{"id":223893,"date":"2026-01-08T21:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T21:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/223893\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T21:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T21:28:11","slug":"daily-digest-1-8-la-nina-could-end-soon-heres-what-to-expect-new-central-valley-flood-mar-dashboard-integrates-floodwater-and-groundwater-management-urban-wildfire-water-system-capacities-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/223893\/","title":{"rendered":"DAILY DIGEST, 1\/8: La Ni\u00f1a could end soon – here’s what to expect; New Central Valley Flood-MAR dashboard integrates floodwater and groundwater management; Urban wildfire: Water system capacities and limitations; Farmers pioneer water solutions as Colorado River dwindles; and more … ~ MAVEN’S NOTEBOOK"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On the calendar today \u2026<\/p>\n

MEETING: Delta Protection Commission meets beginning at 5pm in Sacramento.\u00a0 Agenda items include potential approval of proposed Rio Vista General Plan based on Review of the Land Use Resource Management Plan Policies and an update on Delta Conveyance Project Appeals and potential approval of additional comment letter.\u00a0\u00a0Click here for the full agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In California water news today \u2026
\nLa Ni\u00f1a could end soon. Here\u2019s what California can expect.<\/p>\n

\u201cLa Ni\u00f1a, the seasonal climate pattern that emerged<\/a> in the fall, will likely end by spring in California.\u00a0 There is a 75% chance that the current La Ni\u00f1a conditions, which bring a cascade of global weather impacts, will fade out between now and the end of March, the National Weather Service\u2019s Climate Prediction Center reported on Thursday.\u00a0\u00a0So far, the recent wet weather has come as somewhat of a surprise, since La Ni\u00f1a tends to correlate with dry winters for much of California, especially the south. Yet forecasters say the state could still dry out.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSome scientists think that the impacts of La Ni\u00f1a on California really don\u2019t get quite underway until January, February, March,\u201d Michelle L\u2019Heureux, a climate scientist at the Climate Prediction Center, told SFGATE. \u201cSo just because it\u2019s been wetter until now doesn\u2019t mean that La Ni\u00f1a isn\u2019t happening. It just may not have yet shown its influence on California.\u201d \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from SF Gate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The western US is in a snow drought \u2013 here\u2019s how a storm made it worse<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch of the western U.S. has started 2026 in the midst of a snow drought. That might sound surprising, given the record precipitation from atmospheric rivers hitting the region in recent weeks, but those storms were actually part of the problem.\u00a0\u00a0To understand this year\u2019s snow drought \u2013 and why conditions like this are a growing concern for western water supplies \u2013 let\u2019s look at what a snow drought is and what happened when atmospheric river storms arrived in December.\u00a0 \u00a0Typically, hydrologists like me measure the snowpack by the amount of water it contains. When the snowpack\u2019s water content is low compared with historical conditions, you\u2019re looking at a snow drought.\u00a0 A snow drought can delayed ski slope opening dates and cause poor early winter recreation conditions.\u00a0 It can also create water supply problems the following summer. The West\u2019s mountain snowpack has historically been a dependable natural reservoir of water, providing fresh water to downstream farms, orchards and cities as it slowly melts. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that up to 75% of the region\u2019s annual water supply depends on snowmelt\u00a0\u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from The Conversation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:\u00a0Where\u2019s the snow? For these places, there hasn\u2019t been much this season<\/a>, from the Washington Post<\/p>\n

Water pours down Oroville Dam spillway as reservoir rises following big storms <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a sight that usually means California is having a good winter and water supplies are healthy.<\/a> \u00a0This week, operators at Oroville Dam, the tallest dam in the United States, which holds back California\u2019s second-largest reservoir, opened the spillway gates and began releasing billions of gallons of water down the massive concrete spillway into the Feather River below.\u00a0\u00a0The reason? It\u2019s not to waste water. But to prevent floods.\u00a0 Like many reservoirs in California,the 10-mile-long, 3.5-million-acre-feet capacity reservoir in Butte County, a linchpin of the state\u2019s water supply, has filled fast thanks to a series of major storms over the past three weeks. During wet winters, dam operators often let water out of reservoirs to make room for future rainfall. This way, they can control water releases. If they let reservoirs fill too early in the winter and spill on their own, the volumes of water that come down spillways and outlet pipes can cause flooding to homes and businesses downstream. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the San Jose Mercury News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New Central Valley Flood-MAR dashboard integrates floodwater and groundwater management
\n\"\"High river flows on the San Joaquin River at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge in Stanislaus County, California. Photo taken June 13, 2023.
Florence Low \/ California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia is taking a new, data-driven approach to capturing floodwaters for groundwater recharge. The Department of Water Resources (DWR), in coordination with GEI Consultants, has released the Central Valley Flood-MAR Dashboard for public testing, allowing water managers across the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys the opportunity to explore the tool and offer feedback.\u00a0\u00a0In response to Governor Newsom\u2019s California Water Supply Strategy: Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future, DWR is providing regulatory and technical assistance to groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and other local public agencies to increase the pace and scale of groundwater recharge and support long-term groundwater management for sustainability and resilience.\u00a0\u00a0Diversion in 2023, which were permitted under Executive Orders N-4-23 and\u00a0N-7-23 as well as California Water Code \u00a71242.1, highlighted the need for increased system-wide coordination to maximize potential recharge. In response, this dashboard brings together statewide forecasts and local flood information to help identify when and where excess water may be available and how it can be safely managed. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the Department of Water Resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Remote weather stations rebuilt to aid flood risk management<\/p>\n

\u201cOver 10,000 feet above sea level in Sequoia and Kings National Parks dozens of weather station towers are sprinkled amongst a forest of towering trees. These towers house antennas and sensors designed to collect valuable water data used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District and many of its partners. Though these stations are built to withstand extreme weather, there comes a time \u2014 about every 50 years or so \u2014 when the stations need a little more than routine annual maintenance.\u00a0 This was the case for two USACE-operated weather stations that were rebuilt in 2025: Upper Tyndall near Mt Whitney, in the Kern River watershed, and Mitchell Meadow near Cedar Grove, California, in the Kings River watershed.\u00a0 In 2017, the Upper Tyndall station began leaning after heavy snowfall that season. Similarly, Mitchell Meadow was found collapsed during an annual maintenance visit in 2023. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the US Army Corps of Engineers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Newsom\u2019s signature water tunnel is set back by California court ruling<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a decision that could complicate Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s push to build a giant water tunnel and remake California\u2019s water system, a state appeals court has rejected the state\u2019s plan for financing the project.\u00a0\u00a0The 3rd District Court of Appeal ruled against the state Department of Water Resources\u2019 plan to issue billions of dollars in bonds to build the 45-mile tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.\u00a0\u00a0The decision is a win for California ratepayers and taxpayers, said Roger Moore, a lawyer representing six counties in Northern California and two water agencies in the Delta region.\u00a0 He said it underlines that state agencies \u201chave to take real steps to make sure that there is transparency and accountability.\u201d \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the LA Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Urban wildfire: water system capacities and limitations<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cOne year after the January 2025 fires devastated communities across Los Angeles, the region is still reckoning with how its infrastructure performed and whether it should be modified to perform under increasingly extreme conditions. The anniversary has sharpened an urgent policy question with far-reaching consequences: as urban wildfires become more frequent and severe, what role can water systems realistically play in protecting lives, supporting emergency response, and guiding resilient rebuilding? A new UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation publication, Water Systems\u2019 Wildfire Fighting Capacities and Expectations: Workshop Synthesis Report, begins to answer this question.\u00a0\u00a0With growing public debate about the ability of systems to deliver high volumes of pressurized water during major fire events, researchers at UCLA, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources\u2019 California Institute for Water Resources, and Arizona State University launched a four-part workshop series to examine water\u2013fire resilience. The effort, funded primarily by UCLA\u2019s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, aims to strengthen both how communities prepare for and recover from the growing overlap between water systems and wildfire risk. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Continue reading from the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lessons from the Caldor Fire\u2019s Christmas Valley \u2018Miracle\u2019
\n\"\"Hugh Safford overlooks Echo Lake, near Caldor fire burn area (c) Kat Kerlin, UC Davis<\/p>\n

\u201cIn what came to be called the \u201cChristmas Valley miracle,\u201d the Lake Tahoe Basin communities of Christmas Valley and Meyers were spared in late August 2021 when the massive Caldor Fire entered the basin, burning more than 222,000 acres and forcing roughly 30,000 people to evacuate during one of the hottest, driest summers on record. Outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin, the fire destroyed over 1,000 structures, many of them homes.\u00a0\u00a0Decades of fuel-reduction treatments conducted by federal, state and local land managers to protect people\u2019s communities well before the fire are widely credited for the \u201cmiracle.\u201d But forest ecologists from the University of California, Davis, wanted to understand which treatments worked best to protect the forest. Such questions are increasingly important for the Lake Tahoe Basin, which is one of the most wildfire-threatened landscapes in the West. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from UC Davis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When flames feed life: Birds and wildfire in California
\n\"\"A barn owl hunting for fleeing prey along a fire\u2019s periphery. Image by Jeffrey Adams\/USFWS.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the forests of the Sierra Nevada, the black-backed woodpecker is without parallel. The bird appears almost born of fire, thriving on the flames that flicker through California\u2019s coniferous forests every few years. Swooping in shortly after a blaze subsides, this woodpecker species, Picoides arcticus, nests in the hollowed-out trees the burn has left behind, gorging on an abundance of longhorn and bark beetles. Throughout the forest, a steady whack-whack can be heard from the birds\u2019 bills drilling into charred wood.\u00a0\u00a0The relationship between wildlife and wildfire is a complicated one. Many bird species, like the black-backed woodpecker, need the occasional inferno to create new habitat by opening up the forest canopy and increasing available food by kicking off a boom in insect populations.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhile it\u2019s ephemeral, it\u2019s a native habitat of California that many species rely on and have evolved with over millions of years,\u201d says ornithologist Morgan Tingley, whose research at the University of California, Los Angeles, focuses on the interplay of fire and bird populations. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Mongabay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

GAO REPORT: Freshwater supply: Interior should continue to identify improvements to the large-scale water recycling program<\/p>\n

\u201cWater recycling treats wastewater so it can be used for drinking water, farming, housing, and industry. Communities across the U.S. also turn to water recycling to increase existing water supplies.\u00a0\u00a0The Bureau of Reclamation selected 5 projects in Southern California and Utah to receive grants worth about $308 million for developing water recycling projects. Projects will serve rural, suburban, and urban communities.\u00a0\u00a0Agency officials identified ways to address challenges they had implementing the initial grant program. We recommended the Bureau document the experience so that Congress can improve the program if it is revised or reauthorized. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the GAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

YOUR INPUT WANTED: Help shape the 2026 Delta Science Plan<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Delta Stewardship Council\u2019s Delta Science Program has released the third iteration of the Delta Science Plan<\/a> for public review. The Delta Science Plan outlines the vision, principles, and strategies guiding science in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.\u00a0\u00a0All members of the Delta science community and interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide input. This includes federal, state, and local agency scientists, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, and members of the public who care about the future of the Delta.\u00a0\u00a0The Delta Science Plan serves as a framework for organizing, coordinating, and communicating science activities to support this vital region. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more about the Delta Science Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How Doug LaMalfa worked to advance Native Americans in his district<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia Congressman Doug LaMalfa\u2019s legislative focus was partially influenced by geography.\u00a0 The current 1st Congressional District stretches across 10 counties, including Shasta and Siskiyou counties, and encompasses many tribal lands.\u00a0\u00a0While boundaries of the new district will change next year as legislative redistricting is ushered in under Proposition 50, the presence of those tribal lands helped shape LaMalfa\u2019s work over the past dozen years.\u00a0 Most recently, he was a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaskan Native Affairs and had served as the subcommittee\u2019s chairman from 2017-2018. \u2026\u00a0Jack Potter, Jr., chairman of the Redding Rancheria tribe who called LaMalfa \u201ca personal friend,\u201d said early Tuesday that he was \u201cdevastated\u201d by news of\u00a0the Republican congressman\u2019s sudden death<\/a>. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In commentary today \u2026
\nReversing California\u2019s policies of scarcity<\/p>\n

Edward Ring, Director of Water and Energy Policy at the California Policy Center, writes, \u201cA new year has begun, and here in California, 2026 promises to deliver challenges that may at last transform the state\u2019s energy and water policies. Let\u2019s begin with a quick look at California\u2019s current water policies in action.\u00a0\u00a0The last month of 2025 delivered a series of storms that merited the distinction of being dubbed \u201catmospheric rivers.\u201d How much of that abundant deluge was harvested, and how much was arguably squandered?\u00a0\u00a0The best source for this information is through the California Data Exchange Center, a website maintained by the California Department of Water Resources. And what it shows illustrates just how committed the state agencies that manage California\u2019s water supply are committed to scarcity. Three variables are all it takes to make this assessment; all of them concern the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The outflow of water from the delta into the ocean during December 2025 totaled just over 1.7 million acre feet. The amount pumped into the California Aqueduct totaled 184,974 acre feet, and the amount pumped into the Delta Mendota Canal totaled 126,845 acre feet. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Edward Ring<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How Prop 4 funding can best serve California communities<\/p>\n

Audrey Siu, Urban Resilience Director for Los Angeles Waterkeeper, writes, \u201cCalifornia voters made a bold choice in approving Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond to help us adapt to rising temperatures, worsening wildfires, and climate-driven floods. It will take years to reap the benefits from this bond. But the devil is in the details \u2013 the specifics of how funds are dispersed will make or break its success.\u00a0\u00a0$10 billion is simultaneously a lot of money and nowhere near enough to fully prepare our state for the challenges to come. Spending these funds efficiently is critical for reaching Prop 4\u2019s stated goals.\u00a0\u00a0Managing the climate crisis is proving particularly challenging because most cities historically built \u201csingle purpose\u201d infrastructure. \u2026\u00a0To avoid these types of unintended consequences, projects funded through Prop 4 must take an integrated approach. L.A. County\u2019s experience disbursing funds from its own suite of late 2010\u2019s public funding measures offers important lessons. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Capitol Weekly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In regional water news and commentary today \u2026
\nNORTH COAST
\nWarmer winters, less snow is making farming harder in the Klamath Basin<\/p>\n

\u201cFarmers in the Klamath Basin, like Fernando Rayas, are facing uncertainty as climate change impacts their ability to grow local produce.\u00a0 Rayas, a resident of Merrill, has witnessed significant changes over the years, including the 2001 water shutdown that devastated many farmers.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cEvery year you don\u2019t know what\u2019s gonna happen,\u201d Rayas said.\u00a0 Rayas continues to operate using traditional farming methods. Depending on how much rain the region gets, he can plant all of his entire hundred acres.\u00a0 \u201cJust one tractor away from the dream,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0His ability to afford modern equipment such as tractors depends heavily on the amount of rain received each year.\u2019 \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from KDRV<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Science of Suckers: What\u2019s driving population declines in the Klamath River basin?<\/p>\n

\u201cIts early morning as we pass a green expanse of farmland and pull into a parking lot with a boat ramp sloping into the massive waters of Upper Klamath Lake. Paving machines drone next to us, widening the road winding along the lake shore. A thick haze of yellow-brown wildfire smoke hangs in the air, obscuring faint outlines of the high peaks surrounding Crater Lake across the water. A swarm of midges and sea of algae greet us as we load our boat. We pack up, leave shore, and head toward our first target\u2014a set of trap nets\u2013with tempered hopes of finding something exceedingly rare: evidence of surviving juvenile suckers.\u00a0\u00a0WFRC scientists are working tirelessly to identify the factors driving the loss of juvenile suckers. Though the problem is complex, our researchers have plans to continue to home in on why juvenile suckers are dying in such large numbers. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the USGS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SACRAMENTO VALLEY
\nSMUD cancels agreement to purchase power from Coyote Creek solar project<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Sacramento Municipal Utility District, or SMUD, announced earlier this week that it\u2019s canceling the agreement signed in 2021 to purchase power from the controversial Coyote Creek solar project.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSMUD made the decision to terminate the power purchase agreement for the Coyote Creek project due to multiple uncertainties and risks that developed since the contract was signed in 2021, including supply chain challenges, rising costs, environmental concerns, schedule delays and other evolving factors,\u201d SMUD said in an emailed statement.\u00a0\u00a0The 200 megawatt project involves developing over a thousand acres in southeastern Sacramento County and was meant to help SMUD reach its clean energy goals.\u00a0\u00a0But it\u2019s received a surge of pushback from environmental groups and locals, especially in recent months, who say it would decimate sensitive habitats and irreplaceable oak trees. Some groups also filed lawsuits against the Sacramento County board of supervisors after they approved the project in November. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Capital Public Radio<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NAPA\/SONOMA
\nBeaches close along Sonoma Coast as untreated wastewater continues to spill into Russian River<\/p>\n

\u201cBeaches were closed Wednesday along the Sonoma County coast and warnings were posted urging people to keep out of the water as untreated wastewater continued to spill into the Russian River from a sewage treatment plant in Guerneville.\u00a0\u00a0The spill, which was reported Tuesday morning as a result of overflow from the region\u2019s storms, has yet to be contained, prompting an urgent response by county health and water officials.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cUntreated wastewater contains bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that can cause illness,\u201d said Sonoma County Interim Health Officer Michael Stacey. \u201cContact with river water poses a health risk, particularly for children, pets, older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems. The public is advised to avoid all contact with the Russian River until further notice.\u201d \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:\u00a0Sonoma County Storms Spill Wastewater into Russian River, Residents Warned to Stay Away<\/a>, from KQED<\/p>\n

BAY AREA
\nExperts examine how climate change will create more king tides in Bay Area<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a storm coupled with record king tides swept the Bay Area, residents are now processing the reality that this can happen again.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAs far as we know, it\u2019s the biggest tide and storm at the same time that we\u2019ve had in about 30 years here,\u201d said Ari Gorman, Larkspur resident.\u00a0\u00a0Over the weekend, a neighborhood in Larkspur flooded. Water entered garages as residents went out in kayaks and paddleboards.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe had to kind of swim in and out,\u201d said Gorman. \u2026 \u201cKing tides give us a good picture into what future sea levels can look like and the problems that that creates. And in the current events, you can see that those problems, particularly this time of year, are going to be quite commonly coupled with rainwater and strong winds. So, the strong winds are going to be pushing those tidal waters even higher up on us,\u201d said Professor Beck. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from ABC Bay Area<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Discover how Valley Water is building climate resilience; read the latest biennial report<\/p>\n

\u201cValley Water\u2019s mission is to provide safe, clean water, protect against flooding, and care for local streams. Climate change is affecting this mission. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, more severe droughts, a declining Sierra Nevada snowpack and rising sea levels all impact water reliability, infrastructure, and ecosystem health throughout Santa Clara County.\u00a0 To address these challenges, the Valley Water Board of Directors adopted the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) in 2021. This plan is based on science and acts as a long-term guide to identify climate risks. It outlines actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the agency\u2019s ability to adapt to extreme weather conditions. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Valley Water News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CENTRAL COAST
\nFlooding again hits the Bolsa Knolls neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the first Sunday of January, Bolsa Knolls residents woke up to the recurrent sound of water flowing through their properties and their streets. This happens several times a year during the rainy season, keeping residents of the neighborhood north of Salinas vigilant to any storm warnings.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI wish I could say that we haven\u2019t seen this before, but that\u2019s not the case,\u201d says Lisa Wise, a longtime Bolsa Knolls resident, adding that water reached up to three feet deep.\u00a0\u00a0Residents have reached out to County Supervisor Glenn Church, who represents Bolsa Knolls, via emails and phone calls demanding actions to resolve the flooding issue.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt is the worst time,\u201d resident Francisco Maciel says. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Monterey Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cachuma Lake over capacity after recent rainfall<\/p>\n

\u201cCachuma Lake is over capacity following recent rainfall, prompting officials to release water from the dam and temporarily restrict some lake activities.\u00a0 The reservoir is currently at 101% capacity, according to Hugh McKay, who has served as a camp host at Cachuma Lake for nearly a decade.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe lake is over capacity right now,\u201d McKay said. \u201cThey\u2019re letting water out of the dam to offset it.\u201d \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from KSBY<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
\nFresno County farmer buys land, not for what\u2019s planted, but for what\u2019s underneath<\/p>\n

\u201cWith farmland prices sagging and new irrigation rules coming, diversified farmer Michael Vander Dussen didn\u2019t hesitate to spend $1.4 million for 321 acres in west Fresno County, as an insurance policy of sorts. Vander Dussen admits he isn\u2019t as interested in the land as much as its access to water. He recently planted a field of pistachio trees nearby, and he wants to make sure they survive. \u201cWhat I want to do is preserve the ability to continue to irrigate those young trees,\u201d Vander Dussen said. \u201cSo I will use some of that water.\u201d The state is in the process of implementing new water rules called the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The goal is to protect groundwater supplies by preventing over-pumping. As part of that, groundwater sustainability agencies have been formed in the high and medium priority basins to ensure the plan is being followed. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the Fresno Bee<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
\nWater Boards: Chiquita let hazardous material in river for days<\/p>\n

\u201cThe State Water Boards on Tuesday became the latest agency to cite the Chiquita Canyon Landfill for violations related to hazardous leachate being put into the Santa Clara River.\u00a0\u00a0The incident that sparked the violation occurred Nov. 14, when an error attributed to an employee at the Waste Connections facility resulted in 8,000 gallons of untreated leachate leaking from a pipe at the landfill.\u00a0\u00a0Chiquita Canyon notified the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board staff that day of the \u201ccharacteristically hazardous leachate on the top deck of the landfill. The leachate-comingled stormwater was pumped into the stormwater channel that flows into the East Basin where it remained (at the time),\u201d according to the State Water Board\u2019s letter Tuesday.\u00a0\u00a0But, in a subsequent storm, the leachate-comingled stormwater then flowed out of the basin and, ultimately, to the river. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from The Signal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

L.A. wildfires: With no clear cleanup standards, how to test for toxic soil<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the Palisades and Eaton fires burned last January, and for weeks afterward, clouds of ash blanketed the city. Contained in that ash were\u00a0 microscopic bits of heavy metals and synthetic chemicals from the homes that were consumed in the megafires. The Los Angeles hazards aren\u2019t unique: they\u2019ve become part of the wildfire legacy in wildland-urban interfaces throughout California.\u00a0 \u2026\u00a0Last year, both in Los Angeles County\u2019s fire-scarred neighborhoods and downwind of them, people wondered what exactly was in their gardens, yards, sandboxes and playgrounds \u2013 and raised questions about how risky it is to interact with the environment after a major wildfire.\u00a0Yet FEMA, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and L.A. County chose not to perform soil testing. FEMA instead ordered that the top few inches of soil be removed from burned properties. Local government and non-governmental organizations stepped in to provide testing and education, but no clear standard for testing soil or cleaning up homes safely exists. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Cal Matters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Inside the LA firestorm: What went wrong<\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:\u00a0Photos: One Year After the Los Angeles Wildfires<\/a>, from the Atlantic<\/p>\n

Mountain towns eagerly await snow as recent rains put damper on busy season <\/p>\n

\u201cMost years, when storms roll through Southern California during the winter holiday, local mountains transform into a wonderland blanketed in snow.\u00a0\u00a0But instead, the recent storms featured relentless rains, bringing a downpour of destruction \u2014 and disappointment.\u00a0\u00a0Local mountain towns bank on the cold-weather months to generate the bulk of their business for the year, and snow is the key ingredient to a successful winter season.\u00a0\u00a0But worry is growing as snow remains scarce and the forecast calls for sunny skies in the near future.\u00a0\u00a0In Wrightwood, the recent torrential rainfall delivered devastating mudslides that have crippled the mountain town. The road in reopened late Tuesday following a weeks-long closure to tourists who were expected to fill in through the Christmas and New Year\u2019s holiday break. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the OC Register<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Proposal for estuary restoration at Aliso Creek to be reviewed with environmental impact report <\/p>\n

\u201cTwo meetings will be hosted this month for public input on a proposal to restore a degraded estuary in South Laguna at Aliso Creek.\u00a0\u00a0Proposed by the Laguna Ocean Foundation, the project envisions restoring 9 acres of the marshy area and sand berm at the mouth of Aliso Creek, improving the link between the ocean and the nearby canyons and wildlands area.\u00a0 \u00a0Tidal wetlands such as Upper Newport Bay have an open connection to the ocean, with water filtering through freely. But the lagoons at the mouth of coastal creeks such as Aliso Creek and nearby San Mateo Creek are usually closed off from the sea by sand that builds up.\u00a0\u00a0With modern development along the creek\u2019s 35-mile watershed that starts in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains and drains to Aliso Beach, the area has become swamped by urban runoff. Local environmentalists have been sounding the alarm about growing pollution in the water, prompting discussions of restoring the lagoon to a healthy estuary ecosystem that supports native wetlands and wildlife. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the OC Register<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SAN DIEGO
\nSan Diego County begins in-house testing of wastewater for illness trends<\/p>\n

\u201cSan Diego County\u2019s public health lab Wednesday began in-house wastewater testing for diseases circulating through the community, with the results published on an online public dashboard.\u00a0\u00a0Sewage water samples are collected for testing from the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, South Bay Water Reclamation Plant and the Encina Wastewater Authority and allow public health officials to track trends in illness as they happen.\u00a0 This type of testing began regionally during the coronavirus pandemic with SEARCH (San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID Health), a county- supported partnership with Scripps Research and UC San Diego.\u00a0\u00a0Federal funding for SEARCH ended in December 2025, but with the May 2025 opening of the county\u2019s Public Health Lab, specialists began the training and equipment certification necessary for wastewater testing, according to a county statement. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from KPBS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Along the Colorado River \u2026
\nFarmers pioneer water solutions as Colorado River dwindles<\/p>\n

\u201cFarmers in two of Southern California\u2019s ag-centric irrigation districts have long been playing their part to slow the decline in the Colorado River\u2019s system supply. They do this while working with Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to provide water to 19 million urban residents.\u00a0\u00a0Blythe farmer Grant Chaffin is working toward a solution that could help him farm with less irrigation water from the Colorado River. Chaffin knows his solution won\u2019t solve long-term drought but can help him better manage the irrigation water he has.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t expect runoff to be what it normally is, because we\u2019ve been in this drought for so long that it has changed the soil profile,\u201d he said. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the Western Farm Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How 30 tribes became the most powerful voice on the river<\/p>\n

Rusty Childress writes, \u201cIn 1922, a small group of leaders divided the Colorado River behind closed doors. They ignored the Tribal Nations who lived near the water for centuries. They also ignored how the river actually worked. They looked at a few wet years and guessed there would always be plenty of water. They were wrong.\u00a0\u00a0For a long time, big dams hid those mistakes. But today, the water is running out. The seven states that use the river face a major federal deadline of Feb. 14. If they cannot agree on a new plan, the government may take control. The old days of using \u201cpaper water\u201d that does not exist are over. Everyone must face the reality of a dry river.\u00a0\u00a0This is where tribal power changes the game. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the Fountain Hills Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Santa Cruz County residents raise water concerns after mine testing shows elevated antimony<\/p>\n

\u201cResidents packed a Santa Cruz County meeting on Wednesday to raise concerns about water quality near the proposed Hermosa mining project, after testing detected elevated levels of antimony, a regulated pollutant.\u00a0 Community members addressed representatives from South32, the company behind the Hermosa mine, during public comment in Nogales, with many saying the issue goes beyond a single test result.\u00a0\u00a0For some residents, the discovery has renewed long-standing worries about groundwater quality and supply in Santa Cruz County.\u00a0 \u201cAntimony is a heavy metal and we are concerned,\u201d said Robin Lucky, a county resident of more than 20 years. \u201cIf you look at the periodic chart, it\u2019s in the same area as lead, manganese and those kinds of things.\u201d \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Channel 9<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Federal appraisers accused of ignoring water concerns in Arizona, inflating property values<\/p>\n

\u201cA nonprofit conservation group is accusing federal appraisers of ignoring water concerns in southern Arizona, leading to overvalued properties.\u00a0\u00a0The Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity said it received documents via the Freedom of Information Act showing that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) appraisers are not including environmental water scarcity factors in their reports for homes in Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca.\u00a0\u00a0Robin Silver, co-founder for the Center for Biological Diversity, told KTAR News 92.3 FM recently that it found 138 inaccurate appraisals. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from KTAR<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In national water news today \u2026
\nIs WIFIA\u2019s interest rate reset feature at risk?<\/p>\n

\u201cIn response to the Trump administration\u2019s slowdown of loan processing at the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, four water advocacy groups sent a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin in October last year asking for normal processing to resume. In December, a group of Democrat senators sent a similar letter requesting the same thing. The pressure worked \u2013 five loans totaling more than $500 million were rapidly approved and closed at the end of 2025.\u00a0\u00a0Such lobbying and political efforts can be quite effective, as they were in this case, when executive branch slow walking cannot be credibly justified. \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from Water Finance & Management<\/a>.<\/p>\n

White House completes plan to curb bedrock environmental law<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Trump administration has finalized a plan to roll back regulations implementing a landmark environmental law that the White House says needlessly delays federal approvals for energy and infrastructure projects.\u00a0 The action Wednesday by the White House Council on Environmental Quality rescinds regulations related to the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to consider a project\u2019s possible environmental impacts before it is approved.\u00a0\u00a0Katherine Scarlett, who leads the council, said in a statement that the directive will \u201cslash needless layering of bureaucratic burden and restore common sense to the environmental review and permitting process.\u201d\u00a0 Under Trump, she added, \u201cNEPA\u2019s regulatory reign of terror has ended.\u201d \u2026 \u201d\u00a0 Read more from the Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays. <\/p>\n

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