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In California water news today …
California, West to see ‘major pattern change’ as rain, snow enter forecast
“The ridge of high pressure that has dominated California’s weather since early January is finally showing signs of weakening. On the heels of a record warm December, January ended up near record warm as well, with a clear national dipole between the warm West and cooler East. What the National Weather Service describes as a “major pattern change” is on the horizon. Forecast models anticipate an end to the 60- and 70-degree temperatures, with rain and snow returning to parts of California as early as Sunday, and a more significant precipitation window opening next week. But the nature of the incoming storms raises a critical question: Will the precipitation fall where, and how, the state needs it most? … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Warm, dry and snow-scarce conditions in western US may waver soon
“A mainly dry, unseasonably warm setup that has persisted over much of the western United States for the past month or so is about to break down. While that pattern shift may not bring massive changes all at once, it could allow storms to return to California and bring opportunities for snow to the interior West in the coming weeks. The jet stream has been convoluted over the past month. A large dip in the East has driven waves of Arctic air from Minnesota to Florida. In the West, the jet stream has had a large northward bulge, leading to a lack of storms, mainly dry and warm conditions and areas of air stagnation. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
How much water is in the snow? This winter’s numbers raise concerns
“Most people in Tahoe would agree the Sierra Nevada snowpack is one of California’s most valuable natural resources. For some, that value is tied to powder days and packed parking lots at ski resorts. In reality, the snowpack’s importance extends far beyond winter recreation. Skiers and snowboarders care about depth and quality. Hydrologists — and anyone who relies on Sierra snowmelt — focus on something else: how much water the snow actually holds. That measurement is known as snow water equivalent, or SWE. On average, the Sierra snowpack supplies about 30% of California’s annual water needs. Its ability to store precipitation through the winter and release it gradually in spring is why it’s often called the state’s “frozen reservoir.” … ” Read more from the Sierra Sun.
Snow drought current conditions and impacts in the West
“Snow cover across the Western U.S. on February 1 was 139,322 square miles—the lowest February 1 snow cover in the MODIS satellite record (since 2001). As of February 1, Oregon, Colorado, and Utah have reported record low statewide snowpack. (Widespread SNOTEL records go back to the early 1980s). Critical water supply basins like the Deschutes, Humboldt, Yakima, Rio Grande, and Upper Colorado are experiencing severe. A January dry spell resulted in most states receiving 50% or less of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. Warm temperatures have resulted in an elevational gradient to the snowpack. Snow is present at higher elevations but has melted or is not present at lower elevations. A lack of snow cover may lead to early drying of the landscape, which could result in a longer fire season or reduce runoff efficiency as snow melts. … ” Read more from NIDIS.
Healthy Rivers and Landscapes representatives brief State Board on completed projects and early successes
“Last week, we participated in a panel at the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) hearing for the Delta Water Quality Control Plan Update to provide board members and staff with an update on the progress being made on Healthy Rivers and Landscapes “Early Implementation” habitat projects and positive fish returns resulting from this work. The Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) proposal is being considered as a means of implementing the objectives contained in the Water Quality Control Plan for the Bay-Delta, which is in the process of being updated. We and the other HRL supporters are invested in the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program because the latest science shows us that its combination of comprehensive and substantial habitat improvements with the management of targeted, functional flows is the way to make meaningful progress in Chinook salmon recovery. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley sends letter in support of Action 5
“Last week, Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley member organizations joined a broad coalition of water, food production, municipal, and business organizations from across California in submitting a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife expressing strong support for Action 5, the recently adopted long-term operations plan for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. Reliable water supplies are essential to sustaining California’s rural agricultural economy, supporting urban resilience, supplies for wildlife ecosystems, protecting disadvantaged communities, and reducing pressure on strained groundwater basins. Action 5 is the balanced, bipartisan approach California needs to modernize how the state manages its water infrastructure, without sacrificing the environmental protections. … ” Read more from the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
Challenging California’s water ‘scarcity’ narrative
“California doesn’t have a water scarcity problem. It has a distribution problem, according to Nícola Ulibarrí, whose new research is reshaping how policymakers think about one of the state’s most pressing challenges. In a report commissioned by UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab, Ulibarrí argues that California’s existing water infrastructure already collects enough water to sustain all state residents. The real crisis, says the UC Irvine associate professor of urban planning and public policy, is that thousands of Californians remain disconnected from that abundant supply. “Water is already abundant for most California residents,” says Ulibarrí, whose work focuses on water policy and environmental governance. “The question isn’t how to create more water. It’s how to ensure everyone can access what we already have.” … ” Read more from UC Irvine.
