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Home Aquafornia

Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 The New York Times

California’s big question: How brutal will the summer wildfire season be?

… Every summer across the state, the atmosphere dries up and the temperatures turn warm, sucking moisture from the landscape and turning the parched vegetation into kindling, ready to burn under the right conditions. This year, forecasters are already seeing signs that the pattern could be more intense than usual. The snow in the Sierra Nevada, the frozen reservoir that moistens the landscape through the spring, is nearly gone; it melted off earlier than normal. This year’s grass crop is plentiful, especially in Northern California, which received more rain than the southern part of the state, and it’s already fueling fires as it dries out. And forecasters predict the summer will be exceptionally hot. All of this adds up to a higher probability of more large wildfires than usual this summer, with the possibility that even the smallest spark could explode into a significant wildfire if not stopped quickly.

Other fire season news:

  • KQED (San Francisco): California faces rough fire season as US Forest Service work becomes more politicized
  • Axios: Blog: Fire season is getting longer in California amid climate change
  • The Hill: When wildfire season coincides with threats to federal emergency support
  • The Guardian (London, U.K.): Trump to merge wildland firefighting forces, despite warning of chaos
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Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 Legal Planet

Blog: Last year’s climate bond may not be what you thought

Last year, legislators passed, the governor signed, and California voters approved, a ten billion dollar climate bond (the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, SB 867 (Allen), which appeared on the November ballot as Proposition 4). While the bond act’s full title largely tells the story of its contents, the water- and resilience-focused spending may not be what all Californians expected from the state’s first self-proclaimed climate bond. … The negotiations will continue to unfold, but in the meantime, it is helpful to look at the contents of the bond’s legislative language. Some may be surprised to learn, for example, that the bond primarily addresses climate adaptation and resilience, rather than climate mitigation such as clean energy infrastructure. This post outlines some major areas, projects, and funding within the language passed in 2024.

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Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 Smart Water Magazine

NADBank to allocate $400 million to finance water projects in the US-Mexico border region

During the first semiannual meeting of the North American Development Bank (NADBank) in 2025, the Governments of the United States and Mexico, through the Board of Directors, agreed to invest up to US$400 million in priority water conservation and diversification infrastructure in response to prolonged drought conditions throughout the U.S.-Mexico border region. NADBank will welcome input from the public on the Water Resilience Fund (WRF) during a 30-day public comment period, after which the Board will consider its final approval. Through the WRF, NADBank will allocate up to US$100 million in retained earnings over the next five years for concessional financing, as well as make up to US$300 million available for low-interest loans from its established lending resources. NADBank may also supplement these instruments with market-rate financing to further expand the reach and impact of available resources.

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Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 Manteca Bulletin (Calif.)

Opinion: If it wasn’t for water plus South San Joaquin Irrigation District securing & developing it, Manteca would be wide spot in the road like Milton

… Eastern San Joaquin County, like the rest of the Central Valley, is facing an uncertain future due to the looming state groundwater mandate that requires basins not to pump more water from an aquifer than is replenished in a given year. It is safe to say Milton will feel the pain when it comes big time. To prevent a similar fate, the SSJID has developed a long range water plan critical in its fight to keep the state from ignoring historical front-of-the-line legally adjudicated water rights to commandeer water from the Stanislaus River basin to use as they see fit. That, coupled with the groundwater mandate, would have a major negative impact on Manteca, Ripon, Escalon and the surrounding countryside as well as Lathrop and Tracy. While it wouldn’t send the South County back to the 1880s, it would still be devastating. And if you think this is only a problem for farmers, guess again. Choke off the water supply based on average or above average precipitation years, and you will devalue existing homes.
–Written by Manteca Bulletin editor Dennis Wyatt.

