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In California water news this weekend …
Rain, not snow: Extraordinary warmth leaves mountains less snowy across the West
“At UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, located at 6,894 feet above sea level near Donner Pass, researchers collect detailed measurements of the snowpack each day. There is still some snow on the ground to measure, but less than they usually see in late January. The reason: Extraordinary warmth has been the norm across the West this winter. Many areas, from the Sierra Nevada to the Rocky Mountains, have experienced record or near-record high temperatures since November. The result is a snowpack far smaller than average for this time of year in most parts of the mountains, especially at lower elevations. “The story so far at the lab has been that we’ve had a warm winter where we’ve had plenty of rain, not necessarily as much snow as we would hope,” said Andrew Schwartz, the lab’s director. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
California dry streak, why 15 days of no rain matter
“After a wet and stormy start to winter, the Bay Area has now gone 15 consecutive days without measurable rainfall, giving us a stretch of dry, mild January weather. While there is a chance of rain returning Wednesday, this dry spell is a reminder of how quickly conditions can change in California, even during a season officially labeled “drought-free.” Just earlier this month, the U.S. Drought Monitor declared 100% of California free of drought for the first time in 25 years, thanks to multiple strong storm systems that significantly boosted reservoir levels and snowpack. But meteorologists and water experts caution that “drought-free” does not mean water risk-free. … ” Read more from Channel 2.
Why January’s tule fog has been worse — and why it keeps coming back
“In the Central Valley, the tule fog is back, and people are over it. After a record-breaking stretch in December that brought fog for more than 22 consecutive days — the longest since the 1970s according to the National Weather Service — Central Valley residents had hoped the series of atmospheric rivers that rolled through over Christmas would break the pattern for good. It didn’t. The fog returned intermittently through early January, then settled back in around Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. Since then, the weather service office in Hanford has issued dense fog advisories almost daily, warning of “very high transportation risk.” The worst conditions have been concentrated in the San Joaquin Valley — Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Madera counties — though the fog has spilled north into the Sacramento Valley and occasionally west toward the Bay Area. … ” Read more from the SF Chronicle.
Trump administration signs off on plan for California’s biggest reservoir in decades
“The Trump administration gave the OK for California’s Sites Reservoir on Friday, clearing a major hurdle for what would be the state’s largest water project in decades. The proposed reservoir 70 miles northwest of Sacramento, which is also supported by Gov. Gavin Newsom, is intended to collect flows from the Sacramento River during wet years and store them for cities and farms during dry times. The $6 billion facility would hold 1.5 million acre-feet of water, enough to provide for more than 3 million households annually. Both the federal and state governments agree that water storage needs to be a top priority in an era of increasing droughts, despite other major differences between Sacramento and Washington under the current administration. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO:
- Sites Reservoir lands Trump commitment, with federal support for water storage, from the Sacramento Bee
- Bureau of Reclamation Issues Record of Decision, Marking Environmental Milestone for Sites Reservoir Project, press release from the Sites Project
- Federal Approval Moves Sites Reservoir Forward, from the Northern California Water Association
- As salmon and CA Delta fish near extinction, Trump regime approves Sites Reservoir Project ROD, from the Daily Kos
- Sites Reservoir Record of Decision is Business as Usual, press release from Friends of the River
- Sites Reservoir Decision Commits More Public Money to A Private Water Grab, from Save California Salmon
- Westlands Water District Statement on the One Year Anniversary of President Trump’s Executive Order 14181, press release from Westlands Water District
- Statement by Federico Barajas, Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, on the One-Year Anniversary of Executive Order 14181, press release from SLDMWA
Price tag drops on project to expand massive reservoir near Bay Area to increase water supplies
“A $1 billion plan to raise the height of the dam at one of California’s largest reservoirs, San Luis Reservoir between Gilroy and Los Banos, to provide more water to Santa Clara County and parts of the Central Valley during droughts, has received a major and unusual boost: The cost has gone down. In an era when large public works projects, from high-speed rail to new reservoirs, routinely see big jumps in price, the cost to expand the reservoir, originally built in the 1960s, has fallen by about 20% — from $1.06 billion to $847 million. The reason: In recent months, Caltrans endorsed a cheaper alternative for how a section of Highway 152, a busy road adjacent to the reservoir, will be raised and rebuilt to accommodate the higher water level. “This is incredibly favorable news,” said Scott Petersen, a spokesman for the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority, which is overseeing the project. “This means the water is going to be more affordable.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Eel Dam removal: Fish versus farmers?
