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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Delta Conveyance Project water right hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office is holding a Public Hearing on the pending Petitions for Change of Water Right Permits for the Delta Conveyance Project. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing without participating may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: bit.ly/aho-youtube. Click here for the meeting notice.
In California water news today …
California faces a new storm threat on Sunday, adding to staggering snowfall totals
“Another storm is lining up for California starting later this weekend, arriving just days after the latest storm unloaded significant snow in the mountains and rain at lower elevations. The next round could bring drenching rain and more heavy mountain snow, especially to Northern California. Prior to the start of Thursday’s storm, the 72-hour snowfall over parts of the Sierra Nevada ranged from a little over a foot of snow in the southern areas to nearly 8 feet in the central and northern parts of the mountain range, according to ski resorts. In the past seven days, 92.5 inches of snow have fallen at the Central Sierra Snow Lab. The amount of snow is not unheard of in the Sierra Nevada, but it is excessive nonetheless and has already resulted in deadly avalanches and multiple road closures, including along the busy Interstate 80 and Donner Pass, California, area. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Big storms boost California water supply, but snowpack lags
“Ever since California was pummeled by a series of storms in fall and early winter, experts have said the state’s water supply is looking strong for this year. Those storms — with a potential bump from the ones hitting much of the state this week — have helped refill reservoirs and eased immediate drought worries in many parts of the state. But experts also say that a few wet storms don’t mean we’re out of the woods. That’s because this winter is a “classically climate-change-flavored one,” according to Daniel Swain, a weather and climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. And that’s not because it’s been a particularly dry winter, he explained. It’s because it’s the warmest winter the West has ever seen. “In the Western U.S., the snowpack is, on average, terrible,” Swain said. “It’s about as bad as it’s ever been in observed history.” … ” Read more from KQED.
Snow drought helped set the stage for deadly California avalanche, leading to unstable conditions
“A weekslong “snow drought” in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada helped set the stage for Tuesday’s deadly avalanche, after several feet of new snow fell on an earlier layer that had hardened, making it unstable and easily triggered, experts said. The new snow did not have time to bond to the earlier layer before the avalanche near Lake Tahoe killed at least eight backcountry skiers, said Craig Clements, a meteorology professor at San Jose State University, who has conducted avalanche research. Six skiers survived and rescuers were still searching for another one who was still missing on Wednesday. The group was on a three-day backcountry trek in the Sierra Nevada on Tuesday morning when they were trapped by the avalanche as a winter storm pummeled the West Coast. The dangers generally are highest in the first 24 to 48 hours after a very large snowfall, Clements said, and authorities had issued avalanche warnings. Here’s what to know. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
State accelerates stormwater capture opportunities with 5-year groundwater recharge permits
“Just before storms began drenching parts of California this week, the State Water Resources Control Board issued the last of nine groundwater recharge permits for this wet season, bringing the total amount of water authorized for underground storage to nearly 43,000 acre-feet, or enough to supply over 128,000 households for a year. The State Water Board approved all the permit applications it received in recent months, including two 180-day and seven 5-year permits, the highest number of the longer-term permits issued for one season since they became available in 2020. Permits were granted to water districts and groundwater sustainability agencies for recharge projects in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta and Scott River watersheds. Two other 5-year permits issued in 2023 are still in effect. “As California’s climate changes and grows more extreme, every storm is a critical opportunity to capture water and replenish our aquifers before the next drought,” said board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel. “I’m glad to see more of our partners taking advantage of our expedited process and 5-year permits, because building groundwater reserves helps communities maintain drinking water supplies when conditions turn dry.” … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
DWR partners with agencies to untangle mystery of California’s harmful algal blooms
“Appearing like something out of science fiction, harmful algal blooms (HABs) can form thick mats that accumulate on freshwater surfaces throughout California. Most common during the summer, HABs are a nuisance that can smother entire portions of waterways, sucking oxygen from the system as they decompose, while producing toxins which can be dangerous to humans and pets. DWR is addressing the issue by drawing on its own expertise and that of partner agencies to better understand the drivers and dynamics of HABs. DWR is in the midst of a five-year, $3 million research project by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science’s Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms program, or MERHAB, with the aim of developing a HAB monitoring program for the Bay-Delta estuary. … ” Read more from DWR.
