water

An aerial view of a solar farm amongst farmland with a mountain range spread out on the horizon in the distance.

Water

California may help solar bloom where water runs dry

The state's farmers are divided over a bill that would loosen rules protecting agricultural land. The goal of a bill proposed by Assembly Democrat Buffy Wicks is to seed solar farms on fallowed fields.

By

Rachel Becker

• September 11, 2025

A blue and white sign reading "No Tunnel – One Tunnel is One Too Many!" is posted on a wooden stake in a grassy field. The sign also features the phrase "Save Our Delta" in red text at the top and a website address at the bottom. The background consists of a lush green field with a wire fence, a distant road, and a few vehicles visible under a bright blue sky. Sunlight casts shadows on the sign and the grass.

Environment

Newsom’s bid to fast-track Delta tunnel stalls again

Water wonks say the proposal to speed the multibillion Delta tunnel project could rise again. ‘This is the zombie offspring of the zombie project,’ one opponent said.

By

Rachel Becker

• September 10, 2025

A winding waterway cuts through a dense wetland landscape, creating branching channels surrounded by patches of green vegetation and brown reeds.

Commentary

Delta tunnel plans echo California’s troubled history of trying to control water

As Californians recover from fires and Gov. Gavin Newsom tries to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project, we must learn from history's hard lessons.

By Devon Provo • August 22, 2025

An aerial view of a winding river surrounded by green plots of land on a clear day.

Commentary

California Legislature’s final weeks could decide fate of Delta water tunnel

Gov. Gavin Newsom failed to fast-track the Delta tunnel proposal in the June budget bill. Now he hopes lawmakers approve it before the legislative session ends.

By

Dan Walters

• August 15, 2025

Water pours from a pipe before being connected to a water tank near Madera on June 10, 2021. Photo by Shae Hammond for CalMatters

Reader Reactions

California groundwater reform sets a dangerous precedent. Lawmakers should think twice

A bill seeking to curtail legal battles over groundwater management in California goes too far, says a water district leader in Kern County.

By David Saint-Amand • August 8, 2025

Environment

Key player in California’s water wars embraces controversial pact

The State Water Resources Control Board advance a controversial, Newsom-backed agreement in a new proposal, which qualifies as a major development in the long-running debate about delta water use.

By

Rachel Becker

• July 24, 2025

Water spouts out of a chrome water fountain and flows into the attached drain, continuing down. In the background is a view of a public playground on a sunny day, out of focus.

Environment

To fight cancer-causing ‘Erin Brockovich’ toxin, California may give water districts legal cover

Water bills are climbing as utilities clean up a chemical made infamous in “Erin Brockovich.” Should lawmakers give them cover from lawsuits while work continues?

By

Ryan Sabalow

and

Brianna Vaccari, The Merced FOCUS

• July 22, 2025

A brown detection dog with a harness leans over the side of a boat, sniffing around the base of a mounted outboard motor. A person’s hand holds the dog’s leash in the upper left of the frame. In the background, there is a beige shipping container and a white pickup truck marked “California Fish and Wildlife.” The setting appears to be an outdoor inspection or training site.

Water

A new invader threatens California water supplies. Can the state stop its spread?

Officials are shoring up water systems infiltrated by the golden mussel. Dogs and human inspectors are checking boats at some lakes, but a patchwork of oversight leaves many lakes unprotected. “There's just too many boats and too many people out there," one warden said.

By

Rachel Becker

• July 15, 2025

A large irrigation pump and water well sit in a dry patch of dirt beside a green farm field under a clear blue sky. Water flows out of a rust-stained pipe into a weathered concrete barrel. Several yellow plastic lubricant buckets are scattered around the base of the equipment, and hay bales and agricultural structures can be seen in the distance.

Commentary

How deep-pocketed groundwater users are stalling California’s sustainability plans

A legal loophole in California law is being exploited by deep-pocketed water users who use lawsuits to challenge the technical findings of plans critical to achieving sustainability.

By Scott Hayman • July 2, 2025

A smiling person extends their right and out as they get ready to shake hands with another person in front of them at a press conference.

Politics

Newsom gave his political rival a $380k job. Special interests helped foot the bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to lead a state infrastructure project paid for by an outside nonprofit. The nonprofit relied on fundraising from special interests to cover the costs, but did not have to disclose the identity of those donors because of how the arrangement was structured.

By

Alexei Koseff

and

Byrhonda Lyons

• June 17, 2025