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On the calendar today …
- LEG. HEARING: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife beginning at 9am. The Committee will hold an informational hearing on the Efficiency of Large Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) water users. Click here for more information.
- WEBINAR: Digital Tools for Climate-Resilient Rural Communities from 9am to 10:30am. Explore how digital tools and community data are building climate resilience in rural landscapes -with lessons for water managers worldwide. As climate change intensifies, rural communities that depend on agriculture, forests, and water for their livelihoods face compounding ecological, economic, and social pressures. How can data and digital technology help communities not just survive these pressures, but actively shape their own resilience? Join us for another Data for Lunch (or rather, Data for Breakfast) as Dr. Aaditeshwar Seth explores this question in the context of rural central India, where intersecting environmental and livelihood crises demand solutions that are both technically sophisticated and deeply rooted in community knowledge and equity. In this session, you’ll learn how a collaborative team of civil society organizations, environmental researchers, and computer scientists developed the CoRE Stack (Commoning for Resilience and Equality), a digital public infrastructure that puts data directly in the hands of communities. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Groundwater Awareness Week – Conversations about Local Implementation with DWR Assistance Programs from 10am to 11:00am. Join us for a conversation between DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Office (SGMO) and local agency representatives to discuss SGMA implementation in their subbasin and DWR’s assistance programs being used in the process. The conversation will cover a range of topics, including coordination with beneficial users (domestic well owners), community groundwater monitoring, and flood diversion for recharge. Click here to register.
- MEETING: Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel for the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program from 2pm to 6pm. The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will hold public working group session for the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel. The session will facilitate Panel deliberations on issues relevant to the Panel charge questions, which ask the Panel to consider the approaches in State Water Board Order WQ 2018-0002, In the Matter of Review of Waste Discharge Requirements General Order No. R5-2012-0116 for Growers Within the Eastern San Joaquin River Watershed that are Members of the Third-Party Group (Eastern San Joaquin Water Quality Order) and State Water Board Order WQ 2023-0081, In the Matter of Review of General Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands Order No. R3-2021-0040 (Central Coast Ag Water Quality Order). Click here for the meeting notice.
- MEETING: National Park Service Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study from 6pm to 7:30pm. 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 bit.ly/4akUPVE or by phone at 1-202-640-1187, Conference ID: 362420885#
In California water news today …
Unraveling the dynamics of interconnected surface water depletion
“In December 2025, the Groundwater Resources Association of California hosted a two-day webinar to address the complex relationship between Interconnected Surface Water (ISW) and groundwater. The event brought together experts to discuss the science, environmental implications, and policy challenges of ISW, focusing on how groundwater extraction impacts surface water flows and the ecosystems that depend on them. The connection between surface water and groundwater is a critical component of sustainable groundwater management. When groundwater pumping occurs near a stream or river, it can lower the water table and cause surface water to seep downward, a process that can lead to stream depletion. This interaction affects various beneficial users of both surface water and groundwater resources. Dr. Vivek Bedekar, a consultant with SS Papadopoulos and Associates, opened the webinar series by introducing the foundational concepts of ISW depletion. His presentation focused on how groundwater pumping alters streamflow and the need for effective models and management strategies to address these interactions. … ” Read the article at Maven’s Notebook.