“On December 19, 2025, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the federal government’s effort to stop the proposed decommissioning of the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project in California. This project, owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), consists of two dams and a diversion tunnel that channels water from the Eel River Valley to the Russian River basin, where the water is used to irrigate 307,000 acres of farmland. “If this plan goes through as proposed, it will devastate hundreds of family farms and wipe out more than a century of agricultural tradition in Potter Valley,” Rollins said in her press release. “Under California’s radical leadership, the needs of hardworking families are being ignored while the needs of fish are treated as more important.” The way Rollins frames it, this looks like a classic environmentalist versus farmer battle. But—as is often the case in such simplistic narratives—the reality is a lot more complicated. … ” Read more from Acres.
SEE ALSO: Potter Valley Dam Removal Threatens California Water Supply, from Ag Net West
This L.A. startup uses SpaceX tech to cool data centers with less power and no water
“As the artificial intelligence industry heats up, Karman Industries is trying to cool it down. The Signal Hill startup says it has developed a cooling system that uses SpaceX rocket engine technology to rein in the environmental impact of data centers, chilling them with less space, less power and no water. It recently raised $20 million and expects to start building its first compressors in Long Beach later this year. “Our high-level thesis is we could build the best compressor out there using the latest and greatest technology,” said David Tearse, chief executive of Karman. “We want to reduce that electrical consumption of cooling so that you have the most efficient way to cool these chips.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
SEE ALSO: Big tech is increasingly promising to pay for spiking power costs. But there’s not much to enforce it, from CNN
A novel long-duration storage project is coming to the California desert
Not exactly pumped storage using water but interesting … “An enormous and novel energy storage project could soon break ground in California after receiving state approvals just before Christmas. The startup Hydrostor’s Willow Rock project would store 500 megawatts of power that could be injected into the grid for up to eight hours, totaling 4 gigawatt-hours. That’s more gigawatt-hours than any lithium-ion battery offers, and a rare step forward for a major long-duration energy storage project. Once online, it could prove a crucial tool for California, where intermittent solar generation has become the state’s top source of electricity. … The company has created a “pretty sophisticated Joshua tree management plan” to protect the alien-looking vegetation unique to the Mojave, where it will build the project. It also secured a water supply and place to deposit the rock it carves from the earth, and it is currently finalizing an engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, Norman said. …” Read more from Canary Media.
Upcoming reporting deadline for California water right holders to submit annual use and diversion reports to new CalWATRS database
“California water right holders have until January 31, 2026 to electronically file their annual water use and diversion reports to the State Water Resources Control Board’s new California Water Accounting, Tracking, and Reporting System (CalWATRS) database. In 2025, the State Board launched the CalWATRS database to replace the outdated Electronic Water Rights Information Management System (eWRIMS), thereby modernizing the system for water right reporting and recordkeeping in the state. The State Board’s transition to CalWATRS is part of a larger effort — Updating Water Rights Data (UPWARD) — to modernize California’s water right data management system to allow for more comprehensive, accessible, and timely data collection and information; to improve transparency; and to inform decision-making with real-time and accurate data. … ” Read more from Allen Matkins.
DUE DATE EXTENDED: Draft 2026 Delta Science Plan
“The Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Science Program is developing the third iteration of the Delta Science Plan, which outlines the vision, principles, and approaches that guide science in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Updated approximately every five years, the plan incorporates new concepts and actions that reflect current science and management needs and is developed collaboratively and transparently. The draft 2026 Delta Science Plan is available for public review! All members of the Delta science community and interested parties are invited to provide input, including federal, state, and local agency scientists, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, and interested members of the public. … ” Read more from the Delta Science Program.
Tribal consultation: Wintu people say proposed reforms to a state list of tribes is erasure, threatens their homelands
“As a Wintu cultural monitor, Shawna Wilson says she always carries her hard hat, clipboard, and tribal ID card in her vehicle because she never knows when she might have to step into her role and stop a construction project. … “It can be difficult to navigate when you’re dealing with foremen who don’t want to listen or slow down their work,” said Wilson, a member of the Wintu Tribe of Northern California. “But it’s important we speak up for our lands and ancestors.” Sometimes her Tribe is left in the dark simply due to poor communication, but Wilson said sometimes public officials falsely believe they don’t have to consult with her Tribe because the Wintu are federally unrecognized. Wilson and several California tribal leaders say excluding non-recognized tribes, something which currently violates state law, could soon become encoded into California regulations, much to their alarm. A state commission is currently evaluating a proposal that would remove unrecognized tribes, including the Wintu, from an important list agencies use to determine which tribes to consult. … ” Read the full story at the Shasta Scout.
Why disasters are getting their own Senate committee
“Sen. Henry Stern has spent years confronting California’s growing disaster risks — not just as a lawmaker, but as a survivor. The Democrat, who represents parts of northern Los Angeles and Ventura counties, lost his home in the 2018 Woolsey Fire and has since been a central voice in Capitol debates over wildfire risk, emergency response and the state’s strained disaster safety net. This year, Stern is stepping into a new role. He will chair the newly created Senate Emergency Management Committee, one of the early structural changes Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón has made since taking office. Stern previously chaired a joint emergency management committee with the Assembly. The shift reflects a recognition that fires, floods and extreme weather are no longer just emergencies to manage, but a persistent political and fiscal strain on state government. The Los Angeles fires last year put that reality into sharp relief, becoming the state’s costliest disaster on record and fueling a political showdown between Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and President Donald Trump. … ” Read more from Politico.
