Maven's Notebook

A record heat dome is about to hit the West — in March A powerful and unusually early heat dome will affect the West Coast for weeks, smashing March heat records as temperatures rise to summerlike levels.

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 www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026...

Prolonged March heat wave could set North Bay records, further shrink Sierra Nevada snowpack in bad sign for fire season With no storms in the forecast, conditions could be setting up for an early dry season and an earlier fire season — in the state’s interior, at least.

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 www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/03/11/p...

Signs of strong El Niño emerge. Here's what California can expect. Experts consider the year ahead.

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 www.sfgate.com/weather/arti...

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 www.pcouncil.org/documents/20...

REPORT: From planning to action: The Mutibenefit Land Repurposing Program's 2025 progress and impact The 2025 Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) Annual Report is now available, detailing program progress and regional activities. Prepared by the Statewide Support Entity with input from block...

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/r...

INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS: California water board will soon release a new rule to limit water pollution from dairies in the state More than 10 years after environmental groups petitioned for a new rule, the state plans to require the Central Valley Water Board to update its waste regulations for dairies contributing to groundwat...

More than 10 years after environmental groups petitioned for a new rule, the state plans to require the Central Valley Water Board to update its waste regulations for dairies contributing to groundwater pollution. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/12/i...

A surprising percentage of produce from the nation's largest supplier contains 'forever' pesticides Nearly 40% of nonorganic fruits and vegetables grown in California contain traces of pesticides that are also PFAS, or "forever chemicals," according to a new investigation.

Nearly 40% of nonorganic fruits and vegetables grown in California contain traces of pesticides that are also PFAS, or "forever chemicals," according to a new investigation. #cawater www.kcra.com/article/cali...

Solano Co.: California Forever Or California For Never? Plan To Build New City Polarizes County The two men stood near a rickety barbed wire fence by state Highway 12 between Suisun City and Rio Vista in Solano County, looking east over a vast tract of gently rolling rangeland.

For three years, California Forever has pitted the residents of Solano County against each other. What started off as an acrimonious flame war between supporters and detractors has now settled into a grinding battle of attrition. #cawater www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea...

SGMA IMPLEMENTATION: Unraveling the dynamics of interconnected surface water depletion Understand the challenges of managing interconnected surface water and groundwater under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

Managing interconnected surface water under SGMA presents complex challenges for local agencies. Find out how groundwater pumping impacts stream depletion over time. #cawater #groundwater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/11/u...

Nearly 40% of California produce contains PFAS pesticides, report finds Using state data, an environmental group found PFAS residue on more than 40 different kinds of fruits and vegetables grown in California. The state has approved 53 PFAS pesticide ingredients, while ot...

Nearly 40% of CA’s conventionally grown fruits and vegetables tested contained PFAS residues, including 90% of peaches and nectarines. #cawater www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Another valley groundwater subbasin will likely escape state intervention – SJV Water The Delta-Mendota subbasin, one of the largest in California, will likely avoid state enforcement. Staff from the state Water Resources Control Board

Water Board staff issued an assessment March 2 that recommends the Delta Mendota subbasin, which stretches over 765,000 acres across six counties, return to the oversight of the Department of Water Resources (DWR). #cawater sjvwater.org/another-vall...

California to see unprecedented heat wave in coming days Temperatures 30 degrees above normal are expected in parts of California as a startling weather event unfolds over the next 10 days.

One of California’s most startling weather events in recent memory is set to unfold over the next 10 days, a spell that could shatter records by extraordinary margins. www.sfchronicle.com/weather-fore... #cawater

GRIST: Why thinning a forest could get you more drinking water Scientists have shown how actively managing forests to prevent wildfires can also boost the snowpack, a critical source of hydration in the American west. By Matt Simon, Grist This story was originall...

Study finds up to 30 percent more snowpack on thinned forest plots compared to the areas left unkempt. Scaled up, that would mean an additional 4 million gallons of water per 100 acres of forest. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/06/g...

PRESS RELEASE: SF Baykeeper pursues appeal against Water Board amid extinction crisis Native fish populations are declining at an alarming rate while state regulators have failed to act From the San Francisco Baykeeper: On March 2, 2026, San Francisco Baykeeper, represented by Earthjus...

SF Baykeeper has filed a brief with the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the Sacramento Superior Court’s 2024 ruling on Phase 1 of the State Water Resources Control Board’s update to the Bay-Delta Plan. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/06/p...

PRESS RELEASE: Conservation groups and Tribes request release of overdue state report on 2022 Merced River drying Press release Friends of the River, American Rivers, Big Sandy Rancheria, and the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation have formally requested that the State Water Resources Control Board immediately release ...

Friends of the River, American Rivers, Big Sandy Rancheria, and the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation have formally requested that the State Water Resources Control Board immediately release its long-promised analysis of the 2022 Merced River drying event. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/06/p...

UC DAVIS: Study improves understanding of food safety risks in California Central Coast produce Environmental study with the FDA, UC Davis Western Center for Food Safety, CDFA and partners examined pathogen movement through the region By Amy Quinton, UC Davis A major five-year study on Californi...

A major five-year study on the Central Coast is helping scientists better understand how harmful bacteria can move through the environment. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/06/u...

Lake County seeks $2 million in federal funding to upgrade sewage system after Clearlake spill The aging series of sewer mains and pipelines that failed in early January sent 2.9 million gallons of raw sewage into a Clearlake neighborhood.

The Lake County Board of Supes is seeking $2M in federal funding to repair and upgrade the southeast wastewater collection system — the system that failed in early January and sent 2.9 million gallons of raw sewage into a Clearlake neighborhood. #cawater www.mendocinobeacon.com/2026/03/04/l...