Nearly 40% of California produce contains PFAS pesticides, report finds
“A new report shows that nearly 40% of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables tested by California regulators have residues of “forever” or PFAS chemicals, a family of compounds that can be lasting and harmful. The Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., reviewed California’s own test data and found PFAS pesticide residues on peaches, grapes and strawberries, and about three dozen other types of fruits and vegetables. The chemicals have have increasingly been used in agricultural chemicals in recent years. “Here’s the thing: This is an emerging threat,” said Nathan Donley, environmental health science director for the Center for Biological Diversity, who was not involved in the report. “PFAS pesticides went from being the exception to now they’re the rule.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: A surprising percentage of produce from the nation’s largest supplier contains ‘forever’ pesticides, from CNN
Another valley groundwater subbasin will likely escape state intervention
“The Delta-Mendota subbasin, one of the largest in California, will likely avoid state enforcement. Staff from the state Water Resources Control Board issued an assessment March 2 that recommends the basin, which stretches over 765,000 acres across six counties, return to the oversight of the Department of Water Resources (DWR). The state Water Board will consider the recommendation at its April 7 board meeting. If the subbasin does not return to DWR, landowners face well metering and reporting requirements, registration fees of $300 per well and extraction fees of $20 per acre foot. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Water Supply Assessments under CEQA: Vallejo v. American Canyon clarifies what must (and need not) be included
“On January 14, 2026, a California Court of Appeal upheld the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certified by the City of American Canyon (American Canyon) and the accompanying water supply assessment (WSA) in City of Vallejo v. City of American Canyon. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a WSA to be prepared for certain large-scale development projects as part of the environmental review process to prove that adequate water supplies will be available for the project once complete. Legal challenges related to the availability of water to supply large developments are becoming increasingly common. The Vallejo case provides some new insights into the scope and details required for a valid WSA under CEQA. The project at issue in the Vallejo case was a 2.4-million-square-foot industrial warehouse complex on 208 acres of undeveloped land in American Canyon. … ” Read more from Allen Matkins.
In California groundwater rights case, O’Melveny team achieves resolution after multiple trials and appeal
“A team of litigators from international law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP prevailed in a groundwater rights adjudication that approved a comprehensive plan for allocating and better managing vital water supplies in one of California’s most productive regions. While many water rights disputes have lasted decades, O’Melveny helped drive the dispute to final resolution in just seven years, including a hiatus during COVID. On March 5, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the final judgment in a comprehensive groundwater adjudication that proceeded under California’s streamlined groundwater adjudication procedures adopted following the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The watershed at issue was the 42,200-acre Las Posas Basin, a crucial irrigation source for the thirsty farms, orchards, businesses, and cities and communities in Southern California’s Ventura County. … ” Read more from O’Melveny & Myers.
Canneries reduce tomato acreage to lowest in 50 years
“After a short-lived increase during the pandemic, California’s processing tomato acreage is set to decline for a third consecutive year. The state’s tomato processors planned to contract for 9.8 million tons from 185,000 acres this year, down about 11% from the 11 million tons processors asked for last year, according to a January report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If processors’ intentions remain unchanged, those figures would make the tonnage contracted from growers this year the lowest since 2005, and it would mark the first time in more than half a century that farmers in California plant fewer than 200,000 acres of processing tomatoes. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
California to see unprecedented heat wave in coming days
“One of California’s most startling weather events in recent memory is set to unfold over the next 10 days, a spell that could shatter records by extraordinary margins. Daily temperature records are a near guarantee. Monthly records are likely. Highs as much as 30 degrees above normal are forecast in parts of California. The first 90- and 100-degree readings of the year might occur more than two months earlier than normal in many cities. Triple digits are forecast in the deserts and even parts of Los Angeles on Thursday and Friday. Heat will become more widespread Sunday and ramp up further next week, with parts of the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley threatening 90 degrees. Sierra Nevada communities are forecast to reach the 70s. Heat won’t be confined to California. Phoenix will probably measure its earliest 100-degree reading in modern history. Records are set to fall as far east as Colorado and Texas. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read via Yahoo News.
5 ways water efficiency builds resilience in your community
“Communities across the United States are facing growing pressures on water systems, including climate change, population growth, aging infrastructure, and rising energy and treatment costs. Water efficiency offers significant and often underutilized opportunities to strengthen resilience across all regions and sectors. Here are five ways efficiency strengthens your community … ” Read more from the Pacific Institute.
