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On Friday’s calendar …
- WEBINAR: History of Native California Webinar Series – Chapter 1: A People of the Land, a Land for the People from 12pm to 1pm. Through this ten-session monthly series, each webinar will focus on one chapter of Professor Bauer’s book, We Are the Land: A History of Native California. You’ll hear about Native history in our state and have the opportunity to hear directly from the author and ask questions. We encourage you to get a copy of the book and follow along—We Are the Land is available wherever books are sold, at your local library, or you can listen along by finding the book wherever you get your audiobooks. This lunch series is part of the California Natural Resources Agency’s Tribal Stewardship Policy and Toolkit. Click here to register.
In California water news this weekend …
Heavy rain, flooding from Pacific storms to focus on California leading up to Christmas
“The train of storms, including a pineapple express that has focused on western Washington, will shift southward this weekend to concentrate on California through much of the week of Christmas. As the rounds of rain intensify, so will the risk of flooding and mudslides. “The upcoming atmospheric river that will focus on Northern California from late Saturday night to Monday qualifies as a pineapple express,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. A pineapple express is a specific atmospheric river, or plume of moisture, that extends from near Hawaii to the West Coast of the United States. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Rain and snow in the ten-day forecast
After a slow start to the snow season in California, the models are showing some relief with potentially significant snowfall the week of 12/22 after a lot of rain. Dr. Andrew Schwartz does a quick discussion on what projected conditions at the Snow Lab on Donner Summit.
What an onslaught of rain will mean for California’s water and wildfires
“December has been a very dry month across California. But that’s about to change, with three atmospheric rivers forecast to hit the state through Christmas. The pattern that brought an onslaught of destructive atmospheric rivers to the Pacific Northwest in recent days is now shifting south. Rounds of heavy valley rain will hit Northern California through the weekend before moving farther south next week — bringing a risk for flooding, swollen rivers, and rock and landslides. Next week, snow will pile up across the Sierra Nevada, which have experienced significant early season snow shortfalls. Around Christmas Eve, an atmospheric river is forecast to hit Southern California. … ” Read more from the Washington Post (gift article).
California storms are coming. Here are the worst times to leave for holiday travel
“California’s Christmas forecast is shaping up to be the stormiest in the country, which could have major impacts on holiday travel in the Bay Area and beyond. Rainy weather will be confined to Northern California this weekend, but conditions are expected to deteriorate statewide next week. A powerful storm is forecast to affect all of California beginning Tuesday, lasting through Christmas Day. It could bring flooding rain to Los Angeles, damaging winds to San Francisco and whiteout conditions to the Sierra Nevada. Elsewhere in the U.S., pre-Christmas weather is forecast to be relatively calm. No major storms are predicted east of the Rocky Mountains through Christmas Day. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Physics of atmospheric rivers, explained
“In the winter of 1862, an estimated 37 inches of rain fell in Sacramento over two months. The newly elected governor, Leland Stanford, had to travel to his inauguration by rowboat, and the city remained flooded for months afterward. Atmospheric rivers likely caused that historic downpour. These narrow plumes of vapor and strong winds carry moisture from near the tropics to the poles, producing heavy rain and gusts. While they can be a welcome relief from drought and wildfire season, they can also bring damage and risk. Rain dumped over California by a series of atmospheric rivers in early 2023 led to billions of dollars in losses and at least 21 deaths. In recent days, meteorologists have warned of flood risks and travel hazards from the latest parade of atmospheric rivers, which are expected to bring a “firehose of moisture” to the West Coast. To help communities prepare for future atmospheric rivers, scientists are trying to better understand how they work. Da Yang, an assistant professor of geophysics at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, is applying a new mathematical framework to describe the physics of atmospheric rivers, which may ultimately help forecast them further in advance with greater precision. Here are five key facts to know about this meteorological phenomenon. … ” Continue reading from Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
Why ‘hurricane hunters’ will fly into Calif. atmospheric rivers this winter
“As Californians break out umbrellas for a rainy holiday, specialized crews are gearing up to fly their planes directly into the winter’s incoming atmospheric rivers. The teams plan to operate specially outfitted aircraft, so-called “hurricane hunters,” designed to soar over the ocean collecting key data on the movement, size and intensity of storms. This winter, leading climate institutions including UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography are ramping up a research program that uses the planes to monitor atmospheric rivers — the ribbons of water vapor in the sky that can drop up to half of California’s annual precipitation. A goal of the effort, announced Tuesday, is to improve forecasts from the current one-week advanced storm warnings to more like two weeks. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Atmospheric River Research Flights Go Global, from Scripps
STATE WATER CONTRACTORS Respond to Incidental Take Permit for the Long- Term Operation of the State Water Project
“Today, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a minor amendment to the incidental take permit (ITP) for the long-term operation of the State Water Project (SWP), consistent with the adaptive management envisioned in the 2024 ITP. The SWP provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland that feed the state and nation. An ITP is required by state law to protect endangered and threatened fish species such as Longfin Smelt, Delta Smelt, Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook Salmon and Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon. … ” Read more from the State Water Contractors.