Sen. McNerney introduces legislation to protect California’s water systems
“State Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, announced Wednesday the introduction of legislation that would help protect California’s primary water sources for decades to come. Supported by environmentalists and nonprofit groups that have often been at odds over water use, SB 872 would safeguard both the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and the State Water Project, McNerney said. “Historically, California’s water wars have pitted North against South, the environment versus agriculture,” he said. “SB 872 is a commonsense solution that brings traditional adversaries together to support vital water projects that will protect California’s water and the Delta, while also benefitting the entire state.” … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel.
Garamendi, Harder call on U.S. Army Corp to reject permits for Delta tunnel boondoggle
“As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considers a decision in the years-long water saga, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and members of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Congressional Delegation – including Representatives Josh Harder (CA-09), Ami Bera (CA-03), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Doris Matsui (CA-07)- called on the Army Corps to deny the federal permits required for the Delta Tunnel to be completed. They called for the Army Corps’ final Record of Decision to protect Delta waterways, families, and our regional economy by denying these permits. If approved, the Delta Tunnel would be a disaster for the Delta … ” Read more from Congressman Garamendi.
New online tool shows protection levels for California, US waterways
“More than 80% of watersheds in the United States lack adequate protection and now, a new online tool will tell you if the river or creek in your neighborhood is in trouble. The National Protected Rivers Assessment from the nonprofit American Rivers and Conservation Science Partners shows hundreds of rivers and creeks across California remain woefully underprotected. John Zablocki, director of river protection for the nonprofit American Rivers, said before now, the data has been scattered. “Up until now, nobody’s really had a reliable way to assess how protected rivers are,” Zablocki pointed out. “They’re really the most threatened systems, and also the least identifiably protected. So, we set out to develop a framework to address that gap.” … ” Read more from Hey SoCal.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
39,860 natural adult Chinook salmon returned to Klamath River 2 years after dam removal completed!
“A total of 39,860 adult fall-run Chinook salmon returned to spawn in the Klamath River and its tributaries in the fall of 2025, two years after dam removal was completed. That’s according to the just-released Review of 2025 Ocean Salmon Fisheries published by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) on February 18: www.pcouncil.org/… The return was 205 percent of the preseason prediction of 19,417 adults, according to the document used to help craft West Coast commercial, Tribal and recreational salmon fishing season alternatives every year in preparation for the PFMC’s meeting in March 2026. “The 2025 preliminary postseason river run size estimate for KRFC was 51,277 adults compared to the preseason-predicted ocean escapement (river run size) of 28,554 adults,” the review stated. “The escapement to natural spawning areas was 39,860 adults, which was 205 percent of the preseason prediction of 19,417 adults.” … ” Read more from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos.