Environmental groups sue to stop Trump’s water diversions in California
“Imagine how shocked you’d be if a neighbor just marched into your home and turned on every shower and sink in the house. That’s how some California water managers might have felt last year, when President Trump ordered the Army Corp of Engineers to open-up flows from the part of California’s vast water system that’s controlled by the Federal Government. The surprise diversion flowed into reservoirs in the Central Valley and seemed designed to make good on promises laid out in a presidential memorandum, “Putting People over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California.” Trump backed it up with an executive order and what’s now known as Action 5. A plan for the Bureau of Reclamation to divert more water to farmers, independent of State Water officials. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
Creating opportunities to bring seawater desalination to coastal federal lands in California
“California’s water supply challenges increasingly pose risks not only to the state’s economy, but to national food production, interstate commerce, international trade, and national economic stability and security. While seawater desalination is a proven technology used worldwide to expand reliable water supplies, large-scale projects along California’s coast have faced significant regulatory barriers at the state level. In the report, Creating Opportunities to Bring Seawater Desalination to Coastal Federal Lands in California, authors Edward Ring, Director of Water and Energy Policy at California Policy Center, and Tim Paone, Partner at Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, outline practical actions the federal government can take using existing authority or targeted legislative action to enable the development of seawater desalination facilities on federal coastal lands in California. … ” Read more from the California Policy Center.
Study warns data centers may require billions for water infrastructure upgrades
“A research team from the University of California, Riverside, in collaboration with scientists at the California Institute of Technology, has found that the rapid expansion of data processing centers may create large spikes in water demand that many local water systems cannot currently supply. The research paper is titled: Small bottle, big pipe: Quantifying and addressing the impact of data centers on public water systems.” The study has found that as artificial intelligence and cloud computing grow, facilities that house servers will draw much more water to cool equipment during the hottest days of the year than they do now. These peak demands can be several times higher than average use, placing stress on municipal water supplies designed for everyday needs. … ” Read more from Smart Water Magazine.
SEE ALSO: Commentary: California’s data centers should be models of affordable, clean electricity, posted at Cal Matters
What’s in the new farm bill for California?
“Growers have been working without a current farm bill since 2023, leaving many initiatives like trade, research and rural development in long-term limbo or forcing them to rely on stopgaps or other sources of funding. Fortunately, despite the high-pitched rancor in Washington, D.C., the House Agriculture Committee last week approved a Republican-authored 2026 farm bill by a margin of 34-17, with seven Democrats including California’s Jim Costa and Adam Gray crossing party lines to support it. The bipartisan action was greeted with excitement and optimism from West Coast and national farm groups, including Western Growers, the California Farm Bureau and the Almond Alliance. Here’s what’s in the bill for California, according to the groups’ officials. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
California wildflower map: See real-time locations of the best blooms right now
“Wildflowers are popping up across California this year, with stunning spectacles in places like Death Valley National Park and Carrizo Plain National Monument in early March. The Bay Area is also blooming, with Oakland Mariposa lilies and other wildflowers showing up in local parks as we head into spring. To track wildflower sightings across California, the Chronicle created a map using observations logged over the past seven days on iNaturalist, a social network where users record sightings of plants, animals and fungi. The map updates daily at noon and provides an updated log of where nature lovers identified lupines, fiddlenecks and more over the past week. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
UC Davis marine oxygenation scientists confident can improve Clear Lake water quality
“A pair of researchers at UC Davis limnology laboratory are banking on getting adequate grants to launch their oxygenation projects and make a significant impact to improve the water quality of Clear Lake, as they informed an enthusiastic crowd for the Eastern Region Town Hall at the Moose Lodge at their regular meeting on March 4. Steve Camden is construction manager of the oxygenation projects. “Clear Lake seems to have had water quality issues forever and even feels like it has gotten worse, he said. “But we have a treatment method we think will work. And we got another project test on how we think it will work, and were hopeful of getting grant funding by April.” … ” Read more from the Lake Record-Bee.
SIERRA NEVADA
Ask the professor: what makes Tahoe snow so unique?
“Lake Tahoe, known for its incredible blue water, expansive forests and snowy peaks, is currently experiencing a dry spell with warm temperatures that are impacting local snowpacks. Although early winter in the area brought record-low snowfall, the area benefited from a very active pattern that resulted in a number of major storms in late December and early January, bringing the snowpack back to average. Baker Perry, Ph.D., State Climatologist, professor of climatology in the College of Science, and faculty at the Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability, explained that these patterns of snowfall are typical for the area, but that lower-elevation regions are experiencing more rainfall than usual. … ” Read more from Nevada Today.
