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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In a major environmental restoration project, two barriers were
removed from Jalama Creek, allowing Southern Steelhead to swim
up the creek. … “Southern California Steelhead are highly
endangered,” said Larra Riege, Restoration Manager at the
Dangermond Preserve. … ”Removing these barriers, these
ghost dams and the other barrier, removing old infrastructure
that’s not serving any purpose anymore, being able to take them
out and then let nature take its course is really satisfying.”
… Researchers are preparing their first survey to see if the
steelhead are discovering that the once-blocked creek is again
open for fishy business. The conservancy is looking at
additional projects to clear fish passage barriers on Jalama
Creek tributaries, to give the fish even more breeding and
living space.
As part of a science mission tracking one of Earth’s most
precious resources – water – NASA’s C-20A aircraft conducted a
series of seven research flights in March that can help
researchers track the process and timeline as snow melts and
transforms into a freshwater resource. The agency’s Uninhabited
Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) installed on
the aircraft collected measurements of seasonal snow cover and
estimate the freshwater contained in it. … The Dense UAVSAR
Snow Time (DUST) mission mapped snow accumulation over the
Sierra Nevada mountains in California and the Rocky Mountains
in Idaho. Mission scientists can use these observations to
estimate the amount of water stored in that snow.
… According to data from the Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, 56 atmospheric rivers impacted the western U.S.
during late 2024 and early 2025, with the majority affecting
Oregon and Northern California. … Forecasters note that
Northern California typically experiences about six strong
atmospheric rivers every year, but by April 1, that number
had already reached nine. This increase in storm system
intensity and frequency led to above-normal precipitation
levels, particularly in critical watershed zones, but, in
contrast, Southern California saw very few significant storms,
receiving only a handful of weak systems. As a result,
precipitation totals in Southern California dropped to 70% or
less of average levels through early March, setting the stage
for an increasingly dangerous fire season.
Wholesale water rates — a key driver of the water bills of
residents and businesses across the county — are not expected
to rise nearly as much next year as previously thought. County
water officials on Thursday lowered their projected wholesale
water rate hike for next year from 18% to 12%, thanks primarily
to higher projected water sales to local agencies over the next
three years. The higher sales projections are based partly on
the particularly dry winter and spring San Diego has
experienced, which has increased demand for irrigation water
from farmers and people with large lawns. … (T)he dry winter
has pushed the expected demand from member agencies for next
year about 10% higher than was estimated just last month — from
300,000 acre-feet to 327,000 acre-feet.
The Sites Project Authority revealed that the Sites Reservoir
could have captured more than 550,000 acre-feet of water from
late November 2024 through early April 2025. According to
officials, this amount of water capture could have benefited
more than three million people. Fritz Durst, Chair of the Sites
Project Authority Board of Directors, emphasized the
reservoir’s potential. “Once again, we’re seeing how well Sites
Reservoir would perform during wet periods if it were
operational today, by capturing and storing water for drier
periods,” Durst said. The analysis showed that the reservoir is
designed to capture and store water during wet periods. It aims
to increase water flexibility, reliability, and resiliency
during drier times. In February 2025 alone, Sites could have
diverted over 150,000 acre-feet of water. These diversions
would add to the 850,000 acre-feet captured last season, nearly
reaching the reservoir’s full capacity.
The term “full allocation” is central to discussions about
water rights for farmers on and off the Klamath Reclamation
Project, but its meaning is often misunderstood. For the more
than 220,000 acres of farmland in the Klamath Reclamation
Project, a “full allocation” of water is not a single number
but a range of measurements tied to contracts, legal
adjudications, and the practical needs of crops. As poor
federal policy continues to strain the region’s water
resources, clarity on this term is essential for informed,
on-farm decision-making. According to some contracts, such as
the 1905 contract entered into by the Klamath Irrigation
District, and for Tule Lake Irrigation District, which cover
more than 100,000 acres within their borders, a “full
allocation” is defined as water sufficient for beneficial use
without waste. That number is unknowable …but able to be
roughly estimated as exceeding 300,000 acre-feet for these two
districts in an average year. –Written by Gene Souza, the executive director of the
Klamath Irrigation District.
On April 2, 2025, the Fifth District Court of Appeal issued its
Opinion in Bring Back the Kern v. City of Bakersfield, Case No.
F087487, reversing the Kern County Superior Court’s preliminary
injunction and related implementation order. In November 2023,
the trial court issued the injunction, based on Fish and Game
Code section 5937, but directed the parties to work together to
establish what flow rates are necessary to comply with the
injunction; four days later, the trial court issued the
implementation order, approving the flow regime to which the
Plaintiffs and Defendant (but not the various irrigation
districts and Kern County Water Agency that are named as Real
Parties in Interest) stipulated. The appellate court held the
trial court erred by failing to consider whether the uses of
water under the flow regime were reasonable, by requiring
Plaintiffs to post only a nominal bond, and by violating the
Real Parties’ due process rights.