SEE ALSO: Klamath Fall Chinook Return Tops Expectations in 2025, from Fishing the North Coast with Kenny Priest
SIERRA NEVADA
Waiting out winter: how (lesser known) animals survive Tahoe’s snow season
“As snow settles on the ground and temperatures drop, it’s easy to think most animals are doing what plenty of people do—curling up somewhere warm and waiting out the freeze. While it’s a fun fact that Tahoe bears rarely go into full hibernation (with human sources of food around, there’s not much need to), plenty of other creatures in the region spend their winters stockpiling, swimming or staving off the cold in other ways, and researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) spend their time studying them. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Yuba agency redirects funds, rejects extra salmon habitat request
“Following a large water pipe rupture at the Colgate Power Plant which led to hundreds and possibly thousands of salmon killed in lower Yuba River, Yuba Water Agency on Tuesday announced the $300,000 grant to a local conservation group for its fish restoration project, while turning down a second bid for a separate fish habitat effort. The awarded Upper Long Bar Restoration Project was proposed by the South Yuba River Citizens League to create juvenile salmon rearing habitat on the lower Yuba River and approved in January for about $1.8 million in grant funding by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Tuesday’s grant is part of that larger restoration package, under which the Yuba Water Agency will contribute up to $300,000 in matching funds. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
40 Years Later: Remembering Northern California’s devastating floods of 1986
“This week marks 40 years since record-setting rainfall brought devastating flooding to parts of the Sacramento Valley. From Feb. 11 to Feb. 20, 1986, a series of storms, heavy with atmospheric river moisture, pounded the region. Each storm brought more rain than the last. Snow levels were above the Tahoe area passes much of the time. Blue Canyon measured an astounding 34.03 inches of precipitation during the stretch of storms. February 1986 would become the wettest on record for the central and north Sierra. Auburn had more than 15 inches of rain. Sacramento saw nearly half of its average annual rainfall with more than 8 inches. … ” Read more from KCRA.
BAY AREA
Martinez Refining Company hit with $10 million penalty
“Authorities announced Thursday that they had secured a $10 million penalty against a Contra Costa County refinery owner after repeated violations over a four-year period. The Martinez Refining Company will also pay $600,000 in mitigation for environmental projects and has committed to making compliance improvements at its refinery on Pacheco Boulevard in Martinez. The facility has experienced a number of issues in recent years, including a release of spent catalyst in 2022 that covered parts of the city in an ash-like substance, as well as illegal flaring, fires, leaking tanks, and the release of coke dust that spread past its property line. “The residents of Martinez deserve to feel safe in their communities,” Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement. “This civil action holds the Martinez Refining Company accountable for numerous violations, enforces compliance with the law, and reinforces our office’s dedication to protect public health and safety through all available legal means, including civil action.” … ” Read more from the Vallejo Times-Herald.
Study points to Tennis, Hansen Parks as optimal sites for Pleasanton’s new wells
“Plans to drill groundwater wells in southwest Pleasanton are settling on two new wells, one at Pleasanton Tennis and Community Park and another at Hansen Park, at a cost of around $40 million split between the city and the Zone 7 Water Agency. The two-well recommendation comes from a feasibility study completed on Dec. 31, 2025 by Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers. The study ruled out a previously considered well at Del Prado Park based on criteria around capital costs, operations and maintenance costs, operational flexibility and resilience, implementation schedule, community and environmental impacts, and water quality and treatment risk. At their Feb. 3 meeting, city council members praised the cooperation between the city and Zone 7 in completing the study. The two agencies are exploring a plan to build and operate the new wells as a partnership, although the exact split for the costs and water produced is still to be determined. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
CENTRAL COAST
California’s oldest state park expands for first time in 15 years
“California’s oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods, is expanding this week with the addition of 153 acres, a forested stretch intended to help the park recover after a devastating 2020 wildfire. The land, with a colorful history along Highway 236 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is adjacent to where park officials are planning to rebuild the park’s burned-up headquarters. As such, it will partially serve as the new gateway to the park. Big Basin officials envision people coming to the new property, after stopping at the planned park store, café and visitor center nearby, and taking a quick hike amid towering conifers, 20-foot waterfalls and numerous mountain views. “We know that when people arrive at the park, they will want to see something scenic,” said Will Fourt, senior parks and recreation specialist for California Department of Parks and Recreation. “With this (site), you’ll just walk a mile or so and be able to see some of the scenery that Big Basin has to offer.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: Redwood forest once owned by the ‘King Tut of Hoarders’ is added to famed Santa Cruz Mountains state park, from the San Jose Mercury News
Watsonville gets $1.09M for wastewater upgrades, plus $1.2M for veterans hall improvements
“Watsonville has secured more than $2.2 million in federal funding—$1,092,000 to replace key components of the city’s aging wastewater treatment facility and $1.2 million to improve accessibility and upgrades at the Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren visited Watsonville Civic Plaza on Thursday to deliver a $1,092,000 check. The money will be used to pay for a new Headworks and Influent Pump Station Facilities Project. “It’s always a pleasure to visit Watsonville, but today was especially exciting, as I got to present over $1 million to the City for their new wastewater treatment facilities,” Rep. Lofgren said. “The existing infrastructure is not meant to function much longer, and I wanted to prioritize this funding so that Watsonville can construct these new facilities that will meet federal and state water quality standards. This is also an investment in energy efficiency, one that will reduce overall operation and maintenance costs and save taxpayers’ money.” … ” Read more from KSBW.