Few winter storms leave Tahoe area snowpack below normal despite near-normal precipitation
“Snowpack across the Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Carson basins measured well below normal March 1 after February failed to deliver the boost needed for a late-winter recovery, according to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. NRCS officials said March 1 measurements showed snowpack in the three basins at 59% to 63% of the median. Conditions across northern Nevada were worse, with record low snowpack ranging from 21% to 40% of the median. Agency officials attributed the gap to warm storms that brought rain and triggered snowmelt during months when snowpack typically builds, a pattern the agency described as a “warm snow drought,” with adequate precipitation but below-normal snow accumulation. … ” Read more from This is Reno.
Scientists gather at Lake Tahoe to protect the world’s largest trout
“Scientists from around the world gathered last week at the University of Nevada, Reno in Lake Tahoe to tackle a unique conservation challenge: how to protect the largest trout species on Earth. At the Tahoe City Marina, scientists from around the world prepared to board a research boat on Lake Tahoe. It was a sunny afternoon, but on the water, the air was still cold. The boat, named Liberty, is part of the research fleet used by scientists at UNR. It helps researchers collect data, study water clarity and monitor conditions in the lake. A second, larger research boat with space for up to 15 people is expected to arrive this September. As the boat moves into deeper water, the lake’s clear blue surface surrounds the group. Research professor Zeb Hogan says Lake Tahoe is an important place to talk about giant trout. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Placer County Regional Forest Health reports major progress in wildfire risk reduction
“Placer County Regional Forest Health Coordinator Kerri Timmer presented the Regional Forest Health Division’s annual program update to the Placer County Board of Supervisors yesterday, outlining significant milestones in countywide wildfire risk reduction, strategic partnerships and landscape-scale forest resilience projects. Established in 2021 by the Board of Supervisors to strengthen county-level leadership in wildfire resilience, the Regional Forest Health Division has grown from a startup operation into a coordinated program managing an active portfolio of projects across Placer County’s forests, communities and public lands. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
New Redding walking path coming to downtown in $4M renovation
“A new walking path about to go up along Calaboose Creek that will link Redding’s Wildwood Park neighborhood to the city’s downtown is a dream come true for Terri Moravec. The creek that meanders through the leafy community of homes in one of the city’s oldest subdivisions has attracted more families with young children, said Moravec, as well as drawn unsheltered people and folks who “leave debris and drink beer.” “I just think a trail like that is a very healthy activity,” said Moravec, a longtime block captain with the community’s Neighborhood Watch group. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
Podcast: Tehama’s mayor on floods, farming and small-town life along the Sacramento River
“Tehama, California, is a town of just 420 residents, spanning roughly 10 blocks along the Sacramento River. Though small today, it was once a bustling 19th-century county seat and an important stop for riverboats traveling from San Francisco. Mayor Robert Mitchell, who has led the city for 23 years, said the town still attracts people looking for a quieter alternative to larger cities. Mitchell moved to Tehama in 1972 after leaving the San Jose area to find a more peaceful life. Reflecting on his first impression of the community, Mitchell said, “I seen this town, and I thought, ‘Boy, what a neat little city.'” He quickly settled into a house on the river, drawn by the surrounding beauty and the local agriculture, including walnut, almond and olive orchards. Living on the Sacramento River brings challenges, especially flooding. The town has experienced several major floods over the decades. About 12 years ago, 35 homes were elevated to reduce flood risk.” Listen at Jefferson Public Radio.