California’s fight with offshore oil firm escalates with lawsuit against Trump administration
“For more than a year, a Texas oil firm has clashed with California officials over controversial plans to restart offshore oil operations along the Santa Barbara County coast. Now, California’s feud with Sable Offshore Corp. has escalated further, and involves the Trump administration. On Friday, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced that he had filed suit against the federal government, alleging that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration had usurped the jurisdiction and regulatory authority of Sable’s oil pipelines in an “unlawful power grab.” “California has seen first-hand the devastating environmental and public health impacts of coastal oil spills — yet the Trump Administration will stop at nothing to evade state regulation which protects against these very disasters,” Bonta said in a statement Friday. “California will not stand idly by as the President endangers California’s beautiful coastline and our public health to increase profits for his fossil fuel industry friends.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
- Attorney General Bonta Sues the Trump Administration to Protect California’s Environment and Public Health, Block Sable Pipeline Permit, press release from AG Bonta
- California sues the Trump administration over plans to restart oil pipelines along the coast, from the Associated Press
- West coast governors united against Trump’s disastrous offshore drilling plan, from the Office of the Governor
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
In Memorium: Paul Kibel (August 10, 1967 – October 29, 2025)
“With deep sadness, we share the news that our colleague, Paul Stanton Kibel, passed away on October 29, 2025. He died of cancer, which he had fought for years with unflagging courage and hope. He passed away in peace, surrounded by his family. Beginning 2014, Paul was our Natural Resources Counsel, focused on land use and water law. He was Professor Emeritus at Golden Gate University Law School, having led its Center on Urban Environmental Law. He had been a partner with Fitgerald Abbot & Beardsley LLP and had worked for the California State Coastal Conservancy and Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. Paul was an outstanding scholar and teacher. He was deeply curious about the law. He wrote books published by Cambridge University Press and MIT Press, along with law review articles, addressing how to square water supply and the public trust in fisheries and navigation. He was active in the International Association of Water Law and, despite his cancer, was finishing his doctorate at the University of Manchester International Law Center. He lived his values of kindness, respect, and dedication to service. … ” Read more from the Water and Power Law Group.
Friant Water Authority announces Johnny Amaral as Chief Executive Officer
“Friant Water Authority (FWA) announced today the appointment of Johnny Amaral as its new Chief Executive Officer, following years of service and leadership within the organization. Amaral joined Friant Water Authority in March 2019 as Chief of External Affairs and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in early 2022. In these roles, he has overseen FWA personnel and day-to-day operations, while leading FWA’s engagement on water supply reliability, water policy, legislative advocacy, and communications. As Chief Executive Officer, Amaral will focus on protecting the Friant water supply, safeguarding critical infrastructure such as the Friant-Kern Canal, strengthening trusted partnerships across the region, and leading FWA’s experienced and dedicated team. “We welcome Johnny in his new role as he brings a strong understanding of Friant operations, water policy, and the needs of Valley farmers and communities,” said Rick Borges, Chairman of the Friant Water Authority Board of Directors. … ” Read more from the Friant Water Authority.
SEE ALSO: New chief named to head sprawling, complex Friant Water Authority, from SJV Water
Q&A with Julie Rentner: Repairing California requires thinking like a river
As River Partners looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, our vision is shaped by a simple but urgent realization: the challenges facing California’s rivers are large, fast-moving, and interconnected—and our response must be as well. … Bringing rivers back to life, like River Partners has done for nearly three decades across the state, is not simply an environmental nice-to-have. It is a long-term investment in public safety, water security, biodiversity, and economic stability. Repairing the damage requires thinking at river scale. What would it mean to repair California’s rivers at the same urgency and ambition that once broke them? And if we can’t go back in time, how do we heal enough of what was lost to create a healthier, more resilient future? River Partners President Julie Rentner reflects on how River Partners is meeting this moment at a critical time for California and the planet, and why scaling our work is not just something that fulfills our mission, but is a core ecological and social challenge of our time. … ” Read more from River Partners.