Hundreds of unplugged oil wells sit on top of groundwater sources in Monterey County, a study finds.
“California’s oil industry is over 150 years old, with its commercial beginnings traced back to the fittingly named Petrolia in Humboldt County. Production peaked in the 1980s before entering a steady decline, with wells falling out of production and creating a scattered and increasingly difficult problem to manage throughout the state. Today, there are more than 30,000 idle oil and gas wells, defined as wells that have been inactive for at least 24 months. Although these wells are no longer commercially productive, they can still leak oil and emit pollutants, including carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde, air emissions including methane and pose physical hazards. In California, at least 4,449 of these wells are within 3,200 feet of a school, hospital, playground or elder care center, according to an analysis conducted by the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity. The threats posed by idle wells in Monterey County, however, raise different concerns: The risk is less about neighboring hospitals or other actively used sites and more about drinking water reserves. … ” Read more from Monterey County Now.
Monterey Commentary: Reliable water is the foundation of affordable housing
Jeff Davi, the chair of the Coalition of Peninsula Businesses, writes, “On the Monterey Peninsula, we all agree on one thing: we need more housing, especially for working families. But housing cannot exist without a legally compliant, reliable water supply. Treating water as an afterthought is not a path to affordability — it is a path back to moratoria, lawsuits and stalled projects. A recent commentary argues that lifting the current water constraints now will unlock housing because “verified supply exists today” and desalination is unnecessary in the near term. That framing misunderstands both the law and the history of our community’s water planning. The cease-and-desist order was not adopted because of speculation. It was adopted because unlawful diversions from the Carmel River had to stop. That legal framework still governs us. Any housing strategy that depends on stretching existing sources to their limit risks triggering the very cutbacks that froze development in the first place. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
‘Small water user:’ Some farmers facing a Cuyama Valley groundwater rights lawsuit could get help from new state legislation
“There’s plenty of legal jargon that goes over Jake Furstenfeld’s head when he tunes in via Zoom to court proceedings tied to a Cuyama Valley groundwater dispute. This wasn’t the case, however, when the local rancher and others with stakes in a lawsuit over water rights for a critically overdrafted basin heard a judge’s tentative order in early February. “That was one of the first positive things that had come out of this,” Furstenfeld said. “It kind of gave me a glimmer of hope.” While citing newly passed state legislation, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Highberger said that he would potentially exempt around 100 Cuyama Valley growers and residents considered “small pumpers,” due to their low water use, from the adjudication. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for early March. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Sun.
