Latest news with #CentralValleyProject
San Francisco Chronicle
12-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
California's largest reservoir could see controversial dam enlargement under Trump
Near the southern flank of Mount Shasta, springs and snowmelt converge to form the McCloud River. This Sacramento River tributary, held sacred by the Winnemem Wintu tribe, teemed with Chinook salmon before Shasta Dam, built in the 1940s, blocked their annual migrations. 'The winter run was the main sustenance source for the Winnemem Wintu throughout history,' said tribal member Gary Mulcahy. 'We consider them the grandfather of all salmon.' For several years, Winnemem Wintu leaders have collaborated with state and federal officials to reintroduce the critically endangered fish to this wilderness waterway in a historic effort to revitalize the McCloud and reconnect with their past. But a federal proposal to increase the height of Shasta Dam by more than 18 feet to provide more water to farmers now threatens the tribe's land and could harm salmon runs. Contemplated for decades and gaining traction among Republican lawmakers, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's proposed Shasta Dam and Reservoir Enlargement Project would boost the capacity of California's largest reservoir. Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term, the federal government has not mounted any public effort to raise the dam. But Trump has taken several steps in that direction, including signing executive orders instructing federal officials to waive environmental rules and deliver more water to California growers. Last week, the dam project appeared to get a push in the House Natural Resources Committee's budget reconciliation bill, with a designation of $2 billion 'for construction and associated activities that increase the capacity of existing Bureau of Reclamation surface water storage facilities.' Though the budget language does not name Shasta Dam, experts say it's precisely crafted to facilitate the project. 'There's no mystery here,' said Barry Nelson, policy advisor with the Golden State Salmon Association. 'That language is designed to push the Shasta raise.' Raising the dam was the 'number-one priority' water project for the first Trump administration, Nelson said. However, U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican whose district includes Shasta and who helped draft the budget language, told CalMatters that while he endorses enlarging Shasta Dam, the reconciliation bill's 'funding is not for any specific project.' Last year, a bill that would have allocated funds for enlarging the dam while prohibiting state laws from obstructing the project died in the House. It was sponsored by 12 California Republicans, including LaMalfa. The Bureau of Reclamation estimated in 2014 that enlarging Shasta Dam would cost $1.4 billion — roughly $1.8 billion in today's dollars. Obtaining the array of state and federal permits for the dam could take years, and is likely to face court challenges. The project would provide an additional 51,300 acre-feet of water per year to recipients — mainly farmers — of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, according to a federal estimate. That would increase the amount they receive on average by less than 1%, which Ron Stork, a policy expert with the group Friends of the River, referred to as 'decimal dust.' The dam project would claim some of the Winnemem Wintu's last remaining territory and could violate the state's Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which explicitly prohibits constructing reservoirs on the McCloud's final miles before entering Lake Shasta. State officials have publicly opposed the project in the past. In 2013, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said raising the dam would have 'significant and unavoidable impacts' on the Sacramento River ecosystem. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has similarly warned federal officials that the project would restrict high-water flows and reduce fish habitat. State officials declined to comment for this story. Bureau of Reclamation spokesperson Peter Soeth also declined to comment. Stork, a longtime opponent of the dam raise, said the Trump administration is liable to ignore the state law. Trump's January executive order directed federal officials to deliver more water through the Central Valley Project 'by increasing storage and conveyance … notwithstanding any contrary State or local laws.' 'We certainly expect some serious mischief here,' Stork said. 'The president's executive order more or less says, 'Please find ways to accomplish my agenda by trying to get around state and federal law.'' Mulcahy, the Winnemem Wintu's government liaison, said Lake Shasta flooded 90% of his tribe's historical territory. 'Village sites, sacred sites, cultural gathering sites,' he said. Increasing the dam's height will do even more damage, he said, periodically inundating many important gathering places, including the Kabyai Creek burial ground, where dozens of tribal members were laid to rest after a vicious 1854 massacre by white settlers. It would also flood a cleansing pool for Winnemem men, a riverside dancing mesa and a young women's coming-of-age ceremony site called Puberty Rock. This, Mulcahy said, will fray some of the last remaining cultural threads holding together the tribe, which he said consists of about 140 members. 'We wouldn't be able to hold the ceremonies that are necessary to fulfill our spiritual and cultural needs,' he said. The Winnemem Wintu are not included on the official list of federally recognized tribes, which could limit their influence over the project. Polarizing farmers and environmentalists Like many Delta and Central Valley water supply projects, the Shasta Dam raise has polarized farmers and environmentalists in a dispute over how it would affect Chinook salmon. Environmentalists and fishery advocates say it will imperil already declining salmon populations, while project proponents, including the Westlands Water District, say it will help the ecosystem. Westlands provides water, imported mostly from the Delta, to San Joaquin Valley farmers who grow 150,000 acres of pistachios and almonds — their main crops — as well as other fruits, grains and vegetables. But General Manager Allison Febbo said the Shasta project isn't directly about water supply. Rather, she said, it's meant to help fish. Febbo explained that increasing the reservoir's volume will keep its water colder, which is essential for spawning. If the plight of the fish improves, Febbo said, regulations on water diversions might be eased — which would amount to an indirect benefit to water users like Westlands. 