those eager to get back on the mountain. Heavy precipitation expected this weekend could bring high elevation snow, with another storm potentially arriving on Christmas Eve — putting a white Christmas back in play. According to OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto, a round of heavy precipitation is forecast to arrive Friday afternoon or evening, bringing rain and high-elevation snow to the Tahoe region. The system is expected to intensify Friday night and continue through the weekend, with temperatures dipping into the 30s at upper elevations and the 40s near base areas from Saturday night through Sunday night. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SEE ALSO: Tahoe ski resorts are bare with slow start to snow season, but there’s hope for a Christmas miracle, from ABC 7
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Record returns: 2,100 salmon spawned in Putah Creek
“A record-breaking 2,100 Chinook salmon returned to spawn in Putah Creek this fall. Timely water releases, habitat creation and regional collaboration among various public and private organizations are being credited with the successful run. Putah Creek, which runs along the border of Yolo and Solano Counties near Sacramento has historically supported a small, but vital salmon population. In 2016, scientists estimated that 1,700 salmon returned to the creek. This year’s record-breaking number is the result of a precise, individual count conducted by biologists with the University of California, Davis at the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and the Center for Watershed Sciences. Students, staff and faculty are working together with partners to carefully study and quantify the annual salmon run, as well as to uncover the key environmental conditions required to ensure the run persists year over year. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
SEE ALSO: Record run of 2,150 salmon returns to Putah Creek, a Sacramento River tributary, from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos
BAY AREA
New study teases out seawall impacts
“Experts predict the San Francisco Bay Area will bear two-thirds of the damage from coastal flooding in the state this century, putting 400,000 residents and $150 billion in property at risk. A new study suggests much of that damage will be the result of sea level rise, and can be avoided with a combination of shoreline protection strategies. An important consideration of these strategies, however, is their impact on Bay water levels. The study, published in September in the Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, examined the effectiveness of three kinds of flood mitigation strategies, as well as their potential impact on both water levels and tidal amplitude — the intensity of and range between high and low tides — in the Bay. Researchers at a Dutch technological institute, an Alameda County engineering firm, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Berkeley collaborated on the report. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
Fairfield residents to see water rate increases starting in the new year
“People in Fairfield will soon be paying more for water. The Fairfield City Council unanimously approved water rate increases last month, with the new rates set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. City officials said the increase is needed to help pay for aging infrastructure and rising operational costs. Under the approved plan, water rates will increase by about 8% per year over the next five years. For the average single-family household, that could mean an increase of about $5 to $7 per month on water bills, depending on water use and customer class. … ” Read more from KCRA.
‘Living’ levee in Palo Alto Baylands aims to solve multiple problems with one-of-a-kind solution
“A first of its kind project in Palo Alto is nearing completion, and it’s building a better Bay Area for our environment in a unique way. A new horizontal living levee will protect from sea-level rise in an environmentally friendly way, while also maintaining habitats naturally using wastewater. Construction continues, but you’ll see no trucks or cranes. Instead, there are shovels and plants. It’s an ecological assembly of a living levee along the Palo Alto Baylands. “We really want to respond to communities that want to see more nature-based solutions and see more innovative projects within our region,” said Heidi Nutters with the San Francisco Estuary Partnership. “This is a huge step forward for us in that regard. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to see folks out here planting today. It feels like we’re putting the frosting on the cake.” … ” Read more from ABC Bay Area.