A groundbreaking white paper published by the UK Water
Partnership (UKWP) in collaboration with data and AI
engineering firm Aiimi highlights how artificial intelligence
(AI) is poised to revolutionise the water industry. Titled “AI
Within Reach”, the paper offers an urgent but optimistic
roadmap for deploying AI to tackle critical challenges, from
climate change to customer affordability. As the industry
enters AMP8, companies face mounting pressure to deliver
ambitious capital programmes, respond to climate change, and
improve resilience – all while maintaining affordability for
customers. AI presents a critical opportunity to help achieve
these goals, but without coordinated action, much of its
potential may remain untapped.
… Nearly 1 million acres of farmland across the state are
expected to come out of production due to SGMA. Without new
uses for that land, agricultural jobs will disappear, local tax
revenues will plummet, and our small towns, which are already
stretched thin, will be left with few options. A 2023 Public
Policy Institute of California report put it bluntly: without
action, the economic fallout for the Central Valley could be
massive. If we don’t find new ways to keep this land
economically viable, our rural communities are going to suffer
badly. But legislation currently moving at the state Capitol,
Assembly Bill 1156, provides a lifeline by making it easier to
repurpose fallowed farmland for clean energy projects like
solar panels. It’s a smart, timely solution that protects
farmers, supports clean energy, and brings jobs and investment
back to rural California.
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) announces changes
to its boat inspection and banding policies effective May 7,
2025, in response to increasing concerns about invasive mussel
species. EBRPD has long required watercraft inspections to
prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species into local lakes
and reservoirs. To simplify re-entry for frequent visitors,
park staff have used tamper-proof bands placed between the
watercraft and trailer when the boat leaves the lake. These
bands serve as proof that the vessel hadn’t launched in other
waters. Boats returning with an intact band have not required
re-inspection when entering any lake in the Park District or
the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). What’s
new for summer 2025 is that EBRPD’s banding program is
transitioning to color-coded, lake-specific bands and is no
longer accepting EBMUD bands, effective May 7.
To celebrate Earth Week, the Department of Water Resources
(DWR) is rolling out a new program to work with local
communities on multiple turf and landscape replacement projects
that will save water and help combat against future droughts
and climate change. What makes this innovative partnership
unique is the focus on replacing turf at businesses and
institutions rather than solely residential sites. In
collaboration with Watershed Progressive, DWR’s Turf
Replacement Pilot Program provides direct assistance to replace
ornamental turf with drought-tolerant and water-efficient
landscaping in California’s frontline communities. Supported by
the Budget Act of 2021, the program is investing $35 million in
communities that are on the frontlines of climate change, lack
reliable water supplies, and need support with restoring
natural environments.
… Proposition 4’s $10 billion bond (was) approved by
California voters in November 2024 to fund climate adaptation
work across the state. … But as Trump has cut or threatened
federal climate funding, “everyone is hoping to get Prop 4
money,” says Robert Mazurek, the executive director of the
California Marine Sanctuaries Foundation. Under
Proposition 4, more than 30 state agencies (many under
the umbrella of the California Natural Resources Agency)
will give out bond money to grantees across the state for
projects that help foster more resilient water systems, less
fiery forests, more biodiverse landscapes, safer coastlines,
cleaner air, and more. Most of those applications for grants
haven’t opened yet—but many groups are already eyeing it.
Here’s Bay Nature’s guide to help organizations understand and
prep for Prop 4’s rollout.
For months, Los Angeles city officials and an outside
contractor have worked to ensure that the Santa Ynez Reservoir,
the 117-million-gallon water complex in the heart of Pacific
Palisades, could return to service by early May. Since early
2024, the reservoir had sat empty due to tears in the cover
that floats across its surface. The reservoir was empty during
the Jan. 7 Palisades fire, sparking anger from residents and
prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to call for an investigation. With
repairs complete, crews with the Los Angeles Department of
Water and Power were refilling the reservoir last week when
they discovered further tears and “pinhole sized leaks” in the
floating cover. As a result, DWP confirmed Wednesday that
the reservoir will have to be drained, again, so that crews can
fix the floating cover. DWP said they expected the repairs to
take three to four weeks, with the reservoir now estimated to
come back online by mid- to late June.