How to entice water guzzlers to conserve
“When Kristina Brecko arrived at Stanford University in the fall of 2012 to start her PhD, she was already scanning the weather forecast—not for rainfall, but for snow. An avid snowboarder, she and her graduate study advisor, Wesley Hartmann, a skier, were eager to get into the mountains. There would be no great skiing that winter. California was entering what would become one of the most severe droughts in its history. “I liked to snowboard,” Brecko says. “And so it was very salient that there really wasn’t any good snow that year.” The drought, which stretched from 2012 to 2017, transformed daily life across the state. Cities pleaded with residents to conserve water and let lawns go brown, rip out grass, stop watering altogether. Billboards and public campaigns urged restraint. Many complied. But some of the state’s heaviest water users, often homeowners with sprawling green lawns, did not. For Brecko, now an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, the disconnect raised a question that would shape years of research. California was awash in public opinion messaging. Was any of it effective? … ” Read more from the University of Rochester.
A mysterious salmon-killing affliction is a mystery no more
“Scientists have conclusively identified the cause of a lethal vitamin deficiency that is driving the demise of one of California’s unique salmon populations. In a recent paper, a team of 37 biologists, physiologists, and fisheries experts show that a severe, widespread vitamin B1 deficiency plaguing the winter run of Sacramento River chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is linked to an extreme dietary imbalance caused by the spread of northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) up the coast. Historically, some 200,000 winter-run chinook returned each year to spawn in the Sacramento River. Already stressed by rising temperatures in a river divided by dams and overdrawn by farmers, this federally-endangered salmon population has been listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 1994, and is bolstered by hatchery-raised fish. In early 2020, as the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life on land, managers in salmon hatcheries across California’s Central Valley were faced with the arrival of a different affliction. Hatchery workers were reporting juvenile fish, or fry, swimming in erratic, corkscrew patterns—a characteristic reaction of fish to a vitamin B1 deficiency. They were also suffering a soaring death rate. … ” Read more from Biographic.
California spends billions based on this pollution tracker. Who benefits from its latest update?
“California is again updating the system it uses to decide which polluted communities get cleanup funding. The tool, CalEnviroScreen, has already steered billions of dollars to the state’s most burdened neighborhoods, but critics say it still overlooks some of them. The update is reigniting a long-smoldering debate: officials promise they’re listening to communities more than ever, while advocates say the state’s data gaps leave some areas invisible to the system designed to help them. Officials at the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the state agency managing the tool, said they worked with eight community organizations to design this fifth update – including the Environmental Health Coalition, UNIDOS Network and Comite Civico del Valle. The update adds two indicators: diabetes prevalence, because people with diabetes are more vulnerable to air pollution; and small air toxic sites, to track additional risks from sources like urban oil wells and dry cleaners. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Californian Senator proposes bill to create new rate class for large load data centers
“A new bill has been introduced in the California Senate aimed at regulating the expansion of large load data centers across the state and protecting ratepayers from footing the bill for the generation and transmission infrastructure needed to power them. Introduced by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (Democrat-Pasadena) SB 978 would require the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to establish a special rate structure for large-scale energy users, with a capacity of at least 75MW. This would aim to protect other customers of electrical corporations, prevent cost shifts to those other customers, and require large-scale energy users to pay for the electrical corporations’ upfront costs of transmission or distribution infrastructure upgrades necessary for the provision of electrical service to those users. … ” Read more from Data Center Dynamics.
Environmental developments to watch in California in 2026
“California will continue to set the pace for environmental regulation in 2026, using its rulemaking, enforcement, and market influence to drive requirements that often become de facto national standards for companies doing business in the state. Even amid uncertainty and change at the federal level, expect California agencies and local governments to press ahead with ambitious climate and sustainability policies, while courts and the Legislature shape how quickly—and how broadly—those policies take effect. For regulated entities, the result is a fast-moving compliance landscape where early awareness, thoughtful planning, and practical implementation strategies can meaningfully reduce risk and cost. Beveridge & Diamond (B&D) closely tracks developments, upcoming deadlines, and business implications for companies with operations in California. Below we summarize key areas of activity and what companies should expect in the year ahead. … ” Read more from the National Law Review.