Inside the cleanup at Englebright Lake after New Colgate Powerhouse pipe burst Almost all of the oil and debris have been removed from Englebright Lake in Yuba County after a major pipe failed back on Feb. 13.

Almost all of the oil and debris have been removed from Englebright Lake in Yuba County after a major pipe failed back on Feb. 13. #cawater www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/n...

Colorado River water negotiations: States reveal priorities in letters to federal agency FOX5 has obtained letters sent by negotiators from Nevada, California, Arizona and Colorado to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, revealing where each state’s water priorities lie and what is stalling a ...

FOX5 has obtained letters sent by negotiators from Nevada, California, Arizona and Colorado to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, revealing where each state’s water priorities lie and what is stalling a deal on Colorado River conservation. #cawater #ColoradoRiver www.fox5vegas.com/2026/03/06/c...

California warns federal government: Proposed Colorado River plans may violate century-old water compact SACRAMENTO — California water officials issued a formal warning to the federal government Monday, asserting that current draft plans for managing the Colorado River after 2026 lack a sound legal

California water officials issued a formal warning to the feds Monday, asserting that current draft plans for managing the Colorado River after 2026 lack a sound legal basis and unfairly shift the burden of drought onto Lower Basin states. #cawater www.ivpressonline.com/news/califor...

How a California desalination plant could ease water shortages on the Colorado River Relying on desalination, the San Diego County Water Authority will consider transferring water to cities in Arizona and Nevada that soon will face cuts in Colorado River water.

The San Diego County Water Authority’s board unanimously approved an initial agreement last week to consider selling some of its water to Arizona and Nevada, who are expected to face substantial cuts in water supplies. #cawater www.latimes.com/environment/...

How a new wave of water management called a “conservation pool” could provide a way forward for Colorado River users Some Colorado River experts say conservation pools are the wave of the future. Others say the concept is flawed and could hurt economies.

With no progress to speak of in the Colorado River negotiations, some water experts are looking to a conservation program — featuring pools of invisible water and some accounting magic — as a possible path forward. #cawater coloradosun.com/2026/03/04/c...

As promised, state delivers tough subsidence guidelines prompting some valley water managers to cry foul – SJV Water Though some valley groundwater managers say new state guidelines “move the goal posts” on subsidence, state regulators gave fair warning of what was

At a September workshop Deputy Director of DWR Paul Gosselin told attendees the new guidelines would require hard commitments and detailed action plans to stop the rapid sinking that has damaged canals and sunk such large sections of the San Joaquin Valley. #cawater sjvwater.org/as-promised-...

NOAA: West coast waters experiencing another large marine heatwave NOAA scientists track growth of heatwaves that can affect fisheries. A massive marine heatwave has dominated waters off the West Coast since last summer. This marks only the third time on record that ...

A massive marine heatwave has dominated waters off the West Coast since last summer. This marks only the third time on record that such a large section of the coastal ocean has remained so warm for so long without it being an El Niño. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/04/n...

Pathways for California State Oversight of Water Systems for Wildfires | UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation A discussion paper on California state oversight options for community water systems and wildfire fighting, weighing pros, cons, and evidence-based tradeoffs.

Discussion paper: What is the function, if any, for statewide oversight (in the form of data collection, guidance, frameworks, and standards) of community water systems’ role in fighting wildfires? #cawater innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/publication/...

New Colgate Powerhouse Failure: SYRCL Tracks Water Quality and Salmon Impacts on Yuba River • SYRCL On February 13, 2026, a catastrophic failure occurred at Yuba County Water Agency’s New Colgate Powerhouse during routine testing of a newly installed section

On Feb 13, 2026, a pipe failure at New Colgate Powerhouse caused a 400-acre-foot flood, damaging the facility and impacting the Yuba River. SYRCL is monitoring water quality and watershed effects. #cawater @yubariverpeople.bsky.social yubariver.org/posts/new-co...

PG&E moves up end date for Main Tuolumne Canal repairs to March 10 Tuolumne County’s primary source of drinking water could now be restored three days earlier than previously estimated, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced Tuesday morning.

Tuolumne County’s primary source of drinking water could now be restored three days earlier than previously estimated, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced Tuesday morning. #cawater www.uniondemocrat.com/news/article...

SIERRA NEVADA ALLY: How are water managers adapting to a smaller Sierra snowpack? Warming winters are reshaping runoff. With less snow to rely on, water managers are navigating a future defined by rain, risk, and uncertainty. By Claire Carlson, Sierra Nevada Ally This story was pro...

Warming temperatures mean precipitation falls as rain instead of snow, changing the decisions water managers make about storing runoff from the Sierras, which supplies drinking water to millions in both California and Nevada. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/03/s...

PRESS RELEASE: Board staff recommends Delta-Mendota Subbasin return to DWR oversight under SGMA Press release from the State Water Resources Control Board State Water Resources Control Board staff today released a Staff Assessment of the Delta-Mendota Subbasin recommending that the State Water B...

State Water Board staff today released a Staff Assessment of the Delta-Mendota Subbasin recommending that the State Board return the subbasin to the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) oversight under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/03/02/p...

State to consider excluding “small pumpers” from groundwater regulations  – SJV Water Editor's note: Monserrat Solis covers Kings County water issues for SJV Water through the California Local News Fellowship initiative.  Small farmers

Small farmers pumping less than 20 acre feet per year in the Tule and Tulare Lake subbasins may see some respite from the state’s groundwater reporting sanctions. #cawater sjvwater.org/state-to-con...