Santa Barbara County’s water picture rosier after recent storms
“While ski resorts in Northern California are reporting five feet of snow from the weekend’s stormy weather, Santa Barbara County felt more than four inches of rainfall by a chilly Thursday morning. In terms of drought, all that snow adds to the positive water picture of county reservoirs at or more than 100 percent full. A dry January led to a measurement of California’s snowpack of 59 percent of average at the end of the month, even after the big storms last fall. Traditionally, the heaviest snowfall drops January through March in the Sierra Nevada, where the spring runoff reserve for California mounds up during a good winter. After February’s blizzards, the snowpack now sits at 69 percent of average, said Jason Ince of the state’s Department of Water Resources (DWR). “However, thanks to three consecutive seasons with above average or near-average precipitation — winters of 2023, ’24, and ’25 — major reservoir across the state are all well above their historical averages and water supplies are generally in positive conditions,” Ince stated. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
State Parks seeks public input on future of El Capitán, Refugio, and Gaviota
“After four decades, California State Parks is rewriting the general plans governing El Capitán State Beach, Refugio State Beach, and Gaviota State Park — an update driven by climate change, coastal erosion, and the visible toll of this winter’s storms. At the same time, the agency finds itself reviewing an unrelated but consequential request: Whether to grant Sable Offshore Corp. an easement for an oil pipeline segment that crosses Gaviota State Park, a necessary step before the company can restart oil production halted after the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill. State Parks’s planning effort was formally announced May 2, 2024, and is expected to take approximately two years to complete. When finalized, it will replace the original 1979 general plans that have guided management of the three parks. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Golden mussels detected in Friant-Kern Canal threaten water deliveries
“Officials are sounding the alarm over an invasive species threatening one of California’s key water systems. Golden mussels, first detected in the Friant-Kern Canal two months ago, are rapidly multiplying and could disrupt water delivery to farms and communities in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The Friant Water Authority held a board meeting Thursday to address the infestation and outline next steps. The board voted to hire a consultant to develop a comprehensive control plan, though any treatment would require permits and could take several months. … ” Read more from KMPH.
Northern Tulare County groundwater agency makes well registration mandatory
“Some landowners in Tulare and Kings counties are facing a mandatory well registration deadline of July 1, 2026. The Greater Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency board of directors passed the resolution at its Feb. 9 meeting to gather depth, location, and type on approximately 2,000 wells in its boundaries. It is seeking the information on agricultural, domestic, industrial and retired wells that have not been destroyed. The Kaweah subbasin GSAs, which also include East Kaweah and Mid-Kaweah, all have well registration programs as part of their groundwater sustainability plan. But Greater Kaweah is the only one to make it mandatory. “After months of requesting registration, only a small fraction have done so,” said manager Mark Larsen, noting that less than 150 wells had been registered. “The information is critical for understanding and managing the aquifer, particularly subsidence.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Long-awaited reports outline problems with Palisades infrastructure
“A long-awaited set of reports on how to build a fire-resilient Pacific Palisades, commissioned by Los Angeles city officials for $5 million, found that much of the hilly enclave remains out of compliance with standards for evacuating during a disaster. The reports, by the city and the global infrastructure firm AECOM, also recommended that the city complete significant brush clearance work, bolster its water system and move electrical wires underground. All of the recommendations are frequent asks from Palisades residents. Many have already been discussed at length by independent experts. They will inform the city’s Long-Term Recovery Plan for rebuilding infrastructure and improving wildfire resilience after the Palisades fire killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in January 2025. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Mojave groundwater project selected for WIFIA loan
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the Mojave Groundwater Bank – Northern Pipeline Project to submit an application for a low-interest loan of up to $194 million to fund capital costs under the federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. The Mojave Groundwater Bank is a conjunctive-use groundwater storage project located in southeastern California near the Arizona and Nevada border. Managed by Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company, the project is designed to interconnect the Colorado River and California State Water Project systems through new pipeline infrastructure, enhancing water supply flexibility and drought resilience for millions of Californians. The bank contains an estimated 30 million acre-feet of groundwater in storage and is approved to provide a reliable annual supply of up to 75,000 acre-feet per year, in addition to one million acre-feet of imported water storage capacity. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
State lawmaker calls on Imperial County officials to halt controversial data center project
“A California lawmaker is calling on the Imperial County Board of Supervisors to halt a controversial data center project until they answer “critical questions.” In sharply-worded statements last week, State Sen. Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) said the development, specifically the county’s planning process, had been “shrouded in secrecy.” He said county officials had yet to reply directly to his December letter seeking more information about their planning process and the data center’s water and energy needs. “I’ve worked in land use and the public space for decades,” said Padilla, whose district includes Imperial County, in an interview with KPBS on Friday. … ” Read more from KPBS.