In commentary today …
State tries to sideline Sacramento & Stockton’s lawyers — court hears stay request
Deirdre Des Jardins writes, “On January 23, 2026, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) filed a motion in Sacramento County Superior Court seeking to disqualify the law firm of Somach Simmons & Dunn, longtime counsel for the County of Sacramento, the City of Stockton, in three of the ten consolidated cases challenging DWR’s approvals of the Delta Conveyance Project. Somach has represented these local governments on Delta matters since 2007. On February 6, 2026, the court will hear Somach’s motion to stay all Delta Conveyance proceedings while it resolves DWR’s sweeping conflict-of-interest claims. Though the legal issues are technical, they present a fundamental question of fairness: Can the State destabilize the legal representation of directly affected local governments in the middle of ongoing, multi-front litigation? … ” Continue reading from California Water Research.
Stop the Voluntary Agreements: A thin layer of frosting on the rotting cake of business as usual
Chris Shutes writes, “The updated Bay-Delta Plan will set flows into San Francisco Bay, through the Delta estuary upstream, and in the Sacramento Valley rivers that flow into the Delta. On December 12, 2025, the State Water Resources Control Board (the Board) issued two major documents that describe its latest proposal for an update. These are the Revised Draft Plan and a partially Recirculated Substitute Environmental Document (SED). The latter analyzes the Revised Draft Plan. In the two documents, the Board solidifies a decision to adopt voluntary agreements proposed by the state’s major water users. Over January 2026, CSPA worked overtime to turn the direction of the Board in favor of an updated Bay-Delta Plan that would restore the Bay-Delta estuary. … ” Read more from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Arcata City Council kickstarts water rate increase process
“The Arcata City Council settled on the method to be used for increases in utility bills until 2030 at a meeting Wednesday. The council voted in favor of spreading water and wastewater increases out in smaller jumps, rather than a larger increase in the first year. One council member, Stacy Atkins-Salazar, dissented, as it would mean a slightly larger cost for residents at the end of a five-year period. According to a staff presentation, one option the council considered was to increase water costs by 44% in 2026 with more minimal increases in the years following. The other option was to increase rates by 23% the first year, followed by an 18% jump the second year. City staff recommended the second option and the council ultimately concurred. … ” Read more the Eureka Times-Standard.
Eureka City Council approves countywide climate plan
“The Eureka City Council voted to adopt the Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan on Tuesday, clearing another hurdle in the county’s efforts to reach the state-mandated goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. The county’s RCAP has been in the works since 2018. It was adopted by the board of supervisors in December. The plan establishes a framework for the county and its municipalities to reach goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels and eventually carbon neutrality — targets established by the state Legislature. “Broadly, it’s a regional planning document developed in response to state climate requirements, including Senate Bill 32 and Assembly Bill 1279; these state laws set long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets, including reducing emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045,” Senior Planner Chris Lohoefener said during a presentation to the city council. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Wet winter, dry reality? Humboldt officials say water risk isn’t gone
“All of Humboldt County is drought-free at this point (in fact, the entire state of California is drought free for the first time in 25 years) but the engineers of an emergency response plan have told the Board of Supervisors that droughts can follow wet years and risk is ever-present. Updated on county drought planning at their Feb. 3 meeting, supervisors advanced some suggestions, including using data from Eel River Valley groundwater monitoring in the plan and developing water storage and system consolidations in the north county area. Patrick Esh, co-chair of the county’s Drought Task Force Steering Committee, said precipitation has been above average locally but he warned it could go the other way in the future. “Favorable conditions can mask underlying vulnerabilities, particularly for rural areas and communities served by small water systems and domestic wells, which are often the first to experience impacts when conditions shift,” he said. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
Welcoming coho salmon back to Jenner: restoration at Jenner Headlands Preserve
“In 2025, The Wildlands Conservancy marked its first year of seeing coho salmon in a Sonoma coast stream called Russian Gulch. With luck and hard work, this event should herald a return of coho salmon in the Russian Gulch Watershed. The change was brought about by more than a decade of effort by Conservancy staff. They seek to transform the waterways of Jenner Headlands Preserve (the Preserve) into strongholds for salmon and other native fish species. The Wildlands Conservancy is a San Bernardino County-based nonprofit that has owned and managed the 5,630-acre property since 2013. The Jenner Headlands Preserve is one of the Conservancy’s 24 preserves across California, Oregon, and Utah. … ” Read more from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
Nonprofit threatens Trump administration with lawsuit over failure to protect Clear Lake hitch
“The Center for Biological Diversity, an Arizona-based nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and protecting the diversity of wild animals and plants, issued a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service in federal district court over what they describe as a failure to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for a rare type of fish only found in Lake County. The Clear Lake hitch, a large species of minnow found only in the Clear Lake watershed, has experienced a substantial decline in population for decades and lost significant habitat in recent years driven by “the chronic over-withdrawal” of water and climate-driven drought, state officials said. The hitch lost 85% of wetlands critical for juvenile rearing and 92% of their spawning and rearing streams. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Officials discuss groundwater contamination, new equipment for residents in sewer spill impact area