SF ESTUARY AND WATERSHED SCIENCE: Winter-run salmon, Delta restoration, wetland availability, pesticides in the Delta, and more …
In the latest edition of San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, A review of restoration in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh; Flooded wetland availability for breeding waterfowl; Effects of flow on pesticides in water and zooplankton; The influence of zooplankton availability on Delta smelt condition and foraging; Predicting sediment bulk density for San Francisco Estuary; and more. Click here to read the issue.
California’s geospatial science in action
“What does geospatial science look like at Audubon California in 2025? It starts at the Salton Sea, where our science is helping move roughly 2,000 acres of wetland habitat toward restoration planning. From there, it expands statewide: research that informs California’s climate policy, modernized data models that support smarter renewable energy siting, and science-driven convenings that bring researchers and decision makers to the same table. Our small-but-mighty team of ecologists brings technical expertise in geospatial science, including GIS, satellite imagery analysis, and predictive modeling using machine learning. The goal is simple: to develop science that helps people make data-driven decisions that benefit birds, wildlife, and communities across California and the West, and to deliver those science products to the agencies, partners, and advocates who need them most. … ” Read more from Audubon.
Zombie urchins & the Blob: California sea otters face new threats & ecosystem shifts
“The sea otter pup was tiny, probably less than 2 weeks old, alone in Morro Bay on an October morning earlier this year. A kayaker scooped it out of the water after listening to it endlessly crying for its mother. It was in growing danger, starting to float out toward the mouth of the bay. Back onshore, the rescuer wrapped the pup in a cloth, nestled it in a box and called the Marine Mammal Center to report it. A 10-person rescue team arrived, led by Shayla Zink, the center’s operations coordinator. They hoped to reunite this young pup with its mother: Raising a southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pup is a long, difficult process. The team quickly unwrapped the pup, as otter pups are at risk of over-heating. Morro Bay is cold, generally 15-18°C (59-64°F), so the team brought ice along in case they needed to cool the animal down. “We kept a close eye on its temperature,” Zink said. “Pups may not have good thermoregulation. We could have dunked it to cool it down.” … ” Continue reading at Mongabay.
Scientists breed sunflower sea stars key to reviving California’s imperiled kelp forests
“One thing that surprised Andrew Kim about raising baby sunflower sea stars is just how hard it is to satisfy their ravenous appetites. Kim, the laboratory manager for the Sunflower Star Laboratory, once tested how many pea-sized purple sea urchins a juvenile star could eat in a day. The star, which was about the size of a hamburger bun, devoured all 44 he offered—and still wasn’t satisfied. “The stars hoover up the urchins and totally balloon up,” said Kim. “And then, 3 hours later, like clockwork, they spit out all these perfectly clean urchin skeletons. It shows how important these little guys are to maintain healthy kelp forests.” These laboratory-raised juveniles don’t know it, but they’re at the center of an ambitious effort to help their species—and California’s struggling kelp forests—recover. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Profile: Dan Bacher
“Two passions define Dan Bacher’s backstory – fishing and social justice. Regarding fishing: Dan first dropped a line in the water at the age of five. The locale was the “cement ship,” a derelict hulk lodged at the end of the Seacliff State Beach fishing pier in Aptos. “My father took me out there and I caught a couple of tomcod,” Dan recalls. “They were really small, but that didn’t matter to me. The hook was set – I was a dedicated fisherman from that point on.” A year later, Dan’s father took him to the North Fork of the American River, where he caught a rainbow trout. But then his fishing career took a hiatus. Dan’s dad wasn’t a fanatical angler, and the family lived in Sacramento, far from the coast and the Sierra Rivers. Dan didn’t have much opportunity to fish again until he was around 10, when he set out on his own angling adventures or went to fish Folsom Lake with his aunt Alicerae. … ” Read more from C-WIN.