SAN DIEGO
Poway’s three-phase water infrastructure improvement project reaches milestone
“A nearly $87 million project to improve Poway’s water system will reach another milestone this spring when an aging Clearwell is replaced with two 4 million-gallon circular concrete water tanks. The Clearwell replacement project is under budget, approximately 95% complete and on schedule for commissioning in spring 2026, according to a staff report. The water infrastructure improvement program is the largest capital project in the city’s 45-year history, said Robert Weber, the city’s principal civil engineer for public works-utilities, at the Feb. 3 Poway City Council meeting. The three-phase program aims to improve reliability, redundancy and resiliency of the city’s drinking water system, Weber said. The program consists of a Clearwell bypass project that is in operation, a Clearwell replacement project under construction, and a treated water facilities project that is in the design stage, he said. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
What are nurdles? The tiny plastic pellets threatening San Diego’s lagoons
“Something tiny is hiding in San Diego’s sand, washing into our lagoons, and working its way up the food chain. It arrives by freight train, escapes by the billions, and has been polluting our most protected coastal habitats for decades with almost no oversight. It’s called a nurdle, and we’re doing something about it. Nurdles are tiny pre-production plastic pellets, roughly the size of a lentil or fish egg (1–5 mm). They’re the raw material used to manufacture virtually every plastic product in existence. Water bottles, food packaging, car parts, toys: it all starts as a nurdle. Nurdles are produced in massive quantities — the U.S. alone manufactures approximately 27 million tonnes annually. As plastic is sourced from fossil fuels, the explosion in natural gas fracking in the U.S. has led to a boom in plastic production. Nurdles are then shipped by rail, truck, and cargo ship to factories around the world where they’re melted down and molded into consumer products. And at nearly every step of that journey, they escape. … ” Read more from the San Diego Coastkeeper.
Along the Colorado River …
Column: San Diego’s Colorado River water should be secure despite dispute, says official
Columnist Michael Smolens writes, “The ongoing anxiety throughout the West over the Colorado River water supply ratcheted up once again as negotiators last week blew through a second deadline in three months to reach agreement on how to divvy up the ever-diminishing flow. The distance and tensions between the upper and lower river basin states, the latter of which includes California, seem as great as ever. Sounds bad. But regardless of the outcome, San Diego should remain relatively unaffected by cuts that are sure to come on the Colorado River, which supplies the region with more than half of its water. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The West’s winter has been a slow-moving catastrophe
“If you are reading this on the East Coast, congratulations on the warmer weather you’re finally getting this week. It was cold and snowy for a while there. Here in the West, we wish we’d been in your shoes. Spare a thought for the tens of millions of us who live on the other side of the continent, where a catastrophe is unfolding. In Colorado, where I live and grew up, this winter has been especially warm and dry. Last year closed with the warmest December in the history of recordkeeping. It was 8.9 degrees warmer than the average from 1991 to 2020, and the warmest of all in a record that goes back to the late 19th century. Over this past weekend, my neighbors and my family walked with our dogs and our kids in T-shirts and shorts, because it was in the mid-60s in Colorado Springs. About 60 miles north, my family in Denver saw a new record high of 68 degrees—on February 15. … ” Read more from the Atlantic (gift article).
Environmental groups warn of dire impacts after Colorado River negotiators miss another deadline
“Fears are growing in the Colorado River basin about the prospect of painful water cuts, prolonged court battles and other dire impacts after negotiators from seven states missed a second key deadline Saturday to reach a conservation deal. “This winter has been a really stark illustration of some of the challenges that we may face in keeping our watersheds and rivers and lands healthy,” Celene Hawkins, the Colorado River Program Director at The Nature Conservancy, said Wednesday. “And so I think it is really profoundly terrifying to think about moving into a future where we aren’t starting to really focus on implementing solutions that the basin needs.” … ” Read more from KUNC.