“Residents impacted by the Robin Lane sewage spill will receive home filtration and sanitization systems, officials said Wednesday, as groundwater restoration is expected to take a long time. After consulting with experts, including a hydrologist, the incident command team determined that groundwater contamination may persist despite temporary negative well test results for fecal bacteria, officials said at Wednesday’s town hall at Clearlake City Hall. “The path to the aquifer being clear – to the extent that our team and Public Health are comfortable saying your water is safe to drink again, for most properties at least – is going to be an extended period of time,” said Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora at the Wednesday town hall meeting. “Probably months.” … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Shaping Lincoln’s water future
“Some city council meetings are exciting, some are boring, and some are potentially transformational. The meeting of Jan. 27 falls in the latter category, as two very important issues were brought forward for overview presentations to the city council and the community: the discussion of the Water Master Plan, and options for heavy duty trucks routing around the downtown. Today’s column talks about the Water Plan, followed shortly by the re-routing options.
Lincoln is forecast to grow significantly over the next few decades, with our General Plan anticipating our current 55,000 residents increasing to 110,000 by 2050. My personal opinion is that Lincoln needs to keep expanding because 1) people want to live and work in Placer County and 2) we’re at the northward push from Interstate 80. I believe we need to control the future development that will inevitably come our way so as to maintain the “community feel” of our city; that is, distinct villages centered around a vibrant downtown. If we don’t control our Sphere of Influence, growth still will come and we will have no say in its development. … ” Read more from Gold Mountain News.
Commentary: Folsom depends on a single 48-inch pipe for its water. Time to diversify
Opinion columnist Tom Philp writes, “Most of Folsom sits south of the American River and relies on a single 48-inch water pipe, starting in the heart of the nearby dam, to survive. This pipe was plenty big and reliable when it was built along with the Folsom Dam in 1955, when the city was home to all of 2,000-some residents. But now with a booming city of more than 80,000 thirsty locals, Folsom is wisely looking to somehow diversify its water plumbing and portfolio. After a years-long process known as the Folsom Water Vision that engaged its active citizenry to search for new supplies and ways to ensure water taps never run dry, Folsom has found its most important solution. It’s not a new supply from elsewhere. It’s from the same American River, just with another pipe downstream. … ” Read more the Sacramento Bee.
BAY AREA
Editorial: Larkspur residents needed a warning about sewage leak during flood
The Marin Independent Journal editorial board writes, “Larkspur city officials took a lot of heat from residents of neighborhoods that were flooded by January’s king tides. The city leaders should heed those concerns and address them. A lot of Marin public agencies, residents and businesses were caught by surprise by the level of flooding those tides created. Many were caught flat-footed. Whether it was a 100-year event, a 50-year event or the harbinger of global warming’s rising tides, the damage done and possible health threats need to be addressed, forthrightly and with public health and safety in mind. Among those seen in Larkspur were sewer leaks reported during the flooding. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Cal Am asks regulators not to lift Carmel River order
“California American Water Co. is asking state regulators to deny an application to lift a moratorium on new hookups from Carmel River water that has left the Monterey Peninsula for two decades without the ability to construct badly needed housing. Cal Am is saying other water supplies, such as Pure Water Monterey and its expansion, are not stable enough to lift a cease-and-desist order regulators placed on pumping a specified amount of water out of the Carmel River aquifer. At least not yet. In October, the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District filed an application with the State Water Resources Control Board to modify the cease-and-desist order on new water hookups along the Monterey Peninsula. The order has been in place in one form or another since 1995. If granted, the modification would allow for new hookups and subsequently new housing starts. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Hollister calls for health study amid west-side wastewater odor complaints
“Hollister City Council is demanding a public health study to address concerns about a foul odor from the city’s wastewater treatment facility, affecting residents on the west side of town. Residents have noticed the smell, with resident Samantha Lopez saying, “We live right down the street from the little ponds, the sewer system that they have, and it’s terrible.” City Councilman Rolan Resendiz highlighted past neglect, stating, “When the previous mayor and the previous council were here, we heard from the staff there’s no environmental concerns, but we never had studies done to prove that.” … ” Read more from Channel 8.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Rep. Costa secures passage of $11.2 Million in federal funding for San Joaquin Valley communities
“Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) announced the passage of Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding legislation, which includes nine Community Project Funding awards totaling more than $11.2 million, and passage of the Interior and Environment (I&E) funding legislation which includes two Community Project Funding awards totaling over $2 million for water projects for the San Joaquin Valley. These awards follow four previously approved projects totaling $6.5 million, bringing the total FY2026 project funding for California’s 21st District to $19.8 million. The funding will support critical investments in transportation infrastructure, housing, food security, workforce development, clean energy, water infrastructure, and economic growth across the region. … ” Read more from Congressman Jim Costa.
