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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Harmful Algal Blooms in Clear Lake from 12pm to 1pm. Join Bay Nature and Sarah Ryan, environmental director at the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians for a virtual talk on the effects of harmful algal blooms in Clear Lake. Harmful algal blooms have plagued Clear Lake for years, killing millions of fish, most recently in August 2025’s HAB event. Ryan will talk about the work being done to monitor and mitigate for these ongoing disasters and how the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians has tracked harmful algal blooms in Clear Lake since 2014. As Tanvi Dutta Gupta, writes in her piece, “the program started after five years of “thick, noxious blooms covering [Clear Lake’s] surface” (as the tribe writes in a history of the program) and no regular monitoring from the state or local government, despite recommendations from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.” This talk is free for Bay Nature Members and $5 for Nonmembers. Click here to register.
- LUNCH MAR: Co-Location Solar With Ground Water Recharge and other Water Infrastructure from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Evan Riley, the CEO and Managing Partner of White Pine Renewables will talk through how White Pine Renewables has become an industry leader in co-locating solar on ground water recharge basis, balancing ponds, and other water infrastructure. The talk will cover about technical, commercial and legal hurdles for these types of projects and how to identify what makes “good” project (aka viable) and what makes a “bad” project (aka not viable). White Pine has successfully deployed approximately 30 solar and storage assets on top of or in support of California Water bodies between 2020 and 2025. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC WORKING GROUP MEETING: Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel from 3pm to 7pm. The State Water Resources Control Board will hold Panel working group meetings for the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel to facilitate Panel deliberations on issues relevant to the Panel charge questions, which ask the Panel to consider the approaches in State Water Board Order WQ 2018-0002, In the Matter of Review of Waste Discharge Requirements General Order No. R5-2012-0116 for Growers Within the Eastern San Joaquin River Watershed that are Members of the Third-Party Group (Eastern San Joaquin Water Quality Order) and State Water Board Order WQ 2023-0081, In the Matter of Review of General Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands Order No. R3-2021-0040 (Central Coast Ag Water Quality Order). Click here for the meeting notice.
In California water news today …
These California scientists maintain one of the world’s longest-running snow datasets
“Scientists at UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Laboratory were busier than ever this season — even before receiving over 4 feet of snow around Christmas. The modest research station, located in a forested area a few miles outside Truckee, meticulously collects snowfall measurements at Donner Summit, continuing a practice that began nearly 150 years ago. These records make for one of the world’s longest running snow datasets, providing important insights into long-term changes to the Sierra snowpack, a cornerstone of California’s water supply. But the lab isn’t stuck in the past. Researchers are performing innovative studies to advance scientists’ understanding about snowpack behavior, which could improve California’s water resource management. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
From roadways to waterways: The environmental toll of 6PPD-quinone
“6PPD, a chemical widely used in tires to prevent rubber degradation and extend tire lifespan, has raised environmental concerns due to its breakdown product, 6PPD-quinone. When 6PPD reacts with ozone, it forms 6PPD-quinone, a compound that can enter waterways through stormwater runoff, posing significant risks to aquatic ecosystems. Research has identified 6PPD-quinone as acutely toxic to coho salmon and other sensitive fish species, with potential implications for human health as well. In December 2025, the EPA, in collaboration with the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC), hosted a webinar to share updates on 6PPD-quinone research, explore mitigation strategies, and discuss resources aimed at addressing the environmental and health challenges posed by this chemical. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
NOW AVAILABLE: Groundwater Recharge Estimation factsheet
The Flood-MAR Network’s Estimating Recharge Action Team has created a Groundwater Recharge Estimation factsheet. The factsheet serves to provide landowners and groundwater sustainability agencies with some simple approaches for estimating recharge and for collecting data that will be most beneficial for improving those estimates of recharge moving forward. The factsheet presents recharge estimate options to employ and walks the reader through the recharge estimation process. The Flood-MAR Network strives to improve water availability, flood risk reduction, and groundwater recharge to sustain communities and ecosystems through Flood-MAR implementation. Click here for the factsheet.
