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In California water news today …
Potter Valley water fight intensifies: Todd Lands warns “This could happen anywhere in California”
“The January 23 edition of the AgNet News Hour delivered one of the most emotional and urgent interviews of the year as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill zeroed in on the growing crisis in Potter Valley—a Northern California farming region now facing the potential removal of two dams that support water, jobs, and everyday life for hundreds of thousands of people. Papagni opened the show by saying this issue should stop every listener in their tracks, because what’s happening in Potter Valley isn’t just a local fight—it’s a warning for rural communities across the state. The guest was Todd Lands, Vice Mayor and former Mayor of Cloverdale, who explained how the Potter Valley Project depends on two dams: Scott Dam (which forms Lake Pillsbury) and Cape Horn Dam, which diverts water to help create Lake Mendocino and supports power generation. … ” Read more or listen to radio show from Ag Net West.
Newsom steps into labor fight over Sites Reservoir
“Gov. Gavin Newsom is stepping into a labor dispute that could threaten the timeline of one of his flagship water projects: the planned Sites Reservoir north of Sacramento. What happened: Newsom (D) wrote to the Sites Project Authority Board of Directors on Friday expressing concern that the board’s choice to finalize a contract with Barnard Construction Co. to build the roughly $6.8 billion reservoir was alienating unions. “The Construction Manager you select must ensure that the project’s ambitious timetable is not disrupted by the potential for labor unrest,” Newsom wrote. “I am concerned that the Authority’s consideration of this role, thus far, has not fully considered the importance of maintaining strong labor relations, which is critical to the timely completion of the project.” … ” Read more from Politico Pro (sorry, subscription required).
Four years of innovation and teamwork: DWR applies science and engineering to support winter-run chinook salmon on the McCloud River
“On the waters of Northern California, just off of Shasta Reservoir, a bold four-year pilot study is wrapping up that could help change the future for one of the state’s most endangered species: winter-run Chinook salmon. Led by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), with support from state, federal, and Tribal partners, this effort aims to give this species a fighting chance to complete their life cycle and reconnect to the habitat they need to survive. Shasta Reservoir serves as an important piece of water infrastructure, providing essential water supply and flood control for the region. However, the construction of Shasta and Keswick dams blocked access to historical high-elevation, cold-water habitats that are vital for native fish populations, such as winter-run Chinook salmon. Today, these populations face significant challenges, emphasizing the need for continued investment in cold-water solutions so that the species can survive in the Sacramento River watershed as the climate warms. Recognizing the need for action, a coalition of agencies and partners launched an ambitious four-year pilot study to reconnect these fish with the cold-water habitat they need while also devising a way for the fish to continue their migration to the ocean after hatching. The study aims to safely capture juvenile winter-run Chinook salmon before they enter Shasta Reservoir, carefully place them in transportation containers, and then drive those containers downstream, bypassing the dams. … ” Read more from DWR.
A milestone! 10,000 wetland condition assessments publicly shared on EcoAtlas
“On November 11, 2025 [SFEI] reached an exciting milestone: 10,000 wetland condition assessments are now publicly available on EcoAtlas. This statewide visualization and mapping tool expands public access to environmental information, supporting wetland protection, restoration planning, and project performance tracking. EcoAtlas advances a watershed (or landscape-based) approach championed by the California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup of the state’s Water Quality Monitoring Council. The California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) is a field-based observational method for assessing the overall ecological condition of streams and wetlands. CRAM assessments are easily accessible though EcoAtlas, making it an important resource for monitoring that can compare restoration projects to each other or to expected reference conditions. … ” Read more from SFEI.
Mulch is dirtier than you think
“Mulch, a seemingly natural material, is hiding a lethal secret. Lurking within the wood chips, bark, and leaves is a toxic substance that pollutes the land and poses harmful impacts to human health—millions of tons of plastic. That’s a big deal for farmers, who deposit heaps of mulch on their fields to capture carbon, increase productivity, and help scorched earth rebound. According to recent research, agricultural soils now contain roughly 23 times more microplastics than our oceans. In the US, a big culprit is mixed municipal solid waste. This waste, which is turned into mulch and compost, is widely promoted as a climate-friendly way to reduce landfill use, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and return nutrients to depleted soils. But when this material is sourced from mixed household waste, plastics routinely slip through the system, degrading mulch quality and introducing forever contaminants into farmland. … ” Read more from the Sierra Club.