The Bay Area is losing the data center race. Economists say that could be a good thing
“A few blocks away from San Jose’s airport, an empty concrete and glass structure is waiting to be turned on. Work began six years ago on the four-story data center, called SJC37 and owned by Digital Realty, one of the world’s biggest data center landlords. The tan exterior is finished, but there’s no equipment installed — and it could be years before the project gets the power it needs to start operations. Silicon Valley Power, a public utility owned by the city of Santa Clara, is working on a $450 million system upgrade to meet demand from data centers and other users, but isn’t scheduled to finish until 2028. Another nearby project owned by data center company Stack Infrastructure is also sitting empty and isn’t expecting power until 2027. The delays, first reported by Bloomberg, are emblematic of the Bay Area’s disparities in the AI industry. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
A historic Valley grasslands area aims to reconnect with the past
“A new project in the Central Valley is aiming to restore hundreds of acres of grasslands to reconnect the San Joaquin River. The initiative is part of a larger effort to preserve the Great Valley Grasslands State Park, and involves removing levees to reconnect the river with its historic floodplain. Great Valley Grasslands in Merced County spans more than 2,800 acres of a broader 160,000-acre ecological zone. It’s one of California’s largest continuous wetland areas. The nonprofits American Rivers, River Partners, FlowWest and several local tribes have supported the project dating back to 2009. … ” Read more from KVPR.
Report: Low surface water supply to Westlands Water District costs valley thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity
“[Yesterday], Westlands Water District released its 2025 Economic Impact Report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the District’s economic contributions using the most recent available data from 2022. While the report confirms that Westlands continues to be a foundational economic force in the San Joaquin Valley and statewide-supporting thousands of jobs, driving billions in economic activity, and anchoring a significant share of California’s and the nation’s agricultural production, it highlights the stark contrast betweenwhen water supply is reasonably available and when it is not. This report serves as a follow-up to Westlands’ 2022 Economic Impact Report, which evaluated 2019 economic data, allowing for a clear comparison of how water availability and market conditions have shaped the region’s economy over time. … ” Read more from Westlands Water District.
Westlands approves plan to repurpose farmland for renewable energy projects
“On December 16, the Westlands Water District Board of Directors voted to adopt the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan, an initiative that would repurpose up to 136,000 acres of agricultural lands within the district for solar generation, energy storage, and transmission infrastructure. The vote included the approval of the Final Program Environmental Impact Report and Findings of Fact under the California Environmental Quality Act. According to a press release from Westlands Water District, the land-use strategy under VCIP stems from unpredictable water supplies and the effects of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which has resulted in substantial land fallowing. “Inadequate and unpredictable water supplies, made worse by SGMA’s demands, have forced more than 215,000 acres out of production this year alone, with real consequences for hardworking family farmers, workers and rural communities,” Allison Febbo, General Manager of Westlands Water District said in the release. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
SEE ALSO:
- Westlands economic report ties low water deliveries to loss of economic activity, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
- Less water, more problems: Westlands’ study, from Channel 30
Powerful Kern water agency board ignores ag members and appoints urban water expert to its ranks
“Directors of the Kern County Water Agency selected Tamara Johnson, a long time California Water Services manager, to fill a vacant board seat, despite an outpouring of support from agricultural water districts for another candidate. Representatives from several of the agency’s 13 member ag districts spoke at Wednesday’s meeting in support of Mark Mulkay, former Kern River Watermaster and retired General Manager of the Kern Delta Water District. Managers agreed all candidates were outstanding but said Mulkay brought needed expertise with regard to the State Water Project as well as local water rights. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
Sierra Club files lawsuit against Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) for degrading biodiversity in the Owens Valley
“The Sierra Club, joined by Friends of the Inyo, and the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission, filed a lawsuit today against Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The legal action directs them to comply with their obligations under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to revegetate abandoned agricultural lands in the Laws area as part of the 2003 Laws Irrigation Project. A large portion of the City of Los Angeles’ water comes from the Eastern Sierra. Beginning in 1997, LADWP made a series of commitments to mitigate the harms that came from their groundwater pumping in the Owens Valley. By pumping and exporting water, significant parts of the valley had dried up and become weedy and sources of dust. These mitigation projects were intended to revegetate barren areas, suppress dust, and restore vital ecosystems in the Owens Valley. The revegetation mitigation projects are important for restoring a variety of habitats and biodiversity. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave.