Other groundwater news:

  • Science of the Total Environment: Report: Assessing risk of groundwater pollution exposure from sea level rise in California
  • The Arizona Republic: Arizona will monitor 4 more groundwater pollutants, enforce stricter limits on 3 others
  • Eos: Blog: Fallowed fields are fueling California’s dust problem
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Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 KJZZ (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Monday Top of the Scroll: Arizona could get a better deal in Colorado River water negotiations under Trump, experts say

… Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said at a recent roundtable that under the Trump administration, the state could be better positioned than it was under the Biden administration. … Under the Biden administration, the Lower Basin states sent a proposal to the federal government offering to take 1.5 million acre-feet of water cuts per year. Arizona would cut the most, at 750,000 acre-feet. The Biden government rejected the Lower Basin’s proposal and issued an “alternative report” on Jan. 17, almost the last day of the administration. … Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen went on to say he also wants the federal government to tie in expensive infrastructure projects to the negotiations, and not just river-related infrastructure, but maybe even a desalination plant in California. Petersen said if Arizona were to help pay for that, then Arizona could take some of California’s Colorado River allocation.

Other Colorado River Basin news:

  • The Colorado Sun (Denver): Meet the controversial activist (Gary Wockner) who has shaken Colorado’s water world and made 2025 a banner year for its rivers
  • Live Science: Groundwater in the Colorado River basin won’t run out — but eventually we won’t be able to get at it, scientists warn​
  • CBS Colorado: Northern Colorado water district to tap aquifer 800 feet underground, securing drinking water for expected growth
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Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 SJV Water

Attempt to boot judge off of Kern River case by water agency denied

A move to boot Kern County Superior Court Gregory Pulskamp off the long-running Kern River lawsuit was denied, according to a ruling issued Tuesday by the assistant presiding judge of the court. The Kern County Water Agency filed a motion May 30 to remove Pulskamp citing its belief the judge would be biased against the agency because a preliminary injunction he had issued requiring enough water be kept in the river for fish was overturned by the 5th District Court of Appeal. … Typically, disqualification motions come after a trial outcome is reversed, not in the middle of an ongoing lawsuit, according to attorney Adam Keats, who represents Bring Back the Kern and several other public interest groups fighting to get water back in the riverbed through Bakersfield. The agency, however, argued in its motion that the injunction and reversal should be considered similar to a trial. No, they are not similar, states a motion by the City of Bakersfield urging Kern’s presiding judge to deny the agency’s motion.

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Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 Lost Coast Outpost (Eureka, Calif.)

Podcast: The EcoNews Report: Stopping the spread of golden mussels

Before enjoying Ruth Lake this summer, be sure to clean, drain and dry all gear, boats and trailers to prevent the spread of the invasive golden mussel. The golden mussel, native to East and Southeast Asia, was first documented in California in 2024. Like quagga and zebra mussels, the golden mussel is capable of rapidly spreading, wreaking ecological health and threatening water infrastructure and water quality. Thomas Jabusch of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Michiko Mares of the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District join the program to golden mussels, their threat, and what you can do to stop the spread of this invasive species.

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Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 JDSupra

Blog: PFAS drinking water standards: state-by-state regulations

The regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in drinking water remains one of the primary focuses for legislatures and agencies at both the state and federal levels. In May 2025, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) affirmed Maximum Contaminant Levels (“MCLs”) of 4 parts per trillion (“ppt”) for two PFAS substances, perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”). Many states have already regulated PFAS compounds in drinking water but have done so in a variety of different ways, and at different levels. The result is a patchwork of regulations and standards which presents significant operational and compliance challenges to impacted drinking water systems. This client alert surveys MCLs, as well as guidance and notification levels, for PFAS compounds in drinking water across the United States.

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Aquafornia news June 16, 2025 Los Angeles Times

Forest lands along Klamath River returned to California’s Yurok Tribe

Along the Klamath River in Northern California, where logging companies once cut ancient redwood trees, vast tracts of land have been returned to the Yurok Tribe in a years-long effort that tribal leaders say will enable the restoration of forests and the protection of a watershed that is vital for salmon. The effort, which unfolded gradually over the last 23 years, culminated in May as Western Rivers Conservancy turned over 14,968 acres to the Yurok Tribe. It was the last portion of 47,097 acres that the nonprofit group acquired and transferred to the tribe in what is thought to be the largest “land back” deal in California history. Members of the tribe say they are celebrating the return of their ancestral lands along Blue Creek, a major tributary that meets the Klamath about 40 miles south of the Oregon border. Blue Creek holds cultural and spiritual significance for the Yurok, and its cold, clear waters provide a refuge for salmon.