San Joaquin Farm Bureau sounds alarm on rapidly spreading golden mussels
“The golden mussel, an invasive species that is making its way across the delta, through waterways and pipes, is now reaching as far south as Riverside County. Now, it has prompted the San Joaquin Farm Bureau to send out a warning. “In the summer, it gets hot, you’re going to try and run pumps out of local rivers or waterways and find out that your pipes are all clogged,” San Joaquin Farm Bureau Executive Director Andrew Genasci said. The first spotting of golden mussels was in October 2024. While its origin is unknown, experts assume it began spreading across the Central Valley from the Port of Stockton. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Agency again threatens to shut off water to Diablo Grande community in Stanislaus
“The Kern County Water Agency is again threatening to shut off water deliveries for the 600 homes at Diablo Grande in western Stanislaus County after negotiations have failed to resolve a $14 million debt for water transfers. The Kern water agency said in a Jan. 28 press release that Western Hills Water District, which provides services to Diablo Grande, declined proposals to sell smaller amounts of water for Diablo Grande and significantly reduce the $14 million owed to Kern. Western Hills stopped making contractual payments for annual water transfers from Kern in 2019, which eventually brought the water crisis to a head at Diablo Grande last year. The Kern water agency near Bakersfield is the local contracting entity for the State Water Project. Kern’s news release said Western Hills, during recent negotiations, proposed making payments that are substantially below the cost of the water to be delivered. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Porterville City Council approves joining Tule East GSA
“The Porterville City Council voted 4–1 at its meeting on Tuesday to approve an amended and restated Joint Powers Authority (JPA) agreement establishing the Tule East Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), a move intended to keep the City compliant with the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). City staff explained SGMA requires local agencies within critically overdrafted groundwater basins to participate in a governing GSA. The City of Porterville lies within the Tule Subbasin, which is currently under probationary status due to deficiencies in a prior groundwater sustainability plan. The City had previously been a member of the Eastern Tule GSA, but that agency is in the process of dissolving following the withdrawal of several member agencies. In response, Tulare County, Ducor Water District, and Oak Water District initiated the formation of the Tule East GSA to preserve local control and advance development of a revised, compliant groundwater sustainability plan. An amended JPA agreement and draft bylaws were prepared to establish the new agency’s governance framework. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Longtime Kern County farm family fears change in groundwater status will lead to greater pollution
“The groundwater in parts of western Kern County is salty and, generally, considered a bit crummy, longtime farmer Brad Kroeker admits. But that doesn’t mean it should be abandoned to wholesale pollution as Kroeker believes will happen if a “de-designation” recently approved by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board gains final approval from the state Water Resources Control Board. The regional board voted 5-1 at its Dec. 12, 2025 meeting to “de-designate” groundwater for municipal and agricultural uses under a six-square-mile area north of McKittrick. “I went up to argue against it, but we were the only ones who spoke against it,” said Kroeker, a partner in Starrh and Starrh Farms which has farm land in, and adjacent to, the de-designation area. “I don’t think anyone else even knew it was happening.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Unsafe jail water: County Supervisors ask LASD to fix safety issues
“Brown, bug-filled drinking water has been coming out of the taps at one county jail for years, according to reports from an oversight commission. The Sybil Brand Commission conducts regular, unannounced inspections of jails and lockup facilities maintained by the county, and has been reporting issues with drinking water at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood since 2023. The commission has also found problems with the drinking water at other county jails in recent months. L.A. County Supervisors voted on Tuesday, calling for the Sheriff’s Department to fix water quality issues at all county jails within 180 days. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Nobody knows what to do with LA’s 1,000-acre urban oilfield
“Although the pumpjack shots in “L.A. Confidential” suggest a deserted oil field, some location likely far outside a city center, the real-life Inglewood Oil Field used in the film is flanked by several densely populated residential communities deep within the Westside. Sure, pumpjacks can be found elsewhere throughout LA, including farther down near Long Beach and hiding inside some fake city buildings, but at 1,000 acres (all just a stone’s throw from LAX), Inglewood Oil Field still holds the distinction of being the largest urban outpost of its kind in the United States. But what the century-old oil field might become in the future is anyone’s guess. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Voters could decide fate of proposed Monterey Park data center
