A collection of top water news from around California and the West compiled each weekday. Send any comments or article submissions to Foundation News & Publications Director Vik Jolly.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday proposed
protecting a rare fish found near the Nevada-California border,
where groundwater levels have dropped as
alfalfa farming thrives. “The Fish Lake Valley
tui chub is barely clinging to existence,” according to Patrick
Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological
Diversity. A petition and litigation by the conservation group
could help save the fish after years of declining groundwater
has reduced its habitat to a single spring on a private ranch
in Esmeralda County. … Pumping for agriculture in Fish
Lake Valley vastly exceeds the natural recharge to the aquifer,
resulting in plummeting groundwater levels across the valley,
according to a Center for Biological Diversity news release.
According to the group, tui chubs used to live in a half dozen
springs, all but one of which dried up due to the aquifer
collapse. Flow at the one remaining spring has been documented
to have declined by more than 50%.
Across California, water utility managers, elected officials,
and state regulators are working to address a critical
challenge: funding essential water infrastructure investments
that deliver public health through the provision of reliable
water service, while minimizing customer rate impacts. To
tackle this issue, the California Water Association (CWA) has
developed the Water Affordability Framework to guide efforts in
maintaining affordability and sustainability for the six
million Californians our member utilities
serve. … Over the next 5 years, CWA members plan to
invest up to $5 billion in new water infrastructure projects,
including pipeline replacements and meter upgrades. Our members
remain committed to minimizing costs and exploring strategies
to keep water service affordable, while navigating the
financial implications of future regulations.
After a less successful attempt in 2012, the Imperial
Irrigation District found triumph for its Community Climate
Action Day, as the agency partnered with a coalition of state
and national groups to improve the climate around the Shank
Alamo Wetlands located east of Brawley. The goal to plant
hundreds of native plants that would benefit the overall
conditions of the wetland was easily attained as the expected
number of around 40 volunteers was surpassed, with more than
double the amount of expected volunteers turning out to make a
change on Saturday, May 17. … The Shank Alamo Wetlands
help avoid flooding and create biodiversity for the local
ecosystem, but they also serve as a crucial part of keeping the
Salton Sea clean, as the wetland treats
drainage water that runs into it.
Some residents in the San Fernando Valley have reported an
“earthy odor” coming from their drinking water, but officials
say the cause of the smell is not harmful. In a statement
issued Monday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
said they had received “inquiries and reports” from some
customers regarding the smell and that they began testing which
revealed the “musty” odor is attributable to Geosmin.
Geosmin is a natural compound created from algae, LADWP
explained. … In Monday’s statement, LADWP said it began
increasing its water quality monitoring, sampling and testing
through the Los Angeles Aqueduct System earlier this month.
Elevated Geosmin levels were detected on May 13, and “immediate
adjustments” to treatment and operations were made to control
the situation, LADWP said.
Above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation
continued to rapidly melt out western U.S. snowpack. Nearly all
western basins are now in late season snow drought, despite
many stations reaching near to above-average peak snow water
equivalent (SWE) during the snow accumulation season. Some
stations, including some in Nevada, Colorado, Utah, and New
Mexico, saw record early melt out. The rapid depletion of snow,
coupled with increased evaporative demand (the “thirst” of
the atmosphere), can rapidly dry the landscape. Landscapes
drying out earlier than normal can lead to an early start to
the fire season. Snowmelt this time of year is common, but
such rapid melt rates are not normal. In some instances,
above-normal temperatures such as these can cause snow to
sublimate (going from a solid to a gas) and reduce runoff into
streams and reservoirs.
Negotiations continue between the seven Colorado River basin
states over new rules dealing with use of the overallocated
river, and the clock is ticking. But one area of those talks
that’s not getting a lot of attention is the idea of setting
some water aside, and the details of how that might happen.
Kathryn Sorensen, director of research at the Kyl Center for
Water Policy at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute
for Public Policy, has been thinking and writing about this and
joined The Show to discuss. … “The idea of sort of setting
aside pools of water and holding them in Lakes Powell or Mead
is not new. It’s actually something we’ve been doing since
2007, and it’s an attempt to sort of separate certain amounts
of water from the prior appropriation system, which is the
system through which we generally allocate water here in the
arid West.”
After two bruising seasons of low nut prices, rising costs and
groundwater uncertainty, the 2025 Trends in
Agricultural Land & Lease Values report from the California
Chapter of [the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural
Appraisers] paints a mixed — but not uniformly bleak — picture
for the Central San Joaquin
Valley. … SGMA clarity is
improving underwriting. With 86 of 93 Valley subbasins now
operating under approved sustainability plans, lenders and
buyers have a clearer — if still tough — playbook for
evaluating long‑term water budgets, replacing
the uncertainty discount with risk‑based pricing. As PPIC
water‑policy director Ellen Hanak reminds growers in the
California Farm Bureau Ag Alert, “The law doesn’t say you have
to end overdraft overnight. You can get there gradually over
the 20 years — so long as you avoid ‘undesirable results’ along
the way.”
