Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Characterizing the Corcoran Clay Using AEM from 12pm to 1pm. Since 2021, over 25,000 line-kms of airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data have been collected across California, with a number of studies demonstrating the potential for using this form of data for building groundwater models. However, the standard forms of analysis result in images that can be difficult to interpret when it comes to determining the location and thickness of laterally continuous confining units, which are key features for the development of the hydrogeologic conceptual model used as input to groundwater flow models. In this work, we present a ‘targeted inversion’ approach that accurately identifies the location (upper and lower surfaces) of laterally continuous confining layers using a multistep inversion process integrated with data from resistivity logs. Our approach uses the resistivity models recovered from initial smooth and sharp inversions to define an area in which the targeted confining layer is believed to be present. Within this area we conduct a further ‘targeted’ inversion from which we can recover a more realistic representation of the location and thickness of the confining layer of interest. We further calibrate the thickness of this layer using collocated data from resistivity logs. We applied our approach across the San Joaquin Valley in California to obtain an AEM-derived map of the key confining layer in the valley, the Corcoran Clay. Click here for more information and to register.
- WEBINAR: Water Quality in San Francisco Bay from 12pm to 1pm. Join Bay Nature and scientist Jay Davis for a virtual talk about water quality in the SF Bay. Clean water is vital to the health of the San Francisco Bay ecosystem, and SF Bay residents depend on it daily. Billions of dollars have been invested in wastewater management and other pollutant pathways that impact Bay water quality, and as a result the Bay is in much better condition than it was in the 1970s. However, thousands of chemicals are carried into the Bay by society’s waste streams, and significant water quality problems persist. Tune in to learn more! This event is inspired by our Winter 2026 column by Susan Kuramoto Moffat “Winter Clean.” Click here to register.
- MEETING: National Park Service Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study from 1pm to 2:30pm. The National Park Service Study Team invites the public to join us for an online informational webinar about the Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study. The webinar will provide an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the Special Resource Study process and framework. Join by computer using the link https://bit.ly/4t8oWXW or by phone at 1-202-640-1187, Conference ID: 990571600#
- PUBLIC MEETING: Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel Working Group Meeting Agenda from 3pm to 6pm. The meeting objective is to facilitate Panel deliberations on issues relevant to the Panel charge questions. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Proposed Bay-Delta plan could reshape way California delivers water
“California regulators are moving toward a long-awaited decision on how much water can be taken from the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta — a choice that could reshape supplies for cities, farms, and fragile ecosystems statewide. The Bay-Delta Plan, now nearing final approval, would require more freshwater to remain in rivers and estuaries, limiting how much can be pumped south during much of the year. Recent public hearings underscored how consequential the plan is: conservation groups say the Delta’s ecological collapse demands urgent action; agricultural districts and urban water agencies warn it could reshape supply chains, decimate the ag industry, and raise household water bills. Here is what’s at stake — and what it means for California water users. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record.
Letter: Outdated water rules could cost California 600,000 acre-feet, lawmakers warn
“Four California Congressmen have sent Governor Gavin Newsom a letter expressing concerns over outdated water regulations that could result in the loss of 600,000 acre-feet of water. The letter highlights three primary reasons for California’s water shortages: insufficient precipitation and snowpack, the need for improved water storage and conveyance, and “fixed and outdated regulations that lead to water being used in ways that do not maximize beneficial uses for humans and the environment.” Specifically, the Congressmen point to the “Port Chicago” standard, adopted in 1999 and revised in 2000 under Water Rights Decision 1641 (D-1641). This regulation was originally intended to support the Delta food web by increasing reservoir releases and reducing Delta exports. However, the letter notes that the scientific basis for this standard is no longer valid due to changes in the Delta ecosystem caused by a clam infestation in the late 1980s. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
Delta Conveyance Project: Procedural ruling on motion to stay, new hearing dates scheduled
The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office is conducting a public hearing about the Delta Conveyance Project. This notes announces additional public hearing dates and includes the ruling on issues related to the law firm of Somach Simmons & Dunn (SSD). Click here for the notice.
