Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Senate Committee on Environmental Quality beginning at 9am. Click here for more information.
- WEBINAR: An Overview of PFAS Transport in the Environment, Challenges, & Management Strategies from 10am to 11am. PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals, are increasingly detected in environmental matrices such as soils, groundwater, and surface waters. This widespread occurrence presents challenges around human exposure and health implications. This session will cover PFAS sources, contamination pathways, and how PFAS move through the environment. We will also go over how different sectors are affected by contamination issues and the current contamination management strategies. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
California will get $540 million for water projects, Trump administration announces
“The Trump administration announced Tuesday it will spend $540 million on water infrastructure projects in California, much of it to repair aging and sinking canals in the Central Valley. The largest share, $235 million, will be used to rehabilitate the Delta-Mendota Canal, which carries water to farmlands. An additional $200 million will help continue repairs on the Friant-Kern Canal, another major conduit for water in the valley. Sinking ground due to heavy groundwater pumping has damaged segments of the Friant-Kern Canal and reduced its capacity. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in the announcement that the investments, together with nearly $350 million for water projects in other western states, “strengthen our nation’s water security, modernize aging infrastructure and support the farmers, communities and industries that depend on reliable water supplies.” California water agencies praised the announcement, saying the funding will improve the water system. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
A contentious project to raise California’s Shasta Dam just got a funding boost from Trump
“Following pressure from powerful California growers, the Trump administration’s Interior Department announced Tuesday that it will put $40 million toward efforts to raise Shasta Dam — a controversial project that opponents say could swamp sacred sites and harm a protected river. North of Redding, the 602-foot-high dam on the Sacramento River forms California’s largest reservoir, storing more than 40% of the water socked away for irrigating Central Valley farmland. The administration announced the funding for “planning and preconstruction activities associated with raising Shasta Dam”, in addition to roughly half a billion dollars dedicated to rehabilitating Central Valley water-delivery canals. Westlands Water District, the nation’s largest agricultural water supplier, applauded the move, calling it a “long-overdue investment in water supply reliability.” The water giant is a major player in California’s $60 billion agricultural industry, serving nearly 700 farms on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Federal government allocates $40 million in preparation for potential Shasta Dam raise
“The federal government has announced that $40 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill — a controversial budget law passed last year by Congress — will be invested in preparations to raise the Shasta Dam. … Money allocated to the Shasta Dam will support “planning and preconstruction activities” associated with raising the dam to increase water storage capacity by approximately 634,000 acre-feet, or enough to supply about 2.5 million people for a year, the federal government said. But actually raising the dam would require much more than the $40 million being invested by the federal government so far. In 2014, the Bureau of Reclamation estimated that raising the dam would cost approximately $1.4 billion, an amount that’s closer to $2 billion in today’s dollars. … ” Read more from the Shasta Scout.
SEE ALSO:
- Department of Interior announces $540 million in funding for San Joaquin Valley canal repairs, and Shasta Dam planning, preconstruction activities, press release from the Department of the Interior
- Westlands Water District Applauds Federal Investment in Shasta Dam and Water Infrastructure in California, press release from the Westlands Water Distrct
- Valadao and Valley Farmers Applaud Trump Funding for Water Projects, from GV Wire
- San Joaquin Valley canals snag federal funding for subsidence repairs, from SJV Water
SUPPORT FOR SB 872
California environmentalists, water contractors join forces in support of water bill
“A coalition of California lawmakers and stakeholders often at odds declared Tuesday that water, instead of being for fighting, was for friendship. The group of legislators, water district managers and environmentalists pushed for passage of Senate Bill 872. The bill would take $300 million annually from the state’s greenhouse gas reduction fund for water projects. Half of the dollars would go toward capital improvements for projects affected by subsidence, and the other half would pay for levee repairs. The legislation has drawn people usually fighting over water to the same side of the negotiating table. One reason is that, absent the improvements, millions of Californians will pay more for water as the infrastructure fails and the resource becomes scarcer, they said. “You don’t see this every day,” said state Senator Jerry McNerney, a Pleasanton Democrat and the bill’s author. “We’re on the same page on this. There’s an urgency on this.” … ” Read more from the Couthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO:
- California lawmakers, water agencies, environmentalists back $300M levee plan, from the Sacramento Bee
- ‘Critical’ water protection bill goes before Senate committee, from the Daily Republic
- California Congressional Delegation Secures Critical Funding for Subsidence Repair, statement from the State Water Contractors
- SB 872 unifies the support of an unlikely convergence of groups to protect California’s water supply, from Restore the Delta
MONO LAKE HEARING
Los Angeles may need to stop taking water from Mono Lake basin, California report says
