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On the calendar today …
- USGS WEBINAR: Innovative and actionable science that informs decision making for our vast and dynamic U.S. drylands from 11am to 11:30am. Dryland ecosystems—such as deserts—are Earth’s largest land biome. They support approximately 60% of global food production and are home to one in every three people worldwide. In the United States, drylands account for more than a third of the national land area, primarily across the western states, where most federal lands are located. As a result, drylands play a critical role in sustaining the U.S. agricultural economy, supplying key energy and mineral resources, and supporting some of the fastest-growing population centers in the country. Despite their importance, our understanding of these vital ecosystems remains limited. This knowledge gap makes the work of federal land managers especially challenging, as they are tasked with managing landscapes that are already extreme, highly variable, and rapidly changing. Drylands are difficult to study due to their pronounced spatial and temporal variability and their inherently dynamic nature. Fortunately, recent advances in remote sensing, modeling, artificial intelligence (AI), and high-resolution, ground-based technologies now make it possible to assess U.S. drylands in ways that were previously unattainable. This talk will highlight work being co-developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and its land management partners, blending cutting-edge approaches to deliver actionable, science-based information for decision-making. Join Teams Meeting.
In California water news today …
California is officially free of drought conditions for the first time in 25 years
“California’s rainy start to 2026 has led to wet conditions pushing the state to break a 25-year record, according to the latest federal and state data. The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday, based on data valid as of Jan. 6, shows 100% of California classified as free of drought conditions, with no areas listed as abnormally dry or experiencing moderate, severe, extreme or exceptional drought. The last time the state reached that threshold was about 25 years ago on Dec. 26, 2000, according to meteorologist Dalton Behringer from the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO:
- California completely drought-free for 1st time in 25 years after winter storms, from ABC 7
- Still soggy California hasn’t been this drought-free in 25 years, from the LA Times
Snow drought current conditions and impacts in the West
“Snowpack is an important and large natural reservoir for many Western communities, storing water in winter as snow that typically runs off in spring. Shifts in the timing and amount of snowmelt or runoff can present challenges to drought and water planning. Snow cover across the West on January 4 was 141,416 square miles—the lowest January 4 snow cover in the MODIS satellite record (since 2001). Snow drought is most severe in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Over 80% of all Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) stations in each state are experiencing snow drought, defined as snow water equivalent (SWE) below the 20th percentile. So far in Water Year 2026 (October 1, 2025–January 4, 2026), more rain than snow has fallen in many areas. Every major river basin in the West experienced near-record or record warmth through December 2025, inhibiting the accumulation of snow. … ” Read more from NIDIS.
SEE ALSO: The western US is in a snow drought, raising fears for summer water supplies, from CNN
Newsom casts California as a foil to the Trump agenda in his final State of the State
“Gov. Gavin Newsom promoted California as an antidote to the Trump agenda on Thursday, telling lawmakers during a wide-ranging State of the State address that California still leads in a host of critical areas such as manufacturing, technology, education and agriculture. “Every year, the declinists, the pundits and critics suffering from California derangement syndrome look at this state and try to tear down our progress,” he said, instead pointing to technological advancements and engineering talent as a metric of his administration’s success. “California’s success is not by chance — it’s by design. We’ve created the conditions where dreamers and doers and misfits and marvelers with grit and ingenuity get to build and do the impossible.” He touted a 9% reduction in unsheltered homelessness, cheaper insulin and increased clean energy use in California as among his accomplishments, in a speech delivered with an eye toward higher office. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
SEE ALSO:
- Newsom touts his successes, swipes at Trump in final State of the State speech, from Dan Walters at Cal Matters
- Newsom’s final State of the State speech steeped in rosy view of California, his record as governor, from the LA Times
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Trinidad has clean water once again following large leak and multi-day shortage
“An emergency water shortage in Trinidad is coming to an end as municipal storage tanks slowly but surely refill and lab test results came back clean, city staff announced Wednesday evening. Residents had been been advised to conserve water and boil any they consume after a large water main leak was discovered on Scenic Drive Saturday morning. The leak quickly and thoroughly drained the city’s 400,000-gallon storage tank, causing low pressure and outages, especially at higher elevations. The boil-water notice was lifted after the State Water Resources Control Board determined the city’s supply is once again safe to drink. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost.