Butte County Supervisors approve fire fuel clearing contract, with adjustments
“Another contract for fire fuel reduction, this time for a span of the Skyway from Magalia to Stirling City, was unanimously approved by the Butte County Board of Supervisors, though with some slight changes to what was originally proposed. Interim Public Works Director Wendy Tyler brought the initial $951,842 contract with Oroville company P3 Enterprises, Inc. before the board Tuesday, and it outlined work that included brush removal, tree pruning, chipping and thinning on the public right-of-way between the communities. Overall, the term of the project lasts about six months. Tyler noted that the funding comes from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant program, but the timeframe is limited regarding when and how the county can use the money. “So here we are in March of 2026 with a very short timeframe to get this work completed, both to the expiration of the funding opportunity as well as some concerns with the footprint of the project area for some flora and fauna that will stop the work if we don’t get on the ground and get moving quickly,” Tyler said. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
NAPA/SONOMA
State grant gives Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation chance to restore 175 acres of farmland
“A stretch of farmland along the Laguna de Santa Rosa floodplain could become a new home for steelhead, coho salmon and wading birds as part of a major wetland restoration effort now backed by more than $1 million in state funding. The Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation was awarded a $1.05 million grant in late February from the California Wildlife Conservation Board to begin planning restoring 175 acres of farmland between Sebastopol and Forestville back into riparian and wetland habitats. The grant marks a major turning point for the foundation, which will now be able to take on its largest singular project in the foundation’s 37-year history. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Near-90-degree heat is headed for the Bay Area. Here’s when to expect it
“The Bay Area is about to warm up, big time. Historically high March temperatures are forecast as early as Sunday, but it’ll be a gradual climb to get there. Wednesday will be the start. Widespread 70-degree temperatures are expected Wednesday, about 8 to 12 degrees above normal for most Bay Area cities. Another 70-degree day in San Francisco would be the city’s tenth so far this year — about double what’s normal through March 11. Temperatures will increase further Thursday, reaching the low 80s in Santa Rosa, Vacaville, Walnut Creek, Dublin and San Jose, the hottest day of 2026 thus far in many of those cities. Downtown San Francisco and Oakland should reach the mid- to upper 70s, respectively. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: ‘Unusual’ heat wave could break records in Bay Area, from SF Gate
San Francisco Bay Adaptation Atlas
“To help planners and citizens wrap their head around what to do next in terms of “nature-based” solutions (rather than seawalls) to sea level rise, scientists and planners came up with 30 places to focus around the Bay’s 400-mile shoreline. In this Adaptation Atlas, scientists and planners identify 30 distinct operational landscape units (or OLUs) that share common physical characteristics. It is in these places, say the experts, we should invest in natural resilience because the units make sense in terms nature’s boundaries, rather the jurisdictional boundaries crisscrossing them with county lines and zoning limits. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey’s water supply has improved, but let’s not open the flood gates
Sarah Leeper, president of California American Water, writes, “Monterey has suffered from a decades-long lack of a sustainable water supply. In 2009, these challenges became impossible to ignore when the state imposed a cease-and-desist order banning new water connections until sufficient new water sources could be developed to reduce reliance on the Carmel River. The cease-and-desist order has severely limited Monterey’s ability to build affordable housing, grow businesses and help its economy develop sustainably. It’s completely understandable, then, that people would be eager to have the order modified to remove the moratorium on new connections. But here’s the reality: as proposed, the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s request to modify the order would risk reversing the decades of progress made on restoring the Carmel River and improving water security in Monterey. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Drinking water from Stanislaus County’s domestic wells can be dangerous. Here’s why
“On a half-acre lot just feet from a walnut orchard, Emily Petersen lives with her husband, her three young children and her German shepherds. When she and her husband, Jose, bought the house seven years ago between the unincorporated town of Empire and the city of Waterford, she was excited. It meant having more space and privacy away from the city. When she learned it came with a well, she thought, “Great, free water.” What she eventually discovered was more complicated. “You think, ‘Oh, wow, one less bill,’ you’re not going to have to worry about water,” Petersen said. “Well, I didn’t realize, actually, no, you still have to worry about your water.” … ” Read more from Modesto Bee.