The long-standing debate over raising the height of Shasta Dam
has resurfaced as Republican lawmakers continue to advocate for
the project, arguing it would provide essential water resources
for California farmers. However, opponents contend that the
environmental and cultural repercussions would outweigh the
benefits. The House Committee on Natural Resources’ budget
reconciliation bill could potentially allocate $2 billion to
expand capacity at the Bureau of Reclamation’s
water facilities. Although Shasta Dam is not specifically
mentioned in the bill, experts suggest the legislation could
support a project to raise the dam by 18 feet. Proponents claim
this would supply an additional 51,000 acre-feet of water
annually to farmers, a less than 1% increase over current
allocations. … The initiative is supported by Northstate
Congressman Doug LaMalfa but faces opposition from
environmental groups and the Winnemem Wintu Tribe.
Starting Monday, May 19, the Department of Water Resources
(DWR) will require mandatory watercraft inspections at the
Oroville Facilities to combat the invasive golden mussel. The
inspections aim to protect the State Water Project (SWP)
infrastructure. Watercraft inspections will take place at the
North Thermalito Forebay. The inspections are crucial for
maintaining the SWP, which serves 27 million Californians and
supports 750,000 acres of farmland annually. DWR
emphasizes the need to preserve local recreation and will not
close the reservoir. Lake Oroville will remain open, and DWR
encourages early inspections to avoid Memorial Day congestion.
The inspection program will require all trailered vessels and
personal watercraft to have a blue Oroville launch seal. This
seal ensures that the watercraft has not been in infested
waters since inspection.
Hunters and anglers are voicing concerns about the possible
sale of hundreds of thousands of acres of public land in Utah
and Nevada. U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-UT, and U.S. Rep. Mark
Amodei, R-NV, have introduced a last-minute provision to a
federal budget reconciliation package which would allow public
lands in both states to be sold to local governments or private
buyers. Supporters say it would help address the housing
shortage, improve public infrastructure, and it would allow
industries to expand their presence. But Devin O’Dea,
Western Policy & Conservation Manager with Backcountry Hunters
and Anglers, said the decision sets a negative precedent.
… Maloy says her amendment is a small provision in what
has been termed Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” She added that,
unlike Nevada, lands in Utah would be used to build needed
water projects and infrastructure as the
state’s population grows.
Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief,
(testified) Tuesday morning before the House Energy and
Commerce Committee on the agency’s fiscal 2026 budget request.
Zeldin has been a vocal supporter of President Trump’s efforts
to roll back Biden-era climate policies and cut
down on spending. The administration’s request includes an
increase in funding for “critical drinking water.” The hearing
comes after the EPA announced earlier this month that it
would pare down federal limits of “forever chemicals”
and as House Republicans press forward with Trump’s domestic
agenda, which would slash a number of green programs
and regulations.
Staff cuts at the National Weather Service are affecting the
Hanford weather office, where they no longer answer the phone
to connect you to the friendly local weathercaster. Instead you
will hear that you have called the “electronics shop” and are
told it will connect you with an “electronics shop analyst.”
… Now as summer is upon us and the fire season is near, the
NWS office here and in Sacramento have cut their hours of
operation, say multiple news sources, even as federal agencies
are facing hurricane season in the South and wildfire season
out West. … Amid staff shortages caused by the layoffs
of hundreds of NWS employees, the list of NWS field locations
no longer operating 24 hours per day includes two in California
— the Sacramento and Hanford offices. Together these offices
serve not only the capital city but also the entire Central
Valley and surrounding foothill/mountain regions, including the
Sierra.
We expect U.S. hydropower generation will increase by 7.5% in
2025 but will remain 2.4% below the 10-year average in our May
Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). Hydropower generation in 2024
fell to 241 billion kilowatthours (BkWh), the lowest since at
least 2010; in 2025, we expect generation will be 259.1 BkWh.
This amount of generation would represent 6% of the electricity
generation in the country. About half of the hydropower
generating capacity in the country is in the western states of
Washington, Oregon, and California, so we closely monitor
precipitation patterns in this region to inform our hydropower
outlook. Precipitation conditions have been mixed across
the western United States since October. According to the
WestWide Drought Tracker, more precipitation than normal has
fallen in northern California, Oregon, and the eastern half of
Washington state. … In contrast, precipitation was below
normal in parts of Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Southern
California.