Trump admin quietly attempts to open the entire Calif. coast to oil drilling
“The ongoing effort from President Donald Trump’s administration to sell off public lands for private exploitation has now reached the ends of the continent, as it attempting to open up more than a billion coastal acres for drilling. Activists, lawmakers, environmentalists and other opponents of the massive plan feel that the proposal is being sped through under the cover of an unrelenting news cycle, putting in jeopardy shorelines in California, Alaska and the states along the Gulf of Mexico. All of coastal California would be affected. In late November, the Department of the Interior released a draft of its offshore oil drilling program for review. The directive would roll back the previous administration’s protection for the shoreline and “replace it with a new, expansive” program by October 2026. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
California Forever hopes Trump and union deals make its shipyard dreams come true
“It’s an old California riddle: How do you turn a pipe dream into a shovel-ready project? Answer: Make a deal with the unions. That’s what California Forever, the billionaire-backed proposal to build a city and manufacturing center in Solano Country, hopes will come from a new partnership with Northern California carpenters. The project’s organizers on Wednesday announced a partnership (opens in new tab) with the Napa-Solano Building and Construction Trades Council and the Northern California Carpenters Union, ensuring that construction on California Forever’s land for the next 40 years uses union labor. At the same time, the labor groups released a petition urging the local government to let California Forever break ground this year on a proposed shipyard and the Solano Foundry, a 2,100-acre manufacturing park. … ” Read more from the SF Standard.
SEE ALSO:
- Tech-Sector Developer Has Grand Plans for a Bay Area Shipyard, from The Maritime Executive
- Group opposing California Forever responds to construction agreement with unions, from the Daily Republic
How California lawmakers are trying to speed up spending on voter-approved climate projects
“A Democratic lawmaker is pushing a proposal to speed up $10 billion in funding for climate programs more than a year after voters approved Proposition 4, the state’s biggest investment yet to combat climate change. Assemblymember David Alvarez of Chula Vista introduced Assembly Bill 35 to cut certain regulations tied to Prop. 4 to more quickly disburse the billions of dollars voters approved for water improvements, wildfire and drought preparedness plans. The bill, which advanced from the Assembly Appropriations Committee Thursday, would exempt Prop. 4 funding from review under the Administrative Procedure Act, which dictates how state agencies follow rules and regulations and can cause lengthy delays in implementing programs. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
In commentary today …
Editorial: Our water problems are compounding, and time to act is running out
“The situation with water in California has always been fraught. Ever since the postwar boom in population, the state has struggled with various interests over the limited supply. The 1974 movie “Chinatown” about the political machinations behind expanding water service to the state, remains as relevant as it was when it was released more than 50 years ago. These days we can add global climate change into the cauldron. The Zone 7 Water Agency, which wholesales water to the Tri-Valley, is in the process of planning infrastructure projects that will help the region cope with more frequent and bigger floods. The projects have not been selected yet, nor has a price tag for any of them been determined. But you can bet they will be expensive. The projects will be even more expensive if we do nothing to halt an ever-warming climate. … ” Continue reading at the Livermore Independent.