Westlands releases 2025 crop report as fallowed acres rise
“On March 10, Westlands Water District released its 2025 Crop Report, detailing acreage statistics for crops grown across the district’s 1,000 square miles of farmland in western Fresno and Kings counties. The district’s top 10 commodities, categorized by acreage, include pistachios, almonds, processing tomatoes, wheat, Pima cotton, garlic, wine grapes, cantaloupes, onions, and Upland cotton. There are nearly 700 family-owned farms within Westland’s Water District that produce over 50 commodities, according to a press release. “Water reliability directly translates to food reliability,” Allison Febbo, General Manager of Westlands Water District said in a press release. “When Westlands growers have access to essential water supplies delivered through the [Central Valley Project] that power agriculture, they produce the fruits, vegetables, and nuts Americans depend on every day. Agriculture in our District supports thousands of families, small businesses, and essential public services, while also providing the nutritious food that helps keep communities healthy.” … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
SEE ALSO: Agave and fallowing: Water uncertainty changes Westlands farming profile, from GV Wire
Water board adds teeth to new consolidation order for East Orosi
“So much time has passed since the state Water Resources Control Board mandated two small Tulare County towns to consolidate their water systems, that a new, updated order was released Feb. 27. The new consolidation order comes with a clear, enforceable timeline as well as milestone deadlines and a completion date of Dec. 1, 2027. The new order replaces all prior orders issued since 2020, when the state Water Board first ordered the communities to work together in an effort to bring clean drinking water to the smaller East Orosi’s 420 residents. The community’s groundwater is unsafe to drink due to nitrate contamination and aging infrastructure. East Orosi households have used emergency hauled and bottled water for more than 14 years, trucked in by the state at a cost of more than $1.2 million. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Once-a-year wetlands walk slated for March 28 in Tulare County
“A 725-acre preserve will open to the public March 28, offering visitors access to a landscape reminiscent of the San Joaquin Valley floor a century ago. “Walk the Wetlands” will be held on James K. Herbert Wetland Prairie Preserve in Tulare County. It is managed by Sequoia Riverlands Trust and opens just once a year for a self-guided hike. The preserve is a nondescript swath of land that many unknowingly speed past along busy Highway 137 between Lindsay and Tulare. But according to Land Stewardship Manager Jonathan Vaughn, the preserve is a perfect example of agriculture and a rare ecosystem co-existing. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Kern water district gets $230 million to settle contamination lawsuit
“The Arvin-Edison Water Storage District accepted $230 million to settle its lawsuit against Dow Chemical and Shell Oil for allegedly contaminating its groundwater with 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) and jeopardizing its lucrative groundwater banking program with a southern California drinking water agency. This is the first of several Kern County groundwater banking TCP lawsuits to conclude. Dow and Shell are also being sued by the Semtropic Water Storage District and North Kern Water Storage District. Two other lawsuits by Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District and Kern Delta Water District are “stayed,” or paused, pending negotiations. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Record-breaking temperatures are on tap for Southern California. Here’s how hot it will get
“A potentially dangerous heat wave is forecast to broil Southern California this week, boosting the mercury at least 20 degrees above normal, potentially toppling temperature records and raising concerns about an earlier start to the fire season. After a mild start to the week, the region will start warming up on Wednesday with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s across much of Los Angeles County. But the real heat will hit Thursday and Friday with temperatures reaching into the 90s along the coast and in the valleys with some areas reaching 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. “Typically for March, the average high temperatures are in the upper 60s to mid-70s depending on where you are in the L.A. area, so this does put us a good 20 to 30 degrees above normal for this time of year,” said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Labor, conservation groups urge water district to fund wastewater recycling project
“Nearly 50 labor, tribal, conservation and environmental justice organizations have urged the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to allocate $150 million toward planning and design of a large regional wastewater recycling project, according to a joint letter submitted ahead of a district committee meeting Tuesday. The funding request would support the proposed Pure Water Southern California project as part of the agency’s 2026-2028 biennial budget, which is expected to be finalized in April. Signatories include groups such as Los Angeles Waterkeeper, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and the Natural Resources Defense Council, according to the letter. Supporters said the project would produce up to 150 million gallons of purified water per day once fully operational, creating a new local water supply while reducing nutrient discharges into the ocean. … ” Read more from My News LA.