“Monterey Park leaders are weighing whether to put the future of data centers directly in voters’ hands. Overnight, the City Council agreed to a proposition that could put a citywide data center ban on the ballot. The controversial issue was discussed during a meeting didn’t end until nearly 1 a.m. Thursday. In the end, the City Council unanimously agreed to move forward with exploring the ballot proposition. The vote doesn’t outright ban data centers, but it could set the city on a path toward a ballot measure and a final decision by voters. Meanwhile, the city’s temporary moratorium remains in place as city staff continue working on long-term rules. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
Meet the tiny but mighty SoCal amphibian that may soon get endangered species protection
“California’s Fish and Game Commission will soon consider designating the Western spadefoot as endangered. The tiny amphibian is found in the grasslands of Southern California and the Central Valley. It has endured several challenges in recent decades, including habitat loss and prolonged drought. But state endangered species protection could give the little frogs a break from the urban sprawl that threatens their habitats. … ” Read more from the LAist.
San Gorgonio Pass Commentary: When storms hit, water planning determines
“Atmospheric rivers are delivering real water supply gains for the Pass area, boosting streamflow, reducing pressure on local groundwater, and improving reliability for the communities served by the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA). With the right preparation, these storm events can translate into tangible benefits that support daily life across the region. Still, rainfall alone cannot secure the Pass area’s long-term water future. Storms are episodic and unpredictable, and without coordinated planning and infrastructure, their benefits are short-lived. That is why SGPWA exists: to advance projects, partnerships, and system investments that move water when it is available and strengthen reliability when conditions turn dry. “These storms bolster our water systems and help stabilize local supplies,” said SGPWA Board President Robert Ybarra. “They also remind us of our responsibility to make sure every wet year leaves us better prepared for what comes next.” … ” Read more from the Record-Gazette.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
California community panics as $15 billion in data centers planned
“Developers are descending on a rural desert community along California’s Mexican border, trying to build over $15 billion worth of data centers to power Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence boom. But concerns over pollution and Colorado River water use have turned one of the projects into a charged legal fight, where a developer is accusing city officials in Imperial, California, of “economic sabotage” for circulating flyers about the development. Meanwhile, activists are warning that the projects are getting approved without protecting local residents. Last year, developer CalEthos announced plans to turn 315 acres of farmland into a complex that could eventually be a $5.5 billion project, with the first phase including a 200,000-square-foot data center. A second company, Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing LLC, proposed a $10 billion, 950,000-square-foot data center close to the city of Imperial, located near the Mexican border, roughly 90 miles east of San Diego. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego Coastkeeper & CERF reach resolution with BNSF Railway over transportation of plastic pellets
“BNSF Railway, Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation, San Diego Coastkeeper, and North County Transit District are pleased to announce that the parties have reached a resolution to resolve allegations related to BNSF’s transportation of plastic pellets, also known as nurdles. Nurdles are tiny plastic beads that are the raw material for almost all plastic products. Because of their small size – approximately the size of a lentil – nurdles can be difficult to control, but even more difficult to clean up once they are released into the environment. The parties worked collaboratively over many months to investigate and develop industry-leading standards for the safe and secure transportation of plastic pellets. As part of that collaboration, BNSF has introduced updated policies and enhanced protocols to prevent the accidental spillage or release of plastic pellets throughout the United States. The new policies require BNSF’s customers to properly seal both loaded and unloaded rail cars that transport plastic pellets. In addition, BNSF will not pick up and pull non-compliant cars and will implement escalating fees for non-compliance. BNSF has rolled out these changes nationwide and the parties are pleased to have collaborated in developing this enduring set of changes. … ” Read more from the San Diego Coastkeeper.
