A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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In California water news this week …
Early 2026 storms bring heavy rain to the western US, raising flooding risk in Northern California
“Low-elevation rain will spread across much of the western United States early in 2026, bringing the highest flooding risk and travel disruptions to Northern California as falling snow levels threaten mountain pass closures. The first volley of heavy rain drenched coastal areas of Southern California from Wednesday night to Thursday morning. … There will be a break in the rain for much of California on Friday while pockets of rain and high-country snow drift through the Northwest states, the interior deserts and intermountain West. The rain through Friday will occur with the main storm hovering well offshore over the Pacific. Then, as the storm pushes east this weekend to early next week, the intensity of the rain will increase and focus on Northern and Central California. An atmospheric river may form, further enhancing the rain with the potential for widespread flash flooding and mudslides. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
SEE ALSO: Warm subtropical system to bring heavy New Year’s rain to SoCal before a somewhat quieter pattern takes hold by mid January, from Daniel Swain at Weather West
California appellate court upholds bar on revenue bonds for Delta Program
“The California Court of Appeals on Wednesday affirmed a judge’s ruling that the state’s Department of Water Resources can’t issue bonds to fund the controversial Delta Conveyance Project — a proposed 14-mile tunnel that would divert water from the Sacramento River to Central and Southern California. The three-judge appellate panel agreed the Delta Program doesn’t qualify as a “further modification” to the existing Feather River Project — a large configuration of dams, reservoirs and power stations in Northern California that dates back to the 1950s — for which Water Resources was given authority to issue revenue bonds. “The problem here is that the contours of the Delta Program are so ill-defined that it is impossible to ascertain whether any future Delta Program facilities will serve the objectives, purposes, and effects of the Feather River Project, or instead constitute a new and different ‘unit’ of the State Water Project,” Associate Justice Peter Krause said in the unanimous decision. “Thus, we will affirm the trial court’s conclusion that the definition of the Delta Program is too vague and uncertain to support validation.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO:
- LEGAL ALERT: Court of Appeal Affirms Trial Court’s Rejection of Financing Scheme for Delta Conveyance Project, from Somach Simmons & Dunn
- Siding with counties and other opponents, Court Of Appeal affirms decision rejecting DWR’s unlawful attempt to validate bond financing for Delta Tunnel Project, press release
- Newsom’s Delta tunnel plan hits snag as court rules state lacks authority to issue bonds, from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article)
Late December storms deliver much-needed snowpack and water supply for California
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 24 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 5 inches, which is 50 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack is 71 percent of average for this date. Today’s results are welcome news for water managers who rely on the statewide snow surveys to make water supply decisions for the year ahead. California’s statewide snowpack had been lacking in early December with above-average temperatures and very little storm activity. Recent storms have turned that around and provided a significant boost to the snowpack and the state’s water supply. “The dry conditions and warmer temperatures in early December delayed our snow-building season, but the return of storm activity, especially in the last week, helped to build a solid base for this year’s snowpack,” said Angelique Fabbiani-Leon, State Hydrometerologist for DWR. “Thankfully, the recent storms that reached the state were cold enough to provide necessary benefits for the snowpack and our water supply. While California is in a better position now, it is still early in the season and our state’s water supply for this year will ultimately depend on a continued cadence of storms throughout winter and early spring.” … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
SEE ALSO:
- California snowpack gets a boost from series of December downpours, from the Guardian
- California will start 2026 far below peak snowpack, raising concerns about water supply, from ABC 7
- Recent storms boosted California’s snowpack, but there’s still a long way to go, from the LA Times
Cloudy water, clear decision: Using science to protect fish and water supply
“When the first major storms of the season arrive in California, they bring more than just water. Those early storms trigger what is known as “first flush,” a short but important period that plays a big role in the ecology of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, how the State Water Project (SWP) operates, and the actions taken to protect fish in the Delta. When the season’s first significant storms arrive, high river inflows mobilize sediments from the river bottom resulting in a large surge of cloudy, or turbid, water from upstream areas to the Delta. This initial influx of turbid water is typically different than storm runoff that happens later in the season because it often injects more sediment into the Delta and marks the end to California’s dry season in a way that several native species use to cue seasonal migrations. The importance of first flush for the ecology of the Delta is also why first flush is important for SWP operations, as they must balance water delivery with environmental protection. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
DWR: Balancing water and wildlife: How science guides the State Water Project
“As a series of atmospheric rivers bring rain and high elevation snow to communities throughout California, the winter storms are crucial for the State Water Project, helping fill reservoirs and support water deliveries. The State Water Project (SWP) is part of the backbone of California’s water infrastructure – a multi-benefit project that supplies water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland, provides flood protection, generates hydropower, offers recreational opportunities and provides environmental benefits. The SWP must balance water supply reliability with the protection of listed endangered fish species at the same time climate change alters how and when rain and snow reach California. … ” Read more from DWR.