Central Valley leaders urge President Trump to fund Shasta Dam enlargement project
“Central Valley leaders have penned a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to allocate funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill to complete the Shasta Dam enlargement project. The letter highlights the critical importance of the project for the agricultural heartland of America, which generates over $50 billion annually. The leaders emphasize the need for increased water storage to support food production and rural prosperity, citing past drought restrictions and reduced allocations. … ” Read more from KMPH.
SEE ALSO: California Farmers Ask Trump to Raise Shasta Dam, from Active NorCal
More big storms heading for California, US West starting in mid-February
“Multiple storms will spin southward along the Pacific Coast of the United States next week. Each storm will bring abundant rain and mountain snow and cause significant impacts on travel and the potential for flooding and mudslides. Parts of the West are in desperate need of moisture. A several-day break will follow this week’s storm along the Pacific Coast as its snow and rain shift eastward, eventually affecting the south-central and southeastern regions of the nation with drenching rain and thunderstorms. On Sunday or Sunday night, drenching rain is likely to spin into coastal areas of Northern and Central California. From there, low-elevation rain and mountain snow will expand southward and eastward across California then into the interior West. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
SEE ALSO:
- California flood threat, feet of sierra snow, relief for record low West snowpack arrives next week, from the Weather Channel
- Track the latest atmospheric river to hit the West Coast, from the New York Times
How one lawsuit embodies local-state conflict in California water conservation
“A lawsuit filed by a group of local agencies in late 2025 that challenges state water regulations serves as an example of the regulatory conflict that plays out in California. The dispute centers around the state’s determination of each local agencies’ outdoor water budget, basing it on how much land is irrigated rather than how much land could be irrigated. The lawsuit reflects a conflict that is central to the tension between state regulations and local water agencies. In the ongoing Bay‑Delta debate, many water agencies favor the voluntary agreement pathway, which they see as giving them more flexibility in how they meet state‑set flow and habitat goals. That option is a selling point for local districts, but the presence of a regulatory backstop — or “unimpaired flow rules,” which set limits on water diversions from rivers — that could take effect if agreements fall apart, remains a major concern for them. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
New report: Regulating data center water use in California
“AI is driving a boom in data centers, and with it growing demands on California’s water resources. Developers are building more data centers alongside the hundreds already operating in California. This report evaluates how to better manage their water impacts on local communities and the environment. Servers in data centers generate heat and typically use water for cooling. Concern over data center water use is growing. Yet, there is very little understanding of how much water they actually use, where their water use may cause negative impacts, and what measures the state, local leaders, and the industry can take to manage it. To respond to this growing challenge, our team reviewed current knowledge on data center water use, mapped the policy and regulatory framework for direct data center water use in California, and developed recommendations. … ” Read more from UC Berkeley Center for Law, Energy & Environment.
Land easements can offer financial relief, flexibility and legacy
“Several land trusts joined forces at the opening day of World Ag Expo in Tulare to help landowners explore the facts and myths of conservation easements. Representatives of the Tulare-based Tule Basin Land and Water Conservation Trust, Visalia-based Sequoia Riverlands Trust and The Nature Conservancy spoke to about 25 people in a seminar trailer at the expo Feb. 10. The Expo runs through Feb. 12. “All of us have grown to love and appreciate our rural way of life, and we want to preserve that,” said Nick Reed-Krase, executive director of the Tule Basin Land and Water Conservation Trust. “When we’re talking about conservation easements, that’s really what we’re talking about. The biggest thing to remember is that this is driven by the landowners and we can customize it based on that.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Water, fire, and finance: Investigating how to pay for resilient water supply systems in the face of changing fire risks
“The deadly January 2025 fires that devastated communities in LA County have raised many questions about the role of water systems in fighting fires, especially as the nature of fire risks change with a warming climate. On January 23, 2026, the UCLA and UC ANR Urban Water Supply + Fire working group—organized by the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, Luskin Center for Innovation, and the California Institute for Water Resources—convened 47 experts for the second of four workshops digging into the realities of planning water systems for a future with changing fire risks. Water systems are generally designed and engineered for two primary purposes: delivering potable water and extinguishing localized structure fires. However, the new reality of wildfires moving into urbanized areas means that many water systems face critical questions: how to provide safe and reliable drinking water, ensure affordability for customers, and maintain long-term financial viability of their systems. … ” Read more from UC ANR.