Mendocino County king tides don’t disappoint
“A steady stream of guests stopped by Captain Fletcher’s Inn at Navarro State Beach Park to chat, share snacks, visit the historic Inn and view the stunning King Tides from a safe distance. All around California, beachgoers were encouraged to safely- with the emphasis on safely- view the historic tidal event- one which many scientists say presages how and where normal high tides will be expected if the sea level rise continues unabated. In the Bay Area, locations in low-lying areas of Sonoma and Marin County recorded historic tidal levels, with the astronomical lunar perigee taking place on January 1st at almost the exact time as Perihelion- the point that that the Earth is closest to the Sun. These events coincided with significant, heavy rains throughout the region. Point Reyes recorded its third-highest tide since 1998- 2.73 feet. Already-saturated soils caused minor flooding and the extension of a coastal flood advisory in Mendocino County until January 5th. … ” Read more from the Fort Bragg Advocate-News.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
FEMA delivers updated preliminary flood maps for Tehama County
“The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday unveiled preliminary flood maps for Tehama County and the City of Red Bluff, California. According to FEMA, these updated maps highlight revised flood hazards along seven streams in the area. The new maps aim to help building officials, contractors, and homeowners make informed decisions to enhance community safety and resilience against disasters. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
League of Women Voters to explore Butte County’s “groundwater puzzle”
“The Butte County League of Women Voters is holding a panel Saturday titled “Butte County’s Groundwater Puzzle: How the Pieces Fit” to learn more about “the water you don’t see.” The panel will be held Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Chico, located at 850 Palmetto Avenue, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. It is sponsored by both the League of Women Voters and the Chico chapter of the American Association of University Women. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
Recent storms lift Folsom Lake to winter benchmark, increasing releases
“A succession of early January storms has pushed Folsom Lake into a strong midwinter position, with the reservoir reaching a key winter benchmark as federal operators carefully balance rising inflows, downstream releases and flood-control capacity across the American River watershed. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Folsom Lake reached an elevation of approximately 431.4 feet this week, placing the reservoir at 100 percent of its conservation storage level and about 55 percent of its total capacity by Wednesday morning. The lake currently holds more than 626,000 acre-feet of water. At full capacity, Folsom Lake can store up to 976,000 acre-feet, meaning substantial room remains for additional runoff as winter storms continue. … ” Read more from the Folsom Times.
Managing the river we have: How the Water Forum’s flow standard protects salmon, water reliability, and river health
“Each fall, the Lower American River comes alive as Chinook salmon return to spawn and steelhead begin their migration. Behind these natural rhythms lies careful management—guided by the Water Forum’s Flow Management Standard, now in its 20th year. Developed in collaboration with state and federal agencies, the Water Forum’s science-based standard sets targets for minimum river flows and storage in Folsom Reservoir. It was created with multiple goals in mind: to protect anadromous fish from unhealthy warm river temperatures, to provide adequate flows to maintain access to important fish habitat, and to avoid catastrophic water shortages for the region’s communities. Taken together, these objectives also support overall river health—helping maintain water quality, recreational value, and the long-term resilience of the American River corridor. … ” Continue reading from the Water Forum.
NAPA/SONOMA
Monte Rio grows, connecting Sonoma’s redwood corridor
“Through a densely forested slope on the west side of Dutch Bill Creek, upstream of its confluence with the Russian River, a dirt road zigzags skyward through the redwoods. Once used by loggers to extract the watershed’s timber, the road leads past marks of the lumbering era: a coil of rusted cable strewn in the ferns, deeply eroded stream channels, and countless redwood stumps uphill and down. But the din of logging has vanished from this land. Today, the steep road is a multiuse trail and the recovering forest is protected, part of Sonoma County’s Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Open Space Preserve. Opened in 2020, Monte Rio quadrupled in size last summer with the purchase of 1,517 acres of mostly second-growth redwoods and mixed woodland. Significantly, the approximately 2,030-acre preserve connects to adjacent public property, making it a wonderland for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. … ” Read more from Bay Nature (free registration required).
