California Water Digest — 2026-07-22

20 item(s) from 10 source(s); 13 flagged (🔔) for your blog keywords.

📰 News & Policy

🔔 DAILY DIGEST, 7/21: The secret to water power for Tribes: Just add land; As Sites Reservoir nears completion, Colusa small businesses see hope; Metropolitan focuses on stored water access as Colorado River rules take shape; Data centers face a new environmental concern; and more …

Maven’s Notebook — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:00:25 +0000

[cmtoctableofcontents] 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. On the calendar today … MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9…

🔔 Ohio Scraps Controversial Plan to Ease Data Center Wastewater Discharges

Circle of Blue — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:31:54 +0000

Reading Summary: Ohio Scraps Data Center Wastewater Permit

Key Facts

Ohio EPA canceled a proposed general NPDES permit that would have allowed all data centers statewide to discharge untreated waste- and stormwater directly into waterways, regardless of size or location
The proposal explicitly stated that “a lowering of water quality…is necessary to accommodate important social and economic development” — described as unprecedented language
Over 7,000 public comments were submitted before the mid-January deadline, contributing to the agency’s reversal
Data center cooling effluents have been shown to include PFAS and nitrates; a rare bacteria at a Cheyenne, WY wastewater facility was traced to a Meta hyperscale data center construction project
New York, Michigan, Illinois, and Nebraska have all issued separate orders within the same week curtailing data center development or tax incentives

Who Is Affected

Agencies: Ohio EPA, U.S. EPA (ordered priority chemical review)
Advocacy groups: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Ohio Environmental Council
Ecosystems: Great Lakes watershed and Ohio waterways downstream of potential discharge sites
Municipalities: Cheyenne, WY (directly impacted by Meta discharge); Ohio communities near data center sites
Industry: Hyperscale data center developers (Meta specifically named)

Policy/Legal Angle

The canceled permit was a NPDES general permit under the Clean Water Act framework
Ohio EPA will revert to individual permitting for each data center, restoring site-specific review and public notice/comment rights
New York Gov. Hochul issued a one-year moratorium via executive order on new data center development
Nebraska and Illinois governors signed executive orders ending tax incentives for data center developers
Michigan Gov. Whitmer opted for a voluntary freshwater pledge rather than a binding order
Cheyenne, WY adopted a new policy requiring separate cooling wastewater storage tanks for most new data centers

Blog Angles

California parallel: Does California have an equivalent NPDES general permit framework that could be exploited similarly for data centers? What are CalEPA and the State Water Board’s current permitting requirements for data center discharges, particularly in watersheds already stressed by drought?
PFAS and source water risk: The article flags that data center effluents contain PFAS and nitrates but notes these haven’t been adequately studied. How are California drinking water utilities with intakes near data center clusters (e.g., in the Central Valley or Sacramento region) tracking or testing for these contaminants?
The multistate policy moment: Six states acted within roughly one week — is this coordinated, and is California conspicuously absent? Given the state’s large and growing data center footprint, why hasn’t California issued similar guardrails?

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🔔 Will the “super” El Niño fill Tulare Lake? A Fresno engineer thinks it’s almost certain

SJV Water — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:24:00 +0000

Reading Summary: Will the “Super” El Niño Fill Tulare Lake?

Key Facts

Fresno engineer John Ennis found a near-100% historical correlation between a Relative Oceanic Niño Index of level 2 or above and flooding on the Tulare Lake bed; the index is currently at 1.0, with NOAA predicting an 81% chance it reaches “very strong” levels through spring 2027.
Decades of groundwater pumping-driven land subsidence has shifted the lake bottom 7 miles south and east, fundamentally altering flood topography and potentially putting Corcoran and two state prisons under 6–10 feet of water with as little as 500,000 acre feet in the lake.
In 2023, the Tulare Lake received ~580,000 acre feet of floodwater, yet Corcoran stayed dry — partly because Boswell pumped water into flood storage cells and the Corcoran levee (currently at 190–192 feet) held, though surrounding land has sunk 2.28–3.96 inches since 2023 alone.
A dramatic comparison: the Kern River contributed 213,827 acre feet to the Tulare Lake bed in 1983 but zero in 2023 — entirely due to expanded groundwater recharge infrastructure.
Three previously separate flood zones near Corcoran appear to be merging due to subsidence, potentially inundating the high-speed rail corridor in up to 16 feet of water, per an Amec Foster Wheeler engineering report.

