Budget cuts, staff reductions and other sweeping changes from the federal government are posing real threats to California’s environment and progress against climate change, state officials said Thursday. … Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said the agency is reeling from several changes to key components of its water supply system. Among them are staff reductions at the federal U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees the Central Valley Project — a vast network of dams, reservoirs and canals that delivers water supplies across the state. The Central Valley Project is the federal companion to the State Water Project, which performs a similar function. … The state also works closely with the Bureau of Reclamation to manage flood protection in California, where several levee and dam safety projects are now in jeopardy, Nemeth said. They include projects to enhance the system along the American River in Sacramento — one of the most flood-prone urban areas in the U.S. — and to address the devastating 2023 levee breach that flooded the community of Pajaro.

Other climate science and mitigation news:

• Los Angeles Times: As L.A. bakes, duration of heat waves is accelerating faster than climate change, UCLA study shows
• The Current (UC Santa Barbara): A nuanced model of soil moisture illuminates plant behavior and climate patterns
• Medical Xpress: Climate change anxiety is a hidden force driving disaster preparedness in California’s fire country
• Santa Clara News Online: Blog: Addressing youth climate anxiety with city climate action plans​​
• The Land Desk: Blog: Where in the West are people moving?