Podcasts …
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: A conversation with State Water Resources Control Board chair Joaquin Esquivel
In this episode of We Grow California, Darcy Villere sits down with Joaquin Esquivel, Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, to talk about the future of California water. The episode covers how the Board balances the competing needs of agriculture, communities, and the environment during an era of droughts, floods, and climate uncertainty. Joaquin shares insights on SGMA enforcement, groundwater recharge, and the state’s push to ensure safe, clean drinking water for all Californians. His perspective offers a clear look at the challenges ahead and the opportunities for collaboration across the state.
WATERLOOP: The evolving engineering of green infrastructure
Green infrastructure is reshaping how communities manage stormwater by blending natural processes with modern engineering to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and fit into increasingly dense urban spaces. In this episode, Christian Hennessy of Oldcastle Infrastructure breaks down what makes a system truly “green,” from mimicking pre-development hydrology to using engineered soils, media amendments, and carefully selected plants to target pollutants like nutrients and metals.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: A Very Merry Holiday Season to Everyone
Nearly 2,000 years ago, the basic needs for life were very similar as they are today; food, water, shelter, the feeling of our value in this world and a vision of things to come. Whether your celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or the coming of the Winter Solstice, you may find yourself reliving the history of these events. 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 530-205-6388Weekend read …
NEW BOOK: Undammed: Freeing River and Bringing Communities to Life
Free-flowing rivers in the United States are all but gone. Over half a million dams have obstructed rivers and streams, with sometimes devastating impacts. But in an uplifting environmental story, efforts are successfully undamming rivers and demolishing these harmful, and often obsolete, structures and bringing new life to stifled waterways. In Undammed: Freeing Rivers and Bringing Communities to Life (Publication Date: October 14, 2025), environmental journalist Tara Lohan charts the rise of the dam removal movement and shares the remarkable benefits of undamming waterways for plants, animals, and people. With compelling, engaging storytelling, Lohan illustrates that restoring rivers improves water quality, boosts climate resilience, increases dwindling fish populations, aids the local economy, supports native flora and fauna, and so much more. … ” Continue reading this announcement.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Emergency hatchery failure forces mass fish release into Trinity River
“A sudden infrastructure failure at the Trinity River Hatchery on Nov. 7 forced the emergency release of hundreds of thousands of juvenile fish and thousands of adult salmon into the Trinity River after a trash rack collapsed and blocked most of the facility’s water supply, according to state and federal officials. The incident was disclosed publicly for the first time during the Trinity Management Council’s quarterly meeting on Dec. 10, when Derek Rupert, a fish biologist with the Bureau of Reclamation’s Northern California Area Office, briefed council members on what he described as a rare and serious operational emergency. … ” Read more from the Trinity Journal.
A big year for the Eel River: a look back and what’s next
“Spanning five northern counties and 3,684 square miles, the Eel River historically supported the third-largest runs of salmon and steelhead in California. Research from UC Davis estimated that combined runs of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead likely totaled more than a million adult fish annually in good years. The Eel River holds tremendous potential for salmon recovery and, after this year, the Eel River is one step closer to becoming the longest free flowing river in California. Over a century ago, Scott and Cape Horn dams, were constructed on the Eel River – blocking off the river’s headwaters and causing cascading effects on the ecosystem’s health, the fish swimming within its waters, and the people living nearby. Elsewhere in the watershed, the impacts of historic overharvest, intensive logging and illicit cannabis further degraded habitat. This year was a turning point for California’s third-largest watershed. After decades of advocacy and planning, the Eel River, is poised to follow the Klamath River’s lead in dam removals. CalTrout and partners are also implementing dozens of restoration projects, leading impactful scientific studies, and are planning efforts to help recover fish abundance, restore watershed health, and improve the economy and safety of surrounding communities. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Commentary: Klamath Dam removal was successful, now we need to free the Eel River
Regina Chichizola, the executive director of Save California Salmon, writes, “It has been a little over a year since the Klamath Dams came out, and so far this fall over 10,000 salmon have migrated above where they once stood, and water quality has greatly improved. This success is benefiting everyone from the Tribal members above the dams and Upper Basin farmers who will see less burden under the Endangered Species and Clean Water Acts, to downriver Tribal members and commercial fishermen who will soon be able to put more food on their tables and money in the bank. Already, local youth and recreational businesses in two states can be on the river year-round without fear of toxic algal blooms or fish kills. Soon, we may even be able to rebuild and better support our local ports and economies. Unfortunately, dam removal almost came too late due to decades of stalling and legal and political hurdles from the dam owners, PacifiCorp. Now we have an opportunity and a critical need for dam removal on the Eel River, and most of the stars have lined up in a way we could never have hoped for on the Klamath. … ” Continue reading at the Eureka Times-Standard.