Map shows where California rainfall is over 300% of average this season
“Recent storms produced a wetter than average water year across much of California, with some places even tallying over 300% of their average rainfall through this point in the wet season. The biggest anomalies, sometimes topping 300%, have been on the Central Coast and in Southern California. Los Angeles International Airport experienced 270% of its normal precipitation as of Tuesday, according to data from the California Nevada River Forecast Center. (The measurements reflect the rainfall since Oct. 1, which is considered the start of the water year.) … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Invasive critters “musseling” in on valley waterways as managers struggle to stop the spread
“The dreaded, destructive golden mussel has become an urgent topic among San Joaquin Valley water agencies prompting near daily meetings on how to combat the tiny mollusk that is clogging pipes and equipment from Stockton to Arvin. “We’re going to be dealing with this for the foreseeable future if not longer,” said Johnny Amaral, chief operating officer of Friant Water Authority. After golden mussels were discovered in the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District late last year, Friant did a top-to-bottom inspection of the southern reaches of the Friant-Kern Canal while water demands are low. Crews looked under bridges, headgates, turnouts — every nook and cranny where the mussel could attach itself – blasting colonies with lethal hot water and scraping them off by hand while chemical solutions are researched. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Court hands DWR another tunnel setback
“Delta area groups opposed to the $20 billion tunnel project are celebrating another court victory. A California appellate court recently ruled that the Department of Water Resources lacks the legal authority to issue billions of dollars in bonds to construct the 45-mile-long project. The decision strikes down the agency’s goal of financing the Delta Conveyance Project without the need for getting legislative or voter approval. The court, according to published reports, said DWR’s bond plan is ambiguous and would give the agency too much discretion over the project. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
SEE ALSO: Sacramento, Yolo and San Joaquin among counties that just won major court victory against Newsom’s plan to pay for $20 billion Delta Tunnel, from the Sacramento News & Review
An inventory of life in California
“California has never lacked for ambition. Its 20th-century infrastructure projects—like dams, aqueducts, and freeways—are known for their scale and confidence. CalATBI belongs to that lineage, though its raw material is not concrete or steel, but beetles, spores, DNA fragments, and pinned moths. The premise is straightforward. California cannot protect what it has not documented. Despite centuries of natural history, thousands of species remain undescribed, particularly among insects, fungi, and soil organisms. Many exist only as fleeting presences, active for weeks each year, then gone. CalATBI’s response is to build a voucher-based, DNA-powered inventory of life across the state, drawing together hundreds of scientists, museums, universities, and trained volunteers. … ” Read more from Mongabay.
Sacramento returns to Trump’s climate whirlwind: Water wheels
“California state water managers are likely to be able to increase how much water they pump out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta under a new set of environmental rules approved in December. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife largely approved the Department of Water Resources’ request to loosen the operating rules of the State Water Project, the system of pumps and canals that moves water from the sensitive Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to cities and farms. … ” Read more from Politico (scroll down for brief story).
California leaders urge public opposition to Trump’s offshore drilling plan
“Members of the California State Legislature and environmental advocates blasted the Trump administration on Tuesday over proposed offshore drilling expansion plans off the California coast, urging residents to oppose the proposal before the Jan. 23 deadline for public comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The condemnation came after the federal government proposed to open six offshore lease sales in federal waters off the California coast, a move that continues to face strong opposition by California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom. “Over 90 marine mammals make their home along California coast. Over 500 fish, untold sea life, remarkable ecosystems, including our giant kelp ecosystem, (are) at risk,” California’s Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said during Tuesday’s conference, reiterating Newsom’s position that the proposal needs to be “dead on arrival.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
SEE ALSO: California Republicans aren’t fighting Trump’s offshore drilling plan, from E&E News
This startup’s concept promises to snuff out California’s wildfires with sound
“Remington Bixby Hotchkis thinks fighting wildfires with water in California may be so yesterday. The ranching family scion with roots stretching back to the 19th century San Joaquin Ranch in Orange County to the early days of oil drilling in Long Beach and a spread in the Santa Ynez Valley, is leading an innovative effort in California to commercialize a new technology that can put out fire with sound-wave energy instead of water and chemicals. “I really see this acoustic suppression technology as replacing the need for water, which is a very valuable resource in our state,” said Hotchkis, whose great-grandfather, Preston Hotchkis, was an early proponent in the 1940s of importing sorely needed water to the Los Angeles area. As the first president of the Colorado River Association and director of the Metropolitan Water District, Preston Hotchkis, who died at 95 back in 1989, advocated the transfer of Colorado River water to Southern California. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
‘Showed up when called.’ Remembering Doug LaMalfa’s time of service
