#californiawater — Public Fediverse posts

After 3 years of closures that devastated CA's fishing industry, commercial salmon fishing is poised to reopen this spring.

But that doesn't fix the underlying problem as our lead scientist @jarosenfield explains:
"As soon as it stops raining or snowing, we’re going to be back in the same situation with the salmon season closing. If we don't protect river flows and cold water storage, then we’re not protecting salmon."

https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/04/california-salmon-season-reopen-closure/

@CALMatters #cawater #californiawater #salmon #salmonseason #chinooksalmon

Unpredictable snowpack, dwindling water supplies, collapsing fish populations, and an expected update to the Bay-Delta plan make CA water management issues more urgent than ever before.

"And there are folks who just don't care about those things. And I like to tell them these are just messengers of worse things to come," as our lead scientist @jarosenfield told ABC-7 News.

That's why we're taking action, along with our partners at the Center of Biological Diversity, to hold the Bureau of Reclamation accountable under the law.

https://abc7news.com/post/california-environmental-groups-sue-stop-trumps-water-diversions/18700426/

#fish #fishing #cawater #californiawater #water #bureauofReclamation

We just sued to challenge the Trump Administration's dangerous water grab—and its devastating effects on Central Valley Steelhead, Green Sturgeon & Chinook Salmon—in partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the River 🐟

Learn more about the case: https://baykeeper.org/press_release/lawsuit-challenges-trumps-dangerous-water-grab-in-california/

#salmon #cawater #californiawater #fish #fishing #sturgeon

The CA Department of Water Resources has fundamentally failed to show that the Delta Tunnel plan would create a reliable water supply while protecting & restoring the Delta ecosystem - and at the extraordinary cost of *over $20 billion*
https://www.courthousenews.com/delta-conveyance-project-opponents-say-plan-would-hurt-environment-tourism-farming/

#deltatunnel #deltaconveyanceproject #cawater #californiawater

State officials have a once-in-a-generation chance to save California salmon—and they're failing.

As our lead scientist @jarosenfield stresses in this article, the state's plan would drive native fishes to extinction:

https://mavensnotebook.com/2026/02/12/notebook-feature-state-water-officials-are-faced-with-a-once-in-a-generation-chance-to-save-californias-salmon/

#sfbay #baydelta #fish #salmon #chinooksalmon #cawater #californiawater #water #extinctionisforever

"The voluntary agreements are an extinction plan," as our lead scientist
@jarosenfield describes the state's new Bay Delta Plan.

Endangered species will continue to plummet, more fisheries will shutter, and Tribes & Delta communities will continue to suffer with worse water quality.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/bay-delta-water-21325171.php

#cawater #californiawater #baydelta #baydeltaplan #endangeredSpecies #endangeredspeciesact #cadelta #californiadelta #fish #extinction

California cities are paying a lot for water, while Ag is paying relatively little--and sometimes nothing at all!

Great reporting from
@rachbecknews
& Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett
@calmatters.org

https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/12/price-of-california-water-cities-growers/

#CAwater #water #californiawater

"It's no secret that the Trump administration prioritizes handing out California's water to powerful water districts that support the administration," as Baykeeper science director @jarosenfield told the SF Chronicle. "This is part of the Trump administration's war on California and the Trump administration’s war on California's environment."
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/trump-plans-to-send-more-water-to-calif-farms-21224473.php

#cawater #californiawater #water #cadelta

From the Central Valley to SF/Berkeley, I’ve met inspiring academics & startup folks rethinking water & agriculture—plus survived my first @Waymo ride (impressed!).
The link between surface/groundwater and the infrastructure sustaining it is massive. California’s blend of tech, policy, and collaboration is an inspiring bundle for water management.
Now in Davis to dive deeper and grateful for the insights—excited to bring them back to Europe!
#WaterInnovation #CaliforniaWater #Sustainability

Kicking off my research journey at the #WesternGroundwaterCongress 2025 in San Diego! As a geographer at @isoewikom I’m diving into the state’s water challenges—especially the #SGMA process.
For Europe, there’s much to learn as we rethink #water management post-2027: funding mechanisms & stakeholder engagement stand out.
Next stop: UC-Davis as a Visiting Scholar to explore water-agriculture links. Excited to connect & share insights #WFD #Groundwater #Sustainability #CaliforniaWater #WaterPolicy

"This latest plan is a shocking display of cowardice," as our science director
@jarosenfield told @rachbecknews

Newsom's plan would be devastating for already hard-hit fisheries, Chinook #salmon & other native fish & wildlife, Tribes, and Bay-Delta communities.