‘Felt like an earthquake’: Sonoma Co. still cleaning up after storms topple trees, wash away roads
“In the North Bay, big repairs and major clean-up jobs are happening in communities along the Russian River, where storms over the past two weeks toppled trees and washed away roads. “My son was sleeping right there, ten feet away, it felt like an earthquake and explosion,” said Mark Weiss. Mark Weiss from Cazadero, made a stunning discovery over the holidays, a 300-foot tall old growth redwood tree toppling during a storm. “After 24 years here, you know the sound of a tree falling hitting a structure or car – it didn’t hit anything with people in it,” Weiss added. … ” Read more from ABC Bay Area.
Sonoma Co.: Sewage spill into Russian River near Guerneville has stopped
“A sewage spill that has been contaminating the Russian River near Guerneville since Tuesday morning has stopped, according to Sonoma County officials. The Russian River Treatment Plant on Neeley Road was overwhelmed during heavy rains Tuesday night, which resulted in untreated wastewater traveling roughly a quarter-mile through a forested area before reaching the river, according to Sonoma Water, an agency that manages a system providing filtered water to nine cities and special districts in the region. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Sonoma County health workers testing water quality at Russian River, Sonoma Coast beaches after two-day sewage spill, from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
BAY AREA
One very surprising reason Bay Area tide charts were way off during recent floods
“Water levels around the San Francisco Bay Area rose over a foot higher than the tide charts predicted last week as a winter storm arrived during king tides, inundating businesses, an offramp of Highway 101 and neighborhood streets. One reason that tide predictions were off: sea level rise. The tide charts used by sailors, city planners, surfers and coastal businesses around the country are based on sea levels from roughly the 1990s, but water levels have risen by about 3 inches in the Bay Area in the meantime. Even that small amount can throw off tide predictions and exacerbate flooding, though rain and winds — which also do not get factored into the tide charts — were the main culprits for both, said William Sweet, oceanographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, which issues the tide predictions. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
A forgotten corner of San Francisco is transformed into a public green oasis
“San Francisco’s Minnesota Grove is a park built in reverse. First came the transformation of a derelict one-block strip of city land in Dogpatch by neighbors who spent 20 years growing it into a green oasis. Then those neighbors reached out to San Francisco Public Works to put in the infrastructure it lacked. The city spent two years designing and integrating a structural foundation under the landscape. The result is an ADA-accessible open space, about 50 feet wide and 300 feet long, with a 6-foot-wide pathway meandering between stone retaining walls to arrive at a plaza opposite the Minnesota Street Project cluster of art galleries and studios. The curated public space had its ribbon-cutting in December — but it is not an official city park, and Minnesota Grove is not an official name. It is a pedestrian right-of-way that functions as a neighborhood pocket park. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
CENTRAL COAST
A year after Moss Landing battery facility fire, cleanup continues as public distrust lingers
“Clean up work continues at the Vistra Moss Landing Battery Energy Storage System facility nearly a year after a major fire forced the temporary evacuation of over a thousand residents. With a large lawsuit pending, many residents in the area are still looking for accountability, oversight and tighter safeguards against another fire. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors received an update Tuesday from the county’s director of emergency management, Kelsey Scanlon, about the fire that erupted on Jan. 16, 2025. About 12,000 battery modules have now been de-energized and removed from the Moss Landing 300 building for recycling — roughly one-third of the 35,772 batteries stored at the site, Scanlon said. No flare-ups have occurred during battery removal work so far. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
DWR releases San Joaquin River watershed studies to inform recharge in the region
“In December 2025, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) released a suite of San Joaquin Basin Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge (Flood-MAR) Watershed Studies, which assess how climate-driven shifts in flood and drought patterns will affect the region. The studies further identify where Flood-MAR and reservoir reoperations could be deployed to reduce flood risk and strengthen groundwater supplies. The studies evaluate five major watersheds along the San Joaquin River and offer strategies to help water managers understand how reservoir operations, recharge, and ecosystem needs can be coordinated to develop multi-benefit projects across the San Joaquin Valley. … ” Read more from Sustainable Conservation.
Upcoming Galt Winter Bird Festival a family-friendly celebration of local wildlife
“The City of Galt’s annual celebration of all things fowl returns to McCaffrey Middle School, 997 Park Terrace Drive, next month. The 19th annual Galt Winter Bird Festival is Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and promises to be a family-friendly event celebrating winter wildlife where attendees can take bird-watching walks, purchase homemade crafts and participate in interactive live animal presentations. West Sacramento resident Aaron N.K. Haiman will be the festival’s keynote speaker, and his discussion will focus on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a place of connections and complexities. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel.
