DAILY DIGEST, 7/24: White House rescinds $20m for clean water in rural CA; DWR: Securing statewide water supplies with Delta Conveyance Project; Marina voicing dispute over CalAm Water Desalination Plant; Lake Mead water projections raise red flags; – Maven’s Notebook

California Water Policy and Governance: Challenges to Sustainable Development

Setbacks and Progress in Achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

• A $20 million federal grant, designated to address pesticide-contaminated drinking water in a rural agricultural region of Monterey County, has been rescinded. This action directly impacts progress toward ensuring access to safe and affordable drinking water for all (SDG 6) and addressing inequalities (SDG 10).
• A bipartisan federal bill, the Microplastics Safety Act, has been introduced to investigate the human health impacts of microplastics. This initiative addresses a growing threat to water quality and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• In San Diego, federal representatives have requested $45 million in funding to combat cross-border sewage pollution, a critical step toward mitigating a long-standing public health and environmental crisis that undermines SDG 6.

Legislative and Regulatory Developments Impacting Environmental Goals

• The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has been significantly rolled back to exempt certain projects, including high-tech manufacturing and farmworker housing, from environmental review. While aimed at accelerating progress on SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), this raises concerns about potential impacts on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• The California Coastal Commission’s authority is being challenged by an oil pipeline firm over unpermitted work. This highlights ongoing conflicts between industrial activities and the protection of marine ecosystems, a core tenet of SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Public Perception and State-Level Climate Action (SDG 13)

• A Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) survey reveals continued public support for environmental protection, including a state climate bond. However, it also highlights public concern over the costs of climate programs and a lack of preparedness for extreme weather events, underscoring the challenges in financing and implementing climate action.

Infrastructure and Resource Management for a Resilient Future

Major Infrastructure Projects and Water Security (SDG 6 & SDG 9)

• The Department of Water Resources is advancing the Delta Conveyance Project to modernize the State Water Project. This initiative aims to improve water supply reliability for 27 million people in the face of climate change, directly supporting SDG 6 and SDG 9.
• The Pajaro River levee project, crucial for protecting a farmworker community from flooding (SDG 11), faces funding hurdles at the federal level, potentially delaying critical infrastructure upgrades.
• In Placer County, a project to remove 60-year-old bridge debris from the American River is moving forward, aiming to restore the river’s natural state and improve safety, aligning with SDG 6 and SDG 15.
• The Mojave Water Agency has initiated construction on the Mojave River Pipeline Traveling Screen Project to enhance water infrastructure resilience by reducing debris, thereby future-proofing water supply in alignment with SDG 6.

Regional Water Management and Disputes

1. Paso Robles: A dispute has arisen over proposed groundwater fees, with residential well owners currently excluded from the protest process, raising questions of equity in resource management under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
2. Marina: The City of Marina is contesting water demand estimates for a proposed Cal-Am desalination plant, highlighting conflicts in planning for future water security (SDG 6) and sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9).
3. Modesto/Salida: Modesto is assessing its capacity to provide water for a major industrial and residential expansion in Salida, a key step in ensuring sustainable urban growth (SDG 11).

Sustainable Agriculture and Economic Growth (SDG 2 & SDG 8)

• The 2025 California almond crop is forecast to reach 3 billion pounds, a 10% increase from the previous year, indicating strong performance in a key agricultural sector that is heavily reliant on sustainable water management.
• A proposal to convert retired, water-scarce farmland in Fresno County into the nation’s largest solar-plus-storage project exemplifies a strategic shift towards achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) simultaneously.
• The 2025 California rice planting season was noted as being unusually spread out due to early warm weather followed by wind and rain forecasts, illustrating agriculture’s increasing vulnerability to climate volatility (SDG 13).

Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Adaptation

Advancing SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land)

• The historic Potter Valley Project agreement unites diverse stakeholders on a plan to remove two dams on the Eel River, a significant step toward habitat restoration and improved water management.
• Indigenous youth completed a historic first descent of the undammed Klamath River, celebrating a monumental restoration effort that revitalizes a critical ecosystem and supports cultural heritage, aligning with SDG 10, SDG 14, and SDG 15.
• Research in Lake Tahoe continues to monitor water clarity and algae growth, with new drone technology sought to enhance efforts to protect this vital freshwater ecosystem.
• The discovery of a rare violet sea snail on a Southern California beach may be an indicator of warming ocean waters, a tangible sign of climate change’s impact on marine biodiversity (SDG 14).