“To save California’s celebrated yet very parched Mono Lake, the city of Los Angeles needs to stop taking water from the basin, or at least sharply curtail its draws. That’s the takeaway from a new, state-commissioned report on how to revive the depleted saltwater body, widely known for its extraordinary tufa towers and curious alkali shores. But that’s not the only takeaway. Even if Los Angeles is to halt pumping from the remote eastern Sierra watershed — and the city has no intention of doing so — the report says Mono Lake will still struggle to rise to healthy heights, due to the drying effects of climate change. Evaporation, according to the report, will increasingly siphon water from the basin, exacerbating the low lake levels that have raised water salinity, thrown a wrench into the food web that includes countless migratory birds and caused dust storms to rise furiously from the exposed lakebed. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
UCLA report shows LADWP diversions must change for Mono Lake to rise
“On March 17, the State Water Board will hear why Mono Lake has not risen to the elevation needed to protect Mono Lake in the presentation of a new report from the UCLA Center for Climate Science. “The UCLA report confirms ongoing LADWP water diversions are the cause of the dangerously low level of Mono Lake. The chronically low lake level is putting nesting and migratory birds, air quality, and the lake’s renowned scenic and cultural resources at risk.” said Geoffrey McQuilkin, Mono Lake Committee Executive Director. The new report states, “If the existing export criteria continues, meeting D-1631 water level objectives will be unlikely.” The report was commissioned by the board to take the next steps to ensure Mono Lake’s rise. “UCLA-MLM simulations demonstrate that alternative export approaches can increase the likelihood of Mono Lake being above 6,391 ft, as compared to the existing exports outlined in D-1631.” … ” Continue reading from the Mono Lake Committee.
LADWP Statement on Mono Lake Study Presentation at California State Water Board Meeting
“LADWP appreciates the effort by the UCLA Center for Climate Science to attempt to develop a climate modeling to inform long-term water planning in the Mono Basin. At this stage, however, this model has not undergone the rigorous independent scientific and peer review that is a standard requirement in the model development process and is therefore not reliable. By contrast, LADWP’s hydrologic model for the Mono Basin, eSTREAM, has undergone years of rigorous scientific vetting and was developed collaboratively with stakeholders – representing the high standard any model used for policy purposes should meet. The State Water Resources Control Board has recognized eSTREAM as the authoritative model for Mono Basin and incorporated its use in LADWP’s amended water rights licenses. … ” Read more from the LA DWP.
OTHER CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS
It’s so hot in the West that temperatures may even break April records soon
“It’s been the warmest March on record so far across the United States, in terms of daytime high temperatures. And now, unprecedented heat for this time of year is expanding and intensifying across the West. Not only will temperatures break March monthly records, but this heat wave will even break April records. Over the next week, around 800 high temperature records are forecast to be neared, tied or broken at 165 locations in Western and Central states — some by more than 10 degrees — with unusual warmth set to linger into late March. In a post on X, meteorologist Jeff Berardelli pointed out that a forecast high temperature of 114 in Riverside County, California, on Friday could break the March national temperature record of 108 in South Texas — and the April national temperature record of 113 in Death Valley, California. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
SEE ALSO: The worst of California’s heat wave is still ahead. Here’s when temperatures will peak, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Unprecedented March heat: Tracking records, climate connections in NorCal, the West
“An unprecedented stretch of March heat is underway in Northern California. This pattern will spread across the entire West this week. Daily records will easily be broken and all-time March records are within reach Tuesday through Saturday. Sacramento is also likely to tally up the most 80 degree days in any March going back to 1941. This unusually early heat has seasonal blooms and crops growing fast. Meanwhile the Sierra snowpack seems to be shrinking even faster. On Monday, the UC Berkeley Central Snow Lab said in a social media post that if current projections hold, the lab site could be without snow as early as the first week of April. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Interconnected surface water (ISW) management considerations for groundwater-dependent ecosystems – tools and approaches
“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 sessions focused on how groundwater extraction impacts surface water flows and the ecosystems that depend on them. The webinar opened with Dr. Vivek Bedekar, a consultant with SS Papadopoulos and Associates, who provided an overview of the foundational concepts of ISW depletion. Next, Dr. Nicholas Murphy, senior groundwater scientist with The Nature Conservancy’s California Water Program, introduced the concept of groundwater‑dependent ecosystems (GDEs). He discussed their role in ecological health and the importance of considering GDEs within the framework of groundwater sustainability planning. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Agave opportunity grows in California; Woolf family pushes innovation amid water challenges
“The March 18 edition of the AgNet News Hour continued an in-depth conversation with Stuart Wolf and the Wolf family of Wolf Farming and Processing, highlighting how innovation is helping California growers adapt to ongoing water shortages and shifting agricultural realities. Farming on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley has become increasingly difficult, with growers once again facing limited water allocations—currently around 15 percent. That uncertainty is forcing farmers to rethink how they use their land and what crops can realistically be sustained in the future. For Stuart Wolf, the answer lies in diversification and forward-thinking strategies. One of the most promising developments discussed is the expansion of agave farming in California. The Wolf family has already planted approximately 550 acres, with long-term ambitions that could reach thousands of acres if market demand continues to grow. Unlike traditional row crops, agave requires minimal water, making it an attractive option for regions facing long-term water constraints. … ” Read more from AgNet West.