'We keep getting ratcheted down as the species continues to decline, so our water supply isn't going to get any better until the species gets better,' Febbo said. LaMalfa also stressed that the project would be 'a win-win' by increasing water storage and better insulating the reservoir's cold-water pool. 'More water for people and more cold water for salmon,' the congressman said. But Nelson, at the Golden State Salmon Association, said Shasta Dam has already 'been absolutely catastrophic for salmon.' 'The idea that a Shasta raise would benefit salmon — particularly under this set of federal agencies — is absurd,' he said. Completed in 1945, the dam blocked Chinook from reaching hundreds of miles of stream habitat. For the winter-run Chinook — whose unique life cycle involves residing and spawning in freshwater through summer — the ice-cold McCloud was their stronghold. 'It can be 110 degrees in the canyon there, and you can be standing in the river in waders and your legs are so cold it hurts,' said Rene Henery, California science director with the group Trout Unlimited, as he explained the importance of the McCloud to the future survival of winter-run Chinook. Today, the fish — which enter freshwater in the winter — cling to existence in a short stretch of river downstream of Lake Shasta, surviving thanks to the release of cold water stored deep in the reservoir. However, this resource frequently runs out in the summer as the fish lay and fertilize their eggs, which can lead to complete spawning failures in lethally warm water. While a more voluminous reservoir could theoretically keep its water colder for longer, Henery said the changing climate is likely to complicate this equation. Filling the enlarged reservoir in a hotter, drier future is the main problem. 'Dams don't make water, so in a low-water year, raising the dam does nothing,' he said. In wet years, he added, the enlarged dam will harm fish by capturing water that would otherwise flood vital wetland habitat downstream, like the recently restored Yolo Bypass, west of Sacramento. 'The inundation we get on the Yolo Bypass is what's keeping salmon populations hanging on in the Sacramento,' Henery said. Jon Rosenfield, science director at the advocacy group San Francisco Baykeeper, added that 'expanding the dam will capture more of the high flows (during wet years) that are now the only lifeline those fish have.' Mulcahy said he is hopeful that the project — though currently revving with Republican horsepower — will soon run out of steam. Labor and material costs are rising, he said, and the longer the project goes unbuilt, the more expensive it gets. 'They're going to try and negate state law so that they can proceed however they want,' Mulcahy said. 'But if we can last this one out, I think it may bury itself once and for all.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump dares Newsom to run in 2028, slams record on LA wildfires
President Donald Trump said he would "love" California Gov. Gavin Newsom to launch a White House bid for the Democrats, but said his response to wildfires and other issues would "pretty much put him out of the race." The president, during a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, took a swipe at Newsom, blasting California's high-speed rail project. Smelt Test: Trump Order Overrides California's Fish-protecting Rules To Maximize Water Supply "A little train going from San Francisco to Los Angeles that's being run by Gavin New-scum—the governor of California," Trump said. "Did you ever hear of Gavin Newsom? He has got that train—the worst cost overrun I've ever seen. It's like, totally out of control." Trump said he "always liked Gavin" and "had a good relationship with him." President Donald Trump, left, meets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Washington, D.C. "I just got him a lot of water, you know, I sent in people to open up that water because he refused to do it," Trump said, adding that "if they would have done what I said to do, they wouldn't have had the fires in Los Angeles." Read On The Fox News App "Those fires would have been put out very quickly," Trump said. Trump traveled to Southern California in January, just days after taking office, to see damage from the devastating wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres and more than 10,000 buildings in the Los Angeles area. After the visit, Trump issued an executive order calling on federal agencies to overrule California regulations on endangered species to create more water availability, expedite the removal of debris in the areas affected by the fires and conduct investigations into the City of Los Angeles' use of federal grants. Trump also called on the Department of the Interior to immediately override existing regulations in California that "unduly burden efforts to maximize water deliveries" to the Central Valley Project, a water management effort in the state. President Donald Trump, right, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom walk to speak to reporters after arriving on Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Trump Meets With California Residents, Fire And Law Enforcement Officials To See La Wildfire Damage First Hand Shifting back to the high-speed rail project, Trump said he has "watched a lot of stupid people build a lot of stupid things," but that this is "the worst cost overrun I've ever seen." California's high-speed rail project was designed to cart riders between San Francisco and Los Angeles in less than three hours. It