Newsom’s budget shrinks climate and natural resources funding
“Overall funding for key climate and resource programs would drop sharply under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2026‑27 budget, the Legislative Analyst’s Office’s new analysis found. The LAO’s analysis shows that total proposed spending for California Natural Resources Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Food and Agriculture combined falls from about $23.1 billion in 2025‑26 to $18.9 billion in 2026‑27, with CNRA alone dropping from $18.4 billion to $12.8 billion. According to the LAO analysts, the apparent drop is largely the result of a temporary surge of general fund surplus money for climate and resources programs phasing out, not a cut to their underlying base budgets. “It’s like if you get a bonus check from your employer, but it’s not part of your base pay, and then you don’t get that bonus the next year. It looks like you have a year to year decline in your income, but your base pay is the same,” Rachel Ehlers, deputy legislative analyst said. … ” Continue reading at the Sacramento Bee.
LAO REPORT: The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan
“The Governor’s budget proposes appropriating $2.1 billion (about 21 percent of the total authorized by Proposition 4) in 2026‑27. Unlike the Governor’s initial 2025‑26 proposal, in general, the budget does not propose a multiyear spending plan for Proposition 4; the administration indicates that—in response to feedback from the Legislature—it instead will submit programmatic bond funding proposals on a year‑by‑year basis. The administration also proposes a new budget control section aimed at reducing the administrative burdens associated with implementing large‑scale or state‑administered Proposition 4‑funded projects. This publication assesses the Governor’s proposed 2026-27 spending plan for Proposition 4, the $10 billion climate bond approved by voters in November 2024.” Read this report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
LAO REPORT: The 2026-27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget
“Consideration of the Governor’s specific natural resources, environmental protection, and agriculture proposals must take place against the backdrop of the larger budget condition and context. The Governor’s January budget proposal is roughly balanced—yet it is predicated on projections that state revenues will remain on their current trend and does not incorporate the risk of a stock market downturn, which we believe is elevated. Moreover, both the administration and our office project significant and persistent structural deficits undergirding the state’s budget and threatening California’s fiscal stability. This report is intended to help the Legislature consider how to approach funding its environment‑related programs within this larger context.” Read this report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
LAO REPORT: The 2026-27 Budget: Cap-and-Invest Expenditure Plan
“2026‑27 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) expenditure plan implements new allocation methodology.. The Governor’s 2026‑27 budget proposal is the first since the passage of Chapter 117 (AB 1207, Irwin) and Chapter 121 (SB 840, Limón). Together, these bills extended the cap‑and‑invest program and modified the methodology for allocating the associated GGRF revenues, including creating new allocation “tiers.” Read this report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
In commentary today …
Science should be a bridge, not a barrier: Why CDFW must act before the storms disappear
Eric L. Averett, general manager of Kern County Water Agency, writes, “California is a land of hydrologic extremes, where the difference between a year of abundance and a year of catastrophic drought is often decided by a few winter storms. As we navigate Water Year 2026, we are witnessing a repeat of a frustrating and preventable tragedy: the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has allowed precious storm runoff and flood control releases in January to flow out to sea, ignoring the very scientific evidence and executive leadership meant to protect our state’s future. These early season storms could very well be the primary water we see this year. Last January, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-16-25, a clear directive to state agencies to “maximize diversions of excess flows” during winter storms. The goal was simple: capture water when it’s available to recharge our depleted aquifers and fill the San Luis Reservoir. Yet, despite this mandate, CDFW continues to cling to rigid pumping restrictions that fail to reflect modern real-time data. While environmental protection is paramount, the current regulatory approach is increasingly disconnected from the latest science. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian.