EPA chief vows federal support for Tijuana River crisis, voices confidence in Mexico
“Federal officials met in San Diego on Thursday to discuss the government’s response to the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis, with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin expressing confidence in Mexico’s commitment to completing infrastructure projects aimed at ending years of cross-border pollution. Speaking to reporters and local leaders in Coronado, Zeldin addressed the crisis that has resulted in billions of gallons of pollution being dumped into the ocean, causing beach closures and health issues for residents in South Bay communities. “I have smelled the most awful of smells. I’ve seen contaminated land. I’ve seen contaminated water,” Zeldin said. “I look forward to going back to D.C., sitting down and assessing today’s visit, today’s asks, and finding out any other possible way that we can help.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
SEE ALSO:
Along the Colorado River …
How failing negotiations could spiral into a bitter fight over the Colorado River
“With the leaders of seven states deadlocked over the Colorado River’s deepening crisis, negotiations increasingly seem likely to fail — which could lead the federal government to impose unilateral cuts and spark lawsuits that would bring a complex court battle. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has urged negotiators for the states to reach a deal by Feb. 14, but substantial disagreements remain. “All seven states know that if we’re unable to achieve an agreement, it would likely fall to the courts, and that would be a lengthy and uncertain process,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in an interview. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Lake Mead warning issued as 100-year-old water deal could be breached
“Arizona water leaders warned that a 1922 agreement that divides water from the Colorado River among seven western states could be breached as soon as 2026 amid falling snowpack, declining reservoir levels and stalled negotiations over river operations, according to reported remarks from a Monday Arizona Reconsultation Committee Meeting. Among the seven states, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah make up the Upper Basin while the Lower Basin consists of California, Arizona, and Nevada. Under the 1922 Colorado River Compact, each basin is allocated 7.5 million acre-feet annually, with the Upper Basin obligated to deliver a 10-year rolling average of at least 75 million acre-feet to the Lower Basin measured at Lees Ferry. It’s mainly the negotiations on future water cuts, due to depleting water levels, that have stalled. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Utah legislature stashes $1 million for Colorado River litigation
“It’s been said that in the West, whiskey’s for drinking and water’s for fighting. It appears the Utah State Legislature has had a snoot full of whiskey and is ready for a fight over the Colorado River. On Thursday, Sen. David Hinkins, the chair of the legislature’s powerful Natural Resources Appropriations Committee, filed a request for $1 million for potential litigation over the mighty river. “We just gotta pray for the best and prepare for the worst,” Sen. Hinkins, R-Ferron, told FOX 13 News afterward. The allocation is a signal things are ratcheting up between the states negotiating new agreements to manage the river that provides water to more than 40 million people in the western United States. Arizona’s legislature is considering a similar $1 million funding request for lawsuits. … ” Read more from Fox 13.
SEE ALSO: Worsening snow drought in the West will have cascading impacts, experts say, from WSJM
Senate committee advances bipartisan bill to boost Colorado River conservation funding
“A bipartisan effort to stretch conservation dollars along the parched Lower Colorado River gained momentum Wednesday as the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced legislation to allow program funds to accrue interest. The bill, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), passed the committee by a voice vote without opposition. It seeks to modernize how the federal government handles millions of dollars contributed by California, Arizona, and Nevada for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP). Under current law, the Bureau of Reclamation holds these state contributions in an account that does not earn interest. Padilla’s legislation would move those funds into an interest-bearing account at the Department of the Treasury—a “common-sense” fix, supporters say, that generates extra revenue at no cost to taxpayers. “As ongoing drought threatens the river and drives up costs, allowing the program’s account to accrue interest is a simple, bipartisan solution to ensure that California’s dollars go further,” Padilla said in a statement following the vote. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press Online.