How groundwater banking today secures Sacramento’s water future
Jim Peifer, executive director of the Regional Water Authority, writes, “For generations, Californians have relied on the Sierra snowpack as a critical part of our water supply — providing about a third of the water we depend on each year. Times are changing. While California’s weather has always had its swings, the long-term reliability of that natural storage system is now at risk. Climate change is expected to significantly reduce the water historically supplied by snowpack, and this winter is demonstrating what that shift looks like. In the Sacramento region, water agencies have a proven way to manage that kind of variability: the Sacramento Regional Water Bank. While the state may be drought-free for the first time in 25 years, the goal is to always be ready when the weather inevitably turns dry. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Mendocino: Sea level rise planning, new buses, and Noyo Harbor improvement updates
“Every two months, the Grass Roots Institute gathers staff from local and state governments and local NGOs for updates on the expansive local coastal programs and sea level rise planning process. The meetings provide a unique level of access for the public to ask questions and understand the work being done by their local governments. Staff from the county, the Coastal Commission, Huffman’s office, MTC, the Harbor District, and the City of Fort Bragg were on hand for the meeting held on January 15th. Mendocino County and the cities of Point Arena and Fort Bragg all received grant funding from the Coastal Commission to jump-start their local coastal planning process and prepare Mendocino for impacts caused by sea level rise. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
Fort Bragg City Council moves water and sewer rate increases forward
“During the January 12th Fort Bragg City Council meeting, the council directed staff to move forward with a plan to raise and restructure water and sewer rates, reviewed proposed community block grant projects, and spent considerable time discussing the street work done under the supervision of Lumos and Associates. Water and sewer rates have remained the same since 2019. A planned increase for 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic. The restructuring will eliminate tiered water rates and the inequity in the program that charged different sewer flow rates for various home types. On the water side, tiered rates were considered a water conservation measure, charging higher per-unit rates if users went past a baseline. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
Supervisors approve $750,000 for water tanks 10 days after Clearlake sewage spill
“Ten days after a three-million-gallon sewage spill left some Clearlake residents without clean running water, the Board of Supervisors approved a $750,000 budget resolution to purchase and fill water tanks for affected households during a special meeting on Wednesday. The discussion began with District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, whose district is ground zero for the incident, requesting a $500,000 transfer from the general fund reserve to the Lake County Sanitation District’s Southeast Regional System to purchase water tanks for residents advised not to use their private wells due to contamination concerns. “We need to provide a certain level of dignity and quality of life back to the people that are living in those areas,” said Sabatier. … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
Clearlake, county officials hold townhall updating residents on sewage spill
“Following a proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to the Robin Lane sewage spill in Clearlake, the city and county teamed up to update residents on mitigation, containment, and clean up efforts in the wake of the emergency during a special town hall meeting held at the Council Chambers Thursday. District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said he had been visiting with many of the residents affected by the spill and added officials have been working hard, trying to find the best options to get things back to normal. Sabatier presented a panel which consisted of Environmental Health Director Craig Wetherbee, Anthony Arton, health services director, Public Health Officer Dr. Robert S. Bernstein, Robin Borre, special districts administrator, and Social Services Director Rachel Dillman Parsons. … ” Read more from the Lake County Record Bee.
SIERRA NEVADA
California is drought free, yet snow drought plagues most of the west: Why, and how Tahoe fares
“Temperature can mean the difference between four inches of rain and four feet of snow. That’s something the Tahoe region, and much of the west, has experienced this winter, evidenced by above normal precipitation, yet being plagued with what hydrologists call a “snow drought.” Snow droughts come in two forms, dry and what the region is currently experiencing—wet. The Tahoe Basin has received 155% precipitation since Oct. 1, yet only a 95% of median snowpack. Had the November precipitation brought four feet of snow, rather than the four inches of rain, those two values would likely be closer together with a more generous snowpack, “which would have put resorts in great shape for Thanksgiving,” Natural Resources Conservation Service hydrologist, Jeff Anderson, said, “instead of scrambling to open terrain after the Christmas storm.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
TRPA considers new forest health standards
“The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is updating regional environmental goals, called threshold standards, for forest health and community wildfire protection in the Lake Tahoe Basin and is seeking public input, the agency said today. As a founding member of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team and leader of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, TRPA is working with land managers, scientists, and the community to restore balance and resilience to the basin’s forests. “Lake Tahoe’s forests are a vital part of the basin’s ecosystem, wildlife habitat, and recreation, and they help protect the lake’s incredible clarity, but they have changed dramatically over time,” TRPA Executive Director Julie Regan said. “Setting measurable forest health targets based on current science is essential to restore Tahoe’s forests to a healthy, resilient condition.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Nearly one million salmon released into California [flooded] rice fields to aid survival and growth