Also concerning: the Newsom Admin's move to limit disclosures about how the plan would affect the Bay-Delta through a bill waiving #CEQA requirements. Ashley Overhouse of Defenders of Wildlife said the exemption is "bordering on undemocratic because you are cutting out the public in an important process."
https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/ #sfbay #delta #cadelta #californiawater #cawater #baydelta

"This latest plan is a shocking display of cowardice," as our science director
@jarosenfield told @rachbecknews

Newsom's plan would be devastating for already hard-hit fisheries, Chinook #salmon & other native fish & wildlife, Tribes, and Bay-Delta communities.

Also concerning: the Newsom Admin's move to limit disclosures about how the plan would affect the Bay-Delta through a bill waiving #CEQA requirements. Ashley Overhouse of Defenders of Wildlife said the exemption is "bordering on undemocratic because you are cutting out the public in an important process."
https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/ #sfbay #delta #cadelta #californiawater #cawater #baydelta

"This latest plan is a shocking display of cowardice," as our science director
@jarosenfield told @rachbecknews

Newsom's plan would be devastating for already hard-hit fisheries, Chinook #salmon & other native fish & wildlife, Tribes, and Bay-Delta communities.

Also concerning: the Newsom Admin's move to limit disclosures about how the plan would affect the Bay-Delta through a bill waiving #CEQA requirements. Ashley Overhouse of Defenders of Wildlife said the exemption is "bordering on undemocratic because you are cutting out the public in an important process."
https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/ #sfbay #delta #cadelta #californiawater #cawater #baydelta

"This latest plan is a shocking display of cowardice," as our science director
@jarosenfield told @rachbecknews

Newsom's plan would be devastating for already hard-hit fisheries, Chinook #salmon & other native fish & wildlife, Tribes, and Bay-Delta communities.

Also concerning: the Newsom Admin's move to limit disclosures about how the plan would affect the Bay-Delta through a bill waiving #CEQA requirements. Ashley Overhouse of Defenders of Wildlife said the exemption is "bordering on undemocratic because you are cutting out the public in an important process."
https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/ #sfbay #delta #cadelta #californiawater #cawater #baydelta

"This latest plan is a shocking display of cowardice," as our science director
@jarosenfield told @rachbecknews

Newsom's plan would be devastating for already hard-hit fisheries, Chinook #salmon & other native fish & wildlife, Tribes, and Bay-Delta communities.

Also concerning: the Newsom Admin's move to limit disclosures about how the plan would affect the Bay-Delta through a bill waiving #CEQA requirements. Ashley Overhouse of Defenders of Wildlife said the exemption is "bordering on undemocratic because you are cutting out the public in an important process."
https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/ #sfbay #delta #cadelta #californiawater #cawater #baydelta

Action Alert 🚨 Newsom is attempting to fast track the destructive, costly & wasteful Delta Conveyance Project—aka the #DeltaTunnel—through 2 trailer bills.

We need you to speak out! Please call or email your CA reps to urge them to oppose these trailer bills.

You can use our script to voice your opposition:

https://baykeeper.org/update/take-action-contact-your-representatives-to-stop-the-destructive-delta-tunnel/

#deltaconveyanceproject #cadelta #cawater #californiawater

The Newsom Administration wants to spend $20 billion of taxpayer dollars to build a giant tunnel that would 1) degrade water quality, 2) cause native species to go extinct & 3) do absolutely nothing to fix CA's water woes.

❗Learn more & take action here: https://baykeeper.org/stop-newsoms-deadly-delta-tunnel-project/

#deltatunnel #cadelta #sfbay #sanfranciscobay #cawater #californiawater #newsom #gavinnewsom

Two plus billion gallons of irrigation water that will be needed in the summer was waisted by felon Trump. He doesn’t care about anything or anyone except himself.

#uspolitiics #corruption #felontrump #stupidity #californiawater

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/11/california-water-trump

There's a lot of misinformation out there about #CAwater. Want to understand what's *actually* going on?

We highly recommend watching RIVER'S END: CALIFORNIA'S LATEST WATER WAR, which is now available for streaming 💧

The film features some of California's top water experts, including @petergleick and our own science director @jarosenfield

Learn more: riversendfilm.com

#riversend #californiawater #sfbay #cadelta #californiadelta #fish #waterwars

Here are just a few of the gorgeous illustrations from our new annual report! https://baykeeper.org/current-annual-report/

Our special anniversary report covers all the essential areas of Baykeeper's work—from #stormwater sampling, to #sealevelrise planning, to stopping sewage #pollution, investigating harmful algae blooms, protecting river flows & so much more.