Lois Henry tells the state’s water story, from sinking land to fallow fields
“The story of California begins with water. Without the mass import of the wet stuff from parts north and east, much of Southern and Central California would be barely inhabitable. No one tells the story of water in California’s heartland in more detail, or with more tenacity, than Lois Henry. She’s a former Bakersfield Californian columnist who six years ago launched SJVWater.org. Mega-farmers, environmentalists and everyday folk read her site to learn about arcane water district policies, the effect of those policies on farmland and fish and for insights on the political intrigue that powers the San Joaquin Valley. People in the San Joaquin Valley pay particularly close attention to the topic because it’s crucial to the success of one of the most productive farm belts in the world. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Warner Chabot shifts gears
“Goodbye advocacy, hello science.” These were the words Warner Chabot wrote eleven years ago to his numerous colleagues and friends. It was November 2014, and he was hiring on as Executive Director of the San Francisco Estuary Institute, “the science geeks of the Bay.” The early directors of the Institute had all been “geeks.” Chabot had decades behind him as a policy advocate, publicist, even prankster. Taking time off from architecture studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to elect “green” candidates on local boards. Dropping out to organize volunteers in the campaign that created the California Coastal Commission. Pushing for marine sanctuaries as insurance against renewed offshore oil drilling. For four years, heading up the California League of Conservation Voters. In 2014, freelancing as an environmental consultant, Chabot learned that the Estuary Institute was seeking a new leader. SFEI had just endured a rough patch, going through three Executive Directors in three years. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
Appointments …
Daniel “Danny” Curtin, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the California Water Commission …
… where he has served since 2014. Curtin has been Director at the California Conference of Carpenters since 2001, where he was a Legislative Advocate from 1987 to 1999. He was Chief Deputy Director for the California Department of Industrial Relations from 1999 to 2001. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Curtin is a Democrat.
Davina Hurt, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the California Water Commission …
… where she has served since 2025. Hurt has been the Climate Policy Director at Pacific Environment since 2025, Government Ethics Director at Santa Clara University Markkula Center for Applied Ethics since 2025, and has been an Attorney/Civil Advocate at Davina Hurt Esq. since 2005. She was the California Climate Policy Director at Pacific Environment in 2025. Hurt was a Senior Counsel at Tyson and Mendes LLP from 2023 to 2024. She held multiple positions with the City of Belmont from 2015 to 2024, including Councilmember, Vice Mayor Commissioner, and Mayor. Hurt was a Campaign Manager at the Democratic Volunteer Center from 2014 to 2015. She was a Securities Case Assistant at Heller Ehrman White and McAuliffe LLP from 2004 to 2005. Hurt was a Law Clerk at Bay Area Legal Aid from 2002 to 2004. She was a Law Clerk Extern at the U.S. District Court for Northern District of California from 2002 to 2003. Hurt was a Summer Associate at Milberg, Weiss, Bershad, Hynes & Lerach LLP in 2002. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in History and Political Science from Baylor University. This position requires Senate confirmation, and compensation is $100 per diem. Hurt is a Democrat.
Dale Romanini, of McKinleyville, has been appointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Romanini held several roles at LACO Associates from 1999 to 2023, including Lab Director, Eureka Regional Manager, and Material Testing Lab Manager. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Romanini is a Democrat.
Emily Wier, of San Diego, has been appointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Wier has been Vice President and Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at the Policy & Innovation Center since 2023. She held multiple roles in the District Four Supervisor Office at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors from 2019 to 2023, including Policy Director, Deputy Director of Policy, and Policy Advisor. Wier was Policy and Market Development Manager at Greenlots from 2017 to 2018. She was a Graduate Fellow at The White House Domestic Policy Council in 2016. Wier was a Biologist at Dudek from 2010 to 2015. She earned a Master of Environmental Management Degree from Yale University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Tufts University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Wier is a Democrat.
Rachel Wigginton, of Davis, has been appointed Special Assistant for Planning and Science at the Delta Stewardship Council.
Wigginton has been Senior Environmental Scientist at Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy since 2020. She was Coastal Scientist at San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission from 2019 to 2020. Wigginton was a Graduate Research Assistant at University of California, Davis from 2012 to 2019. She was a Graduate Research Assistant at California State University, Long Beach from 2009 to 2012. Wigginton was Research Assistant at the United States Department of Agriculture in 2010. She was Undergraduate Research Assistant at Western Kentucky University from 2006 to 2008. Wigginton was Undergraduate Fellow at Michigan State University in 2007. Wigginton earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Ecology from University of California, Davis, a Master of Science degree in Biology from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Western Kentucky University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,264. Wigginton is a Democrat.
Podcasts …
ONE WATER: Ai and energy needs in a sustainable future
In this episode Talking Under Water co-host Bob Crossen speaks with Gabriel Collins, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, about the evolving pressures on industrial water use and the widening implications of the AI boom. Drawing from his cross-sector expertise, Collins unpacks why water is an inherently hyper‑local resource and how industries — ranging from semiconductor fabrication to refineries and petrochemical plants — are adapting to shrinking supplies and rising costs.
RIPPLE EFFECT: Rainmaker
Parker Cardwell, Head of Operations at Rainmaker Technology Corporation, joins us to talk about their drone based cloud seeding enterprise. This is the third cloud seeding discussion on Ripple Effect and each time we learn something new about the innovative and exciting advancements in the technology. Rainmaker is taking it to the next level.