Joint lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) for Laws vegetation mitigation
“On December 17, 2025, the Eastern Sierra Water Alliance (ESWA) filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The plaintiffs are the three official member organizations of ESWA: the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission, the Sierra Club Range of Light Group, and Friends of the Inyo. This lawsuit aims to bring LADWP into compliance with its legally required vegetation mitigation obligations in the Laws area near Bishop. As part of a 2003 project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), LADWP committed to revegetate abandoned pastures in the Laws area, in exchange for creating new pastures in other nearby areas. This effort would have created a biodiverse upland desert scrub community in the previously abandoned pastures by 2013. LADWP agreed to a legally binding CEQA document and revegetation plan. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Southern California braces for Christmas storm: Timeline
“After a period of unseasonably warm temperatures across Southern California, the region is bracing for a major weather shift as a series of storms fueled by an atmospheric river is expected to deliver widespread rain and heavy high-elevation snow just in time for the Christmas holiday. After a period of unseasonably warm temperatures across Southern California, the region is bracing for a major weather shift as a series of storms fueled by an atmospheric river is expected to deliver widespread rain and heavy high-elevation snow just in time for the Christmas holiday. … ” Read more from Fox 11.
Satellite data reveals new insights into sustainable groundwater usage in the Hollywood Basin
“Groundwater is a critical resource in Southern California, where long-term drought and climate change place increasing pressure on local aquifers. Some regions, like the Hollywood Basin (a small region in and around the West Hollywood neighborhood), are increasing their reliance on these aquifers in order to reduce the amount of water imported from elsewhere. A new Caltech-led study provides the most detailed picture to date of how the Hollywood Basin responds to groundwater usage, revealing that current estimates of sustainable groundwater yield may be too high. The study, led by former Caltech postdoctoral scholar Yujie Zheng, uses three decades of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite measurements to track subtle ground movements, on the order of millimeters, across the Los Angeles region. These movements reflect changes in groundwater storage, allowing researchers to infer how much water is being removed or replenished over time. … ” Read more from CalTech.
L.A.’s double disaster left thousands of scars, and the healing will take years
“January’s catastrophic Eaton and Palisades fires killed 31 and destroyed over 16,000 structures, exposing systemic failures in preparedness, evacuation protocols and emergency response. Times investigations revealed critical gaps: delayed evacuation orders in Altadena, dry water systems, inadequate firefighter deployment and utility company maintenance failures. Nearly a year later, thousands of victims struggle to rebuild while facing understaffing at agencies, supply chain delays, insurance gaps and labor shortages. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
‘Living shoreline’ solution being tried to protect eroding Talbert Marsh
“Just inland of the ocean and the cars zooming past on the busy Pacific Coast Highway, a wetland oasis is threatened. Erosion is chipping away at sensitive and critical habitat inside the Talbert Marsh, at an island area where endangered birds nest each year. Nearby, the loss of sediment is also worrisome for an electric pole that powers a street light at Brookhurst Street and PCH, where damage could cause a nightmare for drivers who use the busy roadways. But work is underway to slow the erosion, with volunteers kicking off efforts this week to build a living shoreline made of coconut fiber logs and wooden stakes to act as a barrier to the salt water, with hopes that the nature-based solution will hold sediment in place. And if all goes well, other creatures such as mussels and clams could create habitats and call the created shoreline home. … ” Read more from the OC Register (gift article).