California’s wine grape crush is the smallest in decades
“California vintners are surprised by a 2025 preliminary wine grape crush estimate of over 2.6 million tons, which exceeded wine professionals’ expectations. But the crush was still the state’s smallest since the 2.4 million tons produced in 1999, and the downsizing will help the industry begin to correct a chronic oversupply of grapes. The state Department of Food and Agriculture reports that last year’s overall crush likely reached 2.76 million tons when including table and raisin grapes that were crushed for concentrate as well as wine. That represents a 6.2% drop from the 2024 crush of 2.94 million tons. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Lawsuit launched to protect endemic mussels
“The Center for Biological Diversity recently notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service it intends to sue the agency for failing to make a timely decision on whether the Western ridged mussel should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. These important, imperiled mussels are disappearing from streams and rivers across the three West Coast states and Idaho and Nevada. In California, one of the 17 locations of live mussel observations since 1990 is Last Chance Creek in the East Branch North Fork Feather River watershed, according to a report from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Freshwater mussels play a critical role in keeping rivers healthy by naturally filtering water, said the Center for Biological Diversity. A single mussel can filter gallons each day, removing algae, bacteria and other particles and helping keep rivers clean for fish, wildlife and people. … ” Read more from the Plumas Sun.
California salmon fishing makes a comeback this spring after years of closure
“California anglers will soon get an opportunity to return to the water, as recreational ocean salmon fishing is set to open this spring. Recreational Chinook salmon fishing in the waters south of Pigeon Point to the U.S.-Mexico border will open for the first time in years on April 11, 2026, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) announced March 13, 2026. The fishery will be managed with a 21,000 Chinook salmon harvest guideline, applicable to all open dates for the April to August period in the area. … ” Read more from edhat.
California pledges to open 7% of its land and waters to Indigenous tribes — a step toward healing a 175-year-old broken promise
“California unveiled a plan Tuesday to bring at least 7.5 million acres of land and coastal waters under the care of Indigenous tribes. That number represents roughly 7% of the state’s land and waters. It also corresponds with the amount of land the federal government promised it would hold as reservations for Indigenous tribes after California joined the union in 1850. Congress ultimately rejected these treaties in a secret meeting — after pressure from the state — and failed to notify tribes, many of whom upheld their end of the agreement to relocate. The new policy, set by the California Natural Resources Agency, aims to start healing the harm caused by the state’s actions to bar tribes from their homelands and criminalize their cultural and land management practices. These actions not only harmed Native communities, whose cultures and ways of life are intimately tied to the plants, animals and landscape of their homelands, but also caused well-documented harm to ecosystems through the loss of biodiversity, takeover of invasive species, degradation of water quality and increase in wildfire risk. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Landmark policy to expand tribal stewardship for at least 7.5 million acres in California, press release from the Natural Resources Agency
Suisun City approves California Forever agreement despite county pushback
“The billionaire-led effort to build a new city in Eastern Solano County hit a key milestone Tuesday night. The Suisun City Council voted to approve a reimbursement agreement with California Forever LP (CF) for possible annexation of more than 10,000 acres of nearby unincorporated land. In the coming months, Suisun City will hire consultants to study the feasibility of annexing and developing the land. All costs associated with the analysis will be fully paid by CF. CF and Suisun City have aligned interests. CF wants to move forward with its proposed community despite ongoing resistance from county officials and residents. Facing a structural budget deficit, Suisun City is seeking ways to revitalize its economy. Annexation could potentially bring the city millions in tax revenue and infrastructure investment. … ” Read more from California City News.