Deep thanks to Fiorella Ikeue for the beautiful artwork 🙏

#cawater #californiawater #harmfulalgaeblooms #HABs #baykeeper

Trump's rushed executive order on Delta water rests on a slew of false premises and "shows an incredible lack of understanding of how California water works," as our science director @jarosenfield told @CALMatters https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2025/01/trump-california-water-delta-rules/ #cawater #californiawater #delta #CAdelta #water #fish

As Baykeeper attorney Eric Buescher & @RestoreTheDelta director Barbara Barrigan-Parilla write, water agencies should ditch the costly ill-conceived #DeltaTunnel and instead focus on addressing the many other challenges facing the State Water Project, including: "expired water rights, sinking aqueducts, properly maintaining Delta levees, an ecosystem in crisis, and more than a century of ignoring or exploiting Tribes and environmental justice communities, all of which are critical to a thriving Delta, state, and sustainable water management system for all Californians." https://mavensnotebook.com/2025/01/07/guest-commentary-tunneling-through-trouble-missteps-mismanagement-and-the-costly-pursuit-of-the-delta-conveyance-project/ #cawater #californiawater #cadelta #californiadelta #environmentaljustice

From CalMatter's 2024 environmental milestones in review: Sadly, low #salmon numbers prompted a 2nd consecutive closure of the #fishing season, and a third-year cancellation is possible. But on the positive side, 2024 brought much-needed protections for White Sturgeon & Longfin Smelt -- two native fishes we've fought long & hard for! https://calmatters.org/environment/2024/12/environment-review-2024/ @CALMatters #sturgeon #longfinsmelt #smelt #cawater #californiawater #endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesact

From CalMatter's 2024 environmental milestones in review: Sadly, low #salmon numbers prompted a 2nd consecutive closure of the #fishing season, and a third-year cancellation is possible. But on the positive side, 2024 brought much-needed protections for White Sturgeon & Longfin Smelt -- two native fishes we've fought long & hard for! https://calmatters.org/environment/2024/12/environment-review-2024/ @CALMatters #sturgeon #longfinsmelt #smelt #cawater #californiawater #endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesact

From CalMatter's 2024 environmental milestones in review: Sadly, low #salmon numbers prompted a 2nd consecutive closure of the #fishing season, and a third-year cancellation is possible. But on the positive side, 2024 brought much-needed protections for White Sturgeon & Longfin Smelt -- two native fishes we've fought long & hard for! https://calmatters.org/environment/2024/12/environment-review-2024/ @CALMatters #sturgeon #longfinsmelt #smelt #cawater #californiawater #endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesact

From CalMatter's 2024 environmental milestones in review: Sadly, low #salmon numbers prompted a 2nd consecutive closure of the #fishing season, and a third-year cancellation is possible. But on the positive side, 2024 brought much-needed protections for White Sturgeon & Longfin Smelt -- two native fishes we've fought long & hard for! https://calmatters.org/environment/2024/12/environment-review-2024/ @CALMatters #sturgeon #longfinsmelt #smelt #cawater #californiawater #endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesact

From CalMatter's 2024 environmental milestones in review: Sadly, low #salmon numbers prompted a 2nd consecutive closure of the #fishing season, and a third-year cancellation is possible. But on the positive side, 2024 brought much-needed protections for White Sturgeon & Longfin Smelt -- two native fishes we've fought long & hard for! https://calmatters.org/environment/2024/12/environment-review-2024/ @CALMatters #sturgeon #longfinsmelt #smelt #cawater #californiawater #endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesact

We and are our partners are pushing back against the #DeltaTunnel project, which -- among many other issues -- leaves out Tribes and environmental justice communities.