Addressing the needs of small farmers under SGMA groundwater market development
“The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) opened the door for groundwater markets to emerge in much of California. Groundwater markets refer to the voluntary, compensated transfer of the right or allowance to pump groundwater, as well as the rules and institutions that govern trading. Many groundwater sustainability agencies expressed initial interest in developing groundwater cap-and-trade schemes under SGMA, and a handful have made actionable progress towards implementing them. While groundwater markets have potential to substantively reduce the costs of groundwater conservation, they also carry the possibility of unintended consequences. Additionally, these markets may not be equally accessible by all participants. … ” Read more from UCANR.
Dramatic changes in store for private island on edge of San Francisco Bay
“A small but significant island on the fringes of San Francisco Bay is entering a new chapter after a long and checkered history, which includes stints as a rumored rum-running outpost and a kitesurfing club for Silicon Valley elite. The 50-acre Point Buckler Island, an uninhabited land mass in Suisun Bay, is being restored to its natural, marshy state. The project follows the seizure of the property by local authorities over alleged unauthorized development and its subsequent sale through an auction to the nonprofit John Muir Land Trust. The conservation group says the restoration work will help the island recover from the environmental degradation that’s plagued its past. Most notably, the construction of levees over the past century has left much of the island dry, which environmentalists say has harmed fish and birds that rely on wetlands for food and shelter at a critical juncture in their migrations. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Feds intervene in Eel River dam removal
“On Friday afternoon, the federal government responded to calls to intervene in PG&E’s process to remove the Scott and Cape Horn dams on the Eel River, which could delay the removal. The USDA filed a notice to intervene in the dam removal process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, tasked with regulating hydropower. “If this plan goes through as proposed, it will devastate hundreds of family farms and wipe out more than a century of agricultural tradition in Potter Valley,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins in a news release on Friday. The USDA points to “the profoundly negative and irreversible impact on local farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, communities, and USDA equities” in the release and a letter from residents concerned about impacts to the permanent water supply of Lake Pillsbury, diversions to farmers, and other impacts of removal. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard (gift article).
SEE ALSO:
- Secretary Rollins Intervenes to Protect Potter Valley’s Water Supply, press release from the USDA
- Trump administration intervenes in dispute over future of Pacific Gas and Electric’s Potter Valley Project, from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Nation’s highest court declines to hear water rights case stemming from decade-old drought
“The United States Supreme Court officially declined to hear a case alleging the federal government illegally stiffed water contractors, including the City of Fresno, when it gave them zero water during the crushing 2014-2015 drought. The Bureau of Reclamation instead gave supplies from Millerton Lake during those years that would have gone to Fresno and other contractors in the Friant Division of the Central Valley Project to a collection of agricultural water districts known as the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors. The impact was devastating. More than 25% of crops, mostly citrus, in the Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District died, according to grower and board member Cliff Loeffler. “We are utterly dependent on that surface water supply,” he said. A group of Friant contractors sued, saying the Bureau had breached its contract with them and they alleged the water was a property right that was taken without just compensation. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Judges can’t limit reviews to preferred endangered species
“A federal appeals panel has ruled courts evaluating disputes over the environmental impact of development and environmental regulatory decisions must widen their focus to include all endangered species and not just those central to claims brought by environmental activists or other opponents. Judge Jacqueline Nguyen wrote the opinion for the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, filed Dec. 3; Judge Danielle Forrest concurred. Judge Lawrence VanDyke wrote a special concurrence. At issue is Endangered Species Act litigation under which nongovernmental organizations – typically, environmental activist groups – seek injunctions to halt activities they argue could harm certain animal or plant populations. One such injunction required San Luis Obispo County to take specific steps in managing the Lopez Dam and Reservoir in response to a lawsuit from a coalition of groups, including San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, Los Padres Forest Watch, California Coastkeeper Alliance and Ecological Rights Foundation. … ” Read more from the Northern California Record.