Study finds huge problem with California farms’ missing manure
“California farms are drastically undercounting the amount of manure they accumulate each year, which could adversely affect the state’s water supply. The undercount could be more than 200 times what recent farm reports show — likely as much as 44,000 tons of unrecorded manure — a new study from Stanford University’s Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program found. The missing manure is just one part of the potentially larger human health problem, as the study also raises concerns about a lack of reporting on where that excess manure ends up. California is home to a large number of confined animal facilities, where animals such as cattle and poultry are raised in enclosed locations without grazing abilities, and most of which are concentrated in the central portion of the state. Those CAFs are required to report manure production and wastewater levels to the state’s regional water quality control boards in annual reports. This study analyzed reports from 2023 and 2024 in the five regions with the most CAFs in California to reach its findings. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Could tea be California’s next cash crop? Take a taste March 19
“Learn about tea culture and cultivation in California’s Central Valley climate at Tea Day on Thursday, March 19, at UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, south of Fresno. Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, aside from water, and can be found in almost 80% of all U.S. households, according to the Tea Association of the U.S.A., Inc. More than 160 million Americans drink tea. Yet tea isn’t grown domestically. Atef Swelam would like to see California growers capitalize on this untapped market. KREC Director Atef Swelam would like to see California growers capitalize on this untapped market. “We import about 120 million pounds of tea into the U.S. annually, spending about $6 billion,” said Swelam. As San Joaquin Valley farmland is retired to comply with the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, Swelam sees the niche crop as a way growers can maximize profit per acre. … ” Read more from UCANR.
In commentary today …
Why the Colorado River’s future could reshape water in the San Joaquin Valley
The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley writes, “The Colorado River is hundreds of miles from the San Joaquin Valley. Not a single drop of it flows to Valley farms or communities. So when federal negotiations over the river’s future make headlines, it’s easy to see it as someone else’s problem. But California’s water system doesn’t respect those boundaries — and decisions made in the Colorado River Basin can directly reshape what’s available here. The upcoming federal decision on post-2026 operating rules for the Colorado River could have significant ripple effects across California, especially for the farms, communities, and ecosystems in the San Joaquin Valley. The Colorado River supplies roughly one-third of Southern California’s water for more than 19 million people. If that supply is reduced — whether by drought, new federal rules, or litigation among Basin states — Southern California won’t simply go thirsty. It will turn to other sources to make up the difference. Chief among them: Northern California water delivered through the State Water Project and Central Valley Project. … ” Read more from the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Wyden pushes for federal action to save Klamath Basin water
“Sen. Ron Wyden is urging the federal government to step up its involvement in water management. Wyden believes the focus should include protecting water infrastructure and fulfilling tribal obligations. Wyden is backing new legislation aimed at improving water management, particularly in regions like the Klamath Basin. “Those are individuals who need the reassurance of knowing that the people representing them are doing everything they can to protect this critical water resource,” Wyden said. He describes the West as facing a “one-two punch” of historic drought and record-low snowpack, leading to uncertainty in water supplies. Wyden points to the Klamath River Basin, where disputes over water use have affected tribes, ranchers, and local communities. … ” Read more from KDRV.
What’s paraquat, toxic herbicide spilled in Dorris, California?
“A widely used and extremely toxic herbicide caused a scare near the California-Oregon border after a big rig spill on Highway 97 in a northeastern Siskiyou County town. “One small sip” of paraquat dichloride “can be fatal and there is no antidote,” the Environmental Protection Agency said. Just touching or breathing the herbicide that spilled in Dorris could endanger a person’s or pet’s health, said medical experts and Siskiyou County officials, who on March 17 warned the town’s residents to stay indoors with their windows closed and air conditioning off until the toxin was cleaned up. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
SIERRA NEVADA
‘Miracle March’ unlikely as melting snowpack threatens short ski season
“With March already halfway over and little to no new snowfall, the odds of a so-called “Miracle March” rescuing the Lake Tahoe region’s snow totals are growing slimmer — and concerns are rising that some ski resorts could close by the end of the month. “March can see some of the biggest storms of the entire year,” said Bryan Allegretto, OpenSnow Forecaster. “On average, the west side of Lake Tahoe at around 7,000 feet receives just over six feet of snow during the month.” But this year’s March has started far behind pace. “This year we’ve seen zero feet so far, so we are a little behind that six-foot average going halfway into the month,” he said. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SEE ALSO:
- Lake Tahoe’s snow is melting so fast it could set a historic low in two weeks, from Active NorCal
- Homewood ski resort calls off the season after being open less than 3 months, from SF Gate
- Sierra-at-Tahoe to end operations Sunday due to record highs, no new storms, from South Tahoe Now
Sierra snowpack: what it means for the Yuba River watershed
