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Water news you need to know

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 Interim Director Doug Beeman

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Aquafornia news WyoFile

Wyoming delegation scrambles to restore millions for irrigators’ water conservation

Wyoming’s federal delegation has filed legislation to restore millions of dollars to pay state irrigators in the Colorado River Basin for conserving water. Bills filed in the U.S. Senate and House would restore the System Conservation Pilot Program that Congress ended in December. The program contracted to pay $8.3 million in 2023 to 21 entities in Wyoming. The conservation effort aims to supply more water to downstream states without harming Wyoming water users. Headwater upper-basin states of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico favor voluntary paid-for conservation over uncompensated reductions proposed by California, Nevada and Arizona.

Other Colorado River Basin news:

Aquafornia news KGET 17 (Bakersfield, Calif.)

California water resources board clamps down on Kern County groundwater sustainability

If stakeholders in Kern County’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan want to avoid a state takeover, they’ll need to do a better job of monitoring and measuring pumping activity, avoiding land subsidence and setting minimal groundwater levels. On Friday, the State Water Resources Control Board considered placing the Kern County Sub-basin on probation, as had been recommended by the its water board staff. The board granted Kern County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies a continuance instead of probation, as they work to satisfy the water board’s demands. Probation would impose serious state oversight on Kern County water boards, something they want to avoid very much. 

Related article:

Aquafornia news San Francisco Chronicle

How La Niña could impact California’s weather this spring

The Climate Prediction Center’s latest outlooks for March and upcoming spring months call for wetter-than-average weather in the northernmost parts of California and drier-than-average conditions in the southeast. The pattern is consistent with what’s expected for La Niña, which typically brings drier-than-normal winters for the southern tier of the United States and wetter-than-normal conditions to the Pacific Northwest. For much of California, forecasters declared equal chances for below-normal, near-normal or above-normal precipitation. 

Other La Niña and weather news:

Aquafornia news Daily Kos

Blog: Fall salmon returns to Sacramento and Klamath Rivers much lower than forecasted by fishery managers

Despite the closure of salmon fishing in California river and ocean waters in 2023 and 2024, the number of Fall Chinook Salmon returning to both the Sacramento and Klamath River Basins was well below the numbers forecasted by state and federal officials one year ago.  Under the 2024 regulations, the projected spawning escapement in the Sacramento River Basin was 180,061 hatchery and natural area fall Chinook adults, according to the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s just-published Review of Ocean Salmon Fisheries. However, only 99,274 hatchery and natural area adult spawners were estimated to have returned to the Sacramento River Basin in 2024. That number is only 55 percent of the 2024 conservation and management objective of 180,000 fish.

Other fishery news:

Aquafornia news Tehachapi News (Calif.)

State hasn’t announced an increase, but water district will plan for 35% allocation

The California Department of Water Resources began releasing water over the spillway at the Oroville Dam on Feb. 3, directors of Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District heard in a report on Feb. 19. According to General Manager Tom Neisler, the releases are to comply with flood control requirements intended to ensure that adequate storage is available to control storm runoff at the dam in Northern California that feeds the State Water Project, an important source of water in Tehachapi and other locations. Neisler told directors that the flow over the spillway varies but has been as much as 35,000 cubic feet per second this month. 

Related article:

Aquafornia news NBC 7 (San Diego)

Mexico finished repairs on wastewater plant: IBWC commissioner

… A spokesperson for the State of Baja California said the San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant is nearing completion. The plant has been offline and dumping more than 17 million gallons of raw sewage a day directly into the Pacific Ocean for several years. That raw sewage flows north and has forced the County of San Diego to use the yellow signs from the border to the IB Pier for most of that time. There have been long stretches when the water has been off limits all the way up to Coronado Beach. Mexico began fixing its plant at the beginning of 2024. They said it would be ready by last September. That was five months ago. Last week, Dr. Maria-Elena Giner, the International Boundary and Water Commission commissioner, said it was finally done.

Other coastal water quality news:

Aquafornia news The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.)

Editorial: Historic North Coast water deal takes shape

There’s a lot to like about the historic agreement to manage water in the Russian and Eel rivers. For farmers and city dwellers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, preserving diversions into the Russian River is nothing short of a lifeline. For conservation and fishery groups, a commitment to restore flows on the Eel is a milestone in a decades-long campaign to revitalize a historic salmon stream.
–Written by The Press Democrat Editorial Board

Related articles:

Aquafornia news KBAK/KBFX (Bakersfield, Calif.)

