Aquafornia

Sacramento River pulse flows help migrating salmon thrive

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:59:00 +0000

The Bureau of Reclamation released water from Keswick Dam just after midnight Wednesday, causing water levels to rise along the Sacramento River. The flow reached about 10,000 cubic feet per second by 1 a.m. The increase is part of a spring pulse flow, a short-term release designed to mimic natural river conditions. The release helps juvenile Chinook salmon migrate safely to the Pacific Ocean. … While the pulse flow benefits salmon, officials warn it may also create dangerous river conditions for anyone nearby.

Other salmon news:

FOX40 (Sacramento, Calif.): CDFW releases 100K chinook salmon in to Lake Berryessa

The Log: Ocean salmon season set to open April 11 south of Pigeon Point as final regulations pending

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Human composting along San Joaquin River sparks debate

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:50:00 +0000

… Some people call it “human compost,” but Sharon Weaver prefers a different term. “It is technically called natural organic reduction soil,” said Weaver, who is executive director of the non-profit San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. … Weaver approved of using this compost along the San Joaquin River because, she said, it would help restore the land. … The practice had been happening for more than a year. But last month, it became the center of a public conversation. That’s because Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld caught word of it. … In March, the county handed Weaver a cease-and-desist letter to stop using this soil along the San Joaquin River – and she did stop. … Still, green burials like this are gaining popularity around the country.

Related article:

GV Wire (Fresno, Calif.): Supervisors to consider human compost bans on Fresno County farms and public land

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Russian River activist stepping back as Guerneville nonprofit she led prepares to close

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:40:00 +0000

… 86-year-old activist [Brenda Adelman] has for more than half her life fought to clean and protect the Russian River, serving as a chief watchdog and champion for the 1,500-square mile watershed. … The Russian River Watershed Protection Committee, the nonprofit Adelman launched and led through that era, made its mission in holding local and state government accountable for the river’s health and restoration. … Now, with 140 boxes of documents testifying to that work stacked throughout her river-side house, Adelman is ready to hang up her environmental activism boots. Come May, the Russian River Watershed Protection Committee will officially fold.

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Los Banos Creek detention dam project completed, expands water management capabilities

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:36:00 +0000

Local, state, and federal agencies this week marked the completion of the Los Banos Creek Detention Dam Project, an upgrade to an existing flood-control facility designed to improve water management in western Merced County. The Los Banos Creek Detention Dam, originally constructed in 1966 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, was built to capture floodwaters and protect the San Luis Canal, Delta-Mendota Canal, and nearby communities, including Los Banos. … Under the updated operations plan, natural flows from Los Banos Creek can be released downstream during certain periods to create storage capacity. The reservoir can then be refilled with water conveyed from other sources using newly installed infrastructure.

Other water infrastructure news:

San Luis Obispo Tribune (Calif.): City finishes 30-year flood prevention project in SLO Creek

San Mateo Daily Journal (Calif.): EPA provides $34 million loan for Daly City stormwater system upgrade

Van Nuys News Press (Calif.): Padilla announces more than $160 million for California ports, flood protection, and water infrastructure

California Post: LA water reservoir shutdown sparks fury as residents fear another Palisades disaster

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Near the shrinking Salton Sea, children’s lungs may pay a price

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:34:00 +0000

Along the shores of the shrinking Salton Sea, desert winds regularly kick up dust and send it drifting through nearby neighborhoods. New research indicates that living there may affect kids’ lungs. Scientists from the University of Southern California tested the lung capacity of 369 children between the ages of 10 and 12 for about two years and found that those who live less than 6.8 miles from the Salton Sea have diminished lung development compared with kids farther away. … The saline lake has been shrinking rapidly since the early 2000s, when the Imperial Irrigation District began selling some of its Colorado River water to growing urban areas under an agreement with agencies in San Diego County and the Coachella Valley.

Other pollution news:

FOX5/KUSI (San Diego): State Bill to protect workers from Tijuana River Pollution passes committee

KVPR (Clovis, Calif.): California orders Kern County oil producer to clean up its wells. Its owner is already facing prison.