was expected to cost $33 billion and be finished by 2020, but the project has been riddled with funding challenges, cost overruns and delays. The project is now reportedly expected to cost an estimated $106 billion to complete. "This government is not going to pay," Trump said, noting that he told Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that the Trump administration is "not going to pay for that thing" – [it's] "30 times over budget." "It was supposed to be a simple train," Trump said. Duffy, in February, began a Transportation Department review to determine whether the California High-Speed Rail Authority had "followed through on the commitments it made to receive billions of dollars in federal funding." "If not, I will have to consider whether that money could be given to deserving infrastructure projects elsewhere in the United States," Duffy said at a news conference in Los Angeles in February. Looking ahead to 2028, the president said he would "love" to see Newsom run for president. Newsom is barred from seeking re-election as California governor in 2026 due to term limits. Newsom Proposes To Work With Trump To 'Make America Film Again,' Floats $7.5B Federal Tax Credit "But I don't think he's going to be running because that one project alone—well, that and the fires and a lot of other things—pretty much put him out of the race," Trump said. Newsom has been rumored to be mulling a 2028 presidential bid but has not committed to doing so. In a statement to The New York Times, Newsom said he wanted to work with the Trump administration on a $7.5 billion federal tax credit program to bolster the TV and film production industry. President Donald Trump, center, approaches reporters to speak, flanked by first lady Melania Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2025 to visit the region devastated by the Palisades and Eaton wildfires. "California built the film industry – and we're ready to bring even more jobs home," Newsom wrote on X on Monday. "We've proven what strong state incentives can do. Now it's time for a real federal partnership to Make America Film Again." The White House said Monday that "no final decisions" had been made as the administration was "exploring all options" to deliver on Trump's directive "to safeguard our country's national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again." Trump first announced in a Truth Social post on Sunday that he was authorizing the Department of Commerce and the U.S. trade representative "to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump dares Newsom to run in 2028, slams record on LA wildfires
San Francisco Chronicle
04-05-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
California's biggest reservoir reaches capacity for third straight year
California's largest reservoir, Shasta Lake, reached capacity this week, marking the third straight year it has filled or nearly filled with water. The run of big water years at the reservoir reflects the unusual string of wet winters the state has experienced, and it bodes well for water supplies this year across California. The lake, which stretches across an extraordinary 35 miles in the southern Cascades north of Redding near Mount Shasta, is the cornerstone of the federally run Central Valley Project. Its supplies are sent to cities and farms hundreds of miles away, including the Bay Area. The San Joaquin Valley's booming agricultural industry is the primary beneficiary. The lake's water, collected from the Sacramento River, also generates hydroelectricity and is used to manage downriver flows for wildlife and water quality. The last time Shasta Lake hit capacity or near capacity for three consecutive years was 2010 through 2012. Early in the week, the Bureau of Reclamation announced a slight increase in the amount of water it expects to deliver this year from Shasta Lake and the nearly 20 other reservoirs in the Central Valley Project. According to the announcement, most water suppliers for farms in the San Joaquin Valley will get 50% of what they requested, up from the 40% projected in March. Water suppliers north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are still slotted for 100% of what they requested while municipal suppliers south of the delta remain pegged for 75%. The State Water Project, a network of reservoirs that runs in parallel to the federal project, also increased its projected deliveries from 40% to 50% this week. Its flagship reservoir, Lake Oroville, is also expected to fill. On Thursday, the state's major reservoirs cumulatively held 118% of the water they typically hold this time of year, according to the California Department of Water Resources. State and federal decisions about how much water to deliver are based largely on the amount of water held in reservoirs, much of it coming from spring snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades. But there are other factors, too, both hydrological, such as how quickly the snow melts, and regulatory, including how much water must be released from reservoirs for rivers and fish. This year, snowpack across the state measured 96% of average on April 1, the point at which it typically peaks. Seasonal precipitation stands at 99% of average. The past two years were wetter, with snowpack at 111% of average in April 2024 and 237% of average in April 2023. With snowmelt now in full force, Shasta Lake peaked on Tuesday. The reservoir held 4,405,312 acre-feet of water, federal data shows, leaving it less than five feet from topping out, which water officials consider 'full pool.' (An acre-foot of water is equal to what two to three households use in a year.) Since Tuesday, the Bureau of Reclamation has increased water releases from the reservoir, which has dropped lake levels. 'Operation of the Central Valley Project supports food and economic development not only for California, but the nation,' said Michael Burke, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which runs the federal project, in an email. 'With a full (Shasta) reservoir we can meet the needs of the communities downstream and generate power when it is needed the most.'