LADWP tiered water rates don’t violate CA constitution: Appeals panel
“A state appeals panel has agreed California’s constitution doesn’t prevent the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from implementing tiered rates based on usage, but also said the city can’t make its water customers fund a special subsidy for low-income accounts. The underlying issue dates to March 2016 when the LA City Council passed a new water rate ordinance. In August 2018, Stephen and Melinda Dreher initiated a class claim with the city, and in March 2019 filed a complaint in state court for damages and challenging the rates on behalf of themselves and other customers. In addition to the low income subsidy, the Drehers claimed the tiered rate structure exceeded “the proportional cost of the service attributable” to each customer’s land parcel. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mary Strobel ordered the city to stop including the subsidy charge — which generated $25.9 million in its first year — but said the Drehers weren’t entitled to refunds on charges they paid before the ruling because they didn’t pay under protest. Strobel also ruled the tiered rates otherwise complied with state law. … ” Read more from the Southern California Record.
Satellites show dozens of U.S. dams are sinking. More could be at risk.
“The satellite signal was subtle but persistent. A decade of observations suggested that part of the Livingston Dam — a 2.5-mile-long earth and concrete structure about 70 miles north of Houston — was sinking by roughly 8 millimeters per year. This deformation could indicate the structure is unstable, said geophysicist Mohammad Khorrami, who presented the findings in December at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Though the observation is preliminary, he said it was cause for concern; regulators consider the dam “high hazard potential,” meaning it could lead to deaths and significant property damage if it ever failed. Livingston is not the only U.S. dam that appears to be sinking into the earth, said Khorrami, a postdoctoral associate at Virginia Tech. Using radar from satellites to survey hydropower dams in 13 states and Puerto Rico, he and his colleagues detected subtle shifts in the height of all 41 structures they studied. The observations ranged from barely perceptible subsidence to more worrying “differential settlement” — cases like the Livingston where parts of the dam are moving at varying rates. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
In commentary this week …
Editorial: If feds want Potter Valley dams, they should buy them
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial board writes, “President Donald Trump’s California derangement syndrome is back as his administration tries to prevent PG&E from removing aging dams in the Potter Valley Project. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has moved to intervene in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission process to determine whether PG&E may tear down two dams and a mothballed powerhouse. Rollins wants FERC to deny the application. Agriculture secretaries often get involved in these sorts of proceedings. Major changes to watersheds can impact farmers, after all. What is unusual in this case is that in supporting irrigators, a supposedly pro-business administration undermines private enterprise. PG&E wants to surrender its license for the hydropower system on the Eel River because it now costs more than it is worth. The dams and powerhouse are more than a century old and are nowhere close to meeting modern standards. They require costly repairs and upgrades to remain safe. PG&E absorbs those costs, and no doubt passes some onto ratepayers. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Why California needs to get over the ‘yuck’ factor of wastewater recycling
Aaron Tartakovsky, co-founder and CEO at Epic Cleantec, writes, “In San Francisco, we like to be at the forefront of innovation — driverless Waymos zipping through traffic, artificial intelligence startups launching weekly, robot baristas whipping up oat milk lattes at SFO. But beyond the dizzying blur of innovation, something equally transformative is happening out of sight, stealthily reshaping the city’s future. Deep inside the walls of our buildings, a quiet revolution in how San Franciscans manage and reuse their water is taking place. Take Salesforce Tower. While most people see a gleaming architectural icon, few realize that inside is one of the most pioneering water reuse systems in the country. Each day, the building captures wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets, purifies it to exceptionally high standards, and reuses it for flushing and cooling. The result? Nearly 8 million gallons of recycled water annually — the equivalent of 60 million bottles. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mountain meadows should be a priority for California climate bond