Balancing ecosystem recovery and water reliability
The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley writes, “Over three days of hearings, January 28–30, the California State Water Resources Control Board heard extensive testimony from across California supporting the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program as a balanced, science-based approach to updating the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. State and regional water managers, local elected officials, natural resource agency leaders, scientists, and community members spoke in favor of an approach that moves beyond conflict and toward collaboration—one that protects fish and wildlife while maintaining reliable and affordable water supplies for California’s communities and farms. Opening remarks from state natural resource leaders on the first day of hearings underscored this shared commitment to progress. The Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) Program is built around a straightforward but powerful idea: pairing strategically timed river flows with targeted habitat restoration, guided by monitoring and adaptive management. Rather than relying on a single tool, HRL integrates science, on-the-ground projects, and accountability to improve conditions for Chinook salmon and other native species while safeguarding water supplies that support cities, agriculture, and rural communities. … ” Continue reading from the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
As we reach 10 years of the Carlsbad Desalination Plant, let’s not forget why it’s needed
Keith R. Solar, water attorney, writes, “Californians are no strangers to drought, having lived through many dry periods in the last several decades. The good news is that December storms and previous strong rainfall filled state reservoirs to healthy levels. The bad news is that history shows the good conditions won’t last and worries over water supplies will continue in the coming years. One need only look to 2015, when California was in one of its most severe droughts on record and Gov. Jerry Brown ordered the first-ever, statewide water reduction requirements aimed at urban Californians. Local reservoirs were depleted, imported supplies were strained and the region faced escalating uncertainty about the stability of its water future. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Northcoast Regional Land Trust finalizes 12,000-acre conservation agreement
“This week, the Northcoast Regional Land Trust announced that, in conjunction with a coalition of state and federal partners, it had finalized a conservation easement for Trinity County’s Travis Ranch. The easement protects 12,000 acres of land described as “a key landscape linking the Six Rivers National Forest’s Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel and North Fork wilderness areas with adjoining U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.” The easement will, according to NRLT, “permanently extinguish” the ability to subdivide and develop the property and will support continued timber and agricultural production alongside habitat restoration and wildfire risk reduction operations aimed at ensuring long-term stewardship of the land. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Low snowpack in Scott River Valley impacts Yreka’s water outlook
“The Klamath National Forest has completed its February 1 snow surveys in the Scott River sub-basin. According to the California Cooperative Snow Survey Program, these surveys are crucial for predicting water availability for agriculture, hydropower, recreation, and streamflow management later in the year. This winter, the Scott River Valley has experienced unseasonably dry and mild weather. With little precipitation aside from an early January storm, snow depth across all measurement sites averaged only 29.4 percent of the historical average. The Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) averaged 30.2 percent. Snow typically peaks between late March and early April in this region, leaving room for potential snow accumulation. Forest Service employees conduct these surveys monthly from February to May, traveling to sites in the Scott River watershed to gather data. … ” Read more from KDRV.
SIERRA NEVADA
“Million for the Marsh” campaign reaches goal for South Lake Tahoe
“The Tahoe Fund has announced the first million dollars of private funding to help restore the former Motel 6 site has been raised by its donors as part of the “Million for the Marsh” campaign. Launched in November, the campaign set out to raise the first $1 million of private funds to help secure the public funds the California Tahoe Conservancy will need to restore the Upper Truckee Marsh in South Lake Tahoe. “We were absolutely blown away by our donors who helped us meet this challenge, further reinforcing how important the restoration of this marsh is to Lake Tahoe’s clarity and the community,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We are committed to helping the Conservancy bring this marsh back to life with the support of philanthropic dollars and stand ready to call on our community for any additional support we may need to make this project happen.” … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now.
Tahoe City PUD secures funds for final phase of Madden Creek Water System Reconstruction Project
“Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) announced today that it has secured $3.15 million in federal funding to complete the final phase of the Madden Creek Water System Reconstruction Project, a critical investment in water system reliability and community safety for the Homewood community. Through the leadership of Congressman Kevin Kiley and Senator Alex Padilla, TCPUD was awarded $1.25 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for Fiscal Year 2026. An additional $1.9 million grant was approved by the U.S. Forest Service through the recently re-authorized Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. Together, these funds will support long-planned upgrades to aging water infrastructure and strengthen the system’s ability to deliver reliable drinking water and support fire suppression. … ” Read more from the Sierra Sun.