“Nearly one million young salmon are being released this week into flooded rice fields near the Yolo Bypass. The project is a partnership with stakeholders from the Bridge Group and the Coleman National Fish Hatchery. The juvenile fish, called salmon fry, will spend several weeks growing in the shallow fields. After that, they will swim into the Sacramento River and begin their trip to the Pacific Ocean. The effort is based on scientific research showing flooded rice fields can help young Chinook salmon grow and survive. A study published in the journal PLOS ONE says much of the natural floodplain habitat salmon once used in California has been lost. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Colusa County almond company fined $95,000 for fuel spill
“A Colusa County almond company will pay $95,000 in a settlement stemming from an incident where hundreds of gallons of fuel spilled and impacted a local creek. Vann Brothers, an almond-growing company in Williams, settled with the Colusa County District Attorney’s Office for the January 2024 spill. The district attorney’s office said 1,400 gallons of red-dyed diesel spilled after an employee, who was attempting to fill a fuel tank in an almond orchard, failed to turn off the fuel flow when he was called to assist with another task. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
BAY AREA
Reforming rules to speed adaptation
“As the Bay Area races against time to protect itself from rising seas, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission is poised to consider a package of amendments to its permitting regulations aimed at accelerating the development of shoreline adaptation projects. The effort is one of several regional and statewide initiatives designed to tackle rules and regulations that can impede progress on wetland restoration, levees, and other flood-buffering projects. “We’re [working] to make things easier and faster for everyone,” says BCDC Regulatory Director Harriet Ross, noting that the proposed changes stem from a yearlong review of the agency’s permitting process. “The bottom line is that we’re trying to do permitting more quickly, with a special emphasis on getting climate adaptation projects in the ground faster.” … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
Marin Voice: Addressing sea level is an interconnected challenge
Omar Carrera, of Corte Madera, CEO of the Canal Alliance, writes, “The flooding Marin County experienced in early January made one thing unmistakably clear: The story we’ve long told ourselves about sea-level rise no longer holds true. For years, many assumed flooding was mostly a Canal neighborhood problem — serious for one community, but contained. This month proved otherwise. When the water rose, the impacts rippled far beyond San Rafael. Flooding at the AT&T hub knocked out 911 services countywide. Highway 101 closures stalled the economy, delaying workers and emergency responders alike. In the Canal, families lost cars, wages, belongings and safe housing, many without the financial means to recover. Others still were left without heat, hot water, and transportation. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Coordinate or fall short: the new normal
“Bay Area jurisdictions are coming together to merge their hazard management and climate adaptation efforts as they see significant overlap in the types of risks they must address — from fires and drought to dam failures and flooding that impact their shared roadways, powerlines, streams, and more. This type of coordination is not new, and few municipalities have the bandwidth to do it, but working together can help planners and managers pool money and other resources to complete projects. The plight of five mobile home parks in Redwood City offers an example. After more than a decade of delays in efforts to prevent persistent flooding, it took several jurisdictions coming together to fund a $10 million floodwater diversion project in 2022, which included new tide gates on the Bayfront Canal and better drainage in the Atherton Channel. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
Zone 7 water agency prepares to shore up flood protection to mitigate expected damage
“In response to wetter storms and aging infrastructure, the Zone 7 Water Agency last week began soliciting public feedback on its new flood-management plan. The feedback, along with a systemwide evaluation due later this year, will help form a set of capital projects and corresponding implementation plan in 2027. Zone 7, which wholesales and manages drinking water in the Tri-Valley, provides flood protection among the 37 miles of streams and flood channels throughout the community. Possible flood-mitigation measures range from structural projects, such as floodwalls and berms, to maintenance programs around sediment removal and vegetation management, to policy decisions, such as those around elevation requirements or zoning. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
Imported water plays a key role in managing San Benito County’s water supplies
“Water imported from the Central Valley Project plays a key role in providing local homes and businesses with clean, healthy, and reliable water while also supporting a vibrant agricultural economy. This often-overlooked water source has been a critical component of the San Benito County Water District’s (District) strategy for managing the County’s water resources. It improves the quality of water delivered to residents and farms and ensures that groundwater storage levels remain adequate even during times of drought. Historically, groundwater was the primary source of water for both municipal and agricultural use in the County. Prior to the importation of water from the Central Valley Project, the local groundwater basin had been in a state of critical overdraft for several decades, meaning that more water was being pumped out than could be naturally replenished. … ” Read more from BenitoLink.
CENTRAL COAST
Fort Hunter Liggett launches $165 million water infrastructure improvement project
“Fort Hunter Liggett’s aged water distribution system will be replaced with a new and efficient system beginning in the fall of this year. The estimated $165 million project is three-phased and major components include piping, ball valves, butterfly valves, fire hydrants, a 2-million-gallon water storage capacity, and a new water well. “It’s critical that we increase our water resiliency,” said Garrison Commander Col. Jason McKenzie. He adds that the new system helps us comply with the Army’s Net Zero – Water initiative and State/Federal water conservation mandates. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Congressman Valadao secures funding for vital infrastructure projects across the Central Valley
“Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) voted in support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act and Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026. … Congressman Valadao, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, also secured several key wins for the Central Valley, including over $29.9 million in direct funding for community improvement projects. This marks the advancement of all 12 full-year funding bills for Fiscal Year 2026 in the House of Representatives. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was proud to vote to advance the final full-year government funding bills,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bipartisan package strengthens our national security, improves public safety, supports rural and underserved health centers, and invests in critical infrastructure like our nation’s highways. I’m especially proud to have secured more than $29.9 million for seven infrastructure projects across California’s 22nd Congressional District. From improving local roadways and farm-to-market corridors to expanding senior housing and increasing water supplies, these investments will deliver lasting benefits for our communities. I commend Chairman Cole for his leadership in advancing all 12 appropriations bills and look forward to the President signing them into law.” … ” Read more from Congressman Valadao.
Pumping allocation described as “necessary evil” approved by Kings County groundwater agency
“The South Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) approved a pumping allocation during a Jan. 15 board meeting. The policy will allow Lemoore-area pumpers to extract a base amount of .86 acre feet per acre of land. “I think it’s a necessary evil, but it scares me and it’s going to be real expensive and I don’t know how long it’s going to last. I don’t think it’s sustainable for the farmer. It might be sustainable for the groundwater, but it’s not sustainable for the farmer,” Board member Ceil Howe said before the vote. The pumping allocation policy is just one piece of the puzzle to ensure that the GSA complies with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which aims to have local entities bring aquifers into balance by 2040. Pumpers that disregard the base allocations and overpump will pay $500 per acre foot above the base and will see a reduction in next year’s allocation. A pumping fee for the base allocation will also be set by the board at a later time. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Calabasas loses court case to stop LA County from sending fire debris to its landfill
“Calabasas sued L.A. County in February 2025 in an attempt to stop the trucking of Palisades Fire debris to the city’s landfill, citing concerns about hazardous materials. This week, an L.A. County Superior Court judge denied the city’s petition, writing that the county followed appropriate processes. The Calabasas case: The landfill, owned by L.A. County, is a Class III site, which isn’t permitted to accept hazardous materials. Calabasas argued that those could be present in fire debris. So the city ran multiple soil tests — on four trucks and one damaged property — and found elevated levels of copper and zinc in two of the samples. But the tests were unable to establish that hazardous waste meant to be kept out of the landfill was being dumped there. Further, according to the State Water Resources Control Board, wildfire ash can be excluded from being classified as hazardous waste. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Water company’s fire recovery plan gives Altadena residents sticker shock. Here’s what’s happening
“Last year’s fires not only destroyed homes and businesses, but also critical infrastructure, such as water delivery systems. Rebuilding that infrastructure is particularly challenging in unincorporated areas such as Altadena, which is primarily served by three tiny, private water companies. The Las Flores Water Company is one of them — the company lost its two reservoirs in the Eaton Fire. And it has only about 1,500 customers, 75% of whom lost their homes in the fire. “So we’re basically running the company off of 25% of the revenue that we used to have,” John Bednarksi, president of the company’s board, told LAist. The company is presenting its plans to address that shortfall at a meeting tonight. But rumors about the purpose of the meeting have been spreading online. … ” Read more from the LAist.
New LA County pumping station to beat gravity and ensure water delivery during drought
“Los Angeles and Ventura county officials broke ground Wednesday on a $280 million pump station project designed to ensure water is available in Southern California communities that were hard hit during recent California droughts. The Sepulveda Feeder Pump Stations Project will allow the region’s water wholesaler — the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — to divert water from the Colorado River and Diamond Valley Lake to communities that normally rely on State Water Project supplies. The project will ensure that when water supplies are limited, SWP-reliant communities will have access to water from other sources. When the project is completed in 2029, MWD will be able to deliver as much as 22,000 acre-feet of water to SWP-dependent areas during times of severe drought. An acre-foot of water is roughly 326,000 gallons, enough to serve about three families for a year. … ” Continue reading from the LA Daily News.