Who Is Affected

Communities: Corcoran, Allensworth, Alpaugh (small farm towns with limited protection)
Institutions: Two California state prisons near Corcoran; California high-speed rail project
Large agricultural interests: J.G. Boswell Company and John Vidovich (landowners on the lake bed controlling key levees and flood storage)
Water agencies: Kings River Water Association (Steve Haugen), Kern River Watermaster, Deer Creek Stormwater District (Jack Mitchell)
State agencies: California Natural Resources Agency (Secretary Wade Crowfoot), NOAA, DWR, USGS
Ecosystems: The historic Tulare Lake bed itself, a candidate for at least partial restoration

Policy/Legal Angle

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA): Directly cited as the driver behind rapid recharge basin construction that is now capturing water that previously flowed into Tulare Lake — a significant unintended flood-mitigation effect.
Eminent domain/land acquisition: Ennis’ proposed west-side permanent flood storage solution would require the state to purchase or condemn land currently owned by Boswell and Vidovich — a politically charged path with no current traction (Crowfoot’s office has not responded to Ennis’ letter).
Flood zone reclassification: The Amec Foster Wheeler report implies subsidence may necessitate updated FEMA flood zone maps, with implications for insurance, development permits, and infrastructure siting along the high-speed rail corridor.

Blog Angles

SGMA as accidental flood manager: The article buries a remarkable data point — SGMA-driven recharge cut Kern River contributions to Tulare Lake from 213,827 to 0 acre feet between 1983 and 2023. Is groundwater recharge policy quietly becoming California’s most effective flood control tool? And does that create a false sense of security heading into a strong El Niño?
Who is responsible for Corcoran’s flood risk? The levee protecting Corcoran is holding — for now — but the surrounding land keeps sinking and the flood zones are merging. Boswell controls much of the infrastructure that kept the city dry in 2023. What are the legal and liability implications if private agricultural flood management fails to protect a city and two state prisons?
The unanswered letter problem: Ennis sent detailed engineering findings to Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot and received no response. Is California systematically ignoring independent, citizen-funded engineering analysis on critical infrastructure risks? What is the state’s actual preparedness plan for a repeat or worse of 2023 in the Tulare Lake basin?

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VCMWD Honors the Life and Legacy of Former General Manager Gary T. Arant

ACWA — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:45:32 +0000

Reading Summary: VCMWD Honors Gary T. Arant

Key Facts

Gary T. Arant, former General Manager of Valley Center Municipal Water District (VCMWD), passed away July 16, 2026, shortly after retiring December 29, 2025.
He served 53 years total in California’s water industry, including nearly 37 years at VCMWD.
The VCMWD Board proclaimed December 29 as “Water Titan Day” in his honor.
He represented Valley Center on the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors and was active in ACWA and the San Diego County Farm Bureau.
VCMWD serves more than 30,000 people in Valley Center, portions of Escondido, and unincorporated San Diego County.

Who Is Affected

VCMWD ratepayers and staff in Valley Center and surrounding areas
San Diego County Water Authority (regional board representation)
Agricultural community served by the San Diego County Farm Bureau
Water professionals mentored by Arant across California

Policy/Legal Angle

No specific laws or regulations are cited; the article is an obituary/tribute piece.
Implicitly touches on public agency governance and long-term institutional leadership continuity.

Blog Angles

Leadership succession at small water districts — With nearly 37 years under one GM, how does VCMWD navigate institutional knowledge loss, and is this a broader challenge for California’s smaller water agencies?
The “Water Titan” framing — What does this kind of informal recognition reveal about how California water agencies build (or memorialize) professional culture and legacy?
Ag-urban water nexus in San Diego County — Arant’s dual role bridging VCMWD and the Farm Bureau raises questions about how that balance of agricultural and municipal interests is maintained under new leadership.

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🔔 ‘A five-alarm fire’: Western reservoirs that supply California fall to record low levels - Los Angeles Times

Google News — CA water — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:53:00 GMT

‘A five-alarm fire’: Western reservoirs that supply California fall to record low levels Los Angeles Times

First-of-Its-Kind Research Examines the Factors Accelerating – and Stalling – Solar Progress in California - The Nature Conservancy

Google News — groundwater/SGMA — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

First-of-Its-Kind Research Examines the Factors Accelerating – and Stalling – Solar Progress in California The Nature Conservancy

🔔 Metropolitan to Begin Wetland Restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta - Business Wire

Google News — Bay-Delta — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:36:00 GMT

Metropolitan to Begin Wetland Restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Business Wire

🔔 NOTEBOOK FEATURE: The secret to water power for Tribes: Just add land

Maven’s Notebook — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:57:54 +0000

By John Hart In the never-ending California water quarrels, the state’s Native American tribes seem to be having a moment. After centuries of neglect (or much worse), the Indians—to use the term they themselves fall back on—are starring in unfolding dramas at the State Water Resources Control Board, before the Delta Stewardship Council, and on sundry other stages. Just about every big water meetin…