Read more from Maven's Notebook:
https://mavensnotebook.com/2024/11/10/notebook-feature-numerous-appeals-filed-for-dwrs-consistency-determination-for-the-delta-conveyance-project-geotechnical-activities/ @RestoreTheDelta #cawater #californiawater #deltatunnels #californiadelta

A new plan for California's water would increase the chances that salmon, smelt & steelhead would go #extinct: "Not only do the proposed operations make things no better (for fish in the San Francisco Bay-Delta), they actually make things worse," as our science director @jarosenfield told @CALMatters
https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2024/10/california-delta-plan-trump-newsom-salmon/

#cawater #californiawater #cadelta #endangeredspecies #salmon #chinooksalmon #deltasmelt #steelhead

Newsom failed to take advantage of an opportunity to "Trump-proof" the state's water operations in 2019--and his alternative guidelines don't stop fish from dying:

“We're distinguishing between two different speeds to extinction, not a choice between extinction and not extinction,” as our science director @jarosenfield put it.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2024/08/22/californias-prenup-with-the-feds-on-water-00176006

#sfbay #sanfranciscobay #newsom #gavinnewsom #fish #endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesact #extinctionisforever #cawater #californiawater

“We're supposed to be operating dual goals in a deathmatch tension. One is to increase the supply or increase the reliability of the supply of water, and the other goal is to protect the ecosystem,” as Baykeeper science director @jarosenfield told the Sacramento Bee: “No one talks about the third goal, which is to reduce reliance on the Delta.”

Conservation and reducing our reliance on water from the estuary is key! https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article288498329.html #baydelta #cawater #californiawater #fish #sfbay #sanfranciscobay

“To see the state and federal water agencies exceed their take limits and continue business-as-usual water exports is like witnessing extinction in real time,” said @jarosenfield, science director of San Francisco Baykeeper. “It demonstrates the official negligence and lawlessness that caused these fish, and many others, to become endangered in the first place.”
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-04-08/california-steelhead-salmon-fish-losses-delta-pumps @ianjames #fish #cawater #californiawater #extinctionisforever #endangeredspecies

A reminder of the MASSIVE amount of California's fresh water that's wasted to maximize profits for wealthy corporations—at the expense of rivers, the Bay, the Delta, and native fish:

"California farms could use 93% less water but less-thirsty crops, such as grains and hay, are much less lucrative than nuts and fruits. Fallowing a small fraction of the thirstiest crops would save 9%."
https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2024/03/california-farms-water-conservation/ #californiawater #cawater #water #drought #fish #fishing #sanfranciscobay #sfbay #baydelta

"In the abstract, this ruling should mean full steam ahead for the water board updating its water quality standards," said Baykeeper science director @jarosenfield, of the new ruling. "In the real world, we have a governor actively resisting new standards because he favors a voluntary approach negotiated with water users in a back room, and is forcing the water board to consider if not adopt it."
https://www.aol.com/court-upholds-california-rules-protect-120000873.html #cawater #californiawater #californiarivers #fish #fish #californiafish #baydelta #baydeltaplan #worldwaterday

As Heal the Bay's Tracy Quinn points out, the Water Board's backtracking on water conservation will make our communities LESS resilient to #ClimateChange and allow water suppliers to continue business-as-usual: "This approach is shocking considering what we know about changing precipitation patterns and California's lip service about preparing for climate change."

It's also ironic that the #Newsom Administration is proposing new dams and a #DeltaTunnel to increase "water supply reliability" while rolling back its own conservation measures! https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-03-13/california-eases-requirements-of-water-conservation-rules #cawater #californiawater #waterislife

Newsom wants you to believe that he's doing everything he can to save California's imperiled salmon -- without the one thing that's desperately needed: FLOWS OF WATER!!
"Without the essential ingredient of a river, which is the flow of water, fish are not going to survive," as Baykeeper science director Jon Rosenfield said, '“The governor is out there promising actions that are not adequate to restore the population."

https://www.kqed.org/news/11974205/newsom-backs-dam-removal-projects-to-protect-salmon-in-california-rivers #newsom #governornewsom #fish #salmon #chinooksalmon #water #cawater #californiawater

Kudos to the city of #Alameda and #EBMUD for investing in water recycling!

This will be a KEY technology in the path to water #sustainability.

Here's hoping other cities follow Alameda's lead!

https://www.kqed.org/news/11973946/alameda-takes-first-step-to-use-millions-of-gallons-of-recycled-wastewater #waterrecycling #cawater #californiawater

California is at the forefront of a global crisis known as the #Anthropocene extinction--and no animal group is more at risk than fishes, as our science director Jon Rosenfield writes, "Researchers recently concluded that California is a world leader in the number of freshwater fishes likely to become extinct by the end of the century. Governor Newsom’s water policies are accelerating this race to oblivion."
https://mavensnotebook.com/2024/01/24/guest-commentary-gov-newsom-is-accelerating-californias-extinction-crisis/ #extinction #extinctionisforever #cawater #californiawater #fish

The #DeltaTunnel would divert vast quantities of water from the Bay-Delta estuary to industrial agricultural operations—as well as to large cities outside of the #SanFranciscoBayDelta watershed.

