Water

California approved Newsom’s Delta water rules, but Trump threatens to pull out and $740M with it. Water agencies that once backed the deal call it too strict; environmentalists say it’s too weak.

Nearly a third of local agencies maintaining Central Valley levees have performed “unacceptable” upkeep, some for years, yet the Department of Water Resources hasn’t taken over as state law requires. State water managers dispute the findings, saying maintenance is only one factor in flood risk and takeovers can cost tens of millions of dollars up front.

As El Nino nears, California found 57 dams in poor or unsatisfactory condition, and regulators have never yet penalized an owner.

We asked California governor candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton how they'd manage conflicts over water. The Republican endorsed more spending on dams.

Newsom vetoed SB 872, saying money in the budget made it redundant. The state puts Delta levee repair costs at $3.3 billion.

Altman claims 38,000 ChatGPT queries equal one almond's water use.

Two bills requiring data centers to disclose water use head to Newsom’s desk.

No long-term deal means water agencies around California and the West are stuck guessing how deep cuts on the Colorado River will go.

California ends boat inspections meant to keep destructive golden mussels out of Lake Oroville, balancing a new risk analysis with the ongoing costs.

Data centers are expanding into water-stressed California communities, but lax disclosure rules keep the public in the dark about actual usage