Other Klamath River news:

  • Mother Jones: Klamath River reborn: a journey through America’s largest dam removal project
  • Herald and News (Klamath Falls, Ore.): Klamath River ‘First Descent’ is underway
  • Ashland.news (Ore.): ‘First Descent’ underway: Kayakers following undammed river
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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 USA Today

Trump gets OK to shrink or abolish some national monuments

A newly published U.S. Justice Department memo could open a path for President Donald Trump to roll back protections for millions of acres of federal lands and oceans. … The 50-page legal opinion provides guidance on the Antiquities Act, concluding the president has grounds to abolish two national monuments in California established in January by his predecessor Joe Biden. The Justice Department determined an opinion from the U.S. Attorney General nearly a century ago was incorrect. The DOJ found Trump has the power to abolish or reduce the size of national monuments established by other presidents. … Opponents (of the Antiquities Act) say it gives the federal government too much control over the resources within hundreds of thousands of acres of land and ocean and is sometimes inconsistent with other federal laws that require more public involvement. … Proponents say it allows presidents to move swiftly to protect vulnerable lands and waters, and it has broad public support due to the benefits of designating a site a monument.

Related articles:

  • Active NorCal: Mount Shasta’s new national monument could be erased by federal government
  • Wyoming Public Radio: Trump can undo national monument protections, DOJ says
  • Inside Climate News: Across the country, locals rally to protect national monuments threatened by the Trump administration
  • Read more
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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 Oregon Capital Chronicle (Salem)

Utah Sen. Mike Lee brings back proposal to sell public land in Western states

Utah Sen. Mike Lee is bringing back a proposal that would allow the federal government to sell off several million acres of public land in Utah and other Western states. … Introduced Wednesday evening, Lee’s amendment to congressional Republicans’ budget bill, nicknamed the “big, beautiful bill,” renews an effort initially spearheaded by Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, and Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, that sought to dispose of 11,500 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in southwestern Utah and some 450,000 acres of federal land in Nevada. … Though the scope is much bigger, Lee’s reasoning behind the proposal is the same as Maloy and Amodei’s — identify parcels of federal land near high-growth areas, and sell them at market value to local governments to use for housing, water infrastructure, roads and other development. 

Related articles:

  • The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.): National forest lands could be sold for housing under Senate proposal
  • Colorado Public Media: Millions of acres of public land in Colorado, other Western states could be sold under Senate reconciliation bill
  • High Country News (Paonia, Colo.): Senate Republicans want to sell 3 million acres of public land
  • The New York Times: A G.O.P. plan to sell public land is back. this time, it’s millions of acres.
  • E&E News by Politico: Land sale plan draws GOP foes, but how hard will they fight?
  • Read more
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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 Science Friday

EPA moves to accelerate Superfund cleanup amid cuts

Since January, the Trump administration has made sweeping cuts to science and research at federal agencies, slashing funding, laying off workers and terminating grants. A minority staff report from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee released in May called the administration’s actions a “war on science.” But amid these cuts, the administration plans to prioritize an environmental program that cleans up toxic waste dumps, also known as Superfund sites. … Some U.S. lawmakers, however, have expressed concerns that mass layoffs within the EPA and a dramatically reduced budget will hinder the agency’s ability to accelerate Superfund cleanups. … The Trump administration has justified Superfund budget cuts by highlighting taxes on the chemical industry that help finance the program. The Superfund program also received $3.5 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law under the Biden administration.

