California Water Digest — 2026-06-30

17 item(s) from 9 source(s); 13 flagged (🔔) for your blog keywords.

📰 News & Policy

🔔 THIS JUST IN … Governor appoints Thomas Gibson as Director of the Department of Water Resources

Maven’s Notebook — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:42:48 +0000

From the Office of the Governor: Thomas Gibson, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Director at the California Department of Water Resources. Gibson has been Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Water Resources since 2024, where he was Chief Counsel from 2021 to 2024. He held multiple positions at the California Natural Resources Agency from 2014 to 2020, including Deputy Secre…

🔔 TUD Hosts Ceremony for the Sierra Pines Regional Water Treatment Facility

ACWA — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:51 +0000

Reading Summary: TUD Sierra Pines Regional Water Treatment Facility Groundbreaking

Key Facts

Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 26th in Twain Harte, CA for the Sierra Pines Regional Water Treatment Facility
Total project cost: $45.6 million
The facility will consolidate multiple aging treatment plants into a single modern facility
Funding comes through a State of California partnership combining grants and zero- and low-interest loans administered by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
Project goals include improved water quality, system reliability, operational efficiency, and drought/emergency resilience

Who Is Affected

TUD ratepayers and customers in the Twain Harte/Tuolumne County region
Tribal partners (unnamed) who participated in the ceremony
State and federal legislative stakeholders involved in funding
Mountain Sierra foothill communities dependent on aging treatment infrastructure

Policy/Legal Angle

Funding flows through the State Water Resources Control Board, likely via its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) or similar infrastructure loan/grant programs
No specific legislation cited, but zero/low-interest loan structures align with existing SWRCB safe drinking water financing programs

Blog Angles

Consolidation as a statewide model: Is TUD’s multi-plant consolidation approach a replicable template for other small mountain districts with aging infrastructure? How many similar facilities exist in the Sierra Nevada foothills?
SWRCB financing mechanics: What is the exact breakdown between grants and loans in the $45.6M package, and what does this reveal about how California prioritizes rural drinking water investment?
Tribal engagement: Tribal partners were mentioned but not named — what is the nature of their involvement, and does this project intersect with any water rights or cultural resource considerations?

Full text ->

🔔 After bold pledge, EPA shelves microplastics testing in U.S. drinking water - Los Angeles Times

Google News — CA water — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

After bold pledge, EPA shelves microplastics testing in U.S. drinking water Los Angeles Times

🔔 May the county water district limit a landowner’s groundwater use based on historic use? - firsttuesday Journal

Google News — groundwater/SGMA — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:03:28 GMT

May the county water district limit a landowner’s groundwater use based on historic use? firsttuesday Journal

🔔 Officials confirm northernmost detection of invasive Golden Mussels at Port of West Sacramento - Folsom Times

Google News — Bay-Delta — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 21:06:53 GMT

Officials confirm northernmost detection of invasive Golden Mussels at Port of West Sacramento Folsom Times

🔔 Former chief of Laurene Powell Jobs climate fund president named to state water board - Local News Matters

Google News — state agencies — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Former chief of Laurene Powell Jobs climate fund president named to state water board Local News Matters

🔔 DAILY DIGEST, 6/29: Salmon advocates warn of a new threat on the Sacramento River; New fact sheets bring cover crop guidance for California growers; Dead fish, shrinking lakes, and a water war send California HOA to court; Southwest wildfire danger remains high through Fourth of July week; and more …

Maven’s Notebook — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:18 +0000

[cmtoctableofcontents] Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com. On the calendar today … Workshop 2 on Proposition 4 CIMIS Stations Network Expansio…

🔔 DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: The uneven toll of California’s groundwater law; Will Reclamation violate laws to protect salmon?; Alliance for Water Efficiency releases data center primer for water service providers; Lake Powell drop could mean major Color - Maven’s Notebook

Google News — CA water — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 16:00:10 GMT

DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: The uneven toll of California’s groundwater law; Will Reclamation violate laws to protect salmon?; Alliance for Water Efficiency releases data center primer for water service providers; Lake Powell drop could mean major Color Maven’s Notebook

🔔 Invasive golden mussels found in port of West Sacramento - FOX40

Google News — Bay-Delta — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 13:21:57 GMT

Invasive golden mussels found in port of West Sacramento FOX40

Bigger than San Francisco Bay, Shasta Lake has an image problem - SFGATE

Google News — CA water — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:16:25 GMT

Bigger than San Francisco Bay, Shasta Lake has an image problem SFGATE

Ranchers Highlight Conservation Benefits of Expanded Federal Grazing - AgNet West

Google News — CA water — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:42 GMT

Ranchers Highlight Conservation Benefits of Expanded Federal Grazing AgNet West

🔔 $21.3 Million Headed to California Salmon Fisheries After Years-Long Wait - Redheaded Blackbelt

Google News — CA water — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:53:02 GMT

$21.3 Million Headed to California Salmon Fisheries After Years-Long Wait Redheaded Blackbelt

⚖️ Courts & Legal

California leaders on Supreme Court upholding access to democracy for millions of Americans - California State Portal | CA.gov

Google News — water litigation — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:31:37 GMT

California leaders on Supreme Court upholding access to democracy for millions of Americans California State Portal | CA.gov

California Environmental Law & Policy Update 6.26.26 - JD Supra

Google News — water litigation — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:58:31 GMT

California Environmental Law & Policy Update 6.26.26 JD Supra

🪶 California Tribal Water

🔔 U.S. Department of Commerce allocates $123.6M in fishery disaster funding to Alaska, Oregon, California and Squaxin Island Tribe - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov)

Google News — tribal water rights — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

U.S. Department of Commerce allocates $123.6M in fishery disaster funding to Alaska, Oregon, California and Squaxin Island Tribe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov)