A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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In California water news this week …
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
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.
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
Satellite radar advances could transform global snow monitoring
Nick Shockey / DWR
“Runoff from deep mountain snowpacks is the primary source of much-needed water for arid to semiarid regions in the western United States as well as in many other parts of the world. Each year, water managers in these regions must balance their water budgets, which account for water gained, lost, and stored in the watersheds they oversee, affecting everything from water supply to agriculture to tourism to wildfire containment. To do so, water managers primarily rely on established statistical models that predict the volume and timing of mountain runoff. However, the information available to feed these models comes mainly from a sparse network of snow-monitoring weather stations, as well as from snow cover maps derived from optical satellite imagery that provide information on snow extent but not on the amount of water stored in the snowpack. … ” Read more from EOS.
La Niña could end soon. Here’s what California can expect.
“La Niña, the seasonal climate pattern that emerged in the fall, will likely end by spring in California. There is a 75% chance that the current La Niña conditions, which bring a cascade of global weather impacts, will fade out between now and the end of March, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center reported on Thursday. So far, the recent wet weather has come as somewhat of a surprise, since La Niña tends to correlate with dry winters for much of California, especially the south. Yet forecasters say the state could still dry out. “Some scientists think that the impacts of La Niña on California really don’t get quite underway until January, February, March,” Michelle L’Heureux, a climate scientist at the Climate Prediction Center, told SFGATE. “So just because it’s been wetter until now doesn’t mean that La Niña isn’t happening. It just may not have yet shown its influence on California.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
New Central Valley Flood-MAR dashboard integrates floodwater and groundwater management
Florence Low / California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
“California is taking a new, data-driven approach to capturing floodwaters for groundwater recharge. The Department of Water Resources (DWR), in coordination with GEI Consultants, has released the Central Valley Flood-MAR Dashboard for public testing, allowing water managers across the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys the opportunity to explore the tool and offer feedback. In response to Governor Newsom’s California Water Supply Strategy: Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future, DWR is providing regulatory and technical assistance to groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and other local public agencies to increase the pace and scale of groundwater recharge and support long-term groundwater management for sustainability and resilience. Diversion in 2023, which were permitted under Executive Orders N-4-23 and N-7-23 as well as California Water Code §1242.1, highlighted the need for increased system-wide coordination to maximize potential recharge. In response, this dashboard brings together statewide forecasts and local flood information to help identify when and where excess water may be available and how it can be safely managed. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
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.
CalWATRS debut overhauls water rights reporting
“The deadline for all water right holders and reporters to submit their annual water use reports to the California State Resources Control Board’s new data system is approaching on January 31, 2026. The CalWATRS system — California Water Accounting, Tracking, and Reporting System — was fully launched in October, and there may still be some “minor performance issues” to address, according to the CalWATRS website portal. CalWATRS is a component of the State Water Board’s larger Updating Water Rights Data, UPWARD, project in the Division of Water Rights. In an email from State Water Board Information Officer Ailene Voisin, the final 2021-2022 California budget allocated $30 million for UPWARD, one-time, as part of the Water Resilience Package. Another $30 million was allocated one-time from the General Fund in the final 2022-23 California Budget, totaling $60 million in total for UPWARD. “That total amount was for all Division of Water Rights modernization efforts, of which CalWATRS was the largest piece,” Voisin stated. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
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.
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.
DELTA LEAD SCIENTIST: The role of wetland restoration in reviving Delta food webs
“Historically, the Delta was a vast network of tidal wetlands interwoven with meandering channels. However, widespread land use changes beginning in the late 1800s have resulted in the loss of approximately 95% of this habitat. To address this significant loss, the 2022 update to the Delta Plan established ambitious targets for large-scale wetland restoration throughout the region. Wetland restoration serves multiple purposes, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating flood risks, enhancing habitats, and supporting recreational opportunities. Another critical goal is to restore the health of the Delta’s food webs—the intricate networks of interactions between plants and animals that sustain the ecosystem. At the November meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council, Delta Lead Scientist Dr. Lisamarie Windham-Myers highlighted a study focused on restoring Delta ecosystems, particularly tidal marshes and their associated food webs, in her monthly report. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Helping the California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program increase bird use of winter-flooded rice fields
“The Central Valley of California provides important habitat for waterbirds (waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds). With more than 90% of the historical wetlands in the Central Valley lost due to agricultural development and water diversion, flooding agricultural rice fields after harvest provides an important alternative source of wetland habitats in the fall and winter for waterbirds that migrate through and overwinter in California, especially in the Sacramento Valley. To encourage private landowners to flood rice fields during the fall and winter, the California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive program was established in 2018 and provides monetary incentives to private landowners that agree to follow a management plan and flood their post-harvested rice fields for at least 70 days between October 15 and March 15 for the benefit of waterbirds. … ” Read more from the USGS.
Urban wildfire: water system capacities and limitations
“One year after the January 2025 fires devastated communities across Los Angeles, the region is still reckoning with how its infrastructure performed and whether it should be modified to perform under increasingly extreme conditions. The anniversary has sharpened an urgent policy question with far-reaching consequences: as urban wildfires become more frequent and severe, what role can water systems realistically play in protecting lives, supporting emergency response, and guiding resilient rebuilding? A new UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation publication, Water Systems’ Wildfire Fighting Capacities and Expectations: Workshop Synthesis Report, begins to answer this question. With growing public debate about the ability of systems to deliver high volumes of pressurized water during major fire events, researchers at UCLA, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ California Institute for Water Resources, and Arizona State University launched a four-part workshop series to examine water–fire resilience. The effort, funded primarily by UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, aims to strengthen both how communities prepare for and recover from the growing overlap between water systems and wildfire risk. … ” Continue reading from the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation.
Lessons from the Caldor Fire’s Christmas Valley ‘Miracle’
“In what came to be called the “Christmas Valley miracle,” the Lake Tahoe Basin communities of Christmas Valley and Meyers were spared in late August 2021 when the massive Caldor Fire entered the basin, burning more than 222,000 acres and forcing roughly 30,000 people to evacuate during one of the hottest, driest summers on record. Outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin, the fire destroyed over 1,000 structures, many of them homes. Decades of fuel-reduction treatments conducted by federal, state and local land managers to protect people’s communities well before the fire are widely credited for the “miracle.” But forest ecologists from the University of California, Davis, wanted to understand which treatments worked best to protect the forest. Such questions are increasingly important for the Lake Tahoe Basin, which is one of the most wildfire-threatened landscapes in the West. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
When flames feed life: Birds and wildfire in California
“In the forests of the Sierra Nevada, the black-backed woodpecker is without parallel. The bird appears almost born of fire, thriving on the flames that flicker through California’s coniferous forests every few years. Swooping in shortly after a blaze subsides, this woodpecker species, Picoides arcticus, nests in the hollowed-out trees the burn has left behind, gorging on an abundance of longhorn and bark beetles. Throughout the forest, a steady whack-whack can be heard from the birds’ bills drilling into charred wood. The relationship between wildlife and wildfire is a complicated one. Many bird species, like the black-backed woodpecker, need the occasional inferno to create new habitat by opening up the forest canopy and increasing available food by kicking off a boom in insect populations. “While it’s ephemeral, it’s a native habitat of California that many species rely on and have evolved with over millions of years,” says ornithologist Morgan Tingley, whose research at the University of California, Los Angeles, focuses on the interplay of fire and bird populations. … ” Read more from Mongabay.
West Coast levee failures show growing risks from America’s aging flood defenses
, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, writes, ” In recent weeks, powerful atmospheric river storms have swept across Washington, Oregon and California, unloading enormous amounts of rain. As rivers surged, they overtopped or breached multiple levees – those long, often unnoticed barriers holding floodwaters back from homes and towns. Most of the time, levees don’t demand attention. They quietly do their job, year after year. But when storms intensify, levees suddenly matter in a very personal way. They can determine whether a neighborhood stays dry or ends up underwater. The damage in the West reflects a nationwide problem that has been building for decades. Across the U.S., levees are getting older while weather is getting more extreme. Many of these structures were never designed for the enormous responsibility they now carry. As a civil engineer at Tufts University, I study water infrastructure, including the vulnerability of levees and strategies for making them more resilient. My research also shows that when levees fail, the consequences don’t fall evenly on the population. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
In commentary this week …
Reversing California’s policies of scarcity
Edward Ring, Director of Water and Energy Policy at the California Policy Center, writes, “A new year has begun, and here in California, 2026 promises to deliver challenges that may at last transform the state’s energy and water policies. Let’s begin with a quick look at California’s current water policies in action. The last month of 2025 delivered a series of storms that merited the distinction of being dubbed “atmospheric rivers.” How much of that abundant deluge was harvested, and how much was arguably squandered? The best source for this information is through the California Data Exchange Center, a website maintained by the California Department of Water Resources. And what it shows illustrates just how committed the state agencies that manage California’s water supply are committed to scarcity. Three variables are all it takes to make this assessment; all of them concern the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The outflow of water from the delta into the ocean during December 2025 totaled just over 1.7 million acre feet. The amount pumped into the California Aqueduct totaled 184,974 acre feet, and the amount pumped into the Delta Mendota Canal totaled 126,845 acre feet. … ” Read more from Edward Ring.
How Prop 4 funding can best serve California communities
Audrey Siu, Urban Resilience Director for Los Angeles Waterkeeper, writes, “California voters made a bold choice in approving Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond to help us adapt to rising temperatures, worsening wildfires, and climate-driven floods. It will take years to reap the benefits from this bond. But the devil is in the details – the specifics of how funds are dispersed will make or break its success. $10 billion is simultaneously a lot of money and nowhere near enough to fully prepare our state for the challenges to come. Spending these funds efficiently is critical for reaching Prop 4’s stated goals. Managing the climate crisis is proving particularly challenging because most cities historically built “single purpose” infrastructure. … To avoid these types of unintended consequences, projects funded through Prop 4 must take an integrated approach. L.A. County’s experience disbursing funds from its own suite of late 2010’s public funding measures offers important lessons. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly.
State Water Board reaffirms Bay-Delta voluntary agreement sell-out
Chris Shutes, Executive Director for the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, writes, “On December 10, 2025, the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) issued a revised draft version of its update of the Bay-Delta Plan. The draft includes a “partially recirculated” Chapter 13 of its September 2023 Draft Staff Report on the Bay-Delta Plan update. Both the Bay-Delta plan update and the new Chapter 13 of the Staff Report can be downloaded here. The December Draft adopts a scientifically indefensible “voluntary” approach to flow requirements for the San Francisco Bay, the Bay-Delta estuary, and the Central Valley watersheds. The “Voluntary Agreement” that the December Draft proposes for the Board’s adoption would protect California’s water supply at the expense of fisheries and ecosystems. Over all water years, the largest annual water cost for water that isn’t paid for, in any region of the state, is 2%. The largest increase in meeting critical flow thresholds for any single species of fish under the VA is 2%. It is truly the 2% Solution! … ” Continue reading at the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
Trump’s plan to open California’s coastline to oil drilling threatens more than ocean life
Julie Packard, founding executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Leon Panetta, a former Secretary of Defense and director of the Central Intelligence Agency, write, “Forty years ago, Californians rose up by the thousands and stopped an ill-conceived federal plan to open our coast to offshore oil and gas drilling. We understood clearly that our healthy coastal waters are the foundation of a thriving economy and are a national treasure worth protecting. There’s wonder in ocean life and caring for it helps us all. It’s as true today as it was then. We won that battle. We helped pass a moratorium on offshore drilling and we worked to establish the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which specifically forbids offshore drilling. In the decades since, we’ve taken remarkable steps to safeguard our coastal waters. California created a science-based statewide network of marine protected areas that is restoring ecosystems and fisheries. Federal waters from Point Arena to the Channel Islands are protected as part of five vibrant national marine sanctuaries that are home to extraordinary ocean life. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
In regional water news this week …
Warmer winters, less snow is making farming harder in the Klamath Basin
“Farmers in the Klamath Basin, like Fernando Rayas, are facing uncertainty as climate change impacts their ability to grow local produce. Rayas, a resident of Merrill, has witnessed significant changes over the years, including the 2001 water shutdown that devastated many farmers. “Every year you don’t know what’s gonna happen,” Rayas said. Rayas continues to operate using traditional farming methods. Depending on how much rain the region gets, he can plant all of his entire hundred acres. “Just one tractor away from the dream,” he said. His ability to afford modern equipment such as tractors depends heavily on the amount of rain received each year.’ … ” Read more from KDRV.
When winter comes as rain in the Sierra Nevada
“Snow finally touched down in the Sierra Nevada on Christmas Day after an unusually warm, rain-heavy start to winter — a shift locals have been watching closely, especially those accustomed to the snowy days that come with living in the Sierra. For Piper Johnson, an artist and the owner of Piper J Gallery in Truckee, the rain has been a mixed bag for business. “When I saw rain in the forecast this December, as much as I want snow, I thought, at least the tourists who came up to ski might be looking for something else to do,” Johnson said. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Ally.
The aftermath of the Park Fire
“This winter, a host of stakeholders are examining how Chico-area waterways and the Chinook salmon and steelhead trout that live in them are faring, after the intense burning of the July-September 2024 Park Fire. Two of the most interesting sets of observations will come from Deer Creek and Mill Creek, which are tributaries of the Sacramento River. These undammed creeks have long been known for their ability to support unique populations of Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon and of steelhead trout. Learning how severely the fire impacted the fishes’ populations will determine what actions state, federal, Tribal, local, nonprofit, and resident partners take next. … ” Continue reading at the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
Sacramento: 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.
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.
‘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.
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.
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.
Supreme Court denies Friant claim they own SJR water
“Friant Water Authority and the City of Fresno filed suit in 2016 over a federal government decision in 2014/15 to withhold San Joaquin River water typically sent 150 miles south down the Friant Kern Canal.The federal Bureau of Reclamation severely limited their allocation that year due to extreme statewide drought conditions. The water is stored behind Friant Dam in the San Joaquin watershed that Friant claims their 15,000 growers own. Lawyers for Friant alleged in an appeal of lower court rulings that Friant should be compensated for the loss of the water because it amounted to a “taking” of their property. They sought $350 million. The appeal of the lower court rulings headed to the Supreme Court in 2025, some 10 years later — and as of Dec. 15, the high court “denied” the Friant claim without comment sustaining the government’s and lower court position that the Bureau of Reclamation who orchestrated the Central Valley Project, owns the water. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
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.
From source to sea: Monitoring and protecting Santa Barbara’s hidden creeks
“The city of Santa Barbara, California, is known as the “American Riviera,” sporting a sandy coastline, warm and sunny climate, and classic Spanish Architecture. Tucked in between the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the north, it’s a city shaped by nature. … Four major creeks arise in the mountains to the north and slice through the city before emptying into the ocean: Arroyo Burro Creek, Laguna Channel, Mission Creek, and Sycamore Creek. Their estuaries are at popular beaches, but they run right through some of Santa Barbara’s most densely populated areas. The City of Santa Barbara’s Creeks Division is in charge of monitoring these creeks, whose watersheds cover tens of thousands of acres within and outside city limits. Urbanization has increased impervious surfaces within their watersheds and led to fully impervious creek banks in some locations, causing increased stormwater runoff and harmful pollution entering these waterbodies. … ” Read more from the Environmental Monitor.
Camarillo challenges ruling over groundwater supply
“The City of Camarillo filed a Writ of Mandate in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, seeking an urgent review of a recent groundwater ruling that city officials claim relies on outdated science and could threaten the region’s water security for decades. The legal challenge targets a “Phase 1” ruling issued in October regarding the OPV Coalition v. Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency case. City leaders argue the decision established a “dangerously low” safe yield for the local basin— the amount of water that can be pumped sustainably— by ignoring critical evidence and modern modeling. “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,” Mayor David Tennessen said in announcing the filing late last month. At the heart of the dispute is Camarillo’s $70 million North Pleasant Valley Desalter. The city alleges the court excluded evidence regarding the facility’s role in treating salty groundwater and meeting state mandates to reduce reliance imported water from the Sacramento– San Joaquin Delta. … ” Read more from the Camarillo Acorn.
Water Boards: Chiquita let hazardous material in river for days
“The State Water Boards on Tuesday became the latest agency to cite the Chiquita Canyon Landfill for violations related to hazardous leachate being put into the Santa Clara River. The incident that sparked the violation occurred Nov. 14, when an error attributed to an employee at the Waste Connections facility resulted in 8,000 gallons of untreated leachate leaking from a pipe at the landfill. Chiquita Canyon notified the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board staff that day of the “characteristically hazardous leachate on the top deck of the landfill. The leachate-comingled stormwater was pumped into the stormwater channel that flows into the East Basin where it remained (at the time),” according to the State Water Board’s letter Tuesday. But, in a subsequent storm, the leachate-comingled stormwater then flowed out of the basin and, ultimately, to the river. … ” Read more from The Signal.
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.
Mountain towns eagerly await snow as recent rains put damper on busy season
“Most years, when storms roll through Southern California during the winter holiday, local mountains transform into a wonderland blanketed in snow. But instead, the recent storms featured relentless rains, bringing a downpour of destruction — and disappointment. Local mountain towns bank on the cold-weather months to generate the bulk of their business for the year, and snow is the key ingredient to a successful winter season. But worry is growing as snow remains scarce and the forecast calls for sunny skies in the near future. In Wrightwood, the recent torrential rainfall delivered devastating mudslides that have crippled the mountain town. The road in reopened late Tuesday following a weeks-long closure to tourists who were expected to fill in through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday break. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
PUBLIC COMMENTS WANTED: Draft 2026 Delta Science Plan
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: 2025-26 San Francisco Bay Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now OPEN
YOUR INPUT WANTED: 2025-2030 Nonpoint Source Program Implementation Plan