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USDA declares extreme drought in Inyo County, 3 Nevada counties

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:22:00 +0000

The USDA has declared natural disaster areas in Inyo County, as well as three counties in Nevada, over what they say is an extreme drought. The agency says the disaster area encompasses areas in the states of California, Nevada and Arizona, and includes Clark, Esmeralda, and Nye counties in Nevada. The declaration allows the USDA and the Farm Service Agency to extend emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. The loans can be used to meet recovery needs, such as replacing essential items, reorganizing farming operations, and refinancing debts.

Other drought response news:

Navajo Times: As drought deepens, Navajo water system strains under pressure

The Colorado Sun (Denver): Denver’s lawn-watering costs are going up for the drought. Here’s how much.

CBS Colorado: Aurora offers help replacing Colorado lawns with drought-tolerant alternatives as drought restrictions tighten

Bay City News Service (Berkeley, Calif.): New state water plan in the works for a hotter future

USDA: News release: USDA designates three California counties as natural disaster areas with assistance to 3 contiguous counties in Nevada

California Department of Water Resources: News release: Record heat sizzled away the snow. Here’s how California is preparing for what’s ahead

California Department of Food and Agriculture: News release: Secretary Karen Ross introduces California’s plan to help agriculture thrive in a changing climate

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Asm. Ransom warns California running out of time to curb invasive golden mussels

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:18:00 +0000

Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom warned Wednesday that California is running out of time to contain the rapid spread of invasive golden mussels, urging immediate state action to protect water systems, agriculture and consumers. Speaking during a state budget subcommittee hearing, Ransom called for funding to establish five decontamination centers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which she said is critical to slowing the species’ expansion into other waterways. … Golden mussels, first detected in California in 2024, spread by attaching to boats and water systems, clogging pipes and damaging infrastructure.

Other invasive species news:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife: News release: CDFW research links California’s nutria invasion to Pacific Northwest population

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Blog: Water quality enforcement penalties boost Salinas River beaver renaissance

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:16:00 +0000

Funding from a 2021 settlement agreement between the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is supporting the Drinkable Rivers Program in San Luis Obispo County, a program that puts elected officials, students and others on the water to witness the benefits of beaver dams and ponds. … Once viewed as pests, beavers are now recognized for their many ecological benefits and their ability to help revitalize creeks and rivers. Research has shown that beaver dams can boost groundwater levels, improve water quality, provide drought resiliency, support biodiversity and even reduce wildfire risk.

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Thursday Top of the Scroll: Late Sierra storm could dump feet of snow, make travel ‘difficult to impossible’

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:09:00 +0000

California’s dismal snowpack is about to get a late-season boost. A weekend storm is forecast to drop feet of snow across the Sierra Nevada, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a winter storm watch. The watch is in effect from Friday evening through Saturday evening above 4,500 feet for the west slope of the northern Sierra, including Interstate 80 and Highway 50. … Forecast snowfall totals were trending higher, with 2 feet of snow possible along I-80 over Donner Summit above 4,500 feet. The highest peaks, including ski resorts, could pick more than 3 feet of snow, with localized totals up to 4 feet.

Other weather and water forecast news:

San Francisco Chronicle: Northern California weather turns unsettled with rain, snow, thunderstorms

Reno Gazette Journal (Nev.): Winter storm watch for Sierra, I-80 with feet of snow possible

KQED (San Francisco): Storms sweeping Bay Area this week to bring rain and thunderstorms

ABC10 (Sacramento, Calif.): “Super El Niño” developing. What that could mean for Northern California rain?

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Stanislaus groundwater agencies avoid state intervention

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:06:00 +0000

A groundwater subbasin in western Stanislaus and nearby counties is no longer threatened with state probation, thanks to a water board decision Tuesday. The state Water Resources Control Board took action to move the Delta-Mendota Subbasin back to the jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources. … Twenty-three agencies, including the cities of Patterson and Los Banos and many water districts, are in the Delta-Mendota Subbasin, which was referred to the state Water Resources Control Board in 2023 for intervention because their sustainability plans were inconsistent and would not result in stable groundwater levels.