City of Bakersfield begins replacement of damaged Kern River Canal Backup Weir

Crews have commenced work on replacing the Kern River Canal Backup Weir, a crucial water infrastructure component for the city. Demolition of the existing weir began on Thursday, February 20, 2025, marking the initial phase of the replacement project. The weir, situated east of the Coffee Road bridge, plays a vital role in allowing Bakersfield’s water department to manage floodwaters and divert the Kern River’s flow. Officials reported that the weir sustained damage in 2019 and again in 2023, rendering it non-operational.

Other infrastructure news:

Aquafornia news The Desert Review (Brawley, Calif.)

El Centro to invest in new wastewater treatment

The El Centro City Council approved an upgrade to the disinfection system at the city’s wastewater treatment plant on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at City Hall. “Ultraviolet light disinfection is the last treatment process to eliminate any remaining bacteria in wastewater before it is released,” Public Works Director and City Engineer Abraham Campos said. The UV-treated water is discharged into the Imperial Irrigation District’s drainage system and ultimately into the Salton Sea, according to city documents.  The existing UV lamps, which have been in use for the past 15 years, will no longer be serviceable as manufacturers and current part suppliers are transitioning to a new system.

Other Imperial Irrigation District news:

Aquafornia news McMaster University

Blog: Troubled waters: New U.S. policies put Canada’s water security at risk, expert warns 

(Gail Krantzberg, professor emeritus in McMaster’s W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology:) Trump’s suggestion about a faucet in B.C. should concern Canadians. It’s crucial that people start thinking about the potential impact of Trump’s policies on our water resources, not just in British Columbia, but across the entire continent. If he’s considering taking B.C.’s water to fight fires in California, what about our Great Lakes that support a $7 trillion economy? … The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Sustainable Water Resources Act mandates that any water taken from the lakes must be returned, and it is only allowed for specific emergency purposes, like firefighting and drinking water. Pumping water back over long distances would be prohibitively expensive and difficult.

Other water diversion news:

Aquafornia news The Appeal Democrat (Marysville, Calif.)

Hunting hurricanes and atmospheric rivers

At Sacramento County’s Mather Airport, an hour’s drive south from Marysville-Yuba City, specially outfitted U.S. Air Force “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft stand by, preparing to launch into powerful storms across the Pacific. Led by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Atmospheric River Reconnaissance (AR Recon) program sends these WC-130 Super Hercules aircraft to locations such as Japan, Guam and Hawaii.  Comprised of a team of Air Force reservists, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron collects data from atmospheric rivers and hurricanes, sending it back to the ground in real time. This helps enhance forecasts and better understand the storm system path, thereby supporting more informed decision-making to mitigate storm impacts.  

Aquafornia news SJV Water

Volunteers needed to survey native plants at restoration project

At least 40 volunteers who want to spend a day outdoors measuring plants are needed Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 at the Capinero Creek Restoration Area in Tulare County. The 467-acre property is owned by the Tule Basin Land & Water Conservation Trust and is the site of a former dairy. This is the second volunteer event of the year at Capinero Creek, which is in the midst of being transformed from intensively farmed ground back to native habitat. Thousands of recently planted native scrub grasses have taken the place of water-intensive crops that used to feed dairy cows. … The project is an example of land repurposing shepherded by the trust that will become more common throughout the San Joaquin Valley as the region adapts to groundwater restrictions under the  Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Aquafornia news Water Finance & Management

Water Week 2025 to bring water utility leaders to Washington

Water Week is returning to Washington, D.C. the week of April 6 as drinking and clean water sector leaders from across the country will convene for a week of policy discussion and Congressional office visits. The anchor event of Water Week is the National Water Policy Fly-In, being held April 8-9, presented by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), which spearheads the event, in partnership with the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), the Water Research Foundation (WRF), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the WateReuse Association. 

Aquafornia news The Sacramento Bee

Friday Top of the Scroll: More than half of California is ‘abnormally dry’ after rains. Which areas are hit hardest?

