DAILY DIGEST, holiday weekend edition: It’s final: No Delta smelt found in annual survey for 8 years; State supreme court declines to hear groundwater case out of Kings County; After years of La Niña, Pacific surges toward El Niño; ‘No one is expecting’ a Colorado River agreement by Saturday deadline; and more …

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On the calendar today …

• WORKSHOP: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am.  Agenda items include Status and Plan to Update Technical Standards of California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Waters, Division; Advisory Committee Recommendations; and Forum for Restoration and Multi-Benefit Projects.  Click here for the full agenda.

In California water news this weekend …

It’s final: No Delta smelt found in annual survey for 8 years

“One of the most significant California water stories of this decade is the virtual extinction of the Delta smelt in the wild and the collapse of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta ecosystem that it is part of.  You won’t find news about this unprecedented collapse in the myriad of glowing press releases the Governor’s Office and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly pump out about what a “stellar” job they are doing managing the ecosystem.  But if you go to the CDFW’s website and review the report on the latest Fall Midwater Trawl Survey conducted on the Delta, you see will see raw, stark evidence of the dramatic decline of pelagic (open water) fish species since the State Water Project went into effect in 1967. It is the most accurate and comprehensive report on the relative status of the estuary ecosystem over a long period of time, in my opinion. … ”  Read more from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos.

State supreme court declines to hear groundwater case out of Kings County

“The California Supreme Court denied a petition by the Kings County Farm Bureau to review whether the Fifth District Court of Appeal properly reversed a preliminary injunction against the state last year.  Despite the set back, the Farm Bureau vowed to continue with its underlying lawsuit.  “The Supreme Court’s decision narrows the causes of action, but it does not end the case,” Executive Director of the Farm Bureau, Dusty Ference said in a statement issued following the denial on Thursday.  A Water Board spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

SEE ALSO:  Calif. Supreme Court declines review of Kings County groundwater case, from the SJV Sun

After years of La Niña, Pacific surges toward El Niño. These are the California implications

“After years locked in a La Niña pattern, the Pacific is flipping. Major global climate models are now signaling a rapid transition toward El Niño later this year, with some projections suggesting the potential for strengthening by late summer.  The turnaround appears compressed in a way that has surprised even seasoned experts, with one forecaster calling this the biggest mid-winter collapse of La Niña in two decades.  The shift is being driven in large part by two unusually strong westerly wind bursts that developed along the equator since January. These bursts temporarily weakened the trade winds that sustain La Niña, allowing warm water pooled in the western Pacific to surge eastward. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

California’s coldest storm of the season to hit holiday weekend. Here’s when travel turns risky

“If you’ve been eyeing Presidents Day weekend as a window for a Tahoe trip, a coastal hike or a long-overdue backyard project, Friday looks great. After that, California turns unsettled and, in the mountains, potentially treacherous.  Friday should be the nicest day of the stretch in the state as a short-lived ridge of high pressure slides overhead. Northern California skies will clear out under sunshine. The Bay Area should stay dry, sunny and mild, while sunny Southern California warms into the upper 60s and low 70s.   Saturday will be a transition day. Clouds will thicken across Northern California through the morning, and by late afternoon, light rain will break out in the North Bay before spreading south overnight. Coastal California from the Bay Area to San Diego will stay mostly dry through midday, though beach goers should expect rough surf.  Then the coldest storm of the season so far will arrive in California on Sunday, diving south from the Gulf of Alaska. Temperatures in the upper atmosphere will drop well below freezing, cold enough to drag snow levels down into the Sierra foothills by early next week. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read via Yahoo News.