Fort Bragg faces $39 million in water system upgrades over next ten years
“During the December 8th Fort Bragg City Council meeting, the city received a report with a wish list of improvements for the water system over the next ten years at a cost of $39 million. The report will be used as a basis to discuss water rates at upcoming public works and council meetings. The report was presented by HDR consultants. The study outlined the existing deficiencies and codified the life expectancy of the water systems. Per HDR, much of the system is older than sixty years old, and parts of the system are reaching the end of their designed lifetime in the next few years. The good news is that Fort Bragg’s water system is adequate to serve its current needs, is well-maintained, and has fewer breaks per mile of pipe than a long list of water agencies that were used for comparison. However, the city’s water system no longer meets fire standards. … ” Read more from the Fort Bragg Advocate News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
California’s ‘snow drought’ leaves ski resorts waiting for the cold
“Winter is prime time to grab skis and hit the slopes, but much of California is missing one critical ingredient — snow. Federal officials say much of the West is experiencing a snow drought, with warmer-than-normal temperatures causing precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow despite wetter-than-normal conditions. The Sierra is among the regions particularly hard-hit by the lack of snow, and the impacts are trickling down to local ski resorts. Some, like Heavenly Lake Tahoe or Kirkwood Ski Resort, have managed to open a limited number of lifts or trails. But other facilities have delayed their opening days, waiting for Mother Nature to bring colder temperatures and improved snowfall. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
SEE ALSO: ‘Snow drought’ grips Sierra Nevada: Skiers find limited snow amid December heatwave, from Channel 10
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lindo Channel groundwater testing underway
“Can Lindo Channel be the answer improving Chico’s groundwater health? The flood control channel, which diverts off Big Chico Creek near Five-Mile Recreation Area before rejoining near the Sacramento River, is undergoing a study to determine if a groundwater recharge project is viable for the area. The Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency, one of three local authorities monitoring groundwater health in Butte County, announced Wednesday it recently completed field work to find out how quickly water can move into the ground for natural recharge projects. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record (gift article).
NAPA/SONOMA
Naturally reproduced coho salmon found in Russian River’s upper basin for the first time in decades
“Governor Gavin Newsom last week celebrated a monumental achievement for California as salmon are making a comeback in Northern California. This summer, several juvenile Coho salmon were spotted in the Russian River’s upper basin — a first in more than 30 years. California has recently marked significant progress in its comprehensive strategy to help these threatened and endangered salmon species recover — all the more critical as protections for endangered species have been rolled back at the federal level. “California’s salmon strategy is about more than restoring a species — it’s about restoring an entire way of life,” said Newsom. “It’s about honoring tribal sovereignty, protecting the ecosystems that define this state, and doing the hard, generational work to make sure these rivers still run for our kids and grandkids. The return of this species to the Russian River demonstrates a new win in our strategy to preserve a healthy and sustainable future for all.” … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
BAY AREA
Atmospheric river to bring 7 straight days of rain to SF Bay Area
“New data from the National Weather Service shows back-to-back major storms could drop a month’s worth of rain in San Francisco over a few days. Dial Hoang, a meteorologist at the weather service, said preliminary estimates show multiple weather systems coming through the Bay Area in the next few days, including a system arriving on Tuesday, that could drop around 3 to 4 inches of rain over Christmas Eve and Christmas. When combined with two earlier storm systems, San Francisco could see over 7 inches of rain in the next week, well over December’s monthly average rainfall of 4.76 inches, Hoang said. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: The next Bay Area storm is on the way. This timeline shows when heaviest rain will hit, from the SF Chronicle
From the coast’s tide pools to the Peninsula’s marshlands, king tides reveal how wildlife adapt to extreme conditions
“Rob Cala cautiously sidestepped a tide pool where eddies swirled around anemones, spiky urchins and hermit crabs at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach. “What I love to share with people is we’re standing on the bottom of the ocean right now,” the San Mateo County park ranger supervisor said during an especially low tide in early December. That day, the tide was about a foot or two farther out than normal thanks to a convergence of celestial events: the sun, Earth and moon aligning and the moon reaching its closest position to Earth in its orbit, all while the Earth approaches its closest point to the sun. … ” Read more from Palo Alto Online.