Arizona Republicans urge Interior Secretary to withdraw Colorado River cutbacks over economic risks
“Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani and other members of Arizona’s House delegation sent a letter Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, asking for the withdrawal of proposed Colorado River operating guidelines. The letter states that strategies from the Bureau of Reclamation that were published in January, would impose “drastic reductions” on Arizona’s water supplies. Ciscomani says the seven basin states must share the weight of cuts and that current strategies put more pressure on Arizona than other states. “What we’re advocating for is to have that shared responsibility with all the others involved as well and [in] this case, the upper basin has the advantage but also the other states are not taking the hit that we are,” he said. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
Arizona pushes back on Post-2026 Colorado River plan
“Arizona water leaders are pushing back against federal Draft Environmental Impact Statement proposals for post-2026 Colorado River operations. The Central Arizona Project warns that several alternatives could disproportionately reduce Arizona’s water supply compared to other basin states, raising concerns about compliance with the Colorado River Compact and the long-term stability of Lake Mead and Lake Powell operations. On January 26, 2026, the Central Arizona Project released a public statement responding to the federal Draft Environmental Impact Statement for post-2026 Colorado River operations. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement, prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation, outlines potential operating rules for Lake Powell and Lake Mead after the current guidelines expire in 2026. … ” Read more from Western Water.
Arizona, Lower Basin partners, commit to continuing efforts to find common ground on new Colorado River operations rules
“As Colorado River negotiations broke down just prior to the federal government’s Feb. 14 deadline, Arizona’s chief negotiator repeated his commitment to seeking a collaborative solution to river management. “Arizona remains committed to compromise and accommodation,” said ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke. “The negotiations may be at an unfortunate stalemate, but they are not at an end – not, at least, if our river partners in the Upper Basin accept the reality that Arizona cannot be asked to sacrifice its water security while receiving virtually nothing in return.” … ” Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Nevada’s main water negotiator talks about the bumpy road ahead in the Colorado River discussions
“Water negotiations between the seven Colorado River basin states are at a stalemate. Talks remain stalled despite the Bureau of Reclamation’s Feb. 14 deadline. Nevada’s representative in those negotiations — John Entsminger, general manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority — gave an update to KNPR’s State of Nevada. Some key takeaways: The main sticking point: The upper basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) disagree with the conservation guidelines of the lower basin states (California, Arizona, and Nevada) — the latter being the biggest water users among the basin states. … ” Read more from Nevada Public Radio.
How a water war is brewing over a drying lake in Nevada
“Water rights exceed water supply across much of the western United States. With many watersheds failing to deliver enough water for local needs, the suit is being watched by attorneys, state water managers, and federal agencies. It could potentially set a precedent in revising how states across the West regulate access to water. The Nevada case, filed by the Walker River Paiute Tribe and Mineral County, may also present an opportunity for a win-win solution, in which nonprofits and government entities purchase private water rights from willing upstream sellers and dedicate them to downstream public benefit. Without public-private intervention and the changes in state water law that the suit seeks, geologists and environmental experts agree the future is bleak for Walker Lake, a 13-mile long terminal lake about 75 miles southeast of Reno near the California state line in rural, sparsely populated Mineral County. … ” Read more from Zero Hedge.
Utah’s first ‘juicy’ winter storm fails to reverse months of snow drought
“Utah finally got its first meaningful snowstorm of the winter season, bringing much-needed moisture to a dry desert landscape — but the state still faces major snowpack deficits. ARC Salt Lake spoke to Jon Meyer from the Utah Climate Center about the storm’s impact on the Beehive State. He talked about the new concept of a “snow drought” and what needs to happen through the rest of the seasons to keep Utah’s water levels above critical levels. Meyer did say the state desperately needed the snow Wednesday. “Unless you’re stuck in traffic or one of your reporters out storm chasing today, I think the general attitude is jubilation,” he said. “We see the lift cameras out there, and boy, you can just see some of the relief that folks are seeing – crossing their minds as they’re getting some what we love here in the state, which is the white stuff.” … ” Read more from KUTV.