“North State conservative Nadine Bailey remembers her early days working as a field representative for former California State Sen. Sam Aanestad more than 20 years ago. It was then when she got to know Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who at the time was representing District 2 in the California State Assembly. Aanestad had defeated former Assemblyman and former Redding Mayor Dick Dickerson in a contentious race between Republicans. Bailey remembers Shasta County voters were still upset that Aanestad had won. “And Doug, who didn’t know me but he knew Sam, bridged that gap. Whenever he would introduce me (at community events), he would say, ‘I want you to treat her like you treat me.’ And we became friends because of that,” Bailey said Tuesday morning, Jan. 6. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
SEE ALSO:
- The Doug LaMalfa I covered: Authentic, cranky and deeply caring, from SF Gate
- The excitement for a challenge, 8-letter license plates, and more water: How California Republicans remember Doug LaMalfa, from KCRA
- Water and wildfires back in the spotlight amid sudden death of Doug LaMalfa, from SF Gate
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Trinidad emergency water notices expected to last through Wednesday
“This weekend, a water main leak beneath Scenic Drive on the border of the city of Trinidad and Trinidad Rancheria drained the city’s water storage, forcing the city’s water department to take up high-turbidity water from Luffenholtz Creek during king tides and stormy weather. The ensuing circumstances, a “perfect storm” local officials say, have left the city with an emergency water shortage, a boil water notice and a 50% conservation notice. Water is expected to be in potable condition by the middle of the week, and the city is expected to take one to two weeks to replenish its 400,000 gallon water storage. Local restaurants will be unable to open for regular business until the state is able to confirm clean test results. The city said, on Monday at 5 p.m., “clean test results from Sunday’s sampling throughout the city’s distribution system were received from the County Health Department late this afternoon” but still requires notice from the state. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Commentary: SMUD’s exit is welcome — but it doesn’t end the fight for Coyote Creek
Robin Epley writes, “If you’ve been celebrating the news that the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) won’t buy power from a controversial project opposed by environmentalists, Native American communities and others, maybe hold off on popping the champagne. One of SMUD’s biggest public relations disasters in decades is far from solved by their retreat on Tuesday from the Coyote Creek solar project, which threatened 3,500 oak trees in one of California’s last known woodlands. The trees are still in danger even though SMUD’s purchasing deal with New York-based energy developer D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) is off. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
What can recent rain do for coming drought years? In Yolo County, planning is paramount
“After a recent stretch of wet weather, water seems to be everywhere in the Sacramento region. The Yolo Bypass is flooded, low-lying roads are closed by standing water, creeks are raging, and gauge readings on major rivers are trending up. As rain subsides and area residents look ahead to a drier week, local water stores are showing promising signs for the year ahead. But in a region that relies on winter storms to build up water reserves, farmers and water managers are cautious. “The water year is off to a great or at least a very good year,” David Schaad, a fifth-generation farmer and president of the Dunnigan Water District’s board, said in an email. “But weather can be fickle. A wet December doesn’t mean January, February and March won’t turn dry.” If the trend continues, the Sacramento region will have had multiple wet years in a row. The last major drought ended in 2023, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. That doesn’t necessarily mean dry conditions won’t return. … ” Read more from KVIE.
NAPA/SONOMA
Lake Mendocino reservoir at capacity; will use new water release guidelines
“A new approach for deciding when to release water from reservoirs is being used in the North Bay, and it could soon be applied to reservoirs across the nation. The persistent rainstorms the past few weeks has Russian River swollen to its banks, and while other cities may see that as a flooding danger, in Healdsburg, they welcome it. Back in 2021, the drought was all anyone was talking about. “The water shortage is the only topic of conversation on anyone’s mind right now,” said one man. “It’s going to come to a point where we don’t have enough water for our city. And it’s got to that point,” said another. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Sonoma Co.: Untreated wastewater spills into Russian River after storm overwhelms treatment plant
“People are being asked to stay away from the Russian River near Guerneville following a wastewater treatment plant overflow early Tuesday. The Russian River Treatment Plant on Neeley Road was overwhelmed during heavy rainfall overnight that resulted in flows at a rate of 4 million gallons per day into the system, which has a design capacity of 710,000 gallons per day under average dry-weather conditions, according to Sonoma Water. Sonoma Water manages a system that provides filtered water to nine cities and special districts in the region. “A portion of the discharge is traveling roughly one-quarter of a mile through a forested area before reaching the mainstem of the Russian River,” Sonoma Water officials said in a news release Tuesday afternoon. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Untreated wastewater spills into Russian River after rainfall overwhelms sewage treatment plant, from CBS News
BAY AREA
Storm runoff and tidal surge bring glimpse into forecast future for Marin’s waterfront
“Marin County got a taste of its forecast climate future this past weekend. A combination of king tides, winter storms and high winds closed parts of U.S. Highway 101 in the area, flooded homes and vehicles, and left whole neighborhoods stranded islands. On Monday morning Congressman Jared Huffman and Marin County officials visited some of the hardest-hit areas around Larkspur and Corte Madera. “It wasn’t perfect, but you know, we kept it at bay for the most part,” Ryan Davis, general manager of the Fitness SF gym on Fifer Avenue in Corte Madera, explained to Huffman. … ” Read more from NorCal Public Media.