CENTRAL COAST
Founding the next generation of water leaders in Salinas Valley
“A new program, set to launch in January 2026, aims to create the next generation of leaders in Salinas Valley water management. Applications are open now for the Water Leadership Institute, a free, multilingual educational program put on by the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund, Rural Community Assistance Corporation, MILPA and the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The Water Leadership Institute has held similar workshops in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera and Fresno counties since 2016. This January however, the Institute will be paying a visit to Monterey County for the first time. “In the Salinas Valley, 95% of our water supply for both our residents and our cities, as well as for agriculture, (comes from) groundwater,” said Sarah Hardgrave from the Salinas Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald (gift article).
Los Olivos CSD considers testing groundwater wells once a year
“A local agency’s decision to postpone one of Los Olivos’ regularly scheduled groundwater well tests—used to measure nitrate concentration levels—opened the floodgates to a different kind of monitoring for resident Kathryn Lohmeyer Rohrer. “It seems problematic on several fronts,” Rohrer said during public comment at the Los Olivos Community Services District’s (CSD) Nov. 12 meeting. During that hearing, the CSD asked General Manager Guy Savage to cancel its biannual November test, which would have marked its second of the year. Board members also directed Savage to look into reducing its tests—which each cost the CSD about $16,000— from twice a year to once a year. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Sun.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Less water, more problems: Westlands’ study
“Westlands Water District is sounding the alarm for Central California as a new study shows that the low water supply is hitting the region hard. “Less water led to fewer jobs and less economic activity. We’re talking about declines of 25%,” Westlands’s consultant, Michael Shires, said. Westlands is the largest agricultural irrigation district in the country, covering parts of Fresno and Kings counties. The study compares 2019 and 2022, when water allocation fell from 75% to 0%. “When we don’t have water, it goes further than loss of crop. The economic impact affects real families,” Fresno Chamber of Commerce Chair Nick Rocca said. …, ” Read more from ABC 30.
Kings County farming giant John Vidovich shut out of groundwater board seat
“John Vidovich, who runs Sandridge Partners LLC, one of Kings County’s largest farming operations, was shut out of gaining a seat on a groundwater agency for fear he would move native water outside the area. Board members of the Empire Westside Irrigation District voted 3-2 at their Dec. 15 meeting to keep Ceil Howe Jr. as their representative on the South Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), rather than switch to Vidovich. That didn’t sit well with Vidovich. “So, I have the most of the land and it’s just unfair, I think, for me not to have representation,” Vidovich said at Empire’s meeting. “He’s (Howe) got 110 acres. I have what? 4,800?” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Southern California Christmas storm: Here are the rain chances
“Southern California is bracing for a significant weather shift as a powerful atmospheric river is forecast to arrive just in time for the Christmas holiday. What we know: The National Weather Service has confirmed that a moderate-to-strong atmospheric river is expected to impact California between December 23 and December 26. In Southern California, coastal and valley areas are projected to receive 2 to 4 inches of rain, while foothills and mountainous regions could see as much as double those amounts. Northern California and the Sierra Nevada are at high risk for heavy precipitation beginning as early as Sunday, December 21. … ” Read more from Fox 11.
Crescenta Valley Water District work opens river of complaints
“For the last year, La Cañada Flintridge residents between Ocean View Boulevard and Cross Street have endured dump trucks from Crescenta Valley Water District contractors lining up outside their homes, creating constant noise and debris. The residents live next to the water district’s Williams Reservoir, which was initially a site dedicated and permitted for the construction and operation of a reservoir, including work related to measuring water levels, adjustments to communications equipment and checking instrumentation accuracy. But since a new program was implemented by the water district, the site has been used for storage, equipment staging and dirt import and export. … ” Read more from the La Cañada Outlook.
Palisades community in fear as reservoir that was empty during fires needs to be drained again
“The reservoir that was empty during the Palisades Fire, which sparked major backlash, needs to be drained again. This time backups are in place. As we near the one-year anniversary of the wildfire, it’s reigniting fears in the community. It was the center of controversy almost a year ago. The Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was offline when the fires started. It is a critical reservoir for firefighting efforts. “We don’t know what’s going to happen in the next month, next week or as far as the weather,” says Pacific Palisades resident Sandy Flick. … ” Read more from KABC.