Manteca Dry Levee to Tinnin Road: 2029 completion date
“Work on raising and extending the dry levee just to the south of the City of Manteca is now targeted for completion by mid-2029. It is part of an effort to upgrade flood protection for 22,600 acres on the eastern side of the San Joaquin River between a point south of the Weatherbee Lake just west of Manteca to Weston Ranch in South Stockton. The Manteca City Council is being updated on the project progress tonight during their 6 p.m. meeting. The presentation comes 29 years and 3 days after levee failures between Airport Way and a point south of Reclamation District 17 that protects most of the area in the current proposed $473 million project flooded more than 70 square miles between Manteca and Tracy. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Friant Water lawsuit ends, reaffirming priority water contracts for Los Banos-area farmers
“The conclusion of a federal water-rights lawsuit involving Friant Dam left in place long-standing rules governing how Central Valley Project water is distributed, including established delivery priorities affecting farming operations around Los Banos. The case arose from reduced water deliveries during the 2014 drought and centered on how federal water contracts operate when supplies are limited. The dispute focused on agreements known as exchange contracts, held by farming entities in and around Los Banos that historically possessed senior rights to divert water from the San Joaquin River. Under those contracts, the Exchange Contractors agreed to forego direct river diversions in return for replacement water delivered through the Central Valley Project from sources north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. … ” Read more from the Los Banos Enterprise.
State abruptly ends year-long silent treatment for Kings County water managers
“The State Water Resources Control Board ended its silent treatment of Kings County groundwater managers Jan. 5, agreeing to meet after a year of zero communication. The news came as a happy surprise to locals who desperately need state guidance to ensure their revamped groundwater plans are headed in the right direction. The stakes are high for area farmers after the Water Board placed the region on probation in April 2024. Probation comes with mandates that farmers meter their wells, register them at $300 each, report extractions and pay $20 per acre foot pumped. Those mandates, held at bay for more than a year because of a lawsuit, are expected to kick in starting in May 1. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
RELATED: Information for Tulare Lake groundwater extractors regarding metering, groundwater extraction reporting, fees, and subbasin status is now available in Frequently Asked Question format on the Tulare Lake Subbasin webpage.
EASTERN SIERRA
Commentary: Time to get tough and finish the right thing
Marc Del Piero, who served as the Attorney Member of the California State Water Resources Control Board from 1992 to 1999, writes, “Now is the time that all residents of California and the friends of Mono Lake need to rise up to convince the members of the State Water Resources Control Board to finish the anticipated restoration of Mono Lake and its tributary ecosystems by completing the contingent provisions and restoration requirements from Decision 1631. When the decision was handed down it was characterized as “doing the right thing.” Direct and unwavering supervision by the State Water Board itself is the only way to finish those requirements of that herculean water rights decision from the 1990s. Twenty-two years ago, in 2004, Geoff McQuilkin, the Executive Director of the Mono Lake Committee, called and asked me to write the essay for that year’s Mono Lake Calendar. Although a decade had passed, the memories of the process that led to the Mono Lake Decision (D1631) were still fresh in the collective minds of those of us who had toiled throughout the 46 days and nights of evidentiary hearings in 1993–94. In my capacity as the Vice-Chair and Water Rights Hearing Officer of the State Water Resources Control Board, I had read every report and more than 1,000 evidentiary exhibits produced by every interested party, annotated the entire Environmental Impact Report, and conducted the hearings from start to finish. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
Death Valley’s Lake Manly reappears following heavy rains
“California’s Lake Manly has reappeared in Badwater Basin of Death Valley, thanks to two weeks of heavy rain through the holidays, according to video bloggers who have visited the site since New Year’s Day. The National Park Service has made no announcements regarding water at the location, but they have posted a link to park rules on Death Valley National Park’s website at with the headline, “No Boating on Lake Manly (Badwater Basin)” to discourage people from taking boats or other watercraft into the lake. Two years ago, however, park employees celebrated the return of Lake Manly in social media posts. Water had returned during the winter months of 2023–2024 after five inches of rain doused the area, leaving a lake around six miles long and one foot deep. Photos soon circulated of people paddling kayaks, and the lake received nationwide attention. But this year, publicity was missing completely. … ” Read more from KTLA.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The LA fires burned Angelenos’ wild havens. A year later, nature is starting to recover