Marin County crews still pumping floodwaters after storm, king tides
“Sunshine and clear skies returned to Marin County on Tuesday, a welcome sight for residents affected by widespread flooding caused by king tides and heavy weekend rain. The combination of unusually high tides and persistent storms left many neighborhoods inundated and residents struggling to stay dry. “Over 30 years and it’s never been like this,” said Linda Sudduth, a longtime Larkspur Marina resident. “It was coming from the creek on both sides of the house and completely flooded the front of the house.” … ” Read more from KTVU.
San Francisco: The race against runoff
“Few of us give stormwater a second thought — at least until it backs up. That’s why Sarah Minick, who has dedicated her career to the subject, is so excited that an innovative new park in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood has been named accordingly. “It actually says ‘Stormwater Park’ on Google Maps,” gushes Minick, an urban watershed planning manager with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. “That’s cultural progress.” Completed in 2022, the 1.2-acre linear park sits on the edge of a sprawling former parking lot abutting Mission Creek. Directly across the waterway — also known as China Basin Channel — sits Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants’ home stadium. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Smith Canal Gate closes for first time to prevent Stockton flooding
“The Smith Canal Gate in Stockton was closed for the first time since its opening last year due to high tides following the significant rainfall across the region. The gate provides crucial flood protection for the area. “This gate will protect the community from those high tides,” said Darren Suen of the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency. “In the event of a levee breach, we want to make sure more water is not coming in.” … ” Read more from KCRA.
Ag panel to delve into nitrates in San Joaquin Valley groundwater
“Farmers and ranchers are invited to two panel discussions later this month about how agriculture can reduce the amount of nitrates in the eastern San Joaquin River Watershed. The discussions will be held Jan. 21 and 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. both in person and online. Panel experts will cover questions by the Water Board including setting nitrogen-related limitations on farmers in order to protect groundwater quality; methods used to measure nitrogen and comparing water quality issues between smaller and larger farmers. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Westlands board vote moves huge solar project forward
“A vote last month by the Westlands Water District board to sign off on the environmental impact report for a massive solar project on Fresno County’s westside marked a major milestone in the development of the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan. The environmental report is subject to a 30-day challenge period that ends Jan. 17, Jose Gutierrez, Westlands assistant general manager, told GV Wire on Monday. If it continues to move forward on schedule, Gutierrez said, VCIP solar farms are expected to generate 20 to 21 gigawatts of electricity by 2040. If it’s fully developed, up to 136,000 acres of fallowed land could be converted to solar projects. … ” Read more from GV Wire.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Eaton Fire victims still wonder about lack of water during firefight
“One of the biggest and most controversial talking points surrounding the battle against the January 2025 Southern California wildfires was water supply – or a lack thereof. Fire crews and brave Altadena residents alike found an alarming problem whilst trying to fight the flames last year: low water pressure and dry fire hydrants. Then-Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley was vocal about the water shortage, criticizing city officials for not providing enough funds for the fire department. Gov. Gavin Newsom, days after the blaze erupted, also called for an investigation into why a 117-million-gallon reservoir in the area was out of service. But a year has now passed, and some Altadena residents are still frustrated about the water situation. … ” Read more from KTLA.
SEE ALSO:
- A year after the LA Fires, recovery is lagging, but bright spots emerge, from Inside Climate News
- One year later, Los Angeles rebuilds after historic wildfires as year-round fire threat grows, from AccuWeather
SoCal mountain resorts struggle with lack of snow to start winter season
“It’s been a rough winter season for Southern California mountain resorts so far. Instead of much-needed snow, many of the resorts have only gotten rain. Walking around the community of Big Bear, tourists are hard pressed to find any snow at all, besides man-made snow at two of the ski and snowboard resorts. The National Weather Service said on average, Big Bear receives approximately 11 inches of snow every December – but not this year. “This year, at Big Bear Lake, we’ve not recorded any snowfall,” said Casey Oswant, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. … ” Read more from KABC.