Washoe Tribe completes historic 10,274-acre land return near Lake Tahoe
“The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California announced Wednesday that it has completed the purchase of more than 10,000 acres of ancestral land in the Sierra Nevada, marking the largest tribal land return ever completed in the mountain range and the third largest in California. The tribe acquired 10,274 acres northeast of Lake Tahoe and about 20 miles north of Reno, land formerly known as Loyalton Ranch. The property will now be known as the WélmeltiɁ Preserve and will be held by the tribe’s Waší·šiw Land Trust. Tribal leaders and conservation partners said the acquisition restores ecologically significant Washoe homelands to tribal ownership and represents a major step toward addressing generations of displacement. “The return of this land is deeply meaningful for our people,” said Chairman Serrell Smokey of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. “These lands are part of who we are and have been stewarded by the Washoe people since time immemorial.” … ” Read more from Native News Online.
SEE ALSO: Tribe buys 10,000 acres north of Lake Tahoe from city of Santa Clara in historic land deal, from the San Jose Mercury News
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
North state almonds begin to bloom
“This time of year, as almond trees come alive in the north state, college graduation and Valentines’ Day photographers should beware it’s a critical week for farmers preparing for blossoming season. “I don’t object to anyone coming in (to take pictures), as long as they realize this is a working farm, not a tourist destination,” said Steve Gruenwald, orchard adviser and co-owner of Country Pumpkins on Tuesday. “There’s literally a helicopter scheduled to show up, so you better not be in the field when it starts spraying.” Farmers in the north state this week are preparing for almond harvest, and millions of beehives from all over the country are here to help pollinate. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
Folsom schedules first public meeting on water rate study
“The city of Folsom will host the first public meeting about a water and sewer rate study Tuesday, Feb. 24, during the regular Folsom City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Folsom City Hall, 50 Natoma St. The rate study will develop five- and 10-year financial models that review operations and maintenance expenses, capital needs and revenue requirements that support water and sewer services. … ” Read more from Gold Mountain News.
NAPA/SONOMA
National Weather Service: First ‘substantial’ rainfall in over a month on tap for North Bay
“A midweek storm is expected to bring the first “substantial rainfall” in over a month to the North Bay, though it will likely be less hazardous than storms earlier this year, according to the National Weather Service. The path of the storm, coming from the west and moving north, means it will be weaker by the time it passes through Sonoma and Napa counties, said weather service meteorologist Brayden Murdock. The first droplets were expected to fall Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 10, and get a little heavier after sunset. The speed and intensity of the rain will likely stay around light to moderate until Thursday morning, when the storm is expected to pitter out. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Stubborn offshore storm keeps Bay Area unsettled with showers, isolated thunderstorms
“A small but influential low-pressure system spinning off the California coast is set to shape Bay Area weather on Wednesday. Thunderstorms, small hail, gusty winds and even an isolated waterspout are all on the table. But whether Wednesday turns into an unusually active weather day or simply a cool, cloudy and intermittently wet one hinges on a key detail that remains unresolved: just how close, and how strong, that low becomes as it meanders offshore of the Bay Area. Tuesday’s rain marked a clear signal that California has shifted back into a stormier weather pattern. The region received at least 0.10 of inches of rain for the first time since Jan. 5, as a cold front swept through the Bay Area late Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Sierra Nevada saw widespread snowfall, with roughly 3 to 10 inches accumulating above about 6,500 feet. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Marin Municipal Water District secures Novato lot for pipeline project
“A 4.5-acre site in Novato that was set to become an 87-room hotel might end up a pump station as part of a drought resiliency effort. The Marin Municipal Water District has signed an agreement to purchase the property on Wood Hollow Drive at Redwood Boulevard from the developer, Navin LLC. The utility announced the $4.8 million deal as it gears up to begin public outreach on an environmental study called the “atmospheric river capture” project. The initiative involves a proposed pipeline that would replenish Marin reservoirs with Sonoma County rainwater during droughts. The purchase of the property is contingent upon clearance of an environmental impact report, an analysis mandated under the California Environmental Quality Act to clear the way for construction. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
California court proposes water relief for Cuyama Valley growers