Other EPA news:

  • The Washington Post: EPA just delayed reporting safety data on 16 toxic chemicals. Here’s what to know.
  • Waste Dive: EPA encourages use of tribal assistance funding programs
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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 AP News

Friday Top of Scroll: Trump pulls US out of agreement to help restore salmon in the Columbia River

President Donald Trump on Thursday pulled the U.S. out of an agreement with Washington, Oregon and four American Indian tribes to work together to restore salmon populations and boost tribal clean energy development in the Pacific Northwest, deriding the plan as “radical environmentalism” that could have resulted in the breaching of four controversial dams on the Snake River. The deal, known as the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, was reached in late 2023 and heralded by the Biden administration, tribes and conservationists as historic. It allowed for a pause in decades of litigation over the harm the federal government’s operation of dams in the Northwest has done to the fish. Under it, the federal government said it planned to spend more than $1 billion over a decade to help recover depleted salmon runs. The government also said that it would build enough new clean energy projects in the Pacific Northwest to replace the hydropower generated by the Lower Snake River dams … should Congress ever agree to remove them.

Related articles:

  • The New York Times: Trump withdraws from agreement with tribes to protect salmon 
  • Oregon Capital Chronicle: Trump breaks historic Columbia River deal between U.S. government, tribes, Northwest states
  • Oregon Public Media: Trump upends historic Columbia River Basin agreement, bringing uncertainty to salmon recovery efforts
  • E&E News by Politico: Trump topples $1 billion Columbia River settlement deal
  • Read more
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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 KUSI (San Diego)

NASA EMIT instrument detects water pollutants off San Diego coast

A sensor on the International Space Station that helps map minerals was able to help track water contaminants off the San Diego coast. According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, researchers involved in a study of the instrument’s capabilities found that it could potentially help track some water contaminants faster than traditional means. The instrument is called the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) and it observes sunlight reflecting off the Earth. Recently, EMIT was used to examine the wastewater from the Tijuana River as it emptied into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Imperial Beach. … Researchers examined EMIT’s images pixel by pixel and were able to identify signs that indicated certain molecules present in specific areas of the image. When they cross-referenced their findings with water testing done on those same areas of the Pacific Ocean, the findings lined up, helping detect phycocyanin, a pigment in cyanobacteria, which can make humans and animals sick.

Other water pollution news:

  • NASA: News release: NASA sensor on space station eyes contamination off California coast
  • Courthouse News Service: Mercury in rivers surges to levels with serious consequences
  • KOAA (Colorado Springs, Colo.): State updates fish advisories amid PFAS concerns in southern Colorado waters
  • Natural Resources Defense Council: Blog: It’s time for California to act on nitrogen pollution
  • American Society for Microbiology: News release: ASM and AGU (American Geophysical Union) offer critical strategies to protect public health and safe drinking water amid climate change
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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 Cannabis for Conservation

News release: New effort launches a landscape-scale restoration initiative to reduce sediment in Northern California watersheds

A major new restoration initiative is launching across Northern California to protect imperiled aquatic species and improve the health of sediment-impaired watersheds historically impacted by cannabis cultivation and rural development. The project, Sediment Reduction on Cannabis Farms in Priority Northern Watersheds, is funded through the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife’s Cannabis Restoration Grant Program, and was awarded to Cannabis for Conservation (CFC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose programs conserve wildlife and restore habitats in cannabis-impacted landscapes. The project will reduce harmful sediment production and restore degraded watercourses across the Mattole, Eel, Mad, and Trinity River watersheds. These vital river systems are home to some of California’s most threatened and endangered species, including Coho and Chinook Salmon, Northern California steelhead, and newly proposed northwestern pond turtle.

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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 Phys.org

Wet soils increase flooding during atmospheric river storms

Atmospheric rivers are responsible for most flooding on the West Coast of the U.S., but they also bring much-needed moisture to the region. The size of these storms doesn’t always translate to flood risk, however, as other factors on the ground play important roles. Now, a new study helps untangle the other drivers of flooding to help communities and water managers better prepare. The research, published June 4 in the Journal of Hydrometeorology, analyzed more than 43,000 atmospheric river storms across 122 watersheds on the West Coast between 1980 and 2023. The researchers found that one of the primary driving forces of flooding is wet soils that can’t absorb more water when a storm hits. They showed that flood peaks were 2–4.5 times higher, on average, when soils were already wet. These findings can help explain why some atmospheric river storms cause catastrophic flooding while others of comparable intensity do not. 