Threat of a Colorado River lawsuit looms. Here’s how Utah is preparing.
“Utah leaders are preparing for a legal fight over the Colorado River as the seven states that share the dwindling water supply remain at odds. Utah lawmakers have requested roughly $6 million to be earmarked for litigation over the Colorado River. “It’s really, really critical to our state,” Rep. Rex Shipp, vice chair of the House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee, said about the river during a committee meeting on Feb. 11. About 40 million people across Utah, the Southwest U.S. and northern Mexico rely on the Colorado River for drinking water and agriculture. Over two decades of drought and an exceptionally warm and dry winter this year have pushed the river system near a breaking point: Lake Powell may reach power pool this year, cutting off electricity generation and unleashing infrastructure challenges at Glen Canyon Dam. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Experts anticipate major US reservoir could reach critical level by end of 2026: ‘Efforts have been productive’
“Lake Powell is again in the danger zone. The chronically water-hungry reservoir could reach “minimum power pool” by December because of drought conditions. What’s happening? The lake, which is predominantly located in Utah and crosses the Arizona border, would not be able to produce electricity, according to a monthly Bureau of Reclamation study, KNAU reported. The two-year projection shows that the water level is rapidly approaching 3,490 feet of elevation, below which the Glen Canyon Dam is unable to generate power. Under the worst-case scenario, this would happen by August. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
In national water news today …
Would you pay $49 a month to drink recycled wastewater?
“One day, you’ll appreciate drinking recycled toilet water. Urban populations are growing as water supplies are dwindling, often due to worsening droughts. In response, some communities are treating wastewater, rendering it perfectly safe for consumption. It is so pure, in fact, that if a treatment facility doesn’t add enough of the minerals the filtering process strips out, it could do serious damage to the human body. And trust me — it tastes great, too. Cities throughout the American West are already recycling water, easing pressures on dwindling supplies. Now here’s a thought experiment: How much would you pay on your utility bill for the privilege of reused water, if it meant avoiding shortages and rationing in the future? A recent survey offers one answer. Residents of small communities of fewer than 10,000 people said they’d be willing to drop an average of $49 to do so. … ” Read more from Grist.
Democrats sound alarm on Interior reorg’s impact on wildfires, land management
“Plans to consolidate federal firefighting will inflict harm both to fire suppression efforts and other operations within the Interior Department, congressional Democrats warned on Wednesday, as staffing and other resources are siphoned away to a new agency. The Trump administration stood up the U.S. Wildland Fire Service earlier this year, creating a new agency within Interior that will subsume wildfire responsibilities from the department’s existing components. The administration is looking to further merge firefighting operations currently within the Agriculture Department’s U.S. Forest Service into the consolidated agency, but Congress has instituted roadblocks to the effort and the agencies have not yet announced a timeline for the change. … ” Read more from Government Executive.
Trump says climate repeal saves $1.3 trillion. The EPA’s math differs
“When President Donald Trump on Feb. 12 announced the “single largest deregulation in American history” — the repeal of climate emissions standards for all vehicles and the key scientific determination underpinning them, in one swoop — he said it would save Americans $1.3 trillion. But the administration’s own analyses, found in the official rulemaking published Wednesday in the Federal Register, show a more nuanced picture. The climate rollbacks also come with costs, ranging from hundreds of billions of dollars on the low end to more than $1.4 trillion on the high end — an amount that exceeds the projected savings. The revoking of the so-called endangerment finding, a legal recognition that greenhouse gases harm human health, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the administration’s largest climate rollback to date. It comes on the heels of deep cuts over the past year to the agency’s staffing, programming, research and grants tied to climate and other environmental work. … ” Read more from Bloomberg.