Other groundwater news:

Los Angeles Times: Boiling Point newsletter: How much water do we have? Scientists map the water beneath our feet

SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Small pumpers excluded from state sanctions prompting backlash and allegations that some may try to game the system

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During Colorado River water shortage, AI tools reveal tradeoffs

Jennifer Fergesen — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:05:00 +0000

… By some measures, 2026 is shaping up to be the worst year the river has seen since records began. Flows are down 20 percent from 2000 levels. Lake Powell, the reservoir straddling Utah and Arizona, may drop below the threshold for generating hydropower before the year is out. The negotiations between the seven states over how to share what’s left have collapsed twice, and the U.S. federal government is threatening to impose its own plan. While the states argue and the river shrinks, a growing set of machine learning tools is being deployed across the basin. Federal water managers are running millions of simulations to stress-test reservoir strategies against different possible futures.

Other Colorado River management news:

Western Water Rewind: As Colorado River negotiations near a critical deadline, a new way of looking at risk is revealing hard choices

The Salt Lake Tribune: Lake Powell’s water forecast was bad. A record-hot March made it worse.

KJZZ (Phoenix): Cloud seeding could be a cost-effective way to put a little more water in the Colorado River

Capital & Main (Los Angeles): Video: As shrinking Colorado Rive imperils California agriculture, data centers seek more water

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Announcement: Join us May 7 at our open house to discover programs shaping water education across California and the West

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:24:00 +0000

We’re hosting our annual open house and reception on May 7 when you can meet the team behind our Water Leaders programs, tours and workshops, Project WET teacher trainings and Western Water news. Visit our office anytime between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and enjoy happy hour refreshments and appetizers while catching up on the latest Foundation news. We have much to look forward to in 2026 as we gear up for the Foundation’s 50th anniversary in 2027. RSVP now to let us know you’re coming and to get directions. Everyone who attends will get their choice of a water map or guide.

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The GAO says better data should be kept about weather modification efforts

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:16:00 +0000

… [T]here’s been a dramatic increase in investment in cloud seeding across the Mountain West. Three years ago, the Nevada legislature three years ago allocated about $600,000to support DRI’s efforts. Surrounding states have invested even more. Utah recently allocated $16 million for cloud seeding. And the federal Bureau of Reclamation provided a nearly $2.5 million grant for cloud seeding operations in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming aimed at increasing the levels in Lake Mead, which is fed primarily by the Colorado River. … “We did a review of those [cloud seeding projects], and we found that the vast majority of them had missing information, incorrect information,” she [Karen Howard, director of science and technology assessment at the Government Accountability Office] said.

Other cloud seeding news:

Virginia Tech: Curious Conversations podcast: Fungi and cloud seeding with Boris Vinatzer

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Iran attempting cyberattacks against critical U.S. infrastructure, officials say

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:52:00 +0000

U.S. intelligence agencies are “urgently warning” private-sector companies nationwide that Iranian actors are conducting cyber operations targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, a campaign that has already caused disruptions. … [T]he EPA warned that Iran’s cyberattack had already disrupted “commonly used operational technology at drinking water and wastewater systems,” and that the federal government is “diligently working to ensure that Americans can rely on clean and safe water.” “Cyberattacks on drinking water and wastewater systems directly threaten public health and community resilience,” Jeffrey A. Hall, the EPA’s assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance, said in a statement.

Related articles:

The New York Times: U.S. warns of cyberattacks tied to Iran on water and energy systems

The Guardian (U.K.): US warns of Iran-affiliated cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure across country

WIRED: Iran-linked hackers are sabotaging US energy and water infrastructure

Politico: Iranian hackers are targeting US energy and water sectors, federal agencies warn

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Environmental Best Management Practices helped protect a river

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:33:00 +0000

Best Management Practices (BMPs) have become one of the most important tools the golf course industry uses to care for the land responsibly. While the term may sound technical, the idea is simple: use proven science and practical experience to protect the environment while keeping golf courses healthy and playable. … I saw the value of BMPs firsthand while redeveloping a golf course next to the American River in Sacramento, Calif. The course sits in an environmentally sensitive area that includes a major fishery and the 5,000-acre American River Parkway. State regulations strictly prohibit fertilizer from entering the river basin, making environmental protection a top priority.

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Desalination startup could bolster Arizona’s water supply

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:27:00 +0000

A desalination startup company hopes to gain Arizona customers as the state prepares for more cuts to its Colorado River water supply. Desalination is the process of taking ocean water and removing the salt to make it drinkable. California-based OceanWell is developing a subsea system that is more energy efficient than traditional onshore desalination. OceanWell is three years into a five-year research and development phase to create an underwater operation called Water Farm I about 4.5 miles off the coast of Malibu in Santa Monica Bay. It will consist of large purification pods that sit on the ocean floor. The system is designed to use natural ocean pressure to push seawater through the pods’ reverse osmosis membranes for desalination.