WATER RESOURCES: Updates on GRACE satellite missions and applications for flooding
Jürgen Kusche discusses advances in GRACE satellites, applications for flood monitoring, and data assimilation with global hydrology models.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: Working Together
Water is a pretty basic resource that is essential for our lives. So, when it begins to disappear or diminish in quality, our daily routine can change and, sometimes, homelife can become quite difficult. Expanding this problem to a larger region that supports a bigger population, and you have the makings of a natural and social disaster. How can government and personal responsibility be joined as an effective force that makes a threatening situation like this turn into a success story for all to share? Water is a Many Splendor ’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
Sunday read …
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Cristy Clark, “Legal Geographies of Water: The Spaces, Places and Narratives of Human-Water Relations”
“How do people relate to water? Is it what comes out of the tap, what we buy in a bottle, what we live next to or near, what falls on us, floods us, feeds us, is us? Cristy Clark, in her fascinating new book Legal Geographies of Water: The Spaces, Places and Narratives of Human-Water Relations (Routledge 2025), challenges her readers to think about our relationships with water. In the below interview, Dr. Clark explains her inspirations and use of the concept of “legal geography,” the many ways water can be recognized as a living thing, and the epiphany of her book’s thesis. … ” Read more from the Water Shelf.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Restoration efforts spark remarkable comeback for coho salmon on Mendocino Coast
“After decades of decline, endangered coho salmon have returned to the coast in numbers that more than double the targets set by habitat restoration projects. In 2008, just 5,000 coho were estimated across the entire state, one percent of their historic numbers; over the winter of 2024-25, more than 30,000 were counted in Mendocino County alone, showing that recovery is possible. Conservationists say that while it’s still too early to tell what this season’s numbers might be, it’s looking promising for another good year. Over the past decade, the Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, NOAA Fisheries, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, local landowners, tribes and other partners have restored habitat across the Ten Mile, Navarro, Big River, and Noyo River watersheds. Their work has included building side channels, off-channel ponds, large wood structures, and wetlands to support juvenile coho salmon. These structures give young coho salmon safe places to hide from predators, slow-moving water to rest in during storms and abundant food, creating the kind of habitat they need to survive winter storms and grow before heading to the ocean. … ” Read more from Mendocino Voice.
County releases well testing data; Clearlake sewage spill cleanup ‘nearing completion’
“On Friday, the county released detailed water well testing data for the first time following the three-million-gallon sewage spill that began Sunday, Jan. 11, and has impacted part of Clearlake, reporting cleanup work was “nearing completion.” According to the county’s Friday update, approximately 175 water samples had been collected and analyzed to date. The update did not specify how many individual wells those samples were drawn from, nor how many tested positive for coliform and E. coli, which are water quality indicators of contamination by fecal bacteria. During the Wednesday town hall held at Clearlake City Hall, Environmental Health Director Craig Wetherbee said the state’s requirement for a safe public water supply is zero detection for both indicators. At that meeting, Wetherbee said 94 wells had been tested, with 39 wells found to be contaminated. … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
SIERRA NEVADA
Lake Tahoe: Our clean beaches are economic infrastructure, let’s invest in them
JB Harris, founder of Eco-Clean Solutions, writes, “I still remember when I was working in the tiki bar at Round Hill Pines. It was the first summer of COVID and it seemed like the entire state of California had come to visit our little beach. The money was great, but the impact was undeniable. That summer something changed in me. I realized our beaches aren’t just beautiful places, they’re the economic backbone of this community and should be invested in as such. As someone who has called Lake Tahoe home for decades, I started Eco-Clean Solutions not because I’m an environmentalist or an entrepreneur, but because I’m your neighbor who couldn’t stand by and watch our community lose what makes it special. What began as a personal mission has revealed an uncomfortable truth. The problem is deeper than we knew, and we’ve been taking this economic asset for granted. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Growing safer, healthier forests
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency writes, “Even this time of year, with snow crunching beneath our feet, Lake Tahoe’s forests are a place of beauty, fresh air, and solace. However, a century and a half of dramatic change in Tahoe’s forests makes the danger of wildfire an unsettling, ever-present concern on our minds. Past forest management practices have led to a forest that is unhealthy and out of balance, impacting Lake Tahoe’s water quality, community safety, and the health of the entire watershed. For thousands of years, low-intensity fires and cultural burning practices by the waší∙šiw, or Washoe people, helped maintain a healthy mix of forest conditions across the Tahoe Basin. These forests supported a rich variety of plant and animal life, stabilized soils, and absorbed nutrients before they could reach the lake, helping keep Lake Tahoe incredibly clear. Importantly, fire could move through the landscape at a lower intensity, reducing the risk of severe wildfire. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now.
Community participation is key for the Lower Deer Creek–Penn Valley Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project
“The Nevada County Resource Conservation District (NCRCD) in partnership with the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Vestra Resources Inc. encourages landowners within the footprint of the Lower Deer Creek – Penn Valley Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project to participate in Phase 1 of the project. Residents can quickly determine whether their parcel is included in the project area by visiting the interactive map of the project area available on the project website. … Phase 1 of the project consists of the biological, cultural, and wildlife surveys required for environmental compliance as well as the treatment design that will guide hazardous fuels reduction in Phase 2. …” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Tehama County: Demand management: A hard conversation
Columnist Shanna Long writes, “Demand Management. What does this really mean, you ask? In its simplest form, it is a plan to reduce groundwater use to bring basins like Corning, Antelope, Red Bluff, Bowman, and Los Molinos into balance. These are the subbasins that fit inside Tehama County’s Groundwater Sustainability Agency (managed by the Flood Control District), even though Corning and Bowman overlap into neighboring counties with Corning holding advisory meetings with members from both Glenn and Tehama County. On paper, Demand Management sounds reasonable. Simply balance the water budget so overdraft does not occur in the basins. In practice, it cuts straight to the heart of farming: how much land can stay in production, how are crops irrigated, how accurate is the data being used, and whether a family operation can survive another generation. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News.
Marysville Ring Levee: More work may be needed to meet state design standards
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ more than decade long effort to shore up the ring levee system around the City of Marysville will be sufficient to meet federal standards and avoid large increases in flood insurance for those who are protected by them, an engineer for the Marysville Levee Commission told the city council this week. More work may be needed, however, to meet state urban levee standards and avoid restrictions on how and where building can occur in the city, Engineer Tom Engler, of MBK Engineering in Marysville, explained in an update on the Marysville Ring Levee project at the opening of Tuesday night’s Marysville City Council meeting. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
BAY AREA
Weeks after king tides, Marin flood recovery slogs on
“Regina Diaz looked up from the cash register at the Anchorage 5 restaurant in Sausalito and saw an older woman in a wheelchair and her companion slowly navigating a still-wet parking lot. Diaz bounded outside to help the customers as they approached a water-absorbing straw log. It was a remnant of the tidal flooding early this month, when Diaz, her husband Luis and her brother-in-law had fortified the diner to keep 2 feet of brackish water from destroying the wooden interior. “This way is easiest,” Diaz said, directing the customers to another entrance where there was no straw and piles of sandbags. “Let me help you over there, OK?” Three weeks after record king tides that surrounded the diner receded, her stretch of Gate 5 Road — like other hard-hit areas — was not back to normal. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Contra Costa’s ecosystem being restored, one indigenous plant at a time
“Waterways across Contra Costa County are increasingly threatened by invasive plant species that engulf canals and drains, decreasing biodiversity and reducing safe habitats for wildlife. In an effort to address and restore the environment, the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District is working to reverse that trend. The district hosted its recent 12th annual Giving Natives a Chance event at the Clayton Valley Drain near Concord’s Hillcrest Community Park, inviting volunteers from across the county to plant native species around waterways and drains. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Valley Water’s annual Capital Improvement Program: Projects to reduce flood risk
“Every year, Valley Water develops its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Five-Year Plan, which is a rolling annual plan for funding the projects needed to maintain a strong and reliable water system for Santa Clara County. The plan includes project descriptions, estimated schedules, costs and planned funding sources for these critical infrastructure investments. As we prepare the CIP Preliminary Five-Year Plan for fiscal years 2027-2031, we focus on enhancing flood protection through strategic initiatives that allocate significant resources to combat potential flooding risks. Last year’s Five-Year Plan featured 14 projects aimed at increasing flood protection, which accounted for $2.1 billion of the total budget. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Barbara’s East Beach reopens for water activities month after sewage spill
“Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services announced on Friday that East Beach is fully open for recreational water use after an untreated sewage spill into Mission Creek prompted a closure in December. County Health Department officials on Dec. 24 issued a recreational water use closure for the areas 1/4-mile east to 1/8-mile west of the Mission Creek outfall after 4,500 gallons of untreated sewage spilled into the area. The spill happened during a major rainstorm. According to officials, the closure had to remain in place until water quality tests showed acceptable levels. … ” Read more from Noozhawk.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes Naval Base Ventura County for excellence in natural resource conservation
“Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service honored Naval Base Ventura County as the recipient of the 21st Annual Military Conservation Partner Award in recognition of the installation’s commitment to conservation in a ceremony held at the base. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to support the readiness and excellence of the U.S. Military. In addition, military lands and waters provide some of the best habitat in our country. Naval Base Ventura County is an outstanding example of the conservation contributions that military installations make across the nation,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Regional Director, Paul Souza. “Their leadership on environmental initiatives demonstrates that conservation and military training can complement each other.” … ” Read more from the US Fish and Wildlife.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Golden mussels found in more Kern systems, topping ag district’s worries
“Invasive golden mussels have now been found in the Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District system, Engineer Manager Sheridan Nicholas reported at the board’s Jan. 14 meeting. This was the first detection for the district. The high number of mussels found just since the start of 2026 was a cause of great concern for board members who asked if the mollusks were coming from ballast water dumped into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from ships delivering cargo from overseas. Yes, Nicholas said. Ballast water is use to stabilize ships before they take on cargo, so they pick it up in one port and dump it in another. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Judge tosses one “cause of action” in long-running Kern River case
“One of several “causes of action” was cut out of the ongoing Kern River case in a ruling issued Jan. 22 by Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp. Plaintiffs Bring Back the Kern and Water Audit California had claimed in their lawsuit against the City of Bakersfield that – among other issues – it was illegally flouting California Fish and Game Code 5901, which states that it’s illegal to put anything in a river, such as a dam or a weir, that impedes fish passage. Late last fall, agricultural water districts that are “real parties in interest” in the case, filed a motion to boot that particular cause of action from the overall case. They argued that Section 5901 can only be enforced at the discretion of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, not private parties. Judge Pulskamp agreed and removed that issue from the upcoming trial, which is scheduled for Feb, 8, 2027. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
California state parks expect strong wildflower blooms this spring
“Pollinators and anthophiles unite! This spring, California State Parks expects a moderate-to-strong wildflower bloom across desert state parks, thanks to widespread rainfall during the fall and winter. The desert landscape is beginning to burst with color in parks such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (SP) and Red Rock Canyon SP, with additional parks expected to display vibrant blooms in the weeks and months ahead. State Parks reminds visitors to enjoy these seasonal displays responsibly and safely and that it is against the law to pick wildflowers in state parks. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Central Basin pressured by Metro and LADWP to fund multimillion-dollar Southeast Gateway Rail Pipeline Relocation
“A decision by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power [LADWP] has pushed Central Basin Municipal Water District [CB] toward a multimillion-dollar financial exposure it did not create, stemming from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s [Metro] Southeast Gateway light rail project and its impact on a recycled water pipeline owned by CB. Reports obtained by Los Cerritos Community News show that Metro initially identified relocating CB’s recycled water pipeline into LADWP right-of-way as the least expensive option, but later “eliminated” that alignment after telling CB that LADWP “would not allow utilities on its property.” An internal email obtained by LCCN, sent this week by CB Interim General Manager Elaine Jeng, outlined ongoing discussions with Metro over relocating CB’s recycled water pipeline. The message makes clear that the conversation has shifted away from whether CB should pay at all and toward how the District would finance repayment over decades. … ” Read more from the Los Cerritos News.
US Environmental Protection Agency update on the North OC Plume
“About 50 residents attended the January 22 US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) meeting at the Fullerton Community Center. The presentation by EPA Remedial Project Manager Amanda Cruz updated the 6.4-mile North Orange County Plume and the action being taken to clean up the polluted shallow aquifer underlying Orange County to protect our drinking water. Fullerton’s Water Division, along with the OCWD, keeps a close eye on our water and the cleanup developments. Fullerton’s Director of Public Works, Stephen Bise, Assistant Director Richard Armendariz, Andrew Grajeda, Water Systems Manager, and Delaney Felix, Water Quality Supervisor, were all in attendance. … ” Read more from the Fullerton Observer.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River states scramble for deal ahead of meeting with Trump officials
“With frustrating meetings on a near-daily basis, the seven states that share the Colorado River are scrambling to deliver any semblance of an agreement as they gear up for a high-profile discussion with the Trump administration next week. About 40 million people — and economically vital farms — in the American West rely on the river for their water supply in some of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas like Las Vegas, Phoenix and Denver. However, according to state officials and experts, an unrelenting stalemate doesn’t seem to be letting up any time soon, even with a Feb. 14 deadline to deliver a framework for how states should share the pain of a receding river. “At the point that we sit today, there’s a lot of people at the table that still want a 20-year deal,” said Colby Pellegrino, deputy general manager of resources at the Southern Nevada Water Authority. “A 20-year deal is the platinum award, and we’re ready to settle for the bronze medal.” … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
A Colorado River court showdown could cost taxpayers millions. Is Nevada prepared?