Branded content: Cadiz Inc. banks water underground for a thirsty southwest
“A desert map looks simple until you notice the valves, meter boxes and quiet rights-of-way that promise movement when skies dry up. That’s where Cadiz Inc. steps in with projects that aim to turn storage beneath the Mojave into a practical safety net for cities and farms. California’s long, uneven wet seasons have made timing everything. So solutions that store water when it’s plentiful and deliver it later become more important each year. Cadiz focuses on groundwater banking, the practice of storing surplus water underground and then recovering it during periods of drought or lean water supply. Aquifers function like natural vaults, protected from heat and wind, which may help reduce loss over time compared with open reservoirs. The company’s approach pairs storage with connections to existing conveyance, allowing water to travel where it’s needed. It’s a simple idea with complex logistics, and that’s the point: Build a system that can move with shifting conditions. … ” Read more at the OC Register.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
A landmark year for the Salton Sea and desert program
“The Salton Sea and Desert Program has had a historic year. From playing a pivotal role in the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument to launching our Salton Sea Leadership Program, the team continues to find new ways to conserve birds, build community capacity, and preserve the ecosystems that are vital to our communities and to the birds that rely on them as they journey along the Pacific Flyway and across the hemisphere. The Salton Sea program combines all of Audubon’s goals of habitat conservation, climate action, policy, and community building through the lens of the unique landscapes of California’s deserts. Supporting over 300 species of birds, the Sea is one of the most important habitats in the state of California, but the Sea is also changing rapidly due to 21st-century changes in water use patterns and drought in the Colorado River. Each member of our team brings personal ties to the Coachella Valley’s diverse ecology, and a shared love for birds, public lands, and the communities that call this unique landscape home. … ” Read more from Audubon.
SAN DIEGO
Construction begins on cutting-edge water lab at SDSU Mission Valley
“San Diego State University officially broke ground on the One Water Laboratory (OWL), a pioneering facility dedicated to research, education and community outreach focused on sustainable water management. Situated adjacent to the river park at SDSU Mission Valley, the OWL will be an active research and training facility, with construction to be completed later next year. Once operational, SDSU students will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience, deepening their understanding of watershed science and hydrological systems. The project is made possible by $2.6 million in grant funding from the San Diego River Conservancy, an independent, non-regulatory state agency established to preserve, restore and enhance the San Diego River Area. … ” Read more from San Diego State University.
Sewage leak closes parts of Fiesta Island, Tecolote shores in Mission Bay
“San Diego County’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality Tuesday closed Tecolote Playground, Tecolote Shores and Fiesta Island North Entrance in Mission Bay due to a sewage release. About one-fifth of a 25,000-gallon sewage leak reached the waters near Fiesta Island amid construction work on the Tecolote Canyon sewer line near Snead Avenue, according to the city of San Diego. The work is part of a larger sewer improvement project. The leak prompted a water contact closure for the shoreline at the locations in Mission Bay. “Beachgoers are advised that the ocean water contains sewage and may cause illness. The water contact closure will remain in place until sampling and field observations confirm these areas are safe for water contact,” according to a county statement. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
After $630 mil plan fails to stop flow of waste, U.S. Solution relies on Mexico
“Just a few years after the U.S. government wasted $630 million on a failed plan to stop the constant flow of toxic waste and raw sewage that gushes in from Mexico, the Trump administration is celebrating a new project it guarantees will finally solve the problem though it seems too good to be true. The new initiative, disclosed this week by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), is called Minute 333 and is being hailed as a “historic new agreement between the United States and Mexico” that will “permanently end the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis.” … ” Read more from Judicial Watch.
Along the Colorado River …
Feds to release draft environmental review of Colorado River management options in January
“In the next few weeks, the public will get their first look at a critical document two and a half years in the making that will define how the Colorado River is managed for the next decade. The Bureau of Reclamation – which manages water in the West under the Interior Department – is on track to release a draft environmental review by early January with a range of options to replace the river’s operating rules, which are set to expire at the end of 2026. Several elements of the draft were shared during the annual Colorado River Water Users Association’s conference in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace Wednesday. Negotiations between federal officials and the seven western states that rely on the Colorado River have largely remained behind closed doors since 2023, but any new operating rules will be required to go through a public environmental review process before a final decision can be made. Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Andrea Travnicek, said the agency is committed to meeting the self-imposed January deadline in order to finalize new rules before the current ones expire. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current.