Winter is coming: storms soak Bay Area next week, drop 2 feet of fresh snow on Tahoe

“It’s going to get wet over the next week across the Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada.  That’s good news for local water supplies and the state’s subpar snowpack, but the coming cold system could complicate travel to the slopes for winter sports enthusiasts.  National Weather Service forecasters said they expect multiple bands of precipitation to move over Northern California starting Saturday and lasting through late next week. A cold, large low-pressure system will start to dip down on Saturday from the Gulf of Alaska, producing waves of rain and snow.  Forecasters said the rain will start falling Saturday evening across the Bay Area and last through at least Wednesday. Rain totals vary widely across the region. Cities like Gilroy and San José could receive as much as 2.5 inches of rain. … ”  Read more from KQED.

SEE ALSO: Traveling to Tahoe for the long weekend? Here are your best chances to go, from ABC 7

Drought status update for California-Nevada

“After a wet start to Water Year 2026 (October 1, 2025), all of California was drought free since mid-January, and currently ~20% of Nevada is in drought. However, the region was mostly dry from mid-January through the first week of February. These mid-winter dry conditions, along with above-normal temperatures and generally clear skies, led to mid-winter snowmelt and sublimation (when snow turns directly into water vapor, bypassing the melting stage). Decreased snowpack led to snow drought conditions across both states, with conditions most severe in Nevada. In the Upper Colorado River Basin, an important water supply for California and Nevada, snow water equivalent is the lowest it has been since water year 1986. The region is expected to shift to a wetter pattern over the next 10 days, with widespread precipitation expected throughout the region. Outlooks beyond this timeframe are less certain. … ”  Read the full update from NIDIS.

Edward Ring says energy abundance could transform California’s water and agriculture future

“The February 13 edition of the AgNet News Hour wrapped up a powerful week of policy conversations with Part Two of the in-depth interview featuring Edward Ring, Director of Energy and Water Policy at the California Policy Center. While earlier discussions focused heavily on water, this episode zeroed in on energy, oil production, electricity pricing, and California’s economic future, all through the lens of common-sense reform.  Ring tackled a growing concern in California: refinery closures and the long-term outlook for in-state oil production. As refineries begin shutting down or repurposing to import refined gasoline instead of processing California crude, Ring warned that fuel prices are likely to remain high, and regions like Kern County could suffer economically. He emphasized that California produces some of the cleanest oil in the world yet continues to import crude and refined fuel from overseas, outsourcing environmental impact rather than solving it. … ”  Read more from AgNet West.

Putah Creek salmon gains highlighted in Bay-Delta water debate

“The salmon recovery effort on Putah Creek was highlighted as an early example of a Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program success story during recent California State Water Resources Control Board hearings.  The control board is in the process of updating the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, with Solano County agencies joining the State Water Contractors and others in support of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes option.  “The Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program combines two priorities that Californians care deeply about: environmental health and a reliable, affordable water supply,” Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said in a statement. … ”  Read more from the Winters Express.

Yolo Bypass offers proof that nature-based solutions can work at scale

“The Yolo Bypass, a 60,000-acre floodplain in California’s Central Valley, is an overlooked example of a highly effective Nature-based Solution (NbS) that has been protecting the city of Sacramento from floods for over a century. Despite its long track record of success, the Bypass is rarely identified as an NbS, likely because it so dramatically shatters the common perception that NbS are limited to small-scale, stakeholder-driven projects with uncertain efficacy. The Bypass uses natural floodplains to safely convey over 80% of the volume of floodwaters during major events, while also providing critical habitat for wildlife and other benefits to people. Proponents of NbS should highlight the Bypass as a prime example of how these ecosystem-based approaches can be implemented at a massive scale to address societal challenges. … ”  Read more from National Today.

Trump scraps a cornerstone climate finding, as California prepares for court

“The Trump administration formally rescinded the legal foundation of federal climate policy Thursday — setting up a new front in California’s long-running battle with Washington over emissions rules.  “Today, the Trump EPA has finalized the single largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States of America,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said at a White House press conference. “Referred to by some as the holy grail of federal regulatory overreach, the 2009 Obama EPA endangerment finding is now eliminated.”  After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the federal government may regulate greenhouse gases if they were found to endanger public health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a scientific determination that greenhouse gases indeed were a threat. By withdrawing its own so-called “endangerment finding,” the EPA is abandoning its justification for federal tailpipe standards, power plant rules and fuel economy regulations. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters.  More on this story in the national news section below.