“The destruction of last year’s January fires was devastating. Not just in how they leveled more than 16,000 structures and took at least 31 lives, but also how they stripped bare landscapes that many Southern Californians had become familiar with and had found solace visiting for decades. Hillsides that we’d long seen covered in dense green chaparral and coastal sage scrub were turned to ash, with the charred carcasses of native plants left behind. However, nature moves fast, especially when there are large patches of open soil, sunlight and water to feed recovery. And recovery is what we’re starting to see — both in good and bad ways. “Recovery begins in the first growing season,” said Jon Keeley, research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Orange County agencies launch first AI course for water professionals
“A coalition of Orange County agencies is launching a groundbreaking online education program designed to equip Orange County water professionals with artificial intelligence skills to modernize water utility management. A collaboration between California Data Collaborative, CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County (CLAOC), Moulton Niguel Water District and the University of California Irvine, Division of Continuing Education (UCI DCE), has launched the nation’s first online course dedicated to AI for water professionals. Funding for the course was made possible through a California Jobs First grant awarded to the CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County to catalyze local workforce development projects. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News.
The global importance of restoring the Amargosa River Basin
“Since 1998, River Partners has restored more than 20,000 acres along some of the largest waterways and landscapes throughout California, transforming denuded riverside and former agricultural land into vibrant, lush native riparian habitat benefiting a wide range of wildlife species. Our work has added recreational opportunities to the state’s most park-starved regions, increased flood safety to underserved communities, and stimulated economies where we’ve worked. River Partners and a team of NGOs and resource agencies are now working on the Amargosa River Riparian Restoration, a grant aiming to restore around 1,000 acres of riverside and marsh habitat in the Amargosa Basin, located in the Northern Mojave Desert, one of the most demanding landscapes in the world. With California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) funding awarded to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), River Partners is involved in two separate grant components. … ” Read more from River Partners.
SAN DIEGO
Oceanside pushes for early harbor dredging because of dangerous sand buildup
“Capt. Nathan Warren travels in and out of Oceanside Harbor regularly for whale watching trips. “They have it marked, ‘Danger shallow area,’ said Warren as he steered his boat around the harbor on Wednesday afternoon. He said the harbor mouth is dangerous right now for inexperienced boaters, especially during low tides, due to sediment buildup. He’s witnessed several boats run aground in the past few weeks. “Something needs to be done,” Warren said. “And people just need to be aware of it.” That was why the city of Oceanside declared an emergency late last year and is pushing for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the channel ahead of schedule. Right now, the sand buildup has lowered the depth of the harbor’s mouth to between 7 and 14 feet. The ideal depth is 30 feet. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River at the crossroads: Who’s at the table and what they want
“As negotiations over post-2026 Colorado River operations continue, the dispute is often described as a seven-state problem. In reality, the talks involve far more players, with competing priorities shaped by geography, history, and water law. As 2026 approaches, deadlines have slipped, pressure has increased, and federal officials have signaled that patience is wearing thin. The Colorado River Basin is divided into two regions with fundamentally different concerns. The Upper Basin includes Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. These states control the headwaters of the river but rely on Lake Powell as a buffer to meet downstream obligations. The Lower Basin includes Arizona, Nevada, and California. These states depend on consistent deliveries from Lake Mead and have built cities, farms, and economies around long-standing allocations. That divide continues to shape every proposal now under discussion. … ” Read more from the Lake Powell Chronicles.
Commentary: Need for long-term solutions to Colorado River crisis has never been more urgent
“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. Operating guidelines that manage the delivery of the River’s water — and therefore, the stability of its $3.8 trillion economy – are expiring. As our nation endures extreme levels of hydrology, droughts, and aridity — far worse than the River’s current operational framework predicted – the need for long-term solutions to this crisis has never been more urgent. 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. … ” Read more from the Colorado Newsline.
