Published: May 06, 2025 A recently released technical report concludes that the sinking of land in the Central Valley due to over-pumping of groundwater, referred to as subsidence, has restricted the amount of water the State Water Project (SWP) can deliver in a year by 3 percent. By 2043, if no action is taken, the current […]

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Lifeguards work to rescue a stranded dolphin on Dockweiler Beach, just south of Ballona Creek. (Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Division)

The Southern California coast has become an ‘extreme danger zone’ for marine mammals amid the worst toxic algae bloom in years. Paige Austin, Patch Staff Posted Mon, Apr 28, 2025 LOS ANGELES, CA — Hundreds of sick and dying dolphins, sea lions and whales have been washing up on the Southern California shoreline in what environmental […]

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slocountyparks.com

KCBX | By Adam SolorzanoPublished May 7, 2025 At Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, Public Works director, John Diodati said the contaminated water event was rare and unusual. “For over the last 50 years, we’ve treated Lopez water for the five cities and this is the first boil notice,” said Diodati. “We test the water at the […]

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Clean Water in Crisis

I’ve always cared deeply about my local watershed’s health. When I was in my 20s, I volunteered with local protection groups—joining stream cleanups and actively monitoring our local water for pollution. Back then, when we discovered contaminants, we didn’t hesitate to report them to our state environmental agency or the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). […]

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Juliana v. U.S. -Ten Years of Impact

Friends, Partners and Colleagues,   Today, the United States Supreme Court denied the Juliana 21’s petition for certiorari, after a nearly decade-long legal battle.   At Our Children’s Trust, we’re celebrating ten years of impact and the 21 young people who catalyzed a global movement.  Ten Years of Impact  Juliana v. United States was filed in […]

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Screen capture from YouTube video

In a few short years, a diverse, thoughtful group of committed citizen activists, national park supporters, environmental groups and animal protection groups, has resulted in the federal government officially changing this national park’s policy of fencing in its population of wild tule elk inside a 2,600-acre “Reserve.” In December of 2024 and January 2025, their […]

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openart image of dolphins swimming with sardines

In the sea as on land, climate change is driving shifts in the abundance and distribution of species. Scientists are just beginning to focus on why some fish predators and prey — like striped bass and menhaden on the U.S. East Coast — are changing their behavior as waters warm. By Andrew S. Lewis • January 21, 2025 For decades on the […]

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storm clouds behind capital building

Today’s showdown over the White House’s attempt to freeze funds already approved by Congress echoes a similar battle waged by Clean Water Action and allies in the past. Back then, Clean Water Action – and the rule of law – prevailed. In January 1974, not long after he vetoed the original Clean Water Act (the […]

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State officials, conservation groups watch Round Valley Indian Tribes President Joseph Parker sign an MOU

Landmark deal will secure water reliability for people and agriculture in the Russian River while returning Eel River water rights to Round Valley Indian Tribes and restoring salmon California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham today joined with the Round Valley Indian Tribes, supervisors […]

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pixlr ia image rendering of Sacramento Delta area

By John Ramos January 14, 2025 / 7:30 PM PST / CBS San Francisco          The Santa Clara Valley Water District met Tuesday to consider whether to continue supporting Governor Gavin Newsom’s controversial Delta water tunnel project. The plan is to take water from the Sacramento River, above the Delta, and pipe it underground […]

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The Delta Tunnel: Where We’re At, Where We’re Going, and How You Can Help

By Caty Wagner The past few months have seen a series of votes by participating State Water Contractors (SWC) on whether or not to fund the next phase of the environmentally destructive Delta Conveyance Project (DCP), aka the Delta Tunnel. The ultimate vote on construction of the tunnel is scheduled for 2027, although Newsom leaves […]

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The EPA Files A Notice of Appeal

This afternoon, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California that they plan to appeal the federal court ruling that water fluoridation “poses an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children.” The notice from the EPA did not offer an explanation or justification for their decision, which was made only three […]

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The Middle Fork of the Eel River [Photo by Matt LaFever]

The following is a press release issued by the Office of U.S. Representative Jared Huffman: Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) announced that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has awarded Round Valley Indian Tribes and the Sonoma County Water Agency $15 million toward implementing the Two-Basin Solution. The funds through the Inflation Reduction Act will […]

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AGVWC Logo - Atascadero/Green Valley Watershed Council

Sunday, January 19, 2025, 3-5pmSebastopol Grange6000 Sebastopol Avenue Come to our community viewing of this poignant documentary that delves into the intricate relationship between communities and their water sources. Learn about water challenges faced by communities worldwide and witness inspiring stories of resilience and regeneration. MEET LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS * ASK QUESTIONS * DISCOVER HOW […]

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sample vial, white coat

Researchers found that chemicals, including PFAS, from pharmaceuticals are entering into wastewater — which can be used as drinking water during times of drought. The plants’ inability to remove compounds known as organofluorines from wastewater before it enters drinking water supplies becomes even more pronounced during droughts and could affect up to 23 million people, […]