“A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has issued a tentative order that would excuse 115 small-scale landowners in California’s Cuyama Valley from a 2021 groundwater rights adjudication. The case was filed by land management companies linked to Grimmway Enterprises Inc. and Bolthouse Farms. Judge William F. Highberger said at a February 2 hearing that he wanted to give “minor extractors,” or small-scale water users, “as much of a free pass as possible.” He indicated he did not want to subject these growers to mandatory pumping reductions and legal costs that larger farming operations may face. The tentative order would also allow small-scale users to pump more water annually than their historical use, up to five acre-feet per year, subject to a collective cap of 400 acre-feet. Historically, this group has used about one acre-foot per user per year, or 132 acre-feet collectively. The basin’s court-defined safe yield is 20,370 acre-feet per year. … ” Read more from Fresh Plaza.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Woodbridge Irrigation District drains Lodi Lake for dam maintenance
“Lodi Lake is looking more like a marsh than a lake lately after its annual draining. Each year, Woodbridge Irrigation District drains the lake for dam maintenance. It also gives time for the Lodi Parks and Recreation Department to check for and make any repairs. The irrigation district started slowly lowering the Woodbridge Dam’s gates on Jan. 30 to lower the level of the Mokelumne River. Since Lodi Lake is connected to the Mokelumne, its water level also began to lower. But it wasn’t noticeable until mid last week, when the irrigation district sped up their gate-lowering. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel.
State ethics enforcers to look into Modesto Irrigation District’s Larry Byrd for voting on own investigation
“State ethics enforcers will investigate the Modesto Irrigation District’s Larry Byrd, the California Fair Political Practices Commission has confirmed in a letter to state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil. She submitted a sworn complaint against Byrd for participating in a Dec. 16 MID board vote to end an investigation into himself, The Modesto Focus reported Jan. 13. An ethics expert equated Byrd’s vote with violating the public trust. MID leadership had commissioned an investigation that suggested Byrd may have misused district water on almond trees outside district boundaries near La Grange. Some board directors felt the investigation was incomplete, but Byrd’s vote killed any chance of continuing it. The FPPC will notify Alvarado-Gil when its investigation is complete, its Jan. 29 letter said. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Fresno Irrigation District wins battle against homeless encampments
“An irrigation district delivering water to central California farmers and three cities is finding success at eliminating homeless encampments from its ditch banks and canals, but at a cost. Several years ago, Fresno Irrigation District saw a massive and fast increase of homeless encampments along its ditch banks in the city of Fresno as city and state officials apparently began chasing them out from other locations. Fresno Irrigation District delivers irrigation water to farms and the cities of Fresno, Clovis, and Kerman. It is one of California’s premier agricultural water districts as good access to surface water, coupled with quality soils, is responsible for much of Fresno County’s $8 billion annual agricultural output. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Kings County groundwater agency issues flurry of well policies, will pay for meters
“It’s been a busy start to the year for the Southwest Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), which instituted new well registration and reporting policies over two Fridays after not meeting for six months. A third meeting has been set for Friday, Feb. 20. At its Feb. 6 meeting, its second in seven days, the board approved funding to buy and install well meters for its landowners to get the ball rolling on reporting extractions. It hired Gunther Vecpuisis, an employee of Sandridge Partners, to oversee the project, allocating a budget of $10,000. “So, you’re in charge and if that’s not enough, we could pay a little more but we’ll start with $10,000,” said Southwest’s chair John Vidovich. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
2026 snowpack outlook: Forecasting our water future
“Snowmelt runoff is a core component of the water cycle and marks an important transition in our hydrological year, where stored winter snow melts into rivers, streams, creeks, reservoirs, and groundwater basins. For more than 100 years, the Los Angeles Aqueduct (LAA) has delivered water to Angelenos. Today it provides reliable clean water to almost 4 million residents. The LAA system is Los Angeles’ most affordable, environmentally protected, and energy efficient water source. This month, our hydrographers entered into the Eastern Sierra backcountry and conducted the first snow survey of the season. Every year, snow surveys begin on February 1 and continue monthly through April 1. During the final snow survey of the season in April, which marks the end of the water runoff year, LADWP also measures the surface elevation of Mono Lake. This lake level reading, along with the annual snow surveys, provides essential data that supports forecasting and informs water deliveries to the City of Los Angeles. … ” Read more from the LA DWP.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
1st round of February storms hits Southern California
“Much of Southern California was hit with significant rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The brunt of the precipitation was felt Tuesday night, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service, who also said steady rain would be felt Wednesday morning. The storm system, described by NWS as “potent,” exited the region earlier than anticipated, but there is still rainfall in the forecast. “A fast-moving but potent front has exited L.A. County about six hours ahead of schedule,” the NWS Area Forecast Discussion said. “Scattered showers will continue Wednesday morning and then taper off in the afternoon.” … ” Read more from KTLA.