Commentary: Lower Basin states shed crocodile tears over Colorado River
Greg Walcher, former director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, writes, ““Crocodile tears” is an expression describing an insincere, hypocritical display of emotion, like when a murderer pretends to mourn his victim. It is an ancient metaphor – Plutarch attributed it to “antiquity” during Nero’s reign. It has been around so long because, believe it or not, there is truth in it. Crocodiles do have tear ducts, to keep their eyes moist on dry land, and they are sometimes activated by eating. In humans, that’s a rare condition called Bogorad’s syndrome, more commonly, “Crocodile tears syndrome.” The hypocritical kind of crocodile tears are on display all over the Southwest as political figures mourn the seven Colorado River Basin states’ failure to reach a river management agreement. The Bureau of Reclamation had imposed a November 11, 2025 “deadline” for the states to agree on a plan to reduce their use of the river or face the dire threat of a federal takeover. The “deadline” was artificial, not based on any statute, and sure enough, as soon as it came and went without any agreement, the Bureau decided it could wait until February 2026, a new “deadline.” Colorado and the other Upper Basin states (Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming) were not persuaded by federal threats, and insist that they are not the problem. … ” Read more from Complete Colorado.
Forces aligning against healthy snowpack and a ‘normal’ water supply for Colorado River states
“Water forecasts for the Colorado River are grim going into 2026 as several bad trends are converging. The Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC) cited snowpack levels that are lagging badly, dry ground conditions that will soak up moisture that falls, and snow cover statistics that are the lowest on record since satellite monitoring started in 2001. CBRFC water scientist Cody Moser said conditions are “extremely poor” right now. He spoke during a webinar on Thursday morning. The two biggest factors in the CBRFC’s forecasts are snowpack levels and soil conditions. Storms that soaked California in November and December didn’t continue on to the Colorado Rockies, and that meant a slow start on building the foundation for a good snowpack to feed the river before it flows to Lake Powell and down the Grand Canyon to Lake Mead. The river provides 90% of the water used in Southern Nevada, with the rest coming from ground wells. … ” Read more from KLAS.
SEE ALSO: Abnormally warm winter leaves snowpack below average, with low spring runoff in the forecast, from Aspen Public Radio
Hoover Dam earns Las Vegas Magazine Hall of Fame honor as new exhibit level brings history to life
“Hoover Dam—one of America’s most iconic engineering achievements—has once again captured national attention. Recently honored as a 2026 Las Vegas Magazine Hall of Fame inductee, Hoover Dam continues to stand as a symbol of ingenuity, resilience, and public service nearly a century after its construction. “As impressive today as it was when first built, Hoover Dam remains a compelling marvel,” wrote Katie Dixson, publisher of Las Vegas Magazine. “Not only is it a great destination for tours and amazing views, it’s a piece of cultural history.” Appearing in iconic films, television shows, and video games, Hoover Dam welcomes more than 4 million visitors annually, reinforcing its place in Southern Nevada and American history. That legacy now has a powerful new chapter. The Hoover Dam Visitor Center’s newly remodeled Exhibits has officially reopened following a soft opening on May 26 and a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 17. Fully operational and open to the public, the transformed exhibit space delivers an immersive, multi-sensory experience that brings the story of Hoover Dam vividly to life. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Nevada’s water conservation efforts spark debate over environmental impact
“The Southern Nevada Water Authority reports that the region has approximately 11 years’ worth of water resources saved. Yet, conservation efforts persist as people continue to remove and replace grass under Assembly Bill 356. The bill, passed in 2021, targets non-functional turf—grass that provides no recreational benefit. Since the bill was passed, thousands of acres of grass have been reduced to hundreds. Laura McSwain, founder and president of the Water Fairness Coalition, expressed concerns about the environmental impact of these efforts. “We got a heat problem,” McSwain said, highlighting areas where trees are dying due to grass removal. … ” Read more from Channel 3.
After a wet fall, this SRP hydrologist isn’t as worried about Arizona water reserves
“Arizona is known for its unpredictable weather, and this winter is following that pattern. Forecasters are predicting a rather dry winter season. Arizona experienced one of the driest winters on record in 2025, and an even drier monsoon season left water reserves below average. But SRP senior hydrologist Stephen Flora says that after some much needed rain last fall, SRP is feeling better. “In Arizona we have a lot of variability,” Flora said. “It’s a desert and we can have very wet years and we can have very dry years so there’s quite a bit of range in what you might say is normal.” … ” Read more from KJZZ.