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Montana Supreme Court affirms decision in historic youth climate case

16 Montana youth held their government accountable for harming their fundamental rights to health, safety, liberty, dignity, equal protection of the law, and a clean and healthful environment. Our youth clients’ voices were heard. The Montana Supreme Court has upheld science-based protections for a safe and healthy climate, affirming that fossil fuel pollution is incompatible with […]

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Swing set in ocean

Great news! The Commission unanimously adopted the updated Sea Level Rise (SLR) Policy Guidance during its November 2024 hearing. The updates focus on three main areas: This update incorporated input from eight environmental justice (EJ) and SLR experts from the start to ensure community voices and EJ principles were central throughout the Guidance. For more details, […]

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Dewatered Napa River September 15, 2024 at the Pope Street Bridge near St. Helena, California

To River Lovers: Many of you may have watched a recently created YouTube video entitled, “A Dying Napa River”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaX18CF-2gI Since then, the Mishewal Wappo Tribe of Alexander Valley among other First Indigious Tribes, gathered to walk, sing, and pray for the Napa River and a return of salmon and life. Those who utilized or cared […]

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Flouride Action Network

This time last year I made a video promising that 2024 would be “one of the most important years in fluoridation history,” but particularly for the fluoride-free movement and for the Fluoride Action Network (FAN). I called it “The Perfect Storm” coming to end water fluoridation.  I think we can all agree that 2024 lived up to those […]

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A coalition of environmental groups are calling on local officials and regulators to shutter two controversial dump sites that have long operated in the Napa Valley hills near Calistoga. MARISA ENDICOTT THE PRESS DEMOCRAT August 14, 2024 A plan to close Napa Valley’s controversial Clover Flat Landfill and move waste to the Potrero Hills Landfill in Suisun […]

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Clover Flats image from PD article

A plan to close the controversial Clover Flat Landfill in the Napa Valley, and to haul waste materials to the Potrero Hills Landfill in Suisun City, is moving forward. EDWARD BOOTH THE PRESS DEMOCRAT October 21, 2024 A plan to close Napa Valley’s controversial Clover Flat Landfill and move waste to the Potrero Hills Landfill in Suisun […]

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Vandana Shiva

To our readers of California River Watch: This talk by Vandana Shiva about the significant connections of nature is probably the most important article we will post this year and maybe even for the decade. It encompasses how our society has valued the things it needs and wants. But society has devalued nature and Vandana explains […]

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Steelhead Salmon

NOAA FisheriesDelta scienceScienceJuly 10, 2024 0 174 A recent Endangered Species Act 5-year review shows water use, habitat loss, and climate change continue to compromise recovery. By NOAA Fisheries Northern California steelhead require continued protection as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, according to a recent 5-year review by NOAA Fisheries. State and federal […]

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Underwater bubbles

Good news, friends! Seven years after filing, we have won our TSCA/EPA water fluoridation suit. In his ruling, Judge Chen explains his reasoning in detail. A PDF of the ruling is attached. Carol FAN director Stuart Cooper writes: History has been made. After 7 years of pursuing legal action against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency […]

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Scotia lumber yard, credit Juan Mejia. From Protect Homes and Forests Say NO to Biomass Energy

● The most effective way to protect homes from fire:    – Home hardening     – Creation of defensible space up to 100 feet● Our forests are being targeted for extraction in the name of fire resilience    – Clearing trees beyond 100 feet can exacerbate the spread of wind-driven fires    – Causes immense damage to forest ecosystems, […]

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In this 2018 photograph, a humpback whale breaches out of the water in the Pacific Ocean in the area off San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties that is becoming the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. (Photo: Robert Schwemmer, NOAA)

Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary will protect waters off San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara counties By Paul Rogers | progers@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News GroupUPDATED: September 12, 2024 at 12:20 p.m. A long-running effort by native tribes and environmentalists to establish the first new national marine sanctuary along California’s coastline in 32 years — the aquatic version of a new […]

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Water faucet

In a landmark decision that could change how California manages its water, a Sonoma County court has slammed the brakes on groundwater over-pumping, demanding new measures to protect rivers, fish, and public resources.

The Sonoma Superior Court ruled that Sonoma County violated both the Public Trust Doctrine and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by adopting a well ordinance that inadequately safeguarded local waterways. The court is ordering the county to conduct extensive environmental assessments and implement new measures to prevent harm to rivers, fish populations, and other public trust resources. […]

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The government review comes as a federal judge is about to rule on whether water fluoridation poses a neurotoxic hazard to human health A landmark National Toxicology Program (NTP) report on fluoride neurotoxicity has confirmed what experts have long suggested: that fluoride is comparable to lead in its ability to lower IQ in children, according to the […]

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