Ryan Burnett, Director of the Sierra Nevada Group at Point Blue Conservation Science, writes, “When I stepped into a Sierra Nevada meadow over 25 years ago, I was struck by the diversity of life, the hub of biological activity — full of birds, frogs, fish and plants. As a wildlife ecologist, I was in love. That infatuation has endured, growing into one of the great passions in my life. As a lifelong Californian, I’ve always been enamored with the natural wonders our state contains, and meadows are no exception. Californians have a lot to be proud of. In addition to the highest GDP of any state, we have a proven track record as the country’s climate and environmental leader. Since voters recently approved Proposition 4, we can be proud that California will deepen its commitment to large-scale action to address the state’s water, wildfire and climate challenges. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
The top reason for the Delta ecosystem collapse: Massive water exports south
Dan Bacher writes, “Do you want to know why Delta smelt, imperiled salmon, sturgeon and other fish species the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are on the edge of extinction? It just might have something to do with the fact that huge amounts of water have been exported out of the Delta for decades, combined with the impacts of toxics, pollution and invasive species. You can check out the annual exports out of the Delta by state and federal water projects over the 23 years from 2010 to 2023 in the charts below. Data wasn’t available yet for 2024 and 2025. These figures are in million acre feet of water. You can view the tables on the Delta Stewardship Council website: viewperformance.deltacouncil.ca.gov/… … ” Continue reading at the Daily Kos.
California is drowning in hazardous forest waste with nowhere to put it
Matt Dias, president and CEO of Calforests, writes, “Shaye Wolf is right about one thing: California has affordable clean energy options like solar and wind. But her op-ed ignores an urgent, critical reality on the ground: we are in a wildfire crisis and California is drowning in hazardous forest waste with nowhere to put it. Biomass energy is not about cutting healthy forests or replacing solar and wind. It’s about the fact that California is in a wildfire emergency, and the state faces a dangerous accumulation of forest fuels with limited safe disposal options. Policy decisions must reflect this operational and public-safety reality, not just theoretical comparisons among energy sources. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Small-scale bioenergy is critical for wildfire prevention, climate resilience, and emissions reduction
Gary Bradford, Yuba County Supervisor and Board Delegate of the Rural County Representatives of California, writes, “”As a Yuba County Supervisor, I strongly disagree with the call to end California’s BioMAT program. BioMAT is not a rogue policy; it is explicitly supported by the California Forest Carbon Plan, California Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Agency, and the California Air Resource Board’s Climate Change Scoping Plan. All recognize small-scale bioenergy as a critical tool for wildfire prevention, climate resilience, and emissions reduction, and air quality regulators acknowledge the benefits of these projects as well. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Congressional ‘Fix Our Forests Act’ would worsen wildfire threat in California
Chad Hanson, a wildfire scientist with the John Muir Project, writes, “As the Eaton and Palisades fires devastated the communities of Altadena and Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles County in January, the nation watched in horror. Driven by extremely dry air and wind gusts over 80 mph, the fires were unstoppable, forcing firefighters to focus on helping people to evacuate as houses and businesses burned around them. By the time it was over, the fires had destroyed over 10,000 homes and killed at least 31 people. While smoke hung in the air in Los Angeles, some politicians and political commentators were already stridently proclaiming that these fires prove we need more intensive forest management to stop such blazes and protect communities. People were mourning, and confused, and much was still unknown about the circumstances of the fires. Many, in shock, were looking for easy answers. Congress responded by passing the “Fix Our Forests Act” (H.R. 471) through the House on Jan. 23 while the fires still burned. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Biomass is a money pit that won’t solve energy or wildfire problems
Shaye Wolf, the climate science director at the Center for Biological Diversity, writes, “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 the Marin Independent Journal.