“Recent February storms brought much-needed snow to the Sierra Nevada, but California’s snowpack remains below average for this time of year. According to the California Department of Water Resources, as of March 16, the statewide percent of normal snowpack to date was 46%. The northern region comprised largely of the Klamath Watershed is at 24%, the central region which includes the Yuba is at 47%, and the southern region including Yosemite and Kings Canyon was at 68%. When measuring snowpack, the reported number is Snow Water Equivalent, or SWE. SWE measures the amount of liquid water present in a volume of snow which is important because much of the snowpack is actually air. Especially when spring arrives early and is exceptionally warm, even SWE can be misleading when we think about water availability and drought. Warm temperatures mean that much of the snowpack can be “lost” to sublimation – the process by which the solid water that comprises the snowpack transitions straight to a gas (evaporates) without ever being liquid water. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
Yuba County farmers may lean on groundwater after New Colgate powerhouse rupture
“Yuba County growers may have to tap into groundwater supplies to irrigate their orchards and fields this summer because of the pipeline rupture at New Colgate Powerhouse. The Yuba Water Agency, which operates New Bullards Bar Dam and controls the release of water from its reservoir, has adjusted its water conveyance plans for the spring and summer due to the incident and the mercurial, moderate rainy season. “We will have the water available for our irrigators,” said Willie Whittlesey, Yuba Water general manager, at an agency meeting Tuesday. “There will be some irrigation pumping required, not because of hydrology, but because of the conveyance impacts we’ve had related to the Colgate penstock incident.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Teichert Construction selected to build new nature-like fishway on lower Yuba River
“Teichert Construction is set to build a Nature-like Fishway around Daguerre Point Dam on the lower Yuba River. Officials say the project is a collaboration between the Yuba Water Agency, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. “Even as we pump the brakes on other spending while we recover from the recent penstock incident, it’s important that we continue moving forward with projects that deliver long-term benefits for the Yuba River and the communities that depend on it,” said Yuba Water General Manager Willie Whittlesey. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
$3 Million in State Grants Fund Wildfire Prevention in South Yuba Canyon
“Three state grants totaling over $3 million will fund wildfire prevention across nearly 600 acres of overgrown forest surrounding the South Yuba River canyon, protecting homes, evacuation routes, and an isolated river community with only two roads out. The Yuba Watershed Institute (YWI) and Nevada County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) announced the awards today. The projects span the canyon’s south rim near Nevada City, its north rim along the San Juan Ridge, and the upper canyon at the town of Washington. On-the-ground work is expected to begin in 2026. “For years we’ve been working toward a connected system of treatments that surrounds the South Yuba canyon and protects the communities within it,” said Chris Friedel, Executive Director of the Yuba Watershed Institute. “With these awards, that vision is becoming reality.” … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Chico City Council to consider adopting five-year sewer rate adjustment plan
“The Chico City Council is scheduled to consider adopting a five-year sewer rate adjustment plan aiming to address critical financial, regulatory, and infrastructural needs faced by the city’s Water Pollution Control Plant and collection system on Tuesday. Deputy Director of Chico Public Works-Engineering, David Kehn, says there are significant pressures on the utility, including deferred maintenance, mandated upgrades, rising construction costs, and reduced revenues. A key issue is the operating reserves, which are forecasted to be less than five months below the target of a one-year reserve, or $11 million. This shortfall leaves the sewer utility vulnerable to emergencies and regulatory non-compliance, according to Kehn. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Sacramento council advances 25-year plan for Lower American River
“The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday voted to advance a major water-management plan for the Lower American River, marking another green light the region’s key water supply partnership needs before the agreement is fully approved. Tuesday’s decision made Sacramento City Council the 21st member to give the agreement a thumbs up, with about 10 more boards and councils still to go for the powerful partnership, or the Water Forum. In 2000, members across the four caucuses — business, environmental, government, and water — that make up the Water Forum signed a landmark agreement to guide management of the river, creating a vital foundation for balancing water supply and river health in the Sacramento region. The pact was designed to last through 2030 and updated then. But it soon ran up against the direct impacts of climate change, prompting the members to accelerate the timeline and push to adopt an updated plan years earlier than originally planned. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
BAY AREA
When the Bay Area heat wave will peak
“The ongoing heat wave that has broken multiple weather records across California is still building in the Bay Area. A heat advisory for the Bay Area issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect through at least Friday. Karleisa Rogacheski, a meteorologist with the weather service, told SFGATE the temperatures are expected to rise Wednesday and peak on Thursday. “We kind of climb on the temperature ladder, so to speak, each day. Tomorrow will be a couple of degrees warmer,” she said. The heat wave is the result of a ridge of high pressure that has been strengthening over California and pushed temperatures higher. Multiple temperature records have been broken this week, and more are likely to fall as the hottest weather to date arrives. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Sand removal in the Bay threatens species and worsens coastal erosion, lawsuit claims
“A deal to mine sand from the bottom of the Bay for use in construction projects is facing a legal challenge. San Francisco Baykeeper, an environmental group focused on protecting the Bay, filed a lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court last week against the California State Lands Commission, alleging that the commission’s decision to allow mining will destroy fragile habitat, harm fish and other wildlife, and potentially worsen coastal erosion. “California cannot afford to sell off its public resources for private profits,” Baykeeper managing attorney Eric Buescher said in a statement. “Doing so hurts San Francisco Bay and is not in the best interest of anyone who lives in the Bay Area and enjoys our shorelines.” … ” Read more from Oaklandside.