Building the future for Southern Steelhead: A look back at the inaugural Southern Steelhead Symposium
“Steelhead are iconic and culturally significant, but their importance is not JUST about the fish — they are keystone species that serve as both important predators and prey within their ecosystems. As watershed indicators, their presence signals the overall health of an entire watershed. But Southern steelhead face mounting challenges that mirror the struggles of the urbanized environment they call home: habitat loss, passage barriers, degraded water quality, climate change, and even poaching. As Camali Lopez, Tribal Liaison, Southern Steelhead Coalition shared in his opening remarks at the Symposium, “This gathering is able to bring together our dreams, our different speculative reasonings, our understandings of the world and build that into the future.” For a species whose range stretches from Santa Maria to Mexico, traversing both aquatic and marine environments, collaboration across this vast geography is essential for species recovery. The needs of steelhead in San Diego differ significantly from those in Santa Barbara, making multi-stakeholder coordination critical for recovery efforts. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
SAN DIEGO
North County water board votes to temporarily stop fluoridation
“The Olivenhain Municipal Water District needs to suspend its water fluoridation program for up to 90 days to look into employee safety concerns, a majority of the district’s board decided Wednesday. While the topic of putting fluoride into drinking water has been a hot-button political issue of late and President Trump’s Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is encouraging states to ban fluoride in drinking water contending it’s a toxic substance, OMWD board member Christy Guerin said the board’s action Wednesday wasn’t political. Instead, it was in response to safety concerns related to handling of the huge fluoride bags, said Guerin, a former Encinitas mayor and formerly worked as a district director for former U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Poway approves water rate hikes totaling almost 26% over the next five years
“Poway residents will be paying more for water after the City Council’s Jan. 20 approval of a 9.9% rate increase this year, with another 4% hike each year for the next four years. Additionally, the cost of recycled water is increasing by 23% this year and wastewater costs are scheduled to rise by 3% each year from 2028 through 2030, according to a staff report. The 2026 rate increases started with the Jan. 21 water bills, said the city’s Director of Finance Craig Schmollinger. The average customer is expected to pay $24.22 per month more, or $48.43 more per bimonthly billing period for water. Before the increase, the average customer was paying $302.69 per month for water, which is expected to increase to $351.12 this year, and rise to $365.16 in 2027, $379.77 in 2028, then to $394.96 in 2029 and $410.76 in 2030. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
San Diego County seeks funding for sewage-mitigation projects in Tijuana River Valley
“San Diego County Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre are asking fellow board members to agree to spend $4.75 million on two projects to help mitigate the pollution in the Tijuana River Valley and the effects of the contamination on residents nearby. The foulness comes from millions of gallons of raw sewage, chemicals and bacteria carried by the Tijuana River on a daily basis — materials that originate south of the border. “We can see it, we can smell it, we live with it every single day,” Lawson-Remer said. She and Aguirre say the money for these projects will come from the county but they expect reimbursement from federal and state grants as well as other sources. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Aguirre, Lawson-Remer propose using county reserves for Tijuana River sewage fixes
“San Diego County leaders announced Thursday they have a plan to help reduce toxic sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley and measure its impact on residents’ health. At a news conference from the river valley, Supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Terra Lawson-Remer said they want the county to use reserves typically set aside for emergencies for two initiatives they estimate would cost $4.75 million. The proposal to use rainy-day funds for Tijuana River sewage efforts is the latest Aguirre has made this week. On Tuesday, she suggested using $19.25 million to buy more air purifiers for residents and air monitors for the county to record real-time data of hydrogen sulfide levels and to run a treatment pilot program that would improve the river water’s conditions. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
Imperial Irrigation District advances voluntary conservation efforts to support Lake Mead and the Colorado River System
“The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors has approved the continuation of the District’s Deficit Irrigation (DIP) program during its January 20 meeting, advancing the program for 2026, reinforcing ongoing efforts to protect Lake Mead and the Colorado River system. Now in its third year, IID’s DIP program continues to yield reliable, measurable conservation when participating growers voluntarily refrain from irrigating select crops on a temporary basis, allowing the water to remain in Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir. “IID and its growers are champions when it comes to conserving water and helping the river, and we’re happy to work with them to continue this successful program this year,” said IID General Manager Jamie Asbury. “We are grateful for our collective efforts and look forward to continuing successful conservation goals.” … ” Continue reading this press release from IID.