If world is at risk, green opposition to nuclear, hydro power is incoherent
The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “President Donald Trump’s belief that climate change is a gigantic “hoax” — and his willingness to act on that belief by blocking a wide range of constructive actions and withdrawing the U.S. from global efforts to address the problem — has alarmed responsible elected leaders, scientists and environmental organizations across the world. But the American public? Not as much as many would expect. In polls this year asking Americans to list the nation’s most important problems, the economy, inflation, health care, immigration and crime consistently outranked climate change and related issues. Part of this is what European media calls the “greenlash”: a chunk of the public realizing that many climate initiatives will make energy and the products it helps produce cost far more after years of being told that the transition would be relatively painless. … ” Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Photos of the dirty 1970s will make you appreciate the EPA
James Salzman, a professor of environmental law at UC Santa Barbara School of Environment and UCLA Law School, writes, “Growing up in the 1970s, I took for granted the trash piles along the highway, tires washed up on beaches and smog fouling city air. Such scenes are why the first Earth Day — on April 22, 1970 — energized the nation. In the largest single-day public demonstration in U.S. history, roughly 10% of the population took to the streets to shout together: “Enough is enough!” Republican and Democratic politicians alike listened. Over the decade that followed, all the nation’s foundational environmental laws were passed with strong bipartisan support, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. These laws are taking a beating at the moment, including from the Environmental Protection Agency — the federal agency created in 1970 to protect the environment. The agency’s leader, Lee Zeldin, boasted of “driving a dagger straight into the heart” of environmental regulations. President Trump regularly derides environmental laws as job killers and government overreach.The conditions that made these laws necessary have largely been forgotten, allowing critics to focus entirely on costs while ignoring the laws’ very real benefits and achievements. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Trump is desperate to end era of land, water, wildlife protections
“No one I know, and few people outside my realm, consider their lives near the forests and clean waters of the upper Great Lakes as anything other than a blessing. Even though for two centuries residents here engaged in an ambitious campaign to achieve “progress” – wielding the axe on our trees and building facilities that discharge wastes into our waters – our landscape nevertheless is now a real-life demonstration of the hard-fought and virtuous balance between human occupation and natural beauty. … Here is the point of this essay. The miracle of our natural bounty is not just the union of land and ecology. It’s this: it’s no accident. As Americans we’ve been caretaking our most valuable gifts. Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872. Yosemite in 1892. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act in 1906, the first law to protect cultural and natural resources on federal land. … ” Read the full commentary at Circle of Blue.
In regional water news this week …
One year after Klamath Dam removal, salmon surge into newly opened habitat: CalTrout and partners track recovery through comprehensive monitoring
“Just one year after the removal of the Klamath River dams, new monitoring results show thousands of Chinook salmon pushing deep into newly reopened habitat—some reaching more than 360 river miles from the ocean into the Upper Klamath Basin for the first time in over a century. These early outcomes reinforce what Tribes, scientists, and river advocates have long known: when we remove barriers and restore habitat, salmon come home. A coalition of 19+ partners, including CalTrout, the Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe, The Klamath Tribes, ODFW, CDFW, university researchers, and nonprofits, is powering one of the most comprehensive salmon monitoring programs in the West. Despite funding disruptions earlier this fall, the team has kept the monitoring program going. Consistent data is essential for informing management, guiding restoration priorities, and tracking the river’s recovery in real time. “We’re not missing a beat,” said Damon Goodman, CalTrout Regional Director. “This data is crucial to help us understand how successful dam removal has been and to guide the trajectory of recovery.” … ” Read more from CalTrout.
