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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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Farmers Pioneer Water Solutions as Colorado River Dwindles

/in , /by /FarmProgress by Todd Fitchette

Farmers in two of Southern California’s ag-centric irrigation districts have long been playing their part to slow the decline in the Colorado River’s system supply. They do this while working with Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to provide water to 19 million urban residents.

Blythe farmer Grant Chaffin is working toward a solution that could help him farm with less irrigation water from the Colorado River. Chaffin knows his solution won’t solve long-term drought but can help him better manage the irrigation water he has.

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Fellow Water Professionals Praise Arant on Retirement

/in , /by /Valley RoadRunnerby David Ross

Gary Arant has been enjoying several “farewells” over the past few weeks upon his retirement from general manager of the Valley Center Municipal Water District (VCMWD) after 36 years, but the sweetest may be the tributes from fellow water professionals and public officials at a special board meeting on Monday, January 5 at the district board room.

It began with praise by his successor, Lindsay Leahy, who declared, “I’m honored to follow in your footsteps,” and board President Enrico Ferro presenting a plaque “recognizing and commending” Arant’s 56 years in the business—including 36 at VCMWD and proclaiming “Water Titan Day.” Ferro recognized Arant for “Consistently placing the needs of the community [at the highest level], and protecting the district’s long-term interests” while “building trust and collaboration.”

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The Western U.S. Is in a Snow Drought, Raising Fears for Summer Water Supplies

/in , /by /CNNby Andrew Freedman

Brad Riesenberg has worked in the winter sports industry for more than 20 years, and he’s never seen a winter with such paltry snowfall and mild temperatures as he has this season. Riesenberg, who is an owner at Backcountry Snowmobiling in Park City, Utah, said customers have been canceling their tours due to a lack of snow. Snowmobiling requires a thick snowpack at lower elevations in order to be viable, Riesenberg pointed out.

“We’ve lost lots and lots of money and it’s been pretty tough,” he said. “This is up there with some of the worst [winters], if not the worst.”

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Parking, Water, Budget Woes Loom as San Diego City Council Reconvenes in 2026

/in , /by /KPBS by Andrew Bowen

The San Diego City Council reconvenes on Monday after a two-week winter recess with a host of contentious issues to deal with. One of the first orders of business is a report on the five-year financial outlook of the city’s water and wastewater utility funds. Last October, the council approved two years of steep water rate hikes in order to pay for  federally mandated water infrastructure and the rising cost of water purchases.

The financial outlook report, however, states that two years of rate increases will not be enough to keep the utility funds solvent. Finance officials say, barring significant changes in costs or revenues, the city will have to raise water and sewer rates by 11.5% in fiscal year 2028, 11% in fiscal years 2029 and 2030 and 5% in fiscal year 2031.

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