In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

Snowpack in Klamath National Forest well below average after dry winter start

“The Klamath National Forest has completed its February 1 snow surveys in the Scott River sub-basin as part of the statewide California Cooperative Snow Survey Program. These surveys help forecast the amount of water that will be available later in the year for agriculture, hydropower generation, recreation, and streamflow management.  So far this winter, weather in the Scott River Valley has been unseasonably dry and mild. Aside from a storm system in early January, little precipitation has occurred. These conditions are reflected in the February survey results. Across all measurement sites, snow depth averaged 29.4 percent of the historical average, while Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)—which measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack—averaged 30.2 percent of the historical average. … ”  Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.

Abandoned Samoa properties pose lead, wildlife, and groundwater risks, says letter to the editor

“A block of abandoned homes and a derelict gas station near Cadman Ct in Samoa, CA have become a toxic “permitted” nuisance. The County Planning Department is currently using future development permits as a shield to avoid enforcing state safety laws regarding lead paint and wildlife infestations.  Many children live in this community, and there are not even warning signs about the egregious hazards lurking throughout the community. … ”  Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Yuba Water debuts mini documentary, “The Day the Levee Broke,” ahead of 40th anniversary of 1986 flood in Yuba County

“Ahead of the 40th anniversary of the February 1986 flood in Yuba County, Yuba Water Agency on Wednesday premiered its latest documentary, “The Day the Levee Broke.” About 100 attendees filled the Lee Burrows Center for the Arts in Marysville for the evening public screening of the 23-minute film.  “Our region is safer today than it has ever been, but there is always more we can do to reduce flood risk,” said Yuba Water General Manager Willie Whittlesey. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing with continued investments by the agency and engagement with our community members.” … ”  Read more from YubaNet.

Sacramento County pulls portable restrooms from American River Parkway. More cuts made.

“Sacramento County is pulling portable restrooms from the American River Parkway. It’s just one cost-cutting move the county is putting in place to deal with money trouble in its Regional Parks Department.  Forty portable restrooms were already taken away during the winter months, and the county says they will not be coming back.  The parks department is also reducing hours that park entrances are staffed and closing vehicle access at four locations along the parkway.  Dianna Poggetto is executive director of the American River Parkway Foundation. She said she was surprised to learn about the mid-year cuts the county is making. … ”  Read more from CBS News.

CENTRAL COAST

Federal funding announced for Pajaro River flood risk management

“Senator Adam Schiff announced $54 million in federal funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties to increase flood protection by rebuilding and strengthening failing levees.  The new federal investment will enhance flood protection by reconstructing levees along the Pajaro River, which breached in 2023, flooding Pajaro and surrounding areas and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. The federal funding aims to make critical improvements to mitigate flood risk and protect residents, the local economy, and infrastructure in the region.  “I continue to be appalled by the fact that these levees were not maintained, this work was not done in the past,” Schiff said. … ”  Read more from KSBW.

Santa Barbara state water agency hires new director, turns focus to storage to boost supplies

“Increasing water is important for Santa Barbara County’s long-term supply, to bank water in times of plenty and withdraw it in dry times, according to longtime Central Coast Water Authority Executive Director Ray Stokes.  He’s retiring this year after nearly 30 years with the agency, which manages the State Water Project for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.  Stokes reflected on his time at CCWA and looked forward to what he — and his successor — thinks is a pressing issue for the region: water banking.  “CCWA is absolutely going to have to invest in water storage,” Stokes said. “The primary reason for that is climate change has created these massive swings in hydrology; we go from a lot of water to not a lot, and I’m oversimplifying it obviously.” … ”  Read more from Noozhawk.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

FEMA drops flood insurance requirement for 8,000 Stockton homeowners

“After nearly 16 years, thousands of homeowners in Stockton are no longer required to carry flood insurance — ending what many described as an expensive and frustrating financial burden.  In 2024, construction was completed on the Smith Canal flood gate in Stockton. The project is designed to control canal water and mitigate flooding concerns by allowing the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency to open or close the flow from the San Joaquin River into the canal.  Since 2009, the Federal Emergency Management Agency had required nearly 8,000 homeowners in the area to carry flood insurance after placing the neighborhood in a flood hazard zone. Officials said some residents saw rates climb as high as $3,000 a year. … ”  Read more from Channel 10.