Eel River sonar system reveals salmon and steelhead status to scientists, anglers and agencies
“The South Fork Eel River is a salmon and steelhead stronghold and represents the best opportunity to restore wild fish abundance. This stretch of river has been impacted by excessive water diversions in many of its tributaries. Improving stream flows is critical to protecting key life-stages for coho salmon and steelhead survival. To inform our conservation work on the Eel, CalTrout has teamed up with partners on this new project – The Adult Salmonid Sonar Monitoring Program – to tally the annual spawning run of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead on the South Fork Eel River with a Sound Metrics Dual Frequency Identification Sonar (DIDSON) camera. These fish often spawn in muddy and turbid reaches which make it impossible to count fish using traditional spawner surveys. SONAR technology allows us to more accurately monitor salmon which under past survey techniques might be un-detectable. Project partners include CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, CA State Parks, and the California Conservation Corps and is funded by the CDFW Steelhead Report and Restoration Card Program. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
How fuel reductions fueled the ‘Christmas Valley miracle’
“When the Caldor Fire swept through Christmas Valley and Meyers in 2021, many expected to return to a smoking, blackened wreck—and were surprised by the fire leaving the areas largely unharmed. What’s now known as the “Christmas Valley miracle” was supported through years of fuel reduction treatment. In a study accepted by the journal of Forest Ecology and Management earlier this month, researchers Hugh Safford and Saba Saberi found that trees in treated areas were three times more likely to survive than those in untreated areas. Safford, who lives in Meyers for part of the year, said he was familiar with the work that the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) conduct in the area. He was interested in studying an area he was familiar with, and when he walked the area after the fire was put out, said he saw obvious patterns tied to fuel treatment. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SEE ALSO: Why Fuel Breaks Work to Slow or Stop a Wildfire’s Advance, from the Tahoe Daily Tribune
Supporting the reintroduction of Sacramento winter-run chinook to the Battle Creek watershed
“The day the gates closed on the Shasta Dam in 1943, approximately 200 miles of California’s prime salmon and steelhead spawning habitat disappeared. Although devastating for all four distinct runs of Central Valley Chinook salmon, the high dam hit the Sacramento winter-run Chinook the hardest. Sacramento winter Chinook—the only winter-run Chinook in the world—evolved from the cold, spring-fed waters of the McCloud River, Upper Sacramento, Pit Rivers, and Battle Creek. These streams originate from the volcanic aquifers of Mount Shasta and Lassen, which store water from snowmelt and slowly release it as steady, reliable, cold flows throughout summer months. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Yuba River sees highest salmon numbers in more than a decade
“2025 is the year for salmon success in California’s Yuba River. A nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the watershed has positive results to share this year. “Just in the last five years or so, we’ve had about 200 acres of restoration come online on the lower Yuba,” said Danielle Horvath, fisheries restoration manager with the South Yuba River Citizens League. The South Yuba River Citizens League, or SYRCL, is leading the charge when it comes to salmon restoration in the Yuba watershed. With several projects under their belt, they’re starting to see promising numbers when it comes to salmon populations. “I’m actually just finishing up counting all the redds from December of this year, and we’re seeing an increase by the hundreds,” said Horvath. … ” Read more from CBS News.
East Bay Parks to restore tidal marshes with 77-acre addition of Hayward shoreline
“In a move to restore vital marsh habitat and combat sea level rise, the East Bay Regional Park District has acquired 77-acres of the Hayward Regional Shoreline from the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. The property transfer this week furthers East Bay Parks’ vision to open the shoreline for public access along the San Francisco Bay Trail and revitalize the tidal marshes that existed there over a century ago, before industrial salt ponds peppered the San Francisco Bay shoreline. “As sea levels rise, marshes should keep up with it, and so they can rise along with the sea levels, and they can continue providing those benefits decades out into the future,” said Dave Halsing, the executive project manager for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project for the California State Coastal Conservancy. “What’s difficult is having to do it safely.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
‘Innovative’ approach to sea level rise is first of its kind in San Francisco Bay
“Under a fresh plot of dirt along the San Francisco Bay, a revolutionary new way to address climate change is taking shape in Palo Alto. Young native plants are taking root in the soil, which sits atop a layer of wood chips, a layer of sand and a layer of gravel. Treated water from a nearby wastewater plant will soon trickle through it all, irrigating the plants while getting extra filtering before going into the bay. This so-called living levee is designed to grow in elevation as plants die off and sediment settles, adjusting to rising seas and protecting the shoreline from big storms. It can be used in conjunction with conventional seawalls, which don’t integrate into the habitat and may eventually be overtopped. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Stanislaus dam controversy has it all: seismic concern, condors, unusual rocks