SEE ALSO: Baykeeper sues to limit alleged mining threat to San Francisco Bay’s sandy floor, from Local News Matters
East Oakland shoreline gets a new park
“The Tidewater Day Use Area sits on the shores of East Oakland. The plan to turn it into a park is one part of a larger project to restore the East Bay’s waterways. The Bay’s wetlands are key to our region’s ecological health. They protect against sea-level rise, filter stormwater runoff, and are incredibly biodiverse. The park will be built with contributions from conservation funds, federal and state partners, measures voted on by California voters, and most recently, more than one million dollars in federal grants that were secured by Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. … ” Read more from KALW.
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Cruz: Is our water safe?
“In late February and early March,thousands of Santa Cruz South County residents received letters warning that tests had detected chromium-6 above California’s new drinking-water standard in more than twenty groundwater sources. One South County woman said, “That’s the same poison that was in the water in the Erin Brockovich movie. Do I lose my breasts or lose my uterus?” Chromium-6 has a hell of a reputation, thanks to Brockovich taking on PG&E in Hinkley, CA, and subsequently the Julia Roberts movie. But the situation in Santa Cruz County is different. Local scientists say the chromium-6 detected here appears to come from the natural geology beneath the Central Coast, not from industrial pollution. While the numbers that triggered the letters exceed California’s new regulatory limit for chromium (10 parts per billion,) they are still far below the concentrations that helped Julia Roberts win an Oscar. In the famous Erin Brockovich-PG&E case, chromium-6 concentrations in groundwater near the industrial source reached tens of thousands of parts per billion. …. ” Read more from Good Times Santa Cruz.
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper celebrates 25 years of protecting our waters
“On March 14, the small but mighty nonprofit Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (CK) celebrated its 25th anniversary at its annual Blue Water Ball. Nearly 200 supporters gathered, rather fittingly, at the seaside Cabrillo Pavilion, to mark the milestone in its work protecting and restoring the S.B. Channel and local creeks and rivers. Each year, Channelkeeper engages in science-based environmental advocacy, education, fieldwork, community engagement, and enforcement. The entire community greatly benefits from their multifaceted work. Guests enjoyed a lovely reception, dinner, and program emceed by local nonprofit leader Geoff Green. The program featured Assemblymember Gregg Hart, Chumash representative Mia Lopez, and Executive Director Ted Morton, who reflected on Channelkeeper’s operations, its accomplishments, and the challenges confronting our community. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Water deal could help pay for SSJID work
“Efforts over the years to modernize irrigation water delivery and reduce water waste has put the South San Joaquin Irrigation District in a position to assist south of the Delta farmers as well as allow for more robust fish flows on the Stanislaus River. The SSJID along with Oakdale Irrigation District are negotiating to pursue the release of water for diversion and use by the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority as well as the California Department of Water Resources. If a deal is reached, the districts will commit to 50,000 acre feet in a normal water year and up to 20,000 acre feet in critical dry years for release during the April-to-May pulse flow for Chinook salmon. The SSJID expects to make full allocation deliveries to its agricultural and urban customers even with making the water release/transfer. … ” Read more from the Escalon Times.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Heat wave shatters records across Southern California
“Scorching temperatures shattered multiple daily records across Southern California on Tuesday, March 17, including a more than century-old record in downtown Los Angeles, according to the National Weather Service. The downtown area saw a high of 98 degrees, toppling the March 17, 1914, record of 94, the NWS said. Burbank Airport reached 99 degrees, breaking the previous March 17 record of 92 set in 1978 and setting a new all-time high for the month, surpassing 96 set in 1966. Record-setting temperatures also hit Orange and Riverside counties. Anaheim reached 100 degrees Tuesday, topping its 2010 record of 90. Santa Ana also peaked at 100 degrees, and broke the city’s 1978 record of 94 degrees, according to NWS meteorologist Philip Gonsalves. The city of Riverside also saw triple digits, setting a new record at 101 degrees, shattering the record of 92 degrees set in 2004. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Why Southern California’s scorching weather isn’t good for fire season
“An “unusual, early-season heat wave” blanketing Southern California for several days could play a role in ushering in an earlier wildfire season due to vegetation drying out sooner than typical, experts said. Swaths of Southern California are under various heat-related advisories and warnings as places like Palm Springs and Big Bear Lake are expected to break temperature records in the coming days, ending winter with weather that’s forecasted to be a “historic March event,” according to the National Weather Service on Monday, March 16. The heat wave follows Southern California seeing average temperatures up to 8 degrees above normal throughout December 2025 and January and as the state — which was drought free at the start of the year — sees dry conditions creep in its northeastern reaches, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. … ” Read more from the USA Today.