🔔 ACWA Mourns Arant

ACWA — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:24:11 +0000

Reading Summary: ACWA Mourns Gary Arant

Key Facts

Gary Arant, past ACWA Board member and General Manager of Valley Center Municipal Water District, passed away; his death was announced July 16 by SDCWA Board Chair Nick Serrano
Arant served Valley Center MWD as General Manager for nearly 37 years, retiring in January 2026 after 52 total years with the district
He represented Valley Center MWD on the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) Board, continuing even after his retirement
His ACWA involvement dated to 1973, including multiple terms on the Board of Directors spanning 20 years and chairing the Energy, Local Government, and Communications committees
He received ACWA’s Emissary Award in 2007 and was recognized again at the 2024 Fall Conference

Who Is Affected

Valley Center Municipal Water District (North San Diego County)
San Diego County Water Authority
ACWA and its Region 10 Board
Agricultural community (Serrano noted Arant “advocated for farmers”)

Policy/Legal Angle

No specific laws or regulations cited; article is an obituary/tribute piece

Blog Angles

Institutional memory loss: With 52-year veterans like Arant gone, how does California’s water community preserve hard-won policy knowledge, particularly around agricultural water rights in San Diego County?
Rural district leadership: What does Arant’s 37-year tenure at a small municipal district reveal about governance challenges facing rural water agencies in finding and retaining comparable leadership?
ACWA’s regional influence: Arant chaired Energy, Local Government, and Communications committees — what policy legacies did he leave in each area that still shape ACWA positions today?

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Californians Support Strong Environmental Policy…to a Point - Public Policy Institute of California

Google News — CA water — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:16:14 GMT

Californians Support Strong Environmental Policy…to a Point Public Policy Institute of California

Redesigning Farmland Through Community Collaboration in California - eos.org

Google News — groundwater/SGMA — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Redesigning Farmland Through Community Collaboration in California eos.org

Yolo County declares emergency in response to golden mussel infestation - The Davis Enterprise

Google News — Bay-Delta — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:57:00 GMT

Yolo County declares emergency in response to golden mussel infestation The Davis Enterprise

🔔 INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS: As commercial salmon fishing resumes in California, the industry faces a murky outlook

Maven’s Notebook — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:56:35 +0000

State restoration efforts and federal disaster funding are helping the fish and the people who depend on it, but ongoing drought and a new marine heatwave pose significant challenges. By Steven Rodas, Inside Climate News This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter …

🔔 Regional Partnership Strengthens Reliability Across Riverside County

ACWA — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:58:22 +0000

Reading Summary: Regional Partnership Strengthens Reliability Across Riverside County

Key Facts

Western Municipal Water District’s Board approved regional water supply agreements with the City of Corona, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD), and Rancho California Water District
The agreements draw from a prior Western Water deal with the San Diego County Water Authority for up to 20,000 acre-feet annually — enough to serve approximately 60,000 Southern California households per year
Agreements run through 2047 and are projected to generate nearly $100 million in regional savings
Water will be distributed using existing regional infrastructure, avoiding costs of new facilities
Rancho Water specifically noted the agreement pairs with expanded groundwater storage at Valle de Los Caballos

Who Is Affected

Water agencies: Western Water, City of Corona, EVMWD, Rancho California Water District, San Diego County Water Authority
Communities served: Riverside County residents across the service areas of all four participating agencies
Ratepayers: Expected beneficiaries of long-term cost management through 2047

Policy/Legal Angle

No specific laws, regulations, or court decisions are cited in the article
The agreements are framed as long-term contractual arrangements between public water agencies — likely governed by California water agency contracting authority under the Water Code
The use of existing infrastructure raises implicit questions about existing conveyance rights and capacity agreements

Blog Angles

The SDCWA middleman model: Why is San Diego County Water Authority the source of this supply, and what does it signal about shifting water trading relationships in Southern California — especially given historical tensions between SDCWA and MWD?
$100 million in savings — compared to what? The article doesn’t name the alternative. A blogger could dig into what supply source this replaces and whether the savings claim holds up under scrutiny.
Valle de Los Caballos as a regional asset: Rancho Water’s mention of expanded groundwater storage there invites a deeper look at how conjunctive use and banking strategies are quietly reshaping Riverside County’s drought resilience toolkit.

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Amundi (CWT) discloses 5.83% beneficial stake in California Water Service Group - Stock Titan

Google News — CA water — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:47:14 GMT

Amundi (CWT) discloses 5.83% beneficial stake in California Water Service Group Stock Titan

🔔 Yolo County declares local emergency over threat of invasive golden mussels - Sacramento Bee

Google News — Bay-Delta — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:33:43 GMT

Yolo County declares local emergency over threat of invasive golden mussels Sacramento Bee

🔔 SJV WATER: Kings County groundwater agency increases expenses without secure funding source

Maven’s Notebook — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:56:19 +0000

By Monsserat Solis, SJV Water A Kings County groundwater agency nearly doubled its manager’s salary and added two part-time assistants even as it scrambles to find a secure revenue source. At its July 16 meeting, the South Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) approved a $354,996 contract with Green Acres Consulting to continue managerial services by General Manager Johnny Gailey. The…