“A peaceful canyon in western Stanislaus County, where people hike and enjoy the scenery, also is a battleground over a proposed reservoir just outside Patterson. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released an environmental impact statement this month that’s likely to spark new debate about seismic activity around Del Puerto Canyon, the safety of the proposed dam and wildlife. In a new wrinkle, some dam opponents have noted that legally protected California condors have been flying not far from the reservoir site. A spokesman for the state Division of Safety of Dams said the regulatory agency expects to see a construction application in 2026 from Del Puerto Water District and its reservoir partner, the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, an association of four water districts. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Major legislation to support FKC repair completion
“Two Central Valley Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a package of legislation that includes providing enormous funding for the completion of much needed repairs to the Friant-Kern Canal. In addition the package includes considerable funding for the Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District’s planned major groundwater recharge project. Merced Representative Adam Gray introduced a legislative package on December 11 titled the “End California Water Crisis Package” that was co-sponsored by Fresno Representative Jim Costa. The package includes three bills: The Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review, WATER Act, the Build Now Act and the Central Valley Water Solutions Act. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
“Don’t panic,” groundwater agency advises Hanford-area grower after approving controversial pumping allocation
“The Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) approved a pumping allocation over objections from neighboring agencies and without any indication it will be approved by the state. “I’ve got to make decisions this month, next month, whether I’m gonna spend money on those trees or pull them out now,” farmer Dan Fiser said during Mid-Kings’ Dec. 16 meeting. The Mid-Kings board approved a pumping allocation of 1.43 acre feet per acre of land, more than twice that of the neighboring South Fork Kings GSA, which is proposing .66 of an acre foot per acre of land for its farmers. South Fork and several other entities have objected to Mid-Kings’ allocation, saying it’s far too generous. Fiser, who relies solely on groundwater, was fearful of depending on the controversial pumping allocation that the state Water Resources Control Board may not approve. Mid-Kings chair and Kings County Supervisor, Doug Verboon told Fiser to stay calm. “I don’t want anybody to overreact. Don’t panic,” said Verboon, who is also a walnut farmer. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Hanford-area farmers will face new groundwater recharge rules in the new year
“An agricultural water district that serves mostly Hanford-area farmers is looking for ways to preserve its surface supplies for use on crops first by limiting how much can be recharged into the aquifer. The Kings County Water District at its Dec. 18 meeting approved an amendment to its 2026 Kings River water purchase contract to limit recharge except under certain conditions. “I think rolling something out like this is one of those things where I would hope that people have internal ethics to try and address this issue and not overuse or misuse or be good stewards,” Board Member Chip Mello said. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Camarillo seeks ‘extraordinary remedy’ in response to phase 1 ruling in regional groundwater adjudication case
“[Last week], the City of Camarillo filed a Writ of Mandate with the Santa Barbara Superior Court requesting further review of the Phase 1 ruling in OPV Coalition, et al., v. Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency, et al. Issued in October, the ruling did not consider key evidence, combined legally distinct water sources, relied on outdated modeling, and ultimately established a dangerously low total available groundwater supply, or “safe yield,” for the region. Recognizing the imminent and long-term threat this decision has on the City’s water supplies, an appeal has been made to the court to swiftly intervene. Prompt action by the court is critical because, based on similar groundwater adjudication cases in California, the litigation could continue for 10 years or more before a final judgment is reached. “If this legal decision is left to stand, Camarillo could be forced to make major water supply and investment decisions for the future based on a ruling that the City finds inconsistent with existing and established laws,” said Mayor David Tennessen. “We are seeking a transparent, data-driven outcome that protects ratepayers, respects state and federal investments, and allows the City to plan responsibly for its water future.” … ” Continue reading from the City of Camarillo.
L.A. fire cleanups reports describe repeated violations, illegal dumping allegation
“The primary federal contractor entrusted with purging fire debris from the Eaton and Palisades fires may have illegally dumped toxic ash and misused contaminated soil in breach of state policy, according to federal government reports recently obtained by The Times. The records depict harried disaster workers appearing to take dangerous shortcuts that could leave hazardous pollution and endanger thousands of survivors poised to return to these communities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allocated $60 million to hire personnel to monitor daily cleanup operations and document any health and safety risks. The Times obtained thousands of government oversight reports that detail these federal efforts to rid fire-destroyed homes of toxic debris between February and mid-May. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
The Colorado River is on the verge of crisis. No one has a solution.
“When Carly Jerla left her home in the Rocky Mountains to attend the annual conference of the most bitterly contested river in the American West, the signs around her were grim: December temperatures in the 60s, meager snowpack and projections of below-average runoff to sustain the Colorado River.“The way things are setting up isn’t looking good,” Jerla, one of the Bureau of Reclamation’s top experts on the Colorado River, told the conference this week, adding that the region could be facing a dry stretch “that could really put the system into an untenable position.” … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