‘The time for serious negotiations is now’: Trump officials squeeze Colorado River states
“The Trump administration is turning up the pressure on Western states to cut a deal to shrink their water use as the drought-stricken Colorado River careens towards crisis. The Interior Department’s top water official on Tuesday urged the seven states that share the Colorado River to move off their hard negotiating positions and begin serious talks — or face a federal intervention that would almost certainly trigger a Supreme Court fight. “Give your commissioners room to negotiate and room to compromise — and if you can’t do that, send us representatives that have the authority to best serve your interests, but are willing to break through the barriers to get to a consensus deal,” assistant Interior Secretary Andrea Travnicek said at the waterway’s annual conference taking place at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. “The time for serious negotiations is now,” she said. … ” Read more from Politico.
December water forecast a sobering backdrop to Colorado River conference
“Federal water officials addressed the increasingly grim river conditions and laid out their options for dealing with plummeting reservoir levels over the first two days of the largest annual gathering of water managers in the Colorado River Basin. On Monday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released its monthly report, which projects a two-year hydrology outlook for the operation of the nation’s two largest reservoirs: Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The report provided a sobering backdrop to the Colorado River Water Users Association conference at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. With the slow start to winter in the Upper Basin (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming), the report showed a drop in Lake Powell’s projected 2026 inflow of 1 million acre-feet since the November forecast. Under the “minimum” possible inflow, Lake Powell would fall below the surface-elevation level of 3,490 feet needed to generate hydropower by October 2026 and stay there until spring runoff briefly bumps up reservoir levels in summer 2027; but the water level would again dip below 3,490 in the fall of 2027. … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
Supreme Court rulings, shifting federal policy create uncertainty for Colorado River basin
“The dramatic shifts in federal policy and law affecting places like the Colorado River basin is akin to a tennis game. One political party has the ball for four to eight years, or more recently only four years, in the form of the presidency. Then the ball bounces to the other side and policy shifts wildly. “We have a tennis match going on on top of a shifting glacier,” said Bret Birdsong, a law professor with the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. That situation creates uncertainty for those in the Colorado River basin, whose leaders have a looming deadline next year to create new operational guidelines for the increasingly strained river. That uncertainty is fueled by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and policy changes by the Trump administration. Birdsong and others described this shifting landscape at a panel on Wednesday, the second day of a three-day annual conference held by the Colorado River Water Users Association. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:
- Trump officials dive into the West’s biggest water war, from Politico
- ‘The river will not wait for us’: Strict timeline set for Colorado River deal, from the Las Vegas Review Journal
- Arizona tribes, CAP unite to address Colorado River water issues, from Arizona Central
- Feds refuse to be bad guy on Colorado River, from the Voice of San Diego
- ‘Everyone has a lot to lose.’ Trump administration warns states in Colorado River negotiations, from Fox 13
In national water news today …
Trump administration moves to dismantle leading climate and weather research center
“The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a leading climate and weather research institution in Boulder, Colo. NCAR’s weather forecasts, climate models and atmospheric data are vital to research, emergency planning and industries from aviation to insurance. Scientists warn that its closure would leave millions vulnerable to worsening wildfires and hurricanes and undermine U.S. scientific competitiveness. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Trump team ‘breaking up’ top climate research center, from E&E News
Latest Endangered Species Act regulations change course, yet again
“Regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have experienced some whiplash over the years. After the Trump Administration finalized revised regulations in 2019, the Biden Administration changed course in 2024. Portions of the 2019 and 2024 rules are subject to pending litigation. Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (both referred to as the “Services”) proposed several regulations for implementing the ESA. If implemented, the regulations would clarify when and how the ESA applies. Many of the proposals, however, are not new. Some reinstate rules that the Biden Administration repealed. Others repeal regulations that the Biden Administration promulgated. These latest regulations thus reflect ongoing regulatory volleyball between administrations over how to implement the ESA. … ” Read more from Hanson Bridgett.