EASTERN SIERRA

Ridgecrest can’t afford further delay, sustainability requires an imported water option

The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority writes, “More than 25 million Californians, well over two-thirds of the state’s population, rely on water that travels hundreds of miles through water systems such as the State Water Project, the Central Valley Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct to reach their homes and businesses. This “imported water” also serves the agricultural economy.  The reason for water systems is simple: according to the California Department of Water Resources, while 75% of California’s rain and snow falls in the north, 80% of the water demand is in the south.  The water source of the City of Ridgecrest and surrounding region is the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Basin, a basin that has no natural runoff for replenishment. After decades of groundwater overdraft, the basin is at risk of running out of water.  “You can argue about how much groundwater is left. You can conserve as much as you can. You can recycle water wherever possible. But you simply cannot abandon future generations by sticking your head in the ground to the realities of where we live and the fact we have only one natural water source,” said Scott Hayman, chair of Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority. … ”  Continue reading this press release.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Strong storm set to pummel L.A. with heavy rains, flooding and beach hazards

“Southern California is experiencing the calm before the storm. Forecasters say a strong system is headed our way and, starting Sunday, poses the threat of thunderstorms, flooding, gusty winds and dangerous waves.  But before that happens, the region will have a warm, dry weekend. An offshore flow is pushing its way through the Los Angeles area Thursday into Friday, bringing sunny skies, according to Ryan Kittell, a meterologist with the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.  There will be a slight drop in temperatures Saturday before a more significant change Sunday night. Heavy rainfall is expected, persisting into Monday as the storm makes its way across the region. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

Could LA beaches become a national park? Officials want you to weigh in

“The National Park Service is asking for public input for its study on whether the L.A. coastline between San Pedro and Santa Monica should qualify for national park designation.  Federal officials held a public meeting Wednesday and outlined the study process.  Congress passed a law in 2022 that called for this study and greenlit funding for the three-year effort.  Lawmakers will use the findings to decide whether to designate the stretch of coastline — which includes the Santa Monica Pier, Ballona Creek and RAT Beach — a national park. … ”  Read more from the LAist.

SAN DIEGO

The river between us: The Tijuana River sewage crisis is one of America’s longest-lasting public health calamities

Wendee Nicole writes, “I stand at the mouth of the Tijuana River—a Stygian cesspool that flows 120 miles north from Baja California, through the working-class city of Tijuana with its hundreds of factories manufacturing gadgets for American consumers—before crossing the US-Mexico border. …  “This is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of California,” says Ángel Granados, a filmmaker and lecturer at San Diego State University in TV, film, and new media studies. He is married to SDSU associate professor Paula Stigler Granados, an environmental health scientist making waves for her research and advocacy over the befouled river. “There’s a stark difference in the feeling of being here—seeing the waves and the salt spray in the air—and knowing how polluted that water is with sewage, toxic chemicals from industrial runoff or dumping, and pathogens that are being aerosolized.”  He hands me a gas mask. … ”  Continue reading from the Sierra Club.