Alongside new groundwater rules, Arizona presses Fondomonte suit
“Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is continuing the state’s lawsuit against Fondomonte Arizona, LLC, even after state regulators moved to place new groundwater controls on the same basin. On February 3, 2026, the attorney general’s office filed a supplemental brief in the case, stating that the public nuisance lawsuit remains necessary despite the recent designation of the Ranegras Plain Groundwater Basin as an Active Management Area. The state originally sued Fondomonte in December 2024, alleging the company’s groundwater pumping in La Paz County threatens public health, safety, and infrastructure in surrounding communities. The lawsuit focuses on pumping levels in the Ranegras Plain Basin, an area that relies entirely on groundwater and has experienced long-term declines in water levels. … ” Read more from Western Water.
Engineer creates drinking water from air as water shortages worsen
“Arizona and the Southwest are facing a growing water crisis, shrinking rivers, rising demand, and new AI data centers putting added pressure on supplies. One inventor thinks the solution might be right above our heads. Former Army Ranger Captain Moses West has created atmospheric water generators that pull moisture from the air, cool it, and turn it into purified drinking water- producing thousands of gallons a day, even in dry climates like Arizona. … ” Read more from Channel 15.
Voters thought Colorado wasn’t doing enough to protect its water even before this winter’s dry spell
“Colorado voters were worried about how the state was handling its water issues long before this winter showed its true colors: brown and yellow. In early December, a poll showed most Coloradans felt the state doesn’t have enough water to meet its needs a decade from now and the state isn’t doing enough about it. That was before two months of mostly dry and unseasonably warm temperatures left Colorado with its lowest snowpack since 1987. “The snowpack right now is dismal. We’ve got water issues statewide, not just the Colorado River,” said Brian Jackson with EDF Action, the advocacy arm of the Environmental Defense Fund, one of the groups that paid for the poll. “We really looked at ways that the next governor and additional electeds can tackle water in a new and improved way.” … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
How climate change is threatening the future of the Winter Olympics
“After heavy snowfall earlier in the week, the forecast for Cortina d’Ampezzo, site of women’s Alpine skiing for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, calls for a chance of rain, a severe ice warning and daytime temperatures well above freezing followed by an overnight chill in the 20s. And that could be a big problem says Jonathan Belles, a meteorologist at The Weather Company and a self-described Olympic geek, because any snow that melts in the day, then freezes again at night, is no longer snow. It’s ice or slush. And since no one wants to ski on ice or slush, artificial snow will be used. That’s an even bigger problem. “As you layer snow on top of each other, different kinds of snow, that can create an avalanche risk,” Belles said. “I would not want to be a snow creator or event host this go around. It’s going to be kind of tricky.” … ” Continue reading at the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Climate change threatens the Winter Olympics’ future – and even snowmaking has limits for saving the Game, from The Conversation
Here’s what could happen when the endangerment finding dies
“EPA’s repeal of a monumental scientific finding on global warming in the coming days could close the door on a decade and a half of U.S. climate policy. The so-called endangerment finding undergirds federal authority to regulate climate pollution. Revoking it would have the immediate effect of sweeping aside two rules meant to lower greenhouse gases from cars and trucks. And it would help clear the way for the Trump administration’s attempts to upend environmental standards for other highly polluting sectors, such as power plants. Future fallouts from the repeal, which is expected as early as next week, include a potential ruling by the Supreme Court that former EPA officials say would effectively bar any president from issuing a new endangerment finding. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Under Trump, EPA’s enforcement of environmental laws collapses, report finds
“Enforcement against polluters in the United States plunged in the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, a far bigger drop than in the same period of his first term, according to a new report from a watchdog group. By analyzing a range of federal court and administrative data, the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project found that civil lawsuits filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in cases referred by the Environmental Protection Agency dropped to just 16 in the first 12 months after Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. That is 76 percent less than in the first year of the Biden administration. Trump’s first administration filed 86 such cases in its first year, which was in turn a drop from the Obama administration’s 127 four years earlier. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
The US government says it is falling short on its legal duties to tribal nations
“As federal agencies manage millions of acres of land critical to climate adaptation, wildlife, and water supplies, a new government report finds that they are falling short of their legal responsibilities to tribal nations. “In treaties, tribes ceded millions of acres of their territories to the federal government in exchange for certain commitments,” the report read. Published in late January by the Government Accountability Office, or GAO, these commitments, through treaties, included services, protection, reservations, and for some tribes, hunting and fishing rights. These commitments have evolved into federal agencies engaging in government-to-government relationships with tribes on managing natural resources. … ” Read more from Grist.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Water right Term 91: Advance notice of probable curtailment