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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 Tahoe Daily Tribune (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.)

Lake Tahoe’s biggest threat spotted: golden mussels

Golden mussels are an invasive aquatic species that disrupt ecosystems, filter away nutrients and damage shorelines – and they were recently spotted on a boat trying to enter Lake Tahoe. … This season, boating in California’s Folsom Lake State Recreation Area requires a mandatory 30-day quarantine or decontamination, while other water bodies like Shasta Lake do not require any pre-launch inspection. No matter the protocol, the spread of the golden mussel has raised alarm among scientists and advocates, and its spotting in the Tahoe basin is no small scare. … In the past, some marinas shut down completely after the discovery of a new invasive species – this happened in Lake Mead after the 2007 introduction of zebra mussels. Because Tahoe is so intertwined with outdoor recreation, though, enhanced enforcements need to be thoughtfully crafted. 

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Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 AP News

Arizona farm raising fish prompts water use questions

In the desert of landlocked Arizona, where the Colorado River crisis has put water use under a microscope, Mainstream Aquaculture has a fish farm where it’s growing the tropical species barramundi, also known as Asian sea bass, for American restaurants. … But some experts question whether growing fish on a large scale in an arid region can work without high environmental costs. That question comes down to what people collectively decide is a good use of water. … The farm uses groundwater, not Colorado River water. … Arizona has seven areas around the state where groundwater is rigorously managed. Dateland doesn’t fall into one of those, so the only rule that really governs it is a law saying if you land own there, you can pump a “reasonable” amount of groundwater. … What might be considered “reasonable” depends from crop to crop, and there’s really no precedent for aquaculture, an industry that hasn’t yet spread commercially statewide.

Other water use and conservation news:

  • The Business Journals: Country clubs face a water challenge as their fortunes rise​
  • Arizona Republic (Phoenix): It’s a thirsty world for Arizona wildlife. How a state agency keeps water basins full
  • Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah): Opinion: The wisdom for water in the West
  • Read more
  • View Original Article
Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 Denver Gazette (Colo.)

Snow should be gone soon with Colorado at just 36% of snowpack norm for date

It’s been a wet several weeks in Colorado, but as Coloradans know, moisture tends to come in the form of rain at this point in the year. And as snowpack continues to dwindle around the state, several regions are far behind their snowpack norm for the date. According to data provided by the USDA, the state of Colorado is at just 36 percent of the snowpack norm for June 12. … Meanwhile, western Colorado is hurting for snowpack, too, with the Colorado Headwaters river basin at just 28 percent of what’s typical. … It’s also worth noting that places where the snow has disappeared the fastest are also where some of the state’s most serious drought conditions are found. Currently, it’s estimated that about 60 percent of the state is ‘abnormally dry’ or in a phase of drought, compared to 38 percent at the same point last year. 

Other Colorado River Basin news:

  • Big Pivots: Blog: Why climate change must be part of the Colorado River conversation
  • Colorado Public Radio: Trump’s latest budget proposal could gut climate and weather research in Colorado
  • USDA: Colorado water supply outlook report
  • National Integrated Drought Information System: News release: Water year 2025 snow drought current conditions summary and impacts in the West​
  • Mesa County (Colo.): News release: Commissioners support a proposal to Colorado Water Conservation Board for Shoshone Water Rights​
  • Read more
  • View Original Article
Aquafornia news June 13, 2025 Victorville Daily Press (Calif.)

People voted for the best lake in the US. Turns out, it’s in California

It can be difficult determining the best lakes in a country as large as America. But the people have spoken, and it turns out, California is home to two. Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County was voted the best lake in the United States by USA TODAY 10Best, in which an expert panel nominates their picks for readers to vote on. It’s a popular destination for visitors eager to get out on the water; Fishing, boating, waterskiing, paddleboarding and summertime swimming are just some of the ways people can enjoy the stunning lake located in the San Bernardino National Forest of Southern California. … But Big Bear Lake isn’t the only body of water in California to make the list of 10 best lakes in the nation. Coming in at No. 10 is the popular Lake Havasu, which straddles both California and Arizona. 

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