Along the Colorado River …

‘No one is expecting’ a Colorado River agreement by Saturday deadline, Valley water official says

“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is hoping the seven Colorado River states can reach a new agreement on how to share the river’s water by Saturday.  Three days ahead of that Feb. 14 deadline, Valley water officials are not optimistic.  “No one is expecting that there is going to be an agreement, and no one knows what the federal government will do on Feb. 15,” Warren Tenney, executive director of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, told the group’s management board during its meeting Wednesday.  The current agreement between the seven states lasts through 2026, and a new agreement must be struck to govern how water will be shared in 2027 and beyond.  Tenney said there are “rumblings” about a possible five-year agreement to give states more time to plan a more long-term agreement, probably around 20 years. … ”  Read more from the Daily Independent.

Colorado River states are staring down a Feb. 14 deadline. Here’s what might happen next

“Arizona’s water future depends on negotiations over Colorado River water that are coming to a head right now.  Ours and other Western states are staring down a Saturday deadline to come to a deal on Colorado River water — or, likely, leave it to a judge. As climate change is shrinking the river, we all have to use less water — but, who will shoulder the cuts?  Upper Basin states like Colorado and Utah have largely refused cuts for months of negotiations, but, after a meeting in Washington last week, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said she wouldn’t agree to any deal unless they do. And, she said she’s cautiously optimistic that they are starting to see the light.  “We were clearly at an impasse. I feel like we’re at a place where we can start to move past that now,” said Hobbs. … ”  Read more from KJZZ.

Snowpack woes add pressure and urgency to sluggish Colorado River negotiations

“Jay Fetcher and other ranchers in northwest Colorado measure snowpack each winter using their barbed wire stock fences.  A healthy level is called a three wire winter, when the snow piles up past the third wire above the ground. But on Feb. 9, the region was experiencing a zero wire winter.  “We just have no snow, and I have never seen it, in my 75 years here, I have never seen this,” Fetcher said Monday as he navigated patches of mud on his ranch in the Elk River valley north of Steamboat Springs.  Many of the hills and meadows surrounding his ranch were brown and bare. The thermostat on Fetcher’s truck read 50 degrees, and the last patch of snow was melting fast off the roof of a barn. … ”  Read more from KUNC.

SEE ALSO:

• Showdown in the American west as Colorado River faces crucial deadline: ‘Mother nature isn’t going to bail us out’, from The Guardian
• Record warm winter could lead Colorado River states to court over compact, from the Las Vegas Review-Journal
• Federal deadline for Colorado River water negotiations is Saturday, from KPBS
• Arizona signals legal fight over Colorado River cuts, from Western Water
• Amid drought, Colorado River standoff flares, from Wyoming News

Nevada judge tweaks prohibition on ‘useless’ grass some say are killing trees

“A Las Vegas judge on Wednesday poured cold water on an attempt to dissolve a restraining order its supporters claim saves trees from dying.  Eighth District Court Judge Anna Albertson approved an agreement by attorneys to significantly narrow an existing order that prohibited the Southern Nevada Water Authority from designating certain areas of grass as “useless,” and affected a wide swath of the Las Vegas Valley.  Now, only properties within the three plaintiffs’ communities are affected and cannot have areas of grass within them designated as “useless.”  It’s that designation which the plaintiffs have claimed leads to grass removal and, in turn, weakened and dead trees. … ”  Read more from Courthouse News.

Arizona: Modeling every mile

“In the world of water, “quality” isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a valuable resource. Every day,  the Central Arizona Project (CAP) conveys Colorado River water across 336 miles. And in the future, this same infrastructure may “wheel” non-Colorado River water to partners across the state.  To ensure this diverse mix of supplies – potentially delivered to different locations and at different times via CAP – meets the standards in the Water Quality Guidance Document, CAP has developed the CAWCD System-Wide Water Quality Model.  The CAWCD System-Wide Water Quality Model doesn’t just look at a single point – it simulates the entire journey. By tracking the water from its source at Lake Havasu, the model simulates every mile of travel, calculating the chemical and physical changes along the way. … ”  Read more from CAP’s Know Your Water News.