“While they don’t appear to see eye to eye on anything, Colorado River officials do agree on this much: The courtroom is the last place that technical decisions should be made about how to share a drying river that serves 40 million people. Two states, however, are publicly anticipating they will need to defend their interests in what would be a high-profile, taxpayer-funded court battle. Nevada and most others are hoping negotiators strike a deal before a firm Feb. 14 deadline set by the Trump administration, officials from which could intervene if the states cannot deliver one. At a committee hearing Tuesday, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the state has invested in hiring more staff water law attorneys and said his office is preparing for a fight he increasingly sees as inevitable. “The reason it’s hard to get a deal is because you need two parties living in reality, and if one party is living in la-la land, you’re not going to get a deal,” Weiser said. “Arizona has continued to ship alfalfa to Saudi Arabia, which is a classic example of what we should not be doing with water from the Colorado River.” … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Commentary: A fair Colorado River agreement is essential to Arizona’s future
T. J. Shope, Arizona Senate President Pro Tempore, writes, “One of my grandfathers was a proud Arizona miner. Another was a hard-working grocery store operator in a small Arizona town. Although both of these men led vastly different lives, they both were united around one very important fact for the desert they called home and were cultivating for their children and grandchildren: water is integral to survival, progress, and prosperity. Past generations of Arizonans have understood the importance of our water future—especially with a critical source in the historic and life-giving Colorado River. Each generation has successfully built blocks on each other of water conservation, security, and innovation, allowing future men, women, and children to grow up, work, and raise their families in an environment that could support the tremendous growth of this state over the last century. Yet, as we see all around us, the exponential Arizona growth continues. The small towns my grandfathers inhabited so many years ago are becoming larger by the day. Houses, businesses, and schools continue to be built. Thousands of people move to Arizona in search of a better future. All require water to fuel and sustain the efforts and migration. … ” Read more from the Arizona Free News.
A song of water and governance
“When many of us think of the Colorado River, we probably think of the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, the many gorgeous national parks through which it runs, or (most likely) the backdrop of several scenes in the 1994 thriller The River Wild, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon. Beyond these idyllic nature scenes, however, we might also find ourselves thinking about massively growing populations in urban areas like Las Vegas and Phoenix — and perhaps having discordant images of green lawns and golf courses cropping up in an otherwise dry desert. The historians among us might even recall that the scarce water in this arid region has been under intense negotiation for centuries, beginning formally with treaties between the US government and the Navajo Nation Tribes in the 1800s over governance and water rights. This year, all of these elements are coming to a head. … ” Read more from the Preamble.
ASU and SRP snowpack study begins
“Airborne Snow Observatories (ASO) has teamed up with ASU and the Salt River Project (SRP) on an innovative project to measure the snowpack across Arizona’s watershed. This project would help SRP manage our water reservoirs more effectively. Enrique Vivoni, Fulton Professor of Hydrosystems Engineering at ASU, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss how this study and how it will impact the Phoenix water supply. The study will focus on seven reservoirs supplying more than 2.5 million residents. SRP will be using planes rigged with state-of-the-art scanning lidar and imaging spectrometers measuring the snowpack and how much water it contains. … ” Read more from Arizona PBS.
Pitkin County looks to boost Roaring Fork streamflows with water purchase
“Pitkin County is making a historic deal to buy water currently used on the Front Range and put it back into the Roaring Fork. The county plans to buy 60 shares of water from Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Co. and 34 shares from Fountain Mutual Ditch Co. For $6.5 million, Pitkin County will acquire about 71 acre-feet, although only 45 of those acre-feet represent Western Slope water that is currently diverted to the Front Range. Pitkin County Commissioner Francie Jacober made the announcement at Wednesday’s board meeting of the Colorado River Water Conservation District. “This is obviously going to help with the flows in the upper Roaring Fork,” Jacober said at the meeting. “It’s really exciting.” … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
Wyoming considers voluntary program to conserve Colorado River water
“Western states are struggling to agree on how to share and conserve water from the dwindling Colorado River. Mandatory cuts are on the table, but some states are advocating for voluntary cuts. That includes Wyoming, which is considering a new pilot program to ask water rights holders to cut their usage. “We disagree with any contention that we need to do mandatory reductions,” Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart said at a Jan. 21 legislative meeting. “But we don’t disagree that hydrology is declining and has been in decline for 25 years.” As drought persists and demands on the Colorado River increase, the lower basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada have pushed for mandatory water cuts in dry years for all states in the basin. That includes upper basin states, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, which have advocated for voluntary cuts. … ” Read more from Wyoming Public Radio.
In national water news this weekend …
Is climate change weakening the polar vortex?
“The polar vortex is a ribbon of high-altitude, fast-moving air that traps cold air as it circles the planet’s Arctic region in a counterclockwise direction. But occasionally, the polar vortex stretches into an oval shape, weakens and allows a blob of cold air to spill south into North America. That’s what’s happening this week. A mass of cold Arctic air is colliding with a warm, moist high-pressure system moving west from California, producing a sprawling area of freezing rain, ice and snow across much of the Midwest, Southern and Eastern United States. Judah Cohen, a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coauthored a study in the journal Science last year that found that the stretching of the polar vortex was linked to increased severe winter weather in the United States in the past decade. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: Response to A. Carroll Supplemental Modeling Part 3, notice from the State Water Board
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