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A long-awaited Bay-Delta Plan is on track to be ready for adoption this year, with possible refinements still under review — but with no signs of major changes to the proposal as released in December. Eric Oppenheimer, executive director of the State Water Board, on Friday told The Sacramento Bee that the board’s staff is reviewing thousands of public comments, evaluating whether any updates to the proposed plan and supporting environmental analysis are needed before bringing it to the board for a final decision. “So far, based on what we’ve seen … what we’ll be putting out is refinement to the basin plan amendment language,” Oppenheimer said. … The proposed Bay-Delta Plan has drawn divided reactions from conservation groups and regional water agencies, with last month’s three-day hearing underscoring those tensions. Other Bay-Delta news: California Department of Water Resources: News release: Little fish, big decisions — how science guides actions in the Delta Golden State Salmon Association: Blog: Is the Delta Tunnel losing support as the California Aqueduct fails? Public Policy Institute of California: Blog: A network of wetlands thrives in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley View Original Article read more

The Interior Department, which is in charge of the nation’s public lands and waters, has completed a major scaling back of its environmental regulations. The department, which also oversees activities including drilling and mining on the nation’s lands and in its waters, has rescinded more than 80 percent of its previous environmental regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Interior said in a press release that its actions would be aimed at cutting down delays and costs for energy, minerals, livestock grazing, infrastructure, wildfire mitigation, water projects and conservation efforts. … Critics have argued that NEPA reviews are time-consuming and slow down the development of the nation’s energy and infrastructure. Supporters of robust reviews argue they are an important guardrail for health and the environment. Other NEPA and water infrastructure news: E&E News by Politico: Interior claws back NEPA regs U.S. Department of the Interior: News release: Trump administration delivers historic NEPA reform, unleashing resources on America’s public lands U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: News release: Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works announces ‘Build Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ transformation initiative for the Army’s Civil Works program View Original Article read more

As artificial intelligence drives the data center construction boom, building one in Denver is poised to get more complicated after Mayor Mike Johnston and members of the Denver City Council announced plans to impose a moratorium on new facilities. Under the plan, the city will review additional data-center-specific regulations targeting “responsible land, energy, and water use.” … “These (data center) projects present new and complex issues that argue for better alignment between Colorado’s economic development, energy, and water strategies, particularly given the obvious impacts of water scarcity in our region driven by climate change,” Denver Water CEO and Manager Alan Salazar said in a statement to The Denver Gazette. Other data center water use news: The Independent (U.K.): Should I worry about how much water my AI chatbot conversations are using? Reuters: Commentary: Big Tech will only partly dissolve AI water risk View Original Article read more

The Middle Colorado Watershed Council (MCWC) announced its 2026 Fire and Water Speaker Series will begin Thursday, with award-winning author and hydrologist Robert R. Crifasi discussing how the history of water continues to shape current geology, infrastructure, and legal systems. … When setting out to write his second book, “Western Water A-Z,” Crifasi said he wanted to create a sort of almanac explaining the situation and history in layman’s terms. “I wanted to create a guidebook to Western waters that someone could pick up and bring on a road trip or down a river on a raft trip,” Crifasi said. “I wanted them to be able to read it and have more information about how all this stuff is going on and why.” View Original Article read more

The North Fork of Matilija Creek and Bear Creek both run through Wheeler Gorge Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. … Four vehicle crossings through the campground blocked endangered Southern California Steelhead from migrating upstream as part of their ocean-to-freshwater stream spawning process. A just-completed project that’s been in the works for decades has removed the barriers. … It gives the migrating steelhead access to an additional 13 miles of streams they couldn’t reach for decades due to the barricades. There was also a population of steelhead trout that was trapped, living in creeks above the campground, which will now be able to migrate south. Other anadromous fish news: Lost Coast Outpost (Eureka, Calif.): Phase one of Elk River’s ‘ecosystem-wide restoration project’ OK’d Bay City News Service: Sonoma County gears up for seasonal return of Steelhead Trout Festival View Original Article read more

California State Parks is preparing a new general plan for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and is inviting the public to participate in the process through a series of workshops this month. … The general plan will establish a long-term vision for the park, which has changed significantly since the park was designated as a state recreation area in 1963. … Declining water levels have reshaped recreation opportunities at the park and impacted the park’s ecosystem, leading to death of wildlife throughout the past two decades. By creating a new general plan, California State Parks is hoping to increase opportunities for land-based recreation. View Original Article read more

New Mexico environment officials released data showing higher levels of so-called “forever chemicals” in water systems across the state ahead of hearings starting this week to write rules for phasing out their use in makeup, upholstery, cooking gear and more. The data, published Friday, showed 15 New Mexico water systems … have PFAS levels exceeding federal drinking water guidelines. … Despite the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump Administration delaying implementation of the tougher standards until 2031, New Mexico is trying to address current PFAS levels in smaller water systems. Other PFAS news: E&E News by Politico: States snub Trump’s plan to ease ‘forever chemicals’ limits USA Today: Are forever chemicals in your drinking water? Check new EPA data here WaterWorld: Water sector weighs in on legal challenge to EPA PFAS rule Water Online: Blog: EPA seeks court‑ordered removal of 4 PFAS limits View Original Article read more

The Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change. The conservative-majority court agreed to take up a case from Boulder, Colorado. … Governments around the country have sought damages totaling billions of dollars, arguing it’s necessary to help pay for rebuilding after wildfires, rising sea levels and severe storms worsened by climate change. The lawsuits come amid a wave of legal actions in California, Hawaii and New Jersey and worldwide seeking to leverage action through the courts. The case out of Boulder County will likely have implications for other lawsuits. Related articles: Los Angeles Times: Supreme Court to decide on throwing out dozens of climate change lawsuits The Colorado Sun (Denver): U.S. Supreme Court will hear landmark Boulder climate case against oil companies Inside Climate News: Supreme Court to decide key issue in fate of state and city suits against oil companies over climate change The New York Times: Supreme Court to weigh oil-industry effort to end a major climate suit Courthouse News Service: Supreme Court takes up fossil fuel giants’ bid to skirt climate change lawsuit  View Original Article read more