Drought conditions in California improved after a series of atmospheric river-fueled rain storms swept through the state. However, more than half of the state was “abnormally dry” as of Thursday, Feb. 20, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. As of Thursday, areas of “moderate drought” could be found in Central California, including parts of Fresno, Kern, Madera and Merced counties, the Drought Monitor said, as well as San Bernardino County in Southern California. On the Central Coast, parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties were experiencing severe drought conditions, the federal agency said. So were areas of Inyo, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties further south. “Extreme drought” conditions could be found in Imperial, Riverside and San Diego counties, the federal agency said. Here’s a look at drought conditions across California.

Other drought and water supply news across the West:

Aquafornia news Los Angeles Times

Scientists warn about water safety in fire-stricken areas of L.A.

Utilities in both the Eaton and Palisades fire burn scars have reported detecting the carcinogen benzene in parts of their water systems. State regulators have recommended the utilities issue “do not drink” and “do not boil” notices, which still permit residents to use the water for showers, handwashing, laundry and other daily activities. The state said the order attempts to balance safety with the need for usable water, while some scientists warned that using the water, even for purposes other than drinking or cooking, could pose a risk. … So far, two of Altadena’s three customer-owned water utilities have detected the carcinogen.

Other L.A. fire runoff news:

Aquafornia news KLAS 8 News Now (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Utah could grab Colorado River water before it gets there, conservation group says

A water grab is taking shape in Utah, where thirsty urban development north of Salt Lake City has created demand where supplies are limited. Enter the “Utah state water agent,” a position created in 2024 with the mission of seeking water supplies beyond Utah’s borders. It’s a bold move by a state that once pushed a plan to pipe water from Lake Powell to St. George to secure water for that fast-growing community. Now conservation groups are among the voices speculating that Utah could divert water from the Green River — the largest tributary of the Colorado River, providing about 40% of all the water that flows into Lake Powell.

Other Colorado River news:

Aquafornia news Bloomberg Law

Dam employee firings threaten power disruptions in Northwest

West Coast states and members of Congress worry that mass federal employee firings at Bureau of Reclamation dams and at the Bonneville Power Administration could disrupt hydropower generation in the Pacific Northwest. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) is “deeply concerned” about how the firings at federal dams across the region may affect the Northwest’s primary power supply, spokeswoman Brionna Aho said Wednesday. “These cuts are dangerous,” she said. “Increasing the risk of blackouts for our region is a security concern.” It’s unclear how many employees have been let go at the BPA and the Bureau of Reclamation. 

Aquafornia news The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)

Eight years after devastating San Jose flood, new flood control project completed on Coyote Creek near downtown

Eight years ago this week, after a series of drenching atmospheric river storms, Coyote Creek, the longest creek in Santa Clara County, flooded, forcing the emergency evacuation of 14,000 people in neighborhoods around downtown San Jose and causing $100 million in damage in a torrent of muddy water. On Thursday, the Santa Clara Valley Water District finished a project aimed at reducing the chances of serious flooding in the area in the future. The $117 million project from the district, a government agency based in San Jose, constructed flood walls and other features along 8,500 feet of Coyote Creek in a 4-mile stretch of the waterway between Interstate 280 and Old Oakland Road in some of the areas that suffered the worst.

Related article:

Aquafornia news Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.

Kern County Subbasin GSAs delay probation by six months

The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously voted to continue the hearing process for the Kern County Subbasin’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act compliance today, despite community based organizations’ pleas to put the subbasin on probation. The decision comes after Kings County Farm Bureau blocked the Tulare Lake probationary decision, earning a temporary injunction that will stop the board from collecting fees through the first half of 2026. Having reviewed the resubmitted Kern County Subbasin 2024 Draft groundwater sustainability plans, the board staff identified that GSAs have addressed some issues with coordination, but recommended they revise methodologies that could result in incompatible criteria across the GSA and Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model boundaries.

Other groundwater news:

Aquafornia news The Guardian (London)

Why Trump’s water releases were dangerous for California’s levees

First, there was Donald Trump’s executive order to release billions of gallons of water from two reservoirs in California’s Central valley, a move the feds walked back after farmers and water experts decried it as wasteful, ill-conceived – and an unnecessary risk factor for levees in the region. … (T)he condition of California’s levees is, by and large, already precarious. On its 2019 infrastructure report card, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the state’s levees a “D”, citing that despite significant investments, much more work was needed to rehabilitate and improve them. With more rain in the forecast, here’s what to know about California’s levees.

Related article: