Maven

California's snowpack has been shrinking for weeks and is expected to melt rapidly with a heat wave this week. #cawater @ByIanJames latimes.com/environment/st…

Anna Caballero, author of SB72, says there’s no concrete estimate for the cost to respond to worsening drought conditions, so she’s proposing a bond that could pay for implementing much-needed updates to the state’s water plan. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/14/cen…

A group has proposed an ambitious plan to build 8 massive desal plants off the CA coastline, making water for farming, and reducing demand on the ailing Colorado River. To meet the energy demand, the plants might have to be powered with nuclear reactors. #cawater usatoday.com/story/news/nat…

In Colorado, mountain towns are wrapping up one of the worst ski seasons that anyone can remember. But it’s not the slushy slopes that are on people’s minds right now. It’s the wildfire risk. #cawater #ColoradoRiver nytimes.com/2026/03/15/cli…

Common inspection programs and methods for detecting golden mussels—like boat inspections or eDNA—can be costly, labor intensive, and slow. Luckily, a new solution is on the rise: dogs that can smell invasive species. #cawater fishbio.com/golden-mussel-…

Recent radio monitoring shows that chinook salmon have reached stretches of the Upper Klamath River Basin—an area that anadromous fish have been absent from for over a century, according to a press release from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW). #cawater fieldandstream.com/stories/conser…

When a meter turns 15 years old or so, it stops measuring the water usage accurately, almost always in favor of the customer, sometimes undercounting by huge margins. Arcata has 6,600 old water meters that need to be replaced. #cawater lostcoastoutpost.com/2026/mar/13/ar…

Yuba Water Agency filed a report with FERC regarding the New Colgate Powerhouse incident, stating that the incident may have reduced water flow in the lower Yuba River and temporarily dried out rearing habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead. #cawater sacbee.com/news/politics-…

The State Lands Commission relied on flawed data to mischaracterize the impact of sand mining leases, which pose a threat to Bay wildlife and shorelines, says SF Baykeeper #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/14/pre…

Water supply certainty is in the future for San Joaquin Valley growers, according to three water experts who spoke at California Citrus Mutual’s Citrus Showcase Wednesday in Visalia. But it’s at least five to eight years out, acknowledged Paul Gosselin, at DWR. #cawater sjvwater.org/san-joaquin-va…

A proposal for the state Water Resources Control Board to exclude “small pumpers” in both the Tule and Tulare Lake subbasins from the groundwater reporting and fee requirements required under probation, elicited strong reactions from some Kings County farmers. #cawater sjvwater.org/some-kings-cou…

Mono Lake has revolutionized environmental law in California, the American West, and the U.S., bringing about important changes to water use and air quality regulations in recent decades. #cawater zocalopublicsquare.org/lonely-lake-re…

The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday is expected to enter into an agreement with Los Angeles County and Ocean Cleanup, an international conservation group, to forge a plan for stewarding a new trash collection system at the mouth of the river. #cawater lbpost.com/newsletter/can…

A heat wave will quickly melt what little snow there is, and the states along the river are struggling to agree on how to divvy up the dwindling resource, with the federal government potentially stepping in. #cawater #ColoradoRiver bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…

A record-breaking heat dome will develop near the West Coast late this week, smashing records and sending temperatures into the triple digits through next week — when it will feel like summer during the final days of winter. #cawater washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/0…

The same high-pressure ridge delivering mid-80s temps to Santa Rosa by Sunday will also preclude the possibility of “Miracle March”. Conditions could be setting up for an early dry season and an earlier fire season. #cawater pressdemocrat.com/2026/03/11/pro…

There is a 62% chance that El Niño conditions will begin between June and August and last at least through the end of the year. La Niña, which started last fall and ruled the winter, is expected to fade out any day. #cawater sfgate.com/weather/articl…

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has adopted three options for 2026 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California, which are available for public review. #cawater pcouncil.org/documents/2026…

The 2025 Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) Annual Report is now available, showcasing collaborative efforts to advance groundwater sustainability while benefiting ecosystems, local economies, and communities. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/12/rep…