EPA proposes groundwater cleanup expansion in San Fernando Valley near Glendale
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed an updated plan to expand cleanup of contaminated groundwater in the San Fernando Valley near Glendale, seeking public input on efforts to reduce system downtime and further cut pollution from decades-old industrial activity. The proposal targets a groundwater plume at the San Fernando Valley (Area 2) Superfund site, where hazardous chemicals from former aerospace and industrial operations have contaminated underground water supplies. The groundwater basin is a key source of drinking water for residents of Los Angeles, Burbank and Glendale. The plan would increase groundwater treatment capacity by about 150 gallons per minute, bringing total capacity to roughly 5,250 gallons per minute. According to EPA officials responding to a media inquiry Tuesday, the project’s primary goal is not to significantly increase pumping, but to reduce system downtime caused by routine maintenance. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
SEE ALSO: EPA Proposes Plan to Step Up Groundwater Cleanup at San Fernando Valley Superfund Site, Increasing Supply of Safe Drinking Water, press release from the EPA
LA County to pay $6 million to settle lawsuit over Dominguez Channel stench
“Los Angeles County will pay $6 million to settle with more than 24,000 people exposed to weeks of nauseating odors from a hydrogen sulfide gas buildup in the Dominguez Channel in Carson in 2021. That’s about $250 per person, if the payouts were divided evenly. The county Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday in favor of the settlement as part of its consent calendar, a group of issues typically requiring no discussion and approved on a single vote. The dozens of mass tort lawsuits alleged the county and its Flood Control District failed to properly manage the county-controlled Dominguez Channel, a 15.7-long stream stretching through Hawthorne, Carson and Torrance, after a warehouse fire burned through towering stacks of hand sanitizer and led to the runoff entering the storm drain system. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
SAN DIEGO
Wynola Water District awarded $778,000 in DWSRF grant for new water treatment system
“Wynola Water District has been awarded $778,000 in funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), administered by the California State Water Resources Control Board, to support critical early-phase development of a new water treatment system for the Wynola Estates Community in San Diego County. The grant was awarded on January 7, 2026, following close collaboration between California Consulting Project Manager Ed Sayles and Wynola Water District administration, who worked together to successfully secure the funding. … ” Read more from California City News.
In 3 months trash boom has stopped 1,300 tons of trash from flowing into U.S.
“With no storms in the forecast, crews have been busy repairing and maintaing the 1,000-foot long trash boom that spans across the Tijuana River channel just inside U.S. territory. This winter marks the second consecutive rainy season the device has been installed to stop trash that flows in from south of the border. In just a few months, it has managed to keep 1,300 tons of debris from flowing further downstream into the Tijuana River Valley and the Pacific Ocean. “We are getting a lot more than we expected,” said Oscar Romo, Director of Alter Terra, the environmental group behind the boom. “That is a tell tale sign of what’s going on, on the other side of the border, there’s a lot more trash than we expected.” … ” Read more from the Border Report.
Along the Colorado River …
Gov. Hobbs makes pitch for Arizona’s share of Colorado River water
“Gov. Katie Hobbs is trying to enlist the national business community in her bid to preserve as much of the state’s share of Colorado River water as possible — and stop what she called a plan to “kneecap” Arizona and the businesses here. In a speech prepared for delivery in Washington, the governor acknowledged that Arizona has the lowest priority in rights when it comes to demanding a share of the river. And with the historic drought and depleting flow, that could lead to the state getting hit the hardest as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, part of the federal Department of Interior, divides up who gets what’s left. But Hobbs, in her remarks to members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said there are reasons — beyond what is enshrined in old agreements — for Arizona to get more. “I firmly believe Arizona has the most to offer in advancing national priorities of AI, national defense, and technological advancement,” the governor said. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Water managers look to spur precipitation in the midst of record-breaking drought
“In the midst of historic drought in the Rocky Mountains, many water managers are looking for ways to get more moisture into the environment. Some are considering things like cloud seeding, which is meant to create more precipitation in certain areas. It’s a technique that has been used for decades in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Rain Enhancement Technologies, a company that’s operated in Oman, doesn’t use traditional cloud-seeding methods, which are characterized by putting silver iodide particles into the atmosphere. Instead, they do what they call “ionization cloud seeding,” which uses high-voltage rays to ionize naturally occurring aerosols in the atmosphere. Aerosols are necessary for cloud formation, and therefore, precipitation. … ” Read more from KSJD.