The health of the Bay-Delta, its wildlife, and its residents depend on fresh water flowing from Central Valley tributary rivers into the Bay.

That's why we're joining a coalition of Tribal and environmental allies to take legal action: https://baykeeper.org/press_release/environmental-and-tribal-organizations-sue-stop-delta-tunnel-project #cawater #californiawater #californiadelta

Baykeeper takes legal action: US Fish & Wildlife is overdue to protect rare Bay fish species
https://sfgate.com/local/article/sf-baykeeper-lawsuit-fish-wildlife-18576860.php?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Premium)&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral #fish #EndangeredSpeciesAct #EndangeredSpecies #longfinsmelt #californiawater #cawater @sfgate

2023 has been a whirlwind for Baykeeper—we responded to (another) harmful algae bloom, negotiated a cleanup of heavy metals in the shore, took legal action against four industrial facilities, and much more.

Read more about our wins over the past year in our new annual report: https://baykeeper.org/annualreport2023

#sfbay #sanfranciscobay #cawater #californiawater #waterpollution #baykeeper #harmfulalgaeblooms

What happened to California's salmon season this year?

As Baykeeper science director Jon Rosenfield points out, the blame lies firmly with the state.
Gov. Newsom is actively blocking water quality updates that would protect fish, the environment, Tribal groups & communities across the state https://kqed.org/science/1983312/what-happened-to-californias-salmon-season-this-year #CAWater #WaterJustice #EnvironmentalJustice #CaliforniaWater #Salmon

Indigenous leaders & environmental groups gathered at the Capitol yesterday to rally for #WaterJustice and specifically in support of 3 bills that would revamp the state’s approach to water rights.

As Baykeeper community advocate Julia Dowell noted, the new bills aim to "create a California where it's not just certain folks who have had this power for so long, who are getting all the water and who can illegally divert water with almost no penalty.” https://www.capradio.org/articles/2023/07/06/tribal-leaders-environmental-groups-rally-for-a-better-water-rights-system/ #CAwater #CaliforniaWater #environmentaljustice

📣 The Day of Action is coming up soon, next Wed. July 5!

Join us to demand action for #WaterJustice & #salmon at the State Capitol in Sacramento 🌊

Learn more and register at: https://linktr.ee/Day_of_Action

#CAwater #environmentaljustice #californiawater #environment

📢 Urgent action alert: Newsom is trying to push bad water policy through the budget process—so we're fighting back!

Help us get the message to CA legislators to reject Newsom's disastrous water proposals: https://baykeeper.org/blog/take-action-against-newsoms-disastrous-water-proposals

#CAwater #Newsom #CaliforniaWater #WaterJustice #WaterIsLife

Fresh water is “rushing like a firehose out of the delta” into the Bay says Baykeeper scientist @jarosenfield, and that’s helping to repress fish-killing #algalblooms--for now.

But we will need MAJOR wastewater upgrades to prevent red tides like the one we experienced last summer! https://sfchronicle.com/climate/article/san-francisco-bay-water-17923903.php #harmfulalgae #harmfulalgaeblooms #redtide #cawater #californiawater

The proposed voluntary agreements assume that more habitat = more 🐟🐟🐟 — but fish need healthy river flows first & foremost:
"They're trading 'habitat' for flow, but this doesn't have a basis in science," as our science director
@jarosenfield says in the latest edition of Estuary News: https://archive.estuarynews.org/va-agreement-highlights-habitat-questions/ #water #cawater #californiawater #fish #endangeredspecies #californiadelta #sanfranciscobay #baydelta

"There's not much difference between a world without environmental laws and a world where, at the stroke of a governor's pen, environmental laws are eviscerated," Baykeeper scientist @jarosenfield says of Newsom's Executive Order to suspend environmental protections for the Sacramento-San Joaquin #Delta: https://calmatters.org/environment/2023/02/newsom-environmental-laws-store-more-delta-water/ #cawater #baydelta #californiawater

Photos show Lake Oroville's rise after epic storms. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-12/photos-show-lake-oroville-rise-after-epic-storms

(By @hayleysmith and Brian van der Brug at @latimes, who I hope will become active on Mast.)

#California #CaliforniaStorms #CaliforniaWater #LakeOroville

Atmospheric River filling up CA Reservoirs. Happy effing New Year hydro homies!! #CADWR #CaliforniaWater