In CA, where water is never certain, nature-defying engineering keeps dry regions wet even when nothing falls from the sky. I took a look at what happens when a critical water conduit descends into chaos — and what that means for major water projects in the rest of CA calmatters.org/environment/...
Colorado River states can't agree — so California is poised for more cuts
With no long-term deal in sight, water agencies are left guessing how deep the next cut will go — and when.
calmatters.org
I had a very interesting—and sobering—conversation with Adrienne Marshall (@hydro-adrienne.bsky.social), lead author of a new study on climate change and the West’s 2026 snow drought. Some scary projections if emissions keep climbing—but that’s not a fait accompli. waterdesk.org/2026/08/clim...
Climate change made the West’s snow drought far more likely—but it’s still not the new normal
Q&A with hydrologist Adrienne Marshall on why this past winter’s snowpack fell so low, how global warming increased the odds and what the future may hold
waterdesk.org
I find the need to produce content about the horror of wildfires that inhibits the actual fighting of fires to be one of the most nihilistic things I can imagine. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Drones force grounding of firefighting aircraft in Spokane
On Sunday, there were 26 reported drone incursions in the restricted Spokane fire area, and four drones were "directly in the path of firefighting apparatus."
seattletimes.com
If you'd like to know more about this beleaguered stretch of the Colorado River, and some of the fish that call it home, I wrote about it for National Geographic earlier this summer: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/...
A river crisis is unfolding in the American West
The Colorado has been struggling for decades. This summer could bring it to the brink, threatening endangered wildlife and communities.
nationalgeographic.com
The #GannFire, burning upslope in the Central Sierra foothills west of Angels Camp, is gaining a bit of a foothold despite the lack of extreme fire weather conditions at the moment (though it is quite hot and dry), and has forced some expanding evacuations. Why? #CAwx #CAfire
My take: Feds had a real opportunity to change how the river is managed. Instead they chose to let the states lead, which have proven time again to not be willing to make the permanent, drastic cuts to actually live within the means of a shrinking river. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
A new Colorado River plan requires water cuts for three states. Deeper cuts are still possible.
Arizona, California and Nevada will be required to curb their use of the water from the river by about 20 percent over the next two years, according to three officials.
washingtonpost.com
such an incredibly told story from @davephilipps.bsky.social. his main subject is a teen, whose coast guard vet killed himself after years of trauma in the service. hoping to find more about her father lived (and died) she did her own research for a class project. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/u...
Rescue Boat Crews Show Signs of Brain Injuries, but Coast Guard Isn’t Looking
Untreated and undiagnosed, the crews that save lives in the roughest seas face the relentless pounding of waves.
nytimes.com
Yes. It's summer, it's hot. However, what's in store for the southwest and Inter-mountain West into the weekend will be record highs during the hottest time of the year–dangerous for anyone that's unprepared while outdoors. Plan accordingly. weather.gov/heat
California can’t replant its forests fast enough to keep up with wildfires calmatters.org/environment/... via @ra-becks.bsky.social
California is losing its forests faster than it can replant them — and no one has enough seeds, staff, or money to catch up
California needs to ramp up reforestation to keep pace with wildfires — instead, funding and staff keep shrinking.
calmatters.org
Just a stunning investigation from @calireporter.bsky.social on Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías, who sits on her chamber’s eldercare committee, and the seemingly disqualifying issues from her personal life, one culminating in her mom getting a restraining order calmatters.org/investigatio...
Lawmaker told court her mom had dementia in family property battle. Not so, said doctors
Records show Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías also faced a temporary restraining order for elder abuse.
calmatters.org
Firefighters quickly beat back the fast-moving Dove Fire, but it jolted CA out of what has so far been a relatively quiet fire summer. That could soon change: a heatwave is on its way. And new research puts numbers to the intuitive link: with heatwaves, comes fire. calmatters.org/environment/...
California's quiet fire summer is about to meet a brutal heat wave
Scientists found a direct link between heat waves and wildfire acreage. California's next heat wave starts this week.
calmatters.org
🔥 Ever wonder how wildfires get their names? It's not about size or severity: it's about location. The first responding agency names the fire, usually after nearby roads. The name must be simple, unique, and appropriate. It may also be named after significant creeks, ridges, or landmarks.
Another recent one from my former coworker @ra-becks.bsky.social Sharp and striking angle, deeply and carefully reported. Rachel is so good when she is on the ground with teams she’s writing about and doesn’t let the doom obscure their efforts. 2/ calmatters.org/environment/...
California is losing its forests faster than it can replant them — and no one has enough seeds, staff, or money to catch up
California needs to ramp up reforestation to keep pace with wildfires — instead, funding and staff keep shrinking.
calmatters.org
I think people who do not work in media have trouble grasping how genuinely terrifying it is watching organization after organization (even those ostensibly held by entities able to fund them!) continually get carved down into nothing. Lights going out all over
Asher Elbein@asherelbein.bsky.social · 2w ago"Most of the affected employees were at National Geographic, both at the cable network as well as editorial and operations." 🫠
At least 2.3 million acres of California forests have been burned so intensely that they need an assist to recover...and California cannot keep up.