Governors of Colorado River states summoned to DC in hopes of breaking negotiations impasse
“Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has invited all seven Colorado River Basin governors and their negotiators to meet in Washington D.C. next Friday as states approach a federal deadline to reach a voluntary agreement to replace river operating guidelines. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and the state’s top river negotiator, Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager John Enstminger, are planning to attend the meeting, according to a spokesperson for Enstminger. The Bureau of Reclamation – which manages water in the West under the Interior Department – initially gave states until Nov. 11 to submit a preliminary agreement for a plan that could replace the river’s operating guidelines set to expire at the end of 2026. But after states missed the deadline, the Bureau extended the deadline to submit a seven-state agreement for post-2026 operations to Valentine’s Day. A similar meeting of governors to discuss the status of negotiations was planned for December, but was cancelled due to scheduling challenges. River negotiators for Utah and New Mexico said they could not accept the December invitation because their state governors had prior commitments that could not be moved. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current.
Western governors are called to Washington as Colorado River impasse drags on
“With Western states deadlocked in negotiations over how to cut water use along the Colorado River, the Trump administration has called in the governors of seven states to Washington to try to hash out a consensus. The governors of at least four — Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Wyoming — say they’ll attend the meeting next week led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom won’t. Newsom is “unable to attend but plans to send key representatives of his administration to attend in his place,” spokesperson Anthony Martinez said in an email. … The states are “actively engaged and doing the hard work needed to reach consensus,” said JB Hamby, chair of California’s Colorado River Board, who will attend the meeting. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Southern Nevada faces green space loss as water-saving measures clash with tree advocates
“The removal of nonfunctional turf in Southern Nevada, mandated by Assembly Bill 356, has sparked controversy as residents and experts voice concerns over the impact on local trees and temperatures. The bill, passed by the Nevada Legislature in 2021, required the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to come up with a plan to eliminate irrigated grass areas that do not provide recreational benefits, such as those along streets and sidewalks. Local horticulturist Norm Schilling is among those opposing the initiative. Schilling is cited in a lawsuit against SNWA and claims the organization is responsible for the death of approximately 100,000 trees due to grass conversions. … ” Read more from Channel 3.
Arizona: Cave Creek backs out of water deal
“Mayor Robert Morris, as 2026 began, gave his biggest challenge for the year: “Securing a 100-year supply of water and dealing with CAP cutbacks.” But wasn’t the first half of that solved with the Oct. 21 Cave Creek Town Council approval of a Harquahala Valley water for rights to 500 acre feet of water for 100 years? Town Council merely authorized a $50,000 escrow “hold,” with the town having a few months to come up with $11.25 million. … ” Read more from the Foothills Focus.
‘Snow drought’ may result in extra release from Flaming Gorge
“Wyoming’s top water managers are warning that a significant drawdown of Flaming Gorge Reservoir this spring is likely imminent due to low snowpack and generally dry conditions throughout the seven-state Colorado River Basin region. Wyoming is a headwaters of the Colorado River system, mostly via the Green River, which feeds Flaming Gorge. As of Jan. 8, snow cover across the West was at its lowest since 2001, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Rain instead of snow throughout much of the region so far this winter portends a scant end-of-winter “water bank” vital to the river system when snow begins to melt in the spring, the agency noted. NOAA’s Jan. 14 update for the region indicated, “Snow drought has expanded and/or intensified across the Sierra Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and southwest Colorado.” … ” Read more from the State’s Newsroom.
In national water news today …
Anxious greens await death of endangerment finding
“Environmentalists are bracing for the imminent release of an EPA rule that would gut the agency’s ability to regulate climate pollution. EPA is poised to finalize its rollback of the endangerment finding — a scientific assertion that undergirds its authority over greenhouse gases — within weeks, or sooner. The move promises to help the Trump administration demolish existing climate rules that force industries to reduce global warming pollution from sources like cars and power plants. But when and how it will be released are such tightly held secrets that environmental groups have been scouring the travel itinerary of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for signs of a high-profile announcement. … ” Read more from E&E News.