Where restoration meets policy: Designing a future where humans and Southern steelhead thrive together
“Southern steelhead trout are one of the most remarkable native fish in California, an often overlooked species that inhabits the waters of our very own Southern California backyard. Known scientifically as Oncorhynchus mykiss, Southern steelhead are a distinct population of steelhead trout found in coastal watersheds from the Santa Maria River south to the U.S.–Mexico border. Unlike resident rainbow trout, steelhead are anadromous, meaning they spawn in inland freshwater streams, migrate to the ocean to grow, and return to freshwater rivers to spawn. In Southern California, their ability to survive in volatile, drought-prone watersheds with high temperatures, seasonal sand berms, and low summer flows is nothing short of extraordinary. Their persistence in some of the most urbanized waters in the state is a testament to the species’ resilience. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River water cuts: Deep Arizona reductions loom as deadline nears
“Water policy experts are warning Arizona residents to prepare for significant water cuts as a multi-state agreement over Colorado River usage nears expiration and seven states remain unable to reach a new deal after two years of negotiations. Arizona’s negotiators say water cuts are coming, and some experts say they could be worse than expected. The water from the Colorado River is shared between seven states, but the agreement that determines who gets what is expiring. Because state leaders have been unable to agree on a replacement, the federal government threatened to take over, releasing its own proposed agreements in January. One federal option, which could realistically go into effect, would cut water to the Central Arizona Project by nearly 60%, according to Rhett Larson, an ASU water law professor and chief legal counsel for the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
The alfalfa fallacy: There are no “obvious” solutions to the Colorado River crisis
“As the Colorado River shrinks, the “simple” and “obvious” solutions to the crisis seem to multiply. You know, it’s a lot of: “Whatchya gotta do is …. “ “… stop watering them golf courses.” “… stop population growth.” … And then, the most common one: “ … stop raising cattle and hay in the desert.” While this fix holds more water (so to speak) than the preceding ones, it is not actually a solution — at least not a workable one. There is only one obvious remedy for the Colorado River crisis, and that is for its collective users to consume less of the river’s water. Since irrigating alfalfa takes up a larger share of the river’s water than any other single use, it seems to follow that growing less of the crop would leave more water in the river. But this does not account for the way water law works. … ” Read the full post at The Land Desk.
Colorado’s dust-free snow is a bright spot in an otherwise poor winter
“In otherwise dismal snow year in Colorado has one clear upside: At least the snow that has fallen on the state isn’t dusty. Each year, storms pick up dust from across the Southwest and drop it on Colorado’s mountain snowpack, where it can hasten melting. Earlier snowmelt has ripple effects on water supplies, forecasts, irrigators and ecosystems. But this year, the snow is white and clean all the way through, at least at the test locations observed by Jeff Derry’s team at the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies. What gives? Derry chuckled. It’s storms that bring dust — and snow, he said. “We haven’t had the dust because we haven’t had the storms,” Derry said. “They kind of come hand in hand.” … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs sets hearing on water rights
“The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is meeting to focus on tribal water rights, including a bill to settle a long-running dispute in Arizona. At an oversight hearing and legislative hearing on Wednesday afternoon, the committee will take testimony about tribal water rights in general. The Department of the Interior is sending an official to discuss the policy of President Donald Trump and his administration. The committee is also taking testimony on S.953, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025. The bipartisan bill settles the water rights of the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in the Colorado River basin in northeastern Arizona. “This is a historic moment for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. After years of hard work and collaboration, we’re delivering a water settlement that secures reliable, clean water and strengthens Tribal sovereignty,” said Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), who introduced S.953 a year ago on March 11, 2025. … ” Read more from Indianz.
Arizona water rates rising: What’s driving the increases across the state?