Along the Colorado River …
Deadlocked Colorado River negotiators to meet, ‘sequestered’
“Top water officials from the seven Colorado River Basin states will return to the negotiating table next week, reportedly in sequestered fashion, to try to make headway over how to cut water use. Starting Monday, the negotiators will meet for four days in Salt Lake City, sources said, and two people familiar with the long-stalled talks say attendance will be sharply or at least unusually limited. Federal officials are convening the seven-state meeting after a missed deadline in November in the long stalemate over how to deal with the oversubscribed, dwindling river. The U.S. Interior Department, which typically runs the negotiating sessions, has told the states it wants an agreement among them by Feb. 14. If that doesn’t happen, Reclamation Commissioner Scott Cameron has said he’ll consider imposing a solution on the states. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Commentary: Overuse of Colorado River threatens $3.8T economy, numerous jobs
Andrea Helart, Angie Anderson, Becky Fawson, Bo Hellams, Cheri Ryan, Chris Romer and Danny Seiden write, “Our nation has reached a critical inflection point. We can no longer ignore the alarming reality that we are using more water than the Colorado River reliably provides. Major reservoirs such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell sit at roughly one-third full and under historic stress. … As business leaders from Arizona and Colorado, we represent hundreds of companies and thousands of jobs that rely on a stable and well-managed Colorado River. We recognize the monumental challenge of updating the rules that govern how this water is allocated and delivered to farms, businesses, and communities across seven states and Mexico. From a business perspective, the implications couldn’t be more acute. Water supply uncertainty threatens agriculture, manufacturing, power generation, municipal planning, and recreation economies. Investors require reliable resource baselines to commit, expand, and add jobs. When the risk of systemic failure hovers, projects get deferred, jobs aren’t created, and economies falter. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Colorado River Basin needs included in FY 2026 appropriations
“On Monday, congressional appropriators released a finalized package of Fiscal Year 2026 spending bills covering Energy and Water Development, Interior and Environment, and Commerce, Justice, and Science. The legislation provides full-year funding for a wide range of federal agencies involved in water management, wildfire response, weather forecasting, and Tribal programs across the western United States. For the seven Colorado River Basin states, the appropriations package focuses on long-standing challenges that continue to shape regional policy, including persistent drought, aging water infrastructure, wildfire risk, and the federal government’s trust obligations to Tribal nations. … ” Continue reading from Western Water.
Why the Las Vegas water supply might be more secure than you think
“The methods aren’t always popular for locals — forthcoming bans on nonfunctional turf, pool size restrictions, etc. — but the water saving outcomes are meant to ensure Southern Nevadans have enough water in the decades to come. That’s because future decline is all but guaranteed here at Lake Mead. “The lake is going to continue to go down with the usage of the water. It just is what it is,” Noah Sanford, owner of Las Vegas Sportfishing, told Channel 13. “Most people don’t realize is that even though the lake is down a little over 170 feet vertically, if we drive out not even a half mile that way, the water is still well over 300 feet deep. In some parts almost 400 feet deep,” Sanford said. … ” Continue reading from Channel 13.
Portions of Arizona Canal closing for dry-up, maintenance
“Don’t be surprised if the canals look a little dry when you’re driving around the Valley. The Salt River Project will start working on its annual canal dry-up, maintenance and construction project on Thursday. SRP crews will be draining and closing parts of about eight miles of the Arizona Canal in Scottsdale until Feb. 7. … ” Read more from KTAR.
In national water news today …
All the climate info that disappeared under Trump. And how it’s being saved.
“The National Climate Assessments. Climate.gov. The billion-dollar disaster database. Hundreds of scientific datasets. They’re all government resources that have been altered, deleted or curtailed since President Donald Trump returned to office nearly one year ago. Now, all of those resources have been rescued, in some form or another, by organizations that are determined to combat Trump’s cuts to federal science. But whether these grassroots missions are making a difference — or are able to fully replace their canceled counterparts — is hard to say. Even as some efforts to preserve the information show promise for purposes like public education or climate-related lawsuits, they’re also running up against big challenges. Funding, staffing and technological infrastructure can be tricky to come by for these projects — resources that were plentiful at the agencies that previously housed them. And most organizations don’t have the same clout that the government has historically enjoyed, raising questions about whether climate assertions made by non-federal groups will convey the same amount of influence. … ” Read more from E&E News.
