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Westlands Pushes for More Water Storage as California Declared Drought-Free

/in , /by /The Sunby Daniel Gligich

California has been declared drought-free for the first time in a quarter-century.

However, Central Valley water experts warn that the state needs to take immediate action to boost water supplies in preparation for future dry conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor declared that California does not have any drought conditions last week. That is the first time that California has not experienced drought conditions since December 2000.

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Down and Dirty With Digital: How AI Enhances Water Infrastructure Fieldwork

/in , /by /Water Onlineby Kevin Westerling

Fieldwork is at the heart of infrastructure expansion and rehabilitation, as utilities, engineers, and contractors collaborate to build the systems and structures that treat and move water. The opportunity is great, but so are the challenges. Which is why new, digitally-enhanced tools are needed — to meet modern demands related to labor shortages, regulatory pressures, environmental threats, worker safety, and ever-tighter budgets.

Such technologies are also used to support “boots on the ground” labor, as planning, design, monitoring, and management decision-making are all enhanced by digital technologies.

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Microsoft Rolls Out Initiative to Limit Data-Center Power Costs, Water Use Impact

/in , /by /Reuters
Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled an initiative to curb water usage at its U.S. data centers and limit the impact on the general population from any potential surge in power prices.
Political leaders across the U.S. are urging a rapid expansion of data-center capacity and new power production to keep the country competitive in AI. However, local communities are voicing concerns over how the power-hungry facilities will impact their utility bills and use land, water and other natural resources in the region.
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How Much Did the Holiday Rain Help in San Diego?

/in , /by /CBS 8by Evan Noorani

In lockstep with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve celebrations, rain returned to San Diego County with vengeance, leading to record-breaking daily totals and palm fronds littering the road.

Five cities in the county recorded their wettest New Year’s Day on record, including San Diego and Chula Vista, which unsurprisingly led to flooding in Fashion Valley along the San Diego River. Despite our previous Water Year ending with about a 40% deficit, our new Water Year (which began October 1) now shows a huge surplus that will help alleviate drought conditions. Furthermore, our latest Drought Monitor now shows that none of the state of California is classified as abnormally dry. It’s the first time in 25 years that has happened.

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U.S. House Passes Energy and Water Funding Bill, but Final Water Allocations Still Ahead

/in /by /Smart Water Magazine

On Jan. 8, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a three-bill appropriations package that includes the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, as part of a broader funding measure aimed at completing fiscal year 2026 appropriations. The consolidated package passed by a vote of 397 to 28 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The Energy and Water Development segment of the legislation provides annual funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Civil Works) and other water-related federal programs that support water infrastructure, flood control, navigation, and other essential water systems. While the bill covers a wide range of civil works and energy priorities, the water sector’s interest largely centers on how funds are allocated for water supply reliability, inland navigation systems, and related Corps projects.

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San Diego Must Raise Water Rates 44% Over 4 Years, Officials Warn

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby David Garrick

A new analysis says water rates in San Diego must go up another 44.2% between 2028 and 2031 even though the City Council agreed in October to raise them a cumulative 31.3% this year and next.

If the council ends up approving additional hikes that large when they come to a vote next year, the cumulative six-year rate increase would amount to more than 90%.

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How Much Water Is in Lake Shasta, California Reservoirs in 2026?

/in , /by /Redding Record Searchlightby Jessica Skropanic

Lake Shasta and California’s other lakes and reservoirs got a big boost from wet holiday storms. Nearly two weeks into 2026, all of the state’s 17 major reservoirs are brimming above their 30-year average after atmospheric rivers dumped heavy rain on much of the state starting the week before Christmas, lasting into Wednesday, Jan. 7.

Both the rain and the rainwater draining from the ground into lakes helped raise reservoir levels, the National Weather Service said.

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Joy Lyndes Announces She Won’t Seek Encinitas Re-Election

/in , /by /North Coast Current

Encinitas City Councilmember Joy Lyndes recently announced she will not seek re-election to her District 3 seat when her term ends later this year.

Lyndes shared her decision in a Jan. 5 news release, saying it came after careful reflection on both her professional work and personal circumstances.

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Late December Storms Deliver Much-Needed Snowpack and Water Supply for California

/in , /by /Turlock Journal

The Department of Water Resources conducted the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station on Dec. 30. The manual survey recorded 24 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 5 inches, which is 50 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack was 71 percent of average for this date.

The results are welcome news for water managers who rely on the statewide snow surveys to make water supply decisions for the year ahead. California’s statewide snowpack had been lacking in early December with above-average temperatures and very little storm activity. Recent storms have turned that around and provided a significant boost to the snowpack and the state’s water supply.

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Trump Administration Proposes Colorado River Options That Could Hit California Hard

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

The Trump administration has released an outline of four new options for dealing with the Colorado River’s deepening water shortages, and they could dramatically cut the amount of water available for Southern California.

Several of the alternatives are “alarming” because they could mean major water cutbacks for Southern California, said Shivaji Deshmukh, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District, which distributes water in the region.

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