Endangered steelhead trout have a safe haven in a Huntington Beach classroom
“Southern California steelhead trout will soon find a safe haven to survive and thrive in a Huntington Beach high school. When a fire, flood or other natural disaster hits, the endangered trout will be collected and transported to Edison High School until their habitat is safe to return to, housed in two 500-gallon holding tanks for safekeeping. School officials, teachers and students, as well as representatives from the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, gathered on Thursday, Dec. 18, for a ribbon-cutting of the new addition to Edison High’s Innovation Lab. “When there’s a problem, either it has burned, there’s been a drought or flood, some event that is threatening a population of steelhead in a creek, California Department of Fish and Wildlife would initiate a rescue,” Rosi Dagit, principal conservation biologist for the RCDSMM, said. “They would go in, capture the fish and take them to this facility to hold them until they can go back into the watershed if it has recovered, or a nearby watershed.” … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego State breaks ground on One Water Laboratory in Mission Valley
“San Diego State University broke ground Wednesday on the One Water Laboratory in Mission Valley, a facility dedicated to research on sustainable water management. The facility is scheduled to be completed next summer adjacent to the river park at SDSU Mission Valley. Once it is up and running, SDSU students will be able to gain experience and learn more about watershed science and hydrological systems. “Water is central to life, to public health, and to the future of our region,” Hala Madanat, vice president of SDSU’s Division for Research and Innovation, said in a statement. “The challenges we face with drought, flooding, water quality and sustainable water management are complex, but they are not insurmountable. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Invasive seaweed species threatens San Diego Bay
“In September 2023, a highly invasive seaweed called Caulerpa prolifera was discovered in San Diego Bay near the Coronado Cays. This outbreak is a major concern because it threatens the ecologically vital eelgrass beds within the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Left untreated in other parts of the world, invasive Caulerpa has spread rapidly, displaced native vegetation, and devastated local ecosystems. Caulerpa is recognized for its rapid growth and ability to outcompete native marine vegetation. Caulerpa is native to Florida and other subtropical and tropical marine environments. No Caulerpa species are native to California. It grows easily in tanks and is commonly used in home aquariums. However, Caulerpa is illegal to sell, possess, transport, or release in the state of California under Assembly Bill 655, passed in 2024. Once introduced into a natural coastal environment, Caulerpa can grow over an inch per day and survive up to 10 days out of the water. It can sprout new colonies from fragments smaller than a centimeter long, which are easily spread via ocean currents, tides, or human activities. Due to the extensive damage this invasive species has caused globally, and the high costs associated with managing it, even minor outbreaks can spread quickly and cause major concern. … ” Read more from the San Diego Coastkeeper.
Could stricter hydrogen sulfide standards protect communities near the polluted Tijuana River?
“A new state bill could establish different air quality standards for hydrogen sulfide, a noxious gas that has wreaked havoc on communities near the polluted Tijuana River and Salton Sea. On Wednesday, State Sen. Steve Padilla,D-San Diego, introduced Senate Bill 58 to update the threshold, which has remained unchanged since it was adopted in 1969. The law would require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to review the status quo during public workshops in communities like South County and the Salton Sea, and consider adopting stricter standards. “It is unacceptable that the regulatory standard monitoring the very air our families breathe is so woefully out of date, leaving communities at risk,” Padilla said in a statement. “Making this critical change is a long overdue step towards addressing an issue that has been allowed to fester for decades. It is critical that Sacramento finally act to help our community.” … ” Read more from KPBS.
Minute 333 is the latest step towards a sewage pollution solution
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new agreement between the U.S. and Mexico, which was signed on Dec. 15, and the U.S. and Mexican Sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) have agreed on a list of new actions to solve the pollution problem. A new memorandum of understanding (MOU) was created to include Minute 333. The proposed actions of the MOU include: Initiation of studies to install an ocean outfall at the San Antonio de los Buenos (SAB) treatment plant; assessing the options to expand the SAB plant, which came online this past spring, from treating 18.6 MGD to 43.37 MGD. … ” Read more from the Coronado Eagle & Journal.
SEE ALSO: HOME SICK: Tijuana River stewards say cure for pollution crisis lies beyond borders, from iNewsource.