Metropolitan completes environmental review for Pure Water Southern California
“Following more than five years of environmental analysis, outreach and public input, Metropolitan’s Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report for Pure Water Southern California – marking a major step toward the potential development of what would be one of the world’s largest water recycling programs. The board action formally completes the project’s environmental analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act, clearing the way for future decisions on the project’s implementation, including phasing, funding, design, and construction. The board is expected to consider whether to move forward with Pure Water Southern California as part of its Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water evaluation process and its biennial budget. … ” Read more from the Metropolitan Water District.
Riverside: Landowner of unlicensed cannabis cultivation site fined for failing to comply with cleanup order
“Daniel K. Musetti, the landowner of an unlicensed cannabis cultivation site in Homeland, Riverside County, was ordered today to pay approximately $438,000 by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board for repeatedly disregarding notices and directives to resolve ongoing waste discharge violations at his property. The cultivation operation released sediment, nutrients and pesticides into two stream channels that are tributary to Salt Creek, an intermittent waterbody that flows into Canyon Lake and, ultimately, Lake Elsinore. All the unauthorized discharges can degrade water quality and threaten public health and the environment. After the Santa Ana Water Board observed the violations in February 2020 during a multi-agency inspection with the Riverside County Sheriff Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, staff repeatedly attempted to engage Musetti and resolve the issues. Between April 2021 and July 2025, for instance, staff issued multiple notices, left several phone messages and spoke with the landowner a handful of times, directing him to remediate the environmental damage. … ” Read more from the State Water Resources Control Board.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
The clean energy transition at the Salton Sea
“For decades, a global transition has been underway: The slow, sometimes clumsy shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Changing just one industry requires a significant infrastructural makeover. Take cars, for example. In order to change from gas-guzzlers to electric vehicles, communities need electric chargers, which are less accessible in rural and less affluent areas, and industry needs to ramp up production for newly required car parts. One of those key parts for electric vehicles, or EVs, are batteries. And to build those batteries, companies need a range of critical minerals — including cobalt, graphite, and lithium, with the latter expected to see the fastest growth in demand. (Solar and wind power, which could soon provide a third of the nation’s energy supply, increasingly rely on batteries for energy storage, adding to the lithium demand.) But lithium isn’t always easy to come by; it’s a finite resource currently only mined in a few places worldwide. In order for the U.S. and other countries to reach their goals and meet mineral demands, some researchers project that they will need as many as 85 new international lithium mines by 2050. And the U.S. federal government intends to allow some of those mines on its own soil. … ” Read more from Undark.
City of Imperial’s data center lawsuit hits setback as court rejects amended complaint
“Per a Feb. 10 press release, at a hearing held Tuesday, the Superior Court of California, County of Imperial ruled that the City of Imperial’s amended legal challenge to the Imperial Valley data center project does not, as currently pleaded, state a legally sufficient cause of action. By way of background, in early September, Imperial County determined that the data center project, located on industrially zoned land, was permitted by right under the county’s zoning code. In early November, the county approved a ministerial grading permit and issued a notice determining the project was exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In early December, the city filed a lawsuit against the county and the project developer, asserting that the project required a rezoning and a conditional use permit (CUP), and therefore could not qualify for a CEQA exemption. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Along the Colorado River ….
Drought, disagreements, and deadlines: The fight for Colorado River’s future
“The Federal Government has given the basin states until February 14 to reach a consensus solution that will serve as the basis for an agreement on the post-2026 guidelines. At the February 9 meeting of Metropolitan’s One Water and Adaptation Committee, Shanti Rosset, Metropolitan’s Colorado River policy manager, updated the committee members on the status of the basin states’ discussions. She also reported on the current hydrologic conditions, what they mean for those discussions, and how the DEIS frames Reclamation’s evaluation of its current decision.. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
The coming failure of Glen Canyon Dam
“Floyd Dominy, the commissioner of the federal Bureau of Reclamation in the 1960s, was largely responsible for the construction of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. In 1963, when the dam was completed, he could not have foreseen the climate situation we find ourselves in today, with declining snowpack, record-high temperatures and alarmingly low water levels in Lake Powell, year after year. But he and his engineers could have, and should have, foreseen that the way they designed the dam would leave little room to maneuver should a water-supply crisis ever impact the river and its watershed. Indeed, a state of crisis has been building on the Colorado for decades, even as the parties that claim its water argue over how to divide its rapidly diminishing flows. Lately, things have entered a new and perilous phase. … ” Read more from High Country News.
Lake Powell water levels as ‘concerning’ data revealed
“Lake Powell water levels continue dropping as National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists in Phoenix sound the alarm about “concerning” snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin that could affect the lake’s performance this summer during hot, dry weather and high water demand. A major reservoir on the Colorado River straddling the Utah-Arizona border, Lake Powell was created by the construction of Glen Canyon Dam and serves as a critical water storage buffer for the Upper Basin as well as a key source of hydropower for the region. It plays a central role in regulating river flows, generating electricity for millions of people and helping fulfill water delivery obligations across the West. In recent years, the reservoir has faced severe strain from an unprecedented decades‑long drought. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Alfalfa and water: Rethinking a Western mainstay
“In a February 4, 2026 segment on Phoenix’ public news station KJZZ, reporter Sam Dingman explored new research suggesting that alfalfa, long criticized for its heavy water use, may actually offer a path toward water savings in the Colorado River Basin. Drawing on analysis by journalist Jonathan Thompson, a contributing editor at High Country News, the report explained how alfalfa dominates agricultural water use in the basin because it is both widespread and grown year-round in warm regions such as southern and central Arizona. The segment introduced the concept of “deficit irrigation,” a practice that temporarily reduces or suspends watering without permanently damaging the crop. That discussion served as a bridge to a much deeper academic analysis published in 2025 that examines whether alfalfa can be managed more flexibly to improve regional water security. … ” Read more from Western Water.
A Nevada groundwater tool highlights strained habitats, with lessons for the Mountain West
“The tool was developed collaboratively by the Nature Conservancy, the Desert Research Institute, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It shows where plants across Nevada rely most heavily on groundwater, and where drought, development, or declining water levels could put ecosystems at risk. The goal, researchers say, is to give water managers, land planners, and the public a clearer picture of how underground water supports life above ground. Laurel Saito, water strategy director for the Nature Conservancy in Nevada, said they want to “understand better how climate variability, how different soil types, how different groundwater depths might affect how well a plant does in different parts of Nevada.” … ” Read more from KJZZ.
In national water news today …
See how climate change is accelerating
“According to a Washington Post analysis, the fastest warming rate on record occurred in the last 30 years. The Post used a dataset from NASA to analyze global average surface temperatures from 1880 to 2025. “We’re not continuing on the same path we had before,” said Robert Rohde, chief scientist at Berkeley Earth. “Something has changed.” For about 40 years — from 1970 to 2010 — global warming proceeded at a fairly steady rate. As humans continued to pump massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the world warmed at about 0.19 degrees Celsius per decade, or around 0.34 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, that rate began to shift. The warming rate ticked up a notch. Temperatures over the past decade have increased by close to 0.27 degrees C per decade — about a 42 percent increase. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