Without an end in sight to the pollution and sewage stench in
the Tijuana River Valley, long-time resident and advocate
Gabriel Uribe has decided to move out of the area. He recently
leased an apartment a few miles north of the Valley to get away
from the smell and toxins in the air, which he blames for his
son’s respiratory and other health issues. … He was also
disappointed with last month’s visit from Lee Zeldin, the
Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator, saying he felt
Zeldin didn’t really want to help. During his visit the
area on Earth Day, Zeldin said that Mexico must stop the flow
of billions of gallons of sewage and toxic chemicals, adding
that he would present Mexico a to-do list of projects to
resolve the decades-long environmental crisis. However, he
stopped short of specifying how the Trump administration would
hold Mexico accountable if it does not act.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has canceled
grant funding to university research teams studying how
“forever chemicals” contaminate soil and groundwater, including
at least $3 million for two projects specifically looking at
contamination on farms. The chemicals, collectively called PFAS
(per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are linked to a variety
of serious health risks. Over the past several years, they have
increasingly been found in farm soils due to the use of sewage
sludge as fertilizer, causing devastation for farmers. They are
also now widely found in drinking water, in the foods Americans
eat, and in pesticides, and experts say more research is needed
to understand their impacts and find effective ways to
eliminate contamination.
… To navigate climate change in freshwater ecosystems,
California must be bolder. Last year, my colleague Ted Sommer
published a report outlining climate-smart conservation tools
to help do just that. The report identifies immediate actions
and recommends each watershed develop a portfolio of tools
tailored to its needs. The Public Policy Institute of
California (PPIC) then asked: are these tools legal? The answer
is yes. As outlined in PPIC’s recent report, laws such as the
state and federal Endangered Species Acts are not, for the most
part, barriers to using climate-smart tools. In many instances
these laws just need to be approached differently. But this
effort will require shifting direction on species protection,
making hard choices, and learning to take risks. Where to
start?
… The corporate race to amass computing resources to train
and run artificial intelligence models and store information in
the cloud has sparked a data center boom in the desert—just far
enough away from Nevada’s communities to elude wide notice and,
some fear, adequate scrutiny. The full scale and potential
environmental impacts of the developments aren’t known, because
the footprint, energy needs, and water
requirements are often closely guarded corporate secrets. Most
of the companies didn’t respond to inquiries from MIT
Technology Review, or declined to provide additional
information about the projects. … The build-out of a
dense cluster of energy and water-hungry data centers in a
small stretch of the nation’s driest state, where climate
change is driving up temperatures faster than anywhere else in
the country, has begun to raise alarms among water experts,
environmental groups, and residents.
The Los Angeles fires were one of the most destructive
disasters in U.S. history. As the immediate emergency response
turns toward longer-term recovery and rebuilding, several
challenges remain, including the region’s overwhelmed and
vulnerable water infrastructure. Unfortunately, these
challenges are not just limited to Los Angeles. The hydrants,
pipes, and other systems we depend on for safety and survival
remain underinvested and ill-equipped to handle mounting
climate impacts across the country. In this episode of Metro
Blueprint, Brookings Fellow Joe Kane and Greg Pierce, the
research and co-executive director of UCLA’s Luskin Center for
Innovation, discuss how the fires exposed long-standing
challenges within water utility systems in Los Angeles and
beyond and how policymakers can improve these systems amid a
more extreme and destructive climate.
City leaders face difficult tradeoffs as they navigate budget
decisions. City tax revenue must cover essential services and
infrastructure needs. At the same time, city government aims to
fulfill legal obligations and environmental responsibilities,
all while respecting the will of voters. Increasing Mission
Bay’s vanishing wetlands uniquely meets all these criteria and
constraints, using funds already earmarked by voters
specifically for this purpose. San Diego voters passed
Proposition C (2008) and Measure J (2016) creating a clear
roadmap for Mission Bay Park Improvement Funds. Binding
priorities in the City Charter Section 55.2 direct
taxpayer investments first toward navigable waterways, then
environmental restoration and protection, and last to deferred
maintenance projects. These dedicated funds cannot be diverted
to address any other citywide needs, no matter how
pressing. –Written by Jim Peugh, a founding member of the ReWild
Coalition and conservation co-chair of the San Diego Bird
Alliance, and Nan Renner, Ph.D., the senior director of
strategic partnerships at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution
of Oceanography.
Sea level rise will become unmanageable at just 1.5C of global
heating and lead to “catastrophic inland migration”, the
scientists behind a new study have warned. This scenario may
unfold even if the average level of heating over the last
decade of 1.2C continues into the future. The loss of ice from
the giant Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets has quadrupled
since the 1990s due to the climate crisis and is now the
principal driver of sea level rise. The international target to
keep global temperature rise below 1.5C is already almost out
of reach. But the new analysis found that even if fossil fuel
emissions were rapidly slashed to meet it, sea levels would be
rising by 1cm a year by the end of the century, faster than the
speed at which nations could build coastal defences.