The Trump administration and Mexican officials had a positive
meeting Monday night on addressing sewage flowing into
California and are developing plans to address the decades-old
issue, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said Tuesday. Zeldin,
speaking at the Marine Corps base in San Diego, said he had a
90-minute conversation with Mexican Environment Secretary
Alicia Bárcena and both sides agreed to collaborate on steps to
repair and upgrade an international sewage treatment plant that
cleanses Mexican wastewater before it enters the United States.
… Major infrastructure upgrades agreed on in 2018 and funded
through the U.S.-Mexico trade agreement negotiated by Trump
during his first term aren’t yet finished, allowing billions of
gallons of raw sewage to reach the Tijuana River Valley and
eventually the ocean.
The California State Water Resources Control Board heard an
update on implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater
Management Act, which requires local agencies to bring
groundwater basins into balance by 2040 and 2042. …
Since 2023, the California Department of Water Resources has
determined that plans for seven basins were inadequate. In
March 2023, it referred six basins to the state water board for
intervention. The state water board may consider probation for
the Delta-Mendota, Chowchilla and Pleasant Valley subbasins
later this year. In his update to the board last week,
Paul Gosselin, DWR deputy director for sustainable groundwater
management, said the two drivers that led to the 2014 passage
of SGMA were high rates of land subsidence and thousands of
wells that went dry during the drought. He said subsidence
remains a significant issue that affects infrastructure.
Assemblymember Chris Rogers has introduced his bill, Assembly
Bill 263, which aims to protect salmon populations in the
Klamath River watershed while also providing local agricultural
operations with certainty regarding river flows. This was
introduced in partnership with the Karuk and Yurok Tribes, as
well as the California Coastkeeper Alliance. … Bill 263 would
allow specified emergency regulations adopted by the board for
the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds to remain in effect
until permanent rules establishing and implementing long-term
instream flow requirements for these watersheds are enacted.
According to Assemblyman Rogers, this measure is crucial for
protecting salmon populations in the Klamath River watershed
while providing certainty regarding river flows.
… President Ryan Walker of the Siskiyou County Farm
Bureau says farmers have concerns about the regulations and how
it could affect their profits.
… Water users across the (Colorado River Basin) have for
years been talking about what to do next. They agree that water
use should be cut deeper and for the longer haul than we have
before. There are even proposals to do so. But no one knows
which — if any — are still on the table. … It’s telling that
while state negotiators continue to meet (and make no real
progress), no one from the Bureau of Reclamation — the federal
agency tasked with operating Lake Mead and Lake Powell — has
attended those negotiation sessions since the Trump
administration took office. In fact, Reclamation still doesn’t
even have a commissioner. The administration has been dragging
its feet on getting the leadership in place to finally break
this logjam. And time is running short. –Written by Arizona Republic columnist Joanna
Allhands.
Despite advances in wastewater treatment, tiny plastic
particles called microplastics are still slipping through,
posing potential health and environmental hazards, according to
new research from The University of Texas at Arlington. …
(W)hen a plastic item reaches the end of its useful life, it
never truly disappears. Instead, it breaks down into smaller
and smaller pieces called microplastics—particles five
millimeters or less, about the width of a pencil eraser—that
end up in our soil and water. “What our systematic literature
review found is that while most wastewater treatment facilities
significantly reduce microplastics loads, complete removal
remains unattainable with current technologies,” said Un-Jung
Kim, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at
UT Arlington and senior author of the study published in
Science of the Total Environment.
The Trump administration has shunted one of the US federal
government’s top scientific agencies onto a “non-science
trajectory”, workers warn, that threatens to derail decades of
research and leave the US with “air that’s not breathable and
water that’s not drinkable”. Workers and scientists at the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) are
warning of the drastic impacts of cuts at the agency on
science, research, and efforts to protect natural resources.
… Trump administration officials are seeking to abolish
the scientific research division at Noaa, the Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research (Oar) office. It is the latest of a series
of cuts at the agency that began the second Trump
administration with 12,000 employees around the world,
including more than 6,700 engineers and scientists.
After years of planning, environmental review and engineering
design, the Carpinteria Sanitary District is now on the
threshold of a major project that includes construction of an
advanced water purification facility capable of producing over
one million gallons of potable water every day. Capturing
and reusing this valuable resource, which would otherwise be
discharged to the Pacific Ocean, is an important piece of our
long-term water supply puzzle locally. This novel
water resiliency project, referred to as the Carpinteria
Advanced Purification Project, or CAPP, is being developed
through a partnership between the Carpinteria Valley Water
District and the Carpinteria Sanitary
District. … Although CAPP may sound like a drop in
the proverbial bucket, delivering just 1,200-acre feet of
purified water per year — less than 1/1,000th of the statewide
goal — it will meet 25% of Carpinteria Valley Water District’s
total demand.