California is losing its forests faster than it can replant them — and no one has enough seeds, staff, or money to catch up
California needs to ramp up reforestation to keep pace with wildfires — instead, funding and staff keep shrinking.
calmatters.org
🚩 RED FLAG WARNING 🚩 🕐 FRI, 1 PM – 8 PM: Western Klamath National Forest, Shasta/Scott Valleys. 🕐 FRI, 1 PM – SAT, 9 PM: Eastern Siskiyou County, Klamath, Shasta/Modoc National Forests. Stay informed and be prepared. #ReadyForWildfire #CAwx #RedFlagWarning #CriticalFireWeather
A new scoop on my expanded beat: I was able to take a look at a working draft of California's developing reforestation strategy — and the outlook is staggering. calmatters.org/environment/...
California is losing its forests faster than it can replant them — and no one has enough seeds, staff, or money to catch up
California needs to ramp up reforestation to keep pace with wildfires — instead, funding and staff keep shrinking.
calmatters.org
California, Arizona and Nevada have avoided the harshest water cutbacks the Trump administration could have imposed over the next two years to deal with the Colorado River crisis. Federal officials have agreed with much of the states’ water-saving proposal. www.latimes.com/environment/...
California dodges a bullet on Colorado River cuts
California, Arizona and Nevada offered to cut water use to ease the Colorado River crisis. The Trump administration is set to adopt much of their proposal.
latimes.com
Federal agencies that terminated more than a thousand research grants at the University of California admitted that they used keywords related to diversity to screen for projects. It’s an admission that lawyers for the researchers say is proof the agencies illegally cancelled nearly $2b in grants.
DEI keyword search led to billions in cancelled California university grants
The Trump administration cancelled $2 billion of research grants to UC professors. Their legal team says it has proof that was unconstitutional.
calmatters.org
Fires have erupted across the parched West, and some of the fast-spreading Colorado blazes “could eventually spot over Colorado River and I-70," according to climate expert Daniel Swain.
Wildfires explode across Western U.S. as danger escalates; widespread smoke possible
Fires have erupted across the parched West, and some of the fast-spreading Colorado blazes “could eventually spot over Colorado River and I-70," according to climate expert Daniel Swain.
bit.ly
NEW: Regulators have linked Mark McAfee’s raw dairy farm to more than a dozen recalls and outbreaks that left hundreds of people ill. “I’ve put a couple kids in the hospital,” McAfee said. “But here’s the thing: I’m a pioneer.”
He Profits Off Raw Milk That's Making People Sick. The Government Isn't Stopping Him.
With Raw Farm, the largest raw-milk dairy in the country, Mark McAfee has capitalized on a once-fringe product that's been thrust into the mainstream in recent years and backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
propublica.org
Proposed changes to California's "cap and invest" climate program could result in way less revenue to invest — including in programs that deliver clean drinking to low-income communities: calmatters.org/environment/... via @ra-becks.bsky.social
California’s climate overhaul threatens clean drinking water funding
Newsom celebrates California’s clean drinking water progress as his administration’s climate overhaul threatens to upend a key source of funding.
calmatters.org
11/ Read our story at www.propublica.org/article/kids... Reported with @mayatmiller.bsky.social @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social @mariamelba.bsky.social
Kids Are Being Harmed by Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Under Trump. There Could Be Long-Term Consequences.
In several cities, judges have chastised federal immigration officers, saying they used excessive force. One former DHS leader called ProPublica’s findings a “bright red flag.”
propublica.org
In the last couple weeks, we've seen a remarkable number of food recalls due to salmonella contamination. So many, in fact, that it's worth our time to take a deeper look at some of the reasons why. 1/10
Dozens of popular snacks recalled due to salmonella contamination. See the growing list
The salmonella concerns have led to a number of popular products pulled from grocery store shelves, including popcorn, chips, nuts and more.
nbcchicago.com
Great question. It did not make make perfect sense for SAFER funding to come from this source. That being said, and more importantly, it always made sense to fund this program (and more) if the governor is going to say the state supports the Human Right to Water.
Rachel Becker@ra-becks.bsky.social · 3mo agoRoughly 600,000 Californians still lack access to safe and reliable drinking water supplies. The problem will cost billions to fix. So why is the Newsom administration considering a climate overhaul that could gut a key source of funding?
Roughly 600,000 Californians still lack access to safe and reliable drinking water supplies. The problem will cost billions to fix. So why is the Newsom administration considering a climate overhaul that could gut a key source of funding?
California’s climate overhaul threatens clean drinking water funding
Newsom celebrates California’s clean drinking water progress as his administration’s climate overhaul threatens to upend a key source of funding.
calmatters.org
@health.nationalacademies.org is seeking experts to participate in a study on monitoring and modeling to support long-term operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. To be considered, please submit your nomination by May 22, 2026. Learn more: bit.ly/4wtoh51