“Homeowners across Arizona are facing significant increases in their monthly water bills, with multiple Valley cities approving rate hikes in recent months. Cathy Krahn, a Gilbert homeowner, said her bill has climbed sharply. “We were paying $50-$80 a month, and now we are paying anywhere from $280 to $340 a month,” Krahn said. Last year, Phoenix residents were hit with a 13% water rate increase. In Queen Creek, the increase was 15%. This year, the city of Chandler approved a 15% hike. In Gilbert, a 25% increase takes effect on April 1. Other Valley cities and utility companies are also raising rates. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
Chandler expanding well system amid regionwide water drought
“The city of Chandler is expanding its well system with the help of a $1 million federal grant. City leaders say it will help them diversify their water portfolio as the Colorado River gets less reliable. Arizona water leaders have stressed the need for resilient water systems that draw from multiple sources. Those calls have come into focus in recent months, as proposed federal plans for managing the Colorado River could deal significant cutbacks to Arizona’s share of Colorado River water. Water leaders said those cuts would be “devastating.” … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Bird monitoring and habitat renewal on the Cocopah Indian Reservation
“Where Arizona, California and the Republic of Mexico meet, the lower Colorado River transitions into its delta and dries up before finding its way to the Gulf of California as it had done a century ago. It is here that a new habitat restoration effort is taking shape on the Cocopah Indian Tribe’s Reservation— to bring back the native vegetation and wildlife that once thrived along this vital desert waterway. This section of the Colorado River underwent profound changes over the past century due to the dams and diversions that significantly altered the river’s flow. The river no longer spills onto its natural floodplain, soaking the soil and replenishing the groundwater, which has made it easier for invasive vegetation to colonize these areas that once supported a lush mosaic of cottonwood-willow forests, wetlands, mesquite and other native vegetation. Further exacerbating this deterioration, climate change is extending droughts and deepening reductions in the Colorado’s flow. For the Cocopah people with ancestral ties to the Colorado River since time immemorial, these changes have not only impacted the landscape, but also their culture and ability to sustain their traditional ways of life. … ” Read more from Audubon.
In Las Vegas, where every drop of water counts, septic system changes are a sore subject
“It was supposed to be a routine meeting for the Southern Nevada Health District to discuss regulations surrounding septic tanks in Las Vegas. Instead, roughly 1,000 people showed up in protest. Videos of the meeting show angry residents questioning the health district about the proposals as officials tried to calm the crowd. Technology and space issues exacerbated the situation with lines of people waiting to speak at the Centennial Hills YMCA. “It was a meeting that had a lot of emotion. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” Christian Salmon, a septic tank owner and a Las Vegas resident, said about the meeting last month. On account of the pushback, officials ended the meeting without a vote on the proposals. According to Jennifer Sizemore, a representative from the Southern Nevada Health District, the agency that oversees the regulations of septic tanks, a new meeting to discuss “withdrawing the proposed updates following public feedback” has been set for today, March 11. … ” Read more from the Nevada Independent.
Lake Powell could hit lowest water levels in 25 years
“Forecasters have warned that a record warm and dry winter across the Colorado River Basin could mean that the amount of water flowing into Lake Powell between April and July will be lower than in any year over the past 25 years, according to sources including the Arizona Republic and Castle Country Radio. According to the Arizona Republic, Lake Powell began March at roughly 24 percent of capacity after decades of aridification—meaning the region has been gradually shifting toward more desert‑like conditions—and new forecasts show the reservoir could receive just 36 percent of its average April–July inflows. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
In national water news today …
From pre-Civil War to present, US drinking water pipes show a range of ages
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated in 2023 that the nation’s water utilities need to spend $625 billion on infrastructure over the next 20 years. Two-thirds of that total is for water transmission and distribution – the pipes, in other words. Water mains are a city’s hidden circulatory system. In large metro areas they snake for thousands of miles beneath streets and across neighborhoods. Their age tells a story of urban growth and infrastructure deterioration. In the United States, many pipes have outlived their designed life. “Every sector depends on the delivery of safe, reliable water,” said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey during a February 24 hearing on U.S. drinking water infrastructure. “But unfortunately, the pipes underground are often forgotten until something bad happens. It’s essentially out of sight, out of mind.” … ” Read more from Circle of Blue.
Human waste backing up in basements is a gut-churning sign of US infrastructure problems
“The January collapse of a pipe as wide as a car dumped so much sewage into the Potomac River that officials tracked a spike of gut-wrenching bacteria drifting slowly past Washington for weeks, prompting an emergency declaration and federal assistance. It was a disaster of historic scale — 244 million gallons (924 million liters) spilled — spotlighting the severe consequences of old, failing infrastructure. But smaller sewer overflows that draw far less notice are common. Tens of thousands occur every year across the U.S., contaminating rivers, flooding streets and sometimes causing backups into homes that threaten human health. “It’s really one of those out of sight, out of mind problems that doesn’t rise to the top until it becomes a crisis,” said Alice Volpitta, the Baltimore Harbor waterkeeper with the nonprofit Blue Water Baltimore. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