Other desalination and water recycling news:

Wine Industry Advisor: Wine to water? California startup turns winery wastewater into drinking water – a commercial first

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Heat, drought and wildfire shatter records in the West

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:23:00 +0000

It was a record-smashing first quarter for the American West. An astonishing heat wave smothered the region for weeks. Mountain snowpack, already low in many states after a rainy winter, melted quickly. Drought conditions intensified. And it’s only early April. Scientists warn that extreme conditions could continue and cause water shortages and raging wildfires. Dwindling snowpack is a big warning sign, climate experts say. Low snow levels in the spring often foretell drought. Recent research suggests that “snow drought” can worsen wildfires. A March 23 study in Environmental Research Letters found that in years with earlier snow melt in the West, wildfires generally burned more acres.

Other snowpack and drought news around the West:

The New York Times: Heat wipes out Western snowpack, raising fears of drought, wildfire

Capital Press (Medford, Ore.): Snow drought contributes to Western fire risk

Nevada Appeal (Carson City): Driest winter ever? Not in western Nevada

ABC4 (Salt Lake City): ‘Completely uncharted territory’: Utah experts say April 1 snowpack conditions worst in state history

Jefferson Public Radio (Ashland, Ore.): In the Klamath Basin, farmers brace for another tight water year

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News release: DRIP Collaborative’s third year centers on ecosystems, land use planning, and water infrastructure

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:22:00 +0000

California’s climate is defined by extremes, and water year 2025 put that reality on full display. One month delivered warm, dry conditions that can typically stress water supplies; the next brought a surge of winter storms, only for January to swing dry again. These whiplash shifts aren’t outliers — they are becoming the new operating conditions for water managers, communities, and ecosystems across the state. Against this backdrop, the Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners (DRIP) Collaborative continued its work to strengthen coordinated drought planning. … Released in March, DRIP Collaborative’s 2025 Annual Report highlights the activities, discussions, and recommendations developed during the task force’s third year.

Other drought response and resilience news:

CBS8 (San Diego): Breakthrough at Salk Institute could help crops survive drought

KSL (Salt Lake City): Weber Basin Water Conservancy District responds to drought with 20 percent restrictions

The Conversation: Blog: Water conservation works, but climate change is outpacing it: Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas offer a glimpse of the future

The Nevada Independent: Opinion: The war on grass is killing our trees

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Local water company aims to be a first in Firewise

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Lukins Brothers Water Company (LBWC) is aiming to be the first water company in the basin that is Firewise certified. It’s already joined the Fire Adapted Communities program and with new legislation, owner and president Jennifer Lukins hopes it could potentially lower insurance fees and water rates for the community. … Lukins believes other water systems could join Firewise as well, and it’s possible that once LBWC sets the precedent, more water systems may follow suit—especially as the water affordability crisis grows more critical in California with rising wildfire risks and insurance costs.

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Blog: Will data centers threaten California’s water? It’s complicated.

Jennifer Fergesen — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:15:00 +0000

The explosive growth in data centers is fueling concerns in California, as well as across the country, about water and energy use. Some have gone as far as to propose a water usage fee on data centers. However, others argue that data center water use is just a drop in the bucket compared to other uses or that most data centers are moving toward less water-intensive practices, such as reusing water in closed-loop systems. To help us understand what we do and don’t know about California data centers and water use, we spoke with Dr. Marie Grimm, an environmental policy research fellow at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment, about their new report “Regulating Data Center Water Use in California.”

Other data center water use news:

inewsource (San Diego): California’s largest data center may be built in their backyard. Not if they can stop it.

Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): Supervisors approve data center lot merge; deny Imperial’s appeal

KLAS (Las Vegas): Nevada data center leaders offer answers, some neighbors slow to trust

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Proposed data center draws ire of some Boulder City residents

Cowboy State Daily (Cheyenne, Wyo.): Where ‘a river runs through it’: inside the hunt for data center sites

JD Supra: Blog: The new battleground—water rights and data center development in the AI era

Colorado Newsline (Denver): Opinion: Data center water use not sustainable in increasingly dry American West

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