As Arizona groundwater disappears, an agricultural giant agrees to use less
“One of the largest farming businesses in Arizona has agreed to use less water and pay $11 million in a deal that state officials say will help preserve disappearing groundwater and provide financial help for residents whose wells have run dry. Arizona Atty. Gen. Kris Mayes announced the binding legal agreement with Minnesota-based dairy company Riverview LLP on Thursday, calling it the first of its kind in the nation. “This settlement sets a new precedent in Arizona — one where businesses commit to being good neighbors to the communities they operate in and make meaningful efforts to reduce pumping of our most precious resource,” Mayes said. “Today’s announcement is an immediate and concrete action to address the increasingly dangerous depletion of groundwater in rural parts of our state.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via the Las Vegas Sun.
SEE ALSO:
-
- Arizona reaches groundwater settlement with Riverview Dairy, from Western Water
- Arizona announces settlement over dairy’s groundwater, from the Center Square
Utah’s snowpack is at a record low. Here’s what the latest water forecast shows.
“Snowpack in the mountains that feed the Colorado River, the water supply for 40 million people, is off to its worst start in a quarter century. “Very poor snow conditions are out there right now,” said Cody Moser, a hydrologist with the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center, during a water supply briefing on Thursday. Snow cover in the Upper Colorado River Basin, which includes Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, sat at 28% of the 25-year median as of Jan. 1, according to the forecast center — the lowest recorded level since 2001. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Utah leaders want to seize on momentum to save the Great Salt Lake
“To get in top shape for the 2034 Winter Games, state officials say the drying Great Salt Lake needs enough additional water each year to fill 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools – about one for every household in Salt Lake County. They acknowledge the goal is ambitious and say they hope to seize on greater public awareness and a mix of government and outside investment to help restore the lake. “Yes, our choices do matter when it comes to this lake, and those choices can actually increase recovery, and the speed of recovery,” Brian Steed, Utah’s Great Salt Lake commissioner, said Wednesday at an event focused on the lake’s long-term health and hosted by the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. … ” Read more from the Utah News Dispatch.
In new deal with feds, Utah gets ‘a seat at the table’ in managing national forest land
“Utah has had more than 7 million acres of national forest for over a century but not the say it wanted in managing them. That changed Thursday morning when the state finalized a new agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, intended in part to expand logging. “This is something we’ve been working for — wanting — literally, for generations in our state,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at the state Capitol before signing the document. “And now the moment is here where we can be involved on the front end of these decisions.” Utah is the third state to formalize such an agreement with the Forest Service this year, following Idaho and Montana. The compacts come after President Donald Trump directed federal agencies in March to speed approval of logging projects and set goals for timber sales, calling it a way to reduce wildfire risk. … ” Read more from the Utah News Dispatch.
Some large farms in the Mountain West pay little for federal Colorado River water, report finds
“Large farms in parts of the Colorado River Basin are paying little — and in some cases nothing — for federally supplied water, even as cities and residents are being asked to conserve, according to a new report. The analysis from the Natural Resources Defense Council and UCLA examines federal water pricing in the Lower Colorado River Basin, which supplies major cities including Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The Colorado River system as a whole provides water to about 40 million people across the Mountain West and into Mexico. … ” Read more from Wyoming Public Radio.
In national water news today …
Oceans shattered heat records in 2025
“The world’s oceans absorbed more heat in 2025 than any year on record, providing the fuel for extreme weather that killed thousands of people across the globe, according to researchers of a study published Friday in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. The amount of heat the oceans soaked up last year is difficult to comprehend: 23 zettajoules more than 2024. That’s roughly the same amount of energy the entire world uses in 37 years. Think of it this way: If you took every power plant, every car, every light bulb, and every device on Earth and ran them continuously for 37 years, that’s how much extra heat the oceans absorbed in just 2025 alone. “The ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, making it the main heat reservoir of the climate system,” wrote the researchers, a team of more than 50 scientists from 31 institutions across Asia, Europe and the Americas. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
PUBLIC COMMENTS WANTED: Draft 2026 Delta Science Plan
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: 2025-26 San Francisco Bay Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now OPEN