Along the Colorado River …
States repeat talking points with little progress on deal as Colorado River crisis deepens
“Water managers from each of the seven states that share the drought-stricken Colorado River repeated familiar, divisive arguments at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference Thursday, but they also said they are still committed to reaching a consensus for future management. The last session of the conference, featuring perspectives from the states, was a late addition to the agenda and the most highly anticipated session of the largest annual gathering of water managers in the basin. But representatives delivered little new information and reiterated some of the same talking points they have been repeating for two years as they negotiate how to operate reservoirs and share cuts after 2026. Representatives recapped conservation measures that their states have already taken, stressing how painful, morally right and helpful those have been to keep the Colorado River system from crashing. Some representatives expressed frustration with their counterparts and how little progress has been made toward a new river-management paradigm over the past two years. “As long as we keep polishing those arguments and repeating them to each other, we are going nowhere,” said Nevada’s representative, John Entsminger. … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
The fight over the Colorado River has become a political nightmare
“A seven-state brawl centered on one of the country’s most competitive swing states is poised to trigger a water supply crisis for 40 million people across the West — and put the Trump administration in an impossible political position. The battle pits two states that flipped for Trump in 2024 — Arizona and Nevada — against two of the country’s deepest red ones — Utah and Wyoming — in a fight over water that feeds economies from Denver to Phoenix, and half of all Californians. No state has more to lose in the fight over access to the drought-stricken Colorado River than Arizona. Phoenix and other central Arizona communities — along with the semiconductor manufacturing and data centers that they host — are the first in line for cuts under the century-old legal system that governs the waterway. But its upstream neighbors have fiercely opposed taking any cuts to their supplies in order to bolster Arizona’s offtake. Now it’s falling to the Trump administration to broker a ceasefire … ” Continue reading at Politico.
Colorado River states still at odds as feds turn up pressure for deal
“The Colorado River states remain deadlocked over how to share and protect the shrinking river heading into a year when federal officials say they must either cut a deal or live with one imposed by Washington. Rules governing water use out of the system’s big reservoirs since 2007 will expire before the next water year begins in October. Those rules have proven insufficient to keep Lake Mead and Lake Powell from plunging to near critical levels during a quarter-century of megadrought, and the U.S. Interior Department has said it needs a negotiated deal between the seven states by mid-February or Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will decide how to apply water reductions. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
“I don’t know what we need to do next”: Colorado River users stuck in limbo as state negotiators continue to flounder
“Colorado River farmers, water managers and officials were gearing up for the largest gathering of the year for months expecting some kind of update about how the water supply for 40 million people will be managed going forward. Some walked away frustrated, while others clung to do-or-die optimism or wondered why the people negotiating the rules still have their jobs. When seven state negotiators took to the stage for the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference, they didn’t have much progress to report about how the river’s main reservoirs will be managed once the current operational rules end in fall 2026. Instead, for the second time this week, many of them used their time to highlight the same concerns they’ve shared for years. With the clock ticking down, federal officials started to ratchet up the pressure. “If you distill down what my six partners just said, I believe there’s three common things: Here’s all the great things my state has done. Here’s how hard/impossible it is to do any more. And here are all the reasons why other people should have to do more,” John Entsminger, the governor-appointed negotiator for Nevada, told the gathering. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
SEE ALSO:
- ‘The time to act is now’: Colorado River states still clashing as feds pressure them to reach a deal, from the Salt Lake Tribune
- Colorado River nears limits that could constrain releases at major dams, from the Navajo Times
- Experts warn of dire forecast for Colorado River basin, from the Courthouse News Service
- Colorado River water negotiators appear no closer to long-term agreement, from ABC News
- Colorado River talks press on after candid final day in Las Vegas, from Channel 13
- The Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Gila River Indian Community, and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Pledge to Protect the Colorado River as States and the Federal Government Seek Solutions, from Know Your Water News.
In national water news this weekend …
Exposing the most dangerous dams in the US
“Dams in the United States may be in worse condition than previously understood. More than 16,700 dams across the country are classified as high hazard potential as of 2024, according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. Over 2,500 of these dams are in poor condition. But with newly utilized radar technology, scientists at Virginia Tech are revealing dams across the United States that may have crumbling infrastructure hidden from view of safety inspectors. While research into the use of radar technology to reveal damaged dams is preliminary, geoscientist Mohammad Khorrami at Virginia Tech and his team hope to combine the findings with other publicly available data to build a country-wide database of dams, their flood risks, and the communities who could be impacted by them. … ” Read more from the American Geophysical Union.