Utah’s Great Salt Lake threatened by declining snowmelt

“Mountain snowmelt is the lifeblood of the Great Salt Lake, providing the vast majority of its fresh water. On average the mountains around the lake contribute approximately 1.9 to 2.1 million acre-feet of surface runoff annually.  However on February first of this year – with Utah’s snowpack in near record-poor condition, Utah’s Natural Resources Conservation Service released a report that forecast a reduction in snowmelt that ranges from 21% to 77% of average.  This (potentially) dramatic drop in snowmelt forces our attention to the Great Salt Lake’s other major source of water, the Bear River, and there the news is equally alarming. … ”  Read more from Coyote Gulch.

In national water news this weekend …

Hydropower bill targets permitting delays

“A new bipartisan proposal in Congress could change how hydropower projects are approved across the West.  On Wednesday , Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Congressman Adam Gray of California introduced the Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act in Washington, D.C. The bill would formally authorize new hydropower development at facilities owned by the Bureau of Reclamation and streamline the permitting process for non-federal developers.  Hydropower plays a significant role in the West’s energy and water systems. Many irrigation districts, electric utilities, and rural communities depend on dams and canals originally built for water delivery that also generate electricity. … ”  Read more from Western Water.

Insects are moving pharmaceutical pollutants from rivers to land; risks unknown

“Pharmaceuticals that people globally rely on for daily health — including antibiotics, antidepressants and painkillers — are entering ecosystems via wastewater, posing poorly understood risks. Once there, aquatic insects can accumulate these chemical contaminants, with their predators transporting them back onto land, raising concern among scientists.  A recent paper found that a host of pharmaceuticals can accumulate in winged species such as caddisflies and mayflies at different life stages, with the quantity varying among species.  The paper’s first author, Marek Let, from the University of South Bohemia, says pharmaceutical pollution might not be as concerning as pesticide contaminants because medical drugs are generally found in low concentrations.  But he adds that some pharmaceutical compounds can be incredibly toxic. … ”  Read more from Mongabay.

El Niño may be back this summer, bringing drought and floods

“The Pacific Ocean weather pattern known as El Niño will return this summer, bringing the potential for extreme rainfall, powerful storms and drought across some areas of the globe, although scientists aren’t sure yet how strong it will be.  El Niño is a pulse of warm water in the central and eastern Pacific along the Equator. It occurs as trade winds shift. Usually, those winds keep that warmer ocean water pushed to the western Pacific. But the changing wind patterns instead allow the blob of warm water to slosh east toward the coast of South America.  El Niño patterns emerge about every three to seven years and typically last between nine and 12 months. … ” Read more from the New York Times.

Trump administration erases the government’s power to fight climate change

“President Trump on Thursday announced he was erasing the scientific finding that climate change endangers human health and the environment, ending the federal government’s legal authority to control the pollution that is dangerously heating the planet.  The action is a key step in removing limits on carbon dioxide, methane and four other greenhouse gases that scientists say are supercharging heat waves, droughts, wildfires and other extreme weather.  Led by a president who refers to climate change as a “hoax,” the administration is essentially saying that the vast majority of scientists around the world are wrong and that a hotter planet is not the menace that decades of research shows it to be. … ”  Read more from the New York Times.

EPA yanks attacks on climate science from endangerment repeal

“President Donald Trump called climate change “a giant scam” when announcing the repeal of the endangerment finding Thursday. But his own administration deleted sections from the rule claiming that climate science is exaggerating the dangers of rising temperatures.  As of Thursday night, the text of the repeal had not been posted on EPA’s website. But three people who participated in a phone briefing Thursday with EPA air chief Aaron Szabo said they were told the agency chose to leave science on the cutting room floor. The people were granted anonymity to discuss a private conversation.  EPA instead chose to justify the repeal with legal arguments alone. … ”  Read more from E&E News.

SEE ALSO:

• Burgum calls energy transition a ‘fantasy’ as EPA guts climate regulations, from E&E News
• What to Know About the E.P.A.’s Big Attack on Climate Regulation, from the New York Times
• Trump’s big climate reversal sets up a courtroom clash, from Politico