In search of ‘earned hoped’ on the Colorado River: A conversation with photographer Pete McBride
“For more than two decades, the Colorado-born photographer Pete McBride has documented the overwhelming beauty and the gathering threats to the Colorado River. Now with the lowest snowpack on record in his home state and the basin’s reservoirs approaching historic lows, McBride is stepping out from behind the camera to write a book detailing a lifelong love affair with his “backyard river.” Part memoir and part travelogue from his National Geographic and other magazine assignments, Witness to Water is a cry from McBride’s heart about a river ecosystem being strained to the breaking point. “It’s slowly getting worse and people want to be positive about it, but we have to come to the reality that this is a very serious situation,” he said in an interview with Circle of Blue. Amid the gloom, McBride draws strength from tangible victories. His first rafting trip through the Colorado River delta, in 2008, ended in a “Frappuccino pit” of mud, froth, and gunk where the river no longer reached the Sea of Cortez. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue.
ARIZONA
Arizona ranch families pushed out as corporations cash in on cheap grazing leases
“Take a drive east from Phoenix to Safford, Arizona, then keep driving east, past where the pavement turns to dirt, and you are likely to run into the Menges Ranch. You might even see Ben Menges riding a horse, rounding up his herd of Black Angus. “A lot of things that we do, people were doing it the same way 100 years ago,” said Menges, who is a 5th-generation cattle rancher. The Menges Ranch spans 83,000 acres. Most of it is public land, owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. “We have a small piece of private land, but most of it is federal grazing lease,” said Menges. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
Arizona tribes seek $5B in federal funding to implement landmark water rights agreement
“Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly wants Congress to approve $5 billion in funding to implement a landmark water rights deal for three Native American tribes. Kelly introduced a bill to fund a tribal plan called the Northern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement and pleaded for its passage during a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on March 11. He was joined by leaders of Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, who completed the water rights settlement in 2024 but need Congress to approve the funding. … ” Read more from KTAR.
COLORADO
Video: Ask an expert: Why does Colorado care so much about snowpack?
“Snowpack—the accumulation of snowfall that often stays on the ground for more than half the year in the Colorado mountains—affects much more than just those who live there. Between the intersection of the ecosystem, Colorado’s water supply, and even the timing of our allergy season, the impact of our accumulated snowfall extends beyond the winter months. Katharine Kelsey, environmental scientist and assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences (GES) at CU Denver, explains how in the next installment of our Ask an Expert video series.” Watch video from CU Denver.
“Heat dome” expected to drive temperatures into the 90s this week in some parts of Colorado
“Tuesday marks the start of a heat wave in Colorado, and many parts of the southwestern U.S., that forecasters say could bring record-high temperatures before the weekend. The heat wave will push high temperatures into the 90s for many parts of southern Colorado and the Eastern Plains, National Weather Service forecasters in Pueblo said. By Saturday, the thermometer could read 90 degrees in Trinidad, 92 in La Junta and 93 in Lamar. In Colorado’s highest town, Leadville, which sits at 10,154 feet in elevation, temperatures are expected to reach 61 degrees by the end of the week. In Woodland Park, at 8,481 feet, temperatures could peak at 75 degrees, forecasters said. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Colorado activates drought task force as hope for snowpack recovery dwindles
“Colorado Gov. Jared Polis activated the state’s Drought Task Force on Tuesday, March 17, as current conditions and future forecasts paint a grim picture. “Colorado is experiencing the warmest year so far in our 131-year record, and one of the driest,” Polis said in a news release. “Activating the Drought Task Force will help ensure we are protecting one of our most precious resources by closely tracking impacts, supporting communities and coordinating better as we prepare for the year ahead.” Given these historic conditions, the March activation this year marks an earlier-than-normal response as the state prepares for what Nate Pearson, the assistant director for water policy for Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources, said is “going to be a really challenging year,” at the Colorado Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meeting on Tuesday. … ” Read more from Summit Daily.
In national water news today …
Trump announced a major deal on data centers. It’s still unclear what’s in it.
“The Trump administration is ramping up the sales pitch for its plan to shield Americans from data centers’ energy costs. Still unclear: what exactly the administration is selling. A day after President Donald Trump touted his proposal in the State of the Union, and a week before tech companies are expected to flock to the White House for a signing ceremony, even some Republicans pushing to prevent the AI boom from driving up electricity costs said they were still asking the administration for details. Companies including Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Meta and OpenAI were also silent on the specifics. The unanswered questions included whether the administration has even finished negotiating with the tech industry on a deal requiring the data companies to shoulder their own energy costs. Nor was it clear whether that agreement, which Trump repeatedly described as a “pledge,” would be binding or have any force of law. … ” Read more from Politico.