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Watch California's Biggest Reservoir Fill Up in Timelapse Video
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lake Shasta, California's largest reservoir, is nearing full capacity for the third consecutive year, signaling a dramatic recovery from the drought-stricken years of the early 2020s. A timelapse video shared on social media earlier this week shows the impressive change the reservoir has undergone over the last three years. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the reservoir, by email for comment. Why It Matters Lake Shasta is a critical part of California's water infrastructure. As the largest reservoir in the state, it represents 41 percent of the water in the Central Valley Project, a system that serves farms, homes and industry in the Central Valley, San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. The reservoir's current condition is a marked contrast from late 2022, when the lake was just 31 percent full after several years of below-average rainfall. Thanks to a series of wet winters and robust snowpack, the state's biggest reservoir has steadily recovered—reaching full capacity in May 2023 and 2024. A stock photo of Lake Shasta at full capacity. A stock photo of Lake Shasta at full capacity. Kirpal Kooner/Getty What to Know A timelapse shared on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this week shows images of the lake taken in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. "California's largest reservoir, Shasta Lake, is virtually full for the third straight year," extreme weather chaser Colin McCarthy posted with the video. California's largest reservoir, Shasta Lake, is virtually full for the third straight year. The reservoir holds nearly 1.5 trillion gallons of water, which is enough to cover the entire state of California in half an inch of water. — Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) April 30, 2025 Parts of the lakebed can be seen in the satellite image from 2022, and the images for the following years showcase the lake's recovery. As of May 2, the reservoir's surface elevation stands at 1,061.41 feet—just 5.59 feet below its full pool of 1,067 feet, according to Lakes Online. The lake has been steadily rising since November. At the beginning of 2022, Lake Shasta's water level sat at just 913.5 feet. By January 1, 2023, it was at 928 feet. A record-setting wet season during winter 2022-2023 brought an influx of runoff, lifting the lake above 1,062.9 feet by the end of April 2023. The 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 winters followed with similarly wet conditions, including near-normal Sierra Nevada snowpack in early 2025. By April 1, California's snowpack was at 96 percent of the historical average, a key contributor to continued high inflows into Shasta and other major reservoirs. Many of California's other reservoirs are also performing well, including Lake Oroville, which is expected to reach capacity for the third year in a row this year, the first time such a milestone has been reached. What People Are Saying A USBR spokesperson told Newsweek on April 28: "As of today, we are 5.11 feet from full at 97% and an elevation of 1,061.89. the last time we had three consecutive years of being full were 2010, 2011, 2012." McCarthy said in his post: "The reservoir holds nearly 1.5 trillion gallons of water, which is enough to cover the entire state of California in half an inch of water." What Happens Next During 2023 and 2024, Lake Shasta peaked in early May. State water agencies are continuing to monitor Lake Shasta's levels closely. Officials have cautioned that despite current high water levels, preparation for future drought conditions remains a priority.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
State will deliver more water to Southern California this year via State Water Project
Southern California cities can expect to receive 50% of their full water allotments this year from the aqueducts of the State Water Project, up from 40% last month, as runoff from this year's ample snowpack continues to fill reservoirs in Northern California. 'Our full reservoirs will allow us to help meet the needs of the State Water Project contractors and their customers this year as well as provide some water supply next year in the event that dry conditions return,' Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, said in a statement Tuesday. The State Water Project's aqueducts and pipelines transport water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to cities and other agencies for 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland. Lake Oroville, the largest reservoir that feeds the State Water Project, is now 95% full and is expected to continue rising as snowmelt runs off the Sierra Nevada. The state Department of Water Resources said the reservoir could reach full capacity this spring for a third straight year. The state's snowpack in the Sierra reached exactly 100% of average for the season April 4, the department said. The average winter and spring followed an extremely wet and snowy 2023 and a wet 2024. The last time California had three consecutive years of average or above-average snow was from 1998 to 2000, according to state water officials. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers supplies from the State Water Project and the Colorado River to cities and other agencies, this year has a record amount of water banked in reservoirs and underground storage areas. The increase in the state's water allocation followed a similar announcement Monday by the Trump administration, which manages supplies from the federal Central Valley Project. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation increased the water allocation for agricultural water agencies south of the Delta to 50% of their full allotments, up from 40% a month ago. Read more: State Water Project supplies could fall up to 23% within 20 years due to climate change Managers of water agencies said that the increased supplies are welcome news, but that the still-limited allocations indicate what they view as constraints that should be addressed. Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said she and others 'remain convinced that California needs more operational flexibility to make the most of the storms' when they come. 'Delta exports have been running at less than half capacity while the State Water Contractors continue to pay for 100% of the system's operation and maintenance,' Pierre said. 'This mismatch in hydrology and supplies requires immediate attention and science-based action to retain environmental protections while also increasing stored supplies when reservoirs are spilling.' Environmental advocates said they are concerned about the increase in pumping. Pumping operations to supply water 'continue to have severe impacts to native fish species, and this year is no exception,' said Ashley Overhouse, water policy advisor for the group Defenders of Wildlife. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