Addressing Climate Change Impacts (SDG 13)

• Data analysis reveals that average summer temperatures in California have risen by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895, with some areas warming faster, highlighting the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies.
• Research into Indigenous fire management practices is providing new lessons on controlling wildfires and promoting forest resilience, offering a nature-based solution to a growing climate threat.
• The Port of Stockton has canceled a planned hydrogen plant project following an environmental lawsuit, a decision that prioritizes air quality (SDG 3) and greenhouse gas reduction (SDG 13).

Colorado River Basin and National Water Issues

Crisis on the Colorado River: A Threat to Regional Sustainability

• Federal officials are increasing pressure on the seven basin states to reach a new water-sharing agreement amid warnings of potential “system failure,” a crisis that threatens SDG 6 for 40 million people.
• Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation indicate that both Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at risk of falling to critically low levels by 2026-2027, jeopardizing water supplies and hydropower generation (SDG 7).
• The agricultural output of Yuma, Arizona, which supplies 90% of the U.S.’s winter leafy greens, is under threat from potential water cuts, linking regional water security directly to national food security (SDG 2).
• Fast-growing Arizona cities are spending millions to import groundwater from a rural basin to support development, a strategy that raises long-term questions about sustainable water management and equitable resource distribution (SDG 6 and SDG 11).

National and International Environmental Governance

• The Trump administration is moving to rescind the 2009 “endangerment finding,” which provides the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gases. This action would undermine national efforts to meet SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• The International Court of Justice has issued an advisory opinion stating that countries have a legal obligation to act on climate change to protect human rights, strengthening the international framework for SDG 13.
• On the Navajo Nation, the proliferation of old, unplugged, and potentially contaminated wells from a legacy of oil and gas drilling poses a severe threat to water safety, highlighting a critical failure in achieving SDG 6 and SDG 10 for Indigenous communities.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses a wide range of environmental, social, and economic issues in California and beyond, directly connecting to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goals addressed are those concerning clean water, climate action, life on land and below water, sustainable infrastructure, and clean energy. The interconnectedness of these issues, such as the link between water scarcity, agriculture, and renewable energy, highlights the integrated nature of the SDGs.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article touches on health risks associated with environmental degradation. The contamination of drinking water with pesticides in Monterey County and the potential health impacts of microplastics in the food and water supply directly relate to ensuring healthy lives.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is a central theme throughout the article. It covers issues of water contamination from pesticides and sewage, the security of water supplies through large-scale infrastructure like the Delta Conveyance Project, disputes over desalination plants, management of groundwater basins, and the restoration of river ecosystems through dam removal.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The goal is addressed through discussions on renewable energy projects, such as the nation’s largest solar-plus-storage project being built on retired farmland, and the challenges facing hydropower due to falling water levels in reservoirs like Lake Powell.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  This SDG is relevant to the numerous infrastructure projects mentioned, including the modernization of the State Water Project, the construction of levees (Pajaro River), pipelines (Mojave River), and the debate around exempting high-tech manufacturing from environmental reviews.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article connects to this goal through discussions on making communities resilient to disasters. This includes preparing for floods, managing wildfire risks, and addressing the impacts of land subsidence in major cities like Phoenix, which threatens urban infrastructure.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  Climate change is a recurring theme, linked to rising temperatures in California, an increase in extreme weather events like flash floods and wildfires, dwindling water levels in the Colorado River, and policy debates at the state, federal, and international levels regarding greenhouse gas emissions.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This goal is addressed through concerns about marine and freshwater ecosystems. Topics include pollution from microplastics and oil pipelines, the health of Lake Tahoe (measured by its clarity), the impact of warming waters on marine species (violet snail), and the restoration of aquatic habitats by removing dams on the Klamath River.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article discusses the health of terrestrial and inland water ecosystems. This includes the restoration of free-flowing rivers through dam removal, the impact of historical fire suppression on forest density, and the use of Indigenous knowledge for forest management to prevent megafires.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is relevant to the policy and legal conflicts described. Examples include the rescinding of a federal grant for clean water, legal challenges to environmental rollbacks (CEQA), lawsuits to stop industrial projects (Port of Stockton hydrogen plant), and international court opinions on state obligations regarding climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and pollution

   The article highlights the situation in Monterey County where drinking water is contaminated with “staggering levels of highly toxic pesticide ingredients,” posing a health threat. It also mentions the “Microplastics Safety Act,” which aims to study the “impacts of microplastics exposure on human health,” including risks to children and reproductive health, and links to cancer.

2. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water

   The rescinded “$20m grant to provide clean water” for “thousands of residents in California’s agricultural heartland” who “couldn’t use their wells because the water was too contaminated” directly addresses the need for safe drinking water access.

3. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution

   This target is relevant to multiple stories: the pesticide contamination in rural California, the request for “$45 million in funding to help battle sewage crisis” from cross-border pollution, and the legal complaint against an oil pipeline firm for “unpermitted pipeline work along the Santa Barbara coast.”

4. Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals

   The crisis on the Colorado River, with Lake Mead and Lake Powell “teetering close to the dangerously low levels,” and the commentary that “California needs a little less farmland, a lot more solar power” both point to the urgent need for more efficient water use and sustainable supply management to address scarcity.

5. Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management

   The negotiations among the seven states on the future of the Colorado River (“Feds up pressure for states to reach deal”) and the agreement uniting “water users in Mendocino and Sonoma counties with environmental groups, tribes and Humboldt County on a plan to manage Eel River water diversion” are clear examples of integrated and transboundary water management.

6. Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems

   The “historic 310-mile, month-long source-to-sea ‘first descent’ of the recently undammed Klamath River” celebrates the restoration of a free-flowing river. Similarly, the plan for the “removal of Scott Dam and Cape Horn Dam” on the Eel River aims to restore habitat. Efforts to study and protect Lake Tahoe’s clarity also fall under this target.

7. Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy

   The approval of the “nation’s largest solar-plus-storage project” in Fresno County, which “will provide up to 1,150 megawatts of solar energy,” is a direct action towards this target.

8. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure

   The article describes numerous efforts to develop and modernize infrastructure, such as the “Delta Conveyance Project” to make water supply more resilient to climate change, the project to replace the “Pajaro River levee” to protect against floods, and the “Mojave River Pipeline Traveling Screen Project” to enhance water supply reliability.

9. Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of deaths and people affected by disasters

   The article notes that “2025 became the summer of flash flooding in America,” with deadly consequences. It also discusses wildfire management, noting that a history of fire suppression has led to thicker forests, increasing the risk of “megafires.” These issues directly relate to reducing the impact of water-related and other natural disasters.

10. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

    California’s rising temperatures (“average temperatures have risen by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895”), the increasing frequency of flash floods, and the dwindling water levels in the Colorado River system are all climate-related hazards. Infrastructure projects like the Delta Conveyance are framed as adaptations to this “new climate reality.”

11. Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution

    The introduction of the “Microplastics Safety Act” to address microplastics in the food and water supply and the legal action against an oil pipeline firm on the Santa Barbara coast are direct efforts to combat marine pollution from land-based activities.

12. Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt biodiversity loss

    The removal of dams on the Klamath and Eel rivers is a significant action to restore river habitats for species like salmon. The article also notes that building a solar farm on “retired farmland” avoids conflicts with endangered species like the desert tortoise, implicitly recognizing the need to protect habitats.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

• Financial Investment

  Specific monetary values are mentioned as indicators of commitment and action, such as the rescinded “$20m grant” for clean water, the “$10 billion state climate bond,” and the requested “$45 million in funding to help battle sewage crisis.”

• Water Quality and Availability

  Quantitative metrics are used to describe water quality and availability. Lake Tahoe’s clarity is measured in feet, with the article stating it “averaged 62 feet last year.” Water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell are tracked in feet above sea level, with projections that Lake Mead could drop to “1,038 feet by the end of June 2027.” Water demand is measured in acre-feet, as seen in the Marina desalination plant dispute.

• Renewable Energy Capacity

  The capacity of new energy projects serves as a direct indicator of progress towards renewable energy goals. The Darden project is specified to provide “up to 1,150 megawatts of solar energy and 4,600 megawatts-hours of battery storage.”

• Agricultural Production

  Crop forecasts, such as the “2025 California almond crop forecast hits 3 billion pounds,” serve as an indicator of agricultural productivity, which is linked to water availability and sustainable practices.

• Climate and Environmental Data

  The article cites specific data points as indicators of climate change, such as the fact that California’s “average temperatures have risen by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895.” Forest density is also quantified, with a change from a “historical average of 50 to 190 trees” per hectare to “200 to 775 trees per hectare” used as an indicator of ecosystem change due to fire suppression.

• Policy and Legal Actions

  The number and type of legal and policy actions are qualitative indicators. This includes the introduction of legislation (Microplastics Safety Act), the approval or rescission of projects (Port of Stockton hydrogen plant), legal challenges (CEQA lawsuits), and international court opinions (ICJ ruling on climate change).

• Disaster Frequency

  The number of disaster warnings is used as an indicator of increasing risk. The article states the National Weather Service has issued “more than 3,600 flash flood warnings across the United States in 2025.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mavensnotebook.com