Trump administration takes emergency step to sustain key Colorado River reservoir Emergency federal actions are underway to save Lake Powell as the Colorado River crisis intensifies.

“These are necessary short-term adjustments, not a long-term fix. Real stability will require conservation across the entire Colorado River Basin.” www.latimes.com/environment/...

Map of the contiguous United States showing the spring bloom index anomaly as of April 19, 2026 from the USA National Phenology Network. Many areas are earlier than normal.

Aside from Florida, nearly the entire contiguous U.S. has experienced earlier than average first plant blooms in 2026. Earlier springs can cause longer allergy seasons, accelerate wildfire risk, increase pests/mosquitoes, and lead to less reliable snow-fed water.

Map: www.usanpn.org/data/maps/sp...

Trump administration takes emergency step to prop up key Colorado River reservoir As the Colorado River shrinks in an extremely dry year, the Trump administration is moving water from one reservoir to another, and will cut the amount that's released downstream to California, Arizon...

The water crisis along the Colorado River has gotten so serious that the Trump administration is responding with emergency measures to prop up Lake Powell, the nation’s second largest reservoir. www.latimes.com/environment/...

Trump administration takes emergency step to sustain key Colorado River reservoir Emergency federal actions are underway to save Lake Powell as the Colorado River crisis intensifies.

Federal officials revealed their short-term plan for propping up Lake Powell and (hopefully) avoiding severe water shortages among the Colorado River states: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @ianjames.bsky.social

Will be paneling tomorrow at the LA Times Festival of Books on the USC campus! First up at noon: Fire Escape: Wildfires and the Changing Geography of Southern California -- a conversation with Jordan Thomas and D. J. Waldie.

Trump administration takes emergency step to prop up key Colorado River reservoir As the Colorado River shrinks in an extremely dry year, the Trump administration is moving water from one reservoir to another, and will cut the amount that's released downstream to California, Arizon...

The water crisis along the Colorado River has gotten so serious that the Trump administration is responding with emergency measures to prop up Lake Powell, the nation’s second largest reservoir. www.latimes.com/environment/...

This is TOMORROW! Come see me and my wonderful colleagues talk about post-fire recovery.

3:30pm @ Festival of Books @ USC.

Thank you for pointing this out.

Mayor Bass has a new plan for addressing climate change in Los Angeles Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has released a new climate change plan for Los Angeles, setting goals for solar energy, EV chargers and water recycling.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has a new plan for addressing climate change, with goals including doubling solar power and achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035. Los Angeles is also taking steps to obtain more of its water from local sources. @melissagomez.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...

Dust storms have overtaken Coachella. Researchers say it's a sign of what's to come Researchers say that dust storms cost the U.S. billions of dollars annually already, and could be getting worse and more economically devastating.

Dust storms have overtaken Coachella. Researchers say it's a sign of what's to come

By Tony Briscoe www.latimes.com/environment/...

Mayor Bass has a new plan for addressing climate change in Los Angeles Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has released a new climate change plan for Los Angeles, setting goals for solar energy, EV chargers and water recycling.

Mayor Bass has a new plan for addressing climate change in Los Angeles www.latimes.com/environment/... @latimes.com @coveringclimatenow.org @ejtodaynews.bsky.social

The ocean off California keeps breaking heat records The marine heat wave of 2026 is simmering the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, and experts are warning that it could lead to a warm, humid and stormy summer.

The extreme marine heat wave in the Pacific Ocean is breaking records, and it could affect coastal weather and ecosystems for months. "As the world continues to warm, every marine heat wave will be warmer than the last one." @hayleysmith.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...

The ocean off California keeps breaking heat records The marine heat wave of 2026 is simmering the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, and experts are warning that it could lead to a warm, humid and stormy summer.

The ocean off California keeps breaking heat records

Chinook salmon found naturally hatching in Upper Klamath River for first time in a century The Klamath Tribes are celebrating evidence of Chinook salmon spawning in Klamath River tributary.

After big dams on the upper Klamath River in far northern CA were removed in 2024, Chinook (king) salmon migrated upstream for the first time in 100+ years--and now they have hatched.

Near the shrinking Salton Sea, children's lungs may pay a price Scientists find that children who live near California's Salton Sea, where dust is a problem, suffer from diminished lung development.

ICYMI: Scientists have found that children who live near the Salton Sea, where windblown dust is a problem, have diminished lung development.

"We need to have a renewed focus on making sure that we’re protecting children’s health."
www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Opinion: Kelp forests off coast are disappearing. Who’s paying attention? Kelp forests stabilize coastlines and help regulate carbon in the ocean.

"Our research priorities tend to follow an anthropocentric logic... Kelp forests exemplify this imbalance, supporting fisheries, stabilizing coastlines, and helping regulate carbon in the ocean, yet receiving only a fraction of the attention and funding." www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/31/o...

Opinion: Kelp forests off coast are disappearing. Who’s paying attention? Kelp forests stabilize coastlines and help regulate carbon in the ocean.

Opinion: Kelp forests off coast are disappearing. Who’s paying attention? @scrippsocean.bsky.social www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/31/o...

A gas that causes climate change is bubbling out of reservoirs How much planet-warming methane is coming from water reservoirs? Environmental groups want California to track emissions.

How much methane is emitted by reservoirs behind hydropower dams? A coalition of environmental groups want California regulators to require more reporting: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @ianjames.bsky.social

A gas that causes climate change is bubbling out of reservoirs How much planet-warming methane is coming from water reservoirs? Environmental groups want California to track emissions.

Does California have a blind spot in its tracking of climate-warming gases? Several environmental groups say it's dams and reservoirs. They're urging state air regulators to start tracking how much methane they emit. www.latimes.com/environment/...

1 worker dead, 1 hurt in collapse of irrigation tunnel in north Stanislaus County The Canyon Tunnel Project is north of Knights Ferry.

This is pretty terrible news. There was a partial collapse of an under-construction irrigation tunnel that collapsed and killed a worker. Tunnel is a modernization project to SSJID and OID along Stanislaus River.
www.modbee.com/news/local/a...

Opinion: Colorado River Basin states could learn from what we developed in Australia Water users in the Colorado Basin deserve a modern allocation system. Australia has a blueprint that is thriving.

The U.S. needs a "modern allocation system" for the Colorado River, Australian water expert Mike Young says. He recommends converting the old system of water rights into shares that would divide water based on how much the river can provide. coloradosun.com/2026/04/14/o...

A team of Antarctic scientists have extracted a core of the oldest ice on Earth. Now they’re reading the trapped ancient gas bubbles in this block of ice to learn about our changeable climate. On this week’s episode, we go Old School. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/old...

Hi, Kate. Not that I know of. No one has mentioned observers or expert witnesses being in negotiations.

Opinion: Colorado River Basin states could learn from what we developed in Australia Water users in the Colorado Basin deserve a modern allocation system. Australia has a blueprint that is thriving.

The U.S. need a "modern allocation system" for the Colorado River, Australian water expert Mike Young says. He recommends converting the old system of water rights into shares that would divide water based on how much the river can provide. coloradosun.com/2026/04/14/o...

Views of the fresh snow yesterday along the West Fork of the Carson River: ❄️ bsky.app/profile/ianj...

Chart showing statewide snowpack in California's Sierra Nevada as of April 13, 2026.

The snowstorm over the weekend gave a late-season boost to California's meager snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. Statewide snowpack now stands at 23% of average, up from 15% before the storm.

Here's our story about how extreme heat melted much of the snow as of 4/1: www.latimes.com/environment/...

Three years of heartbreak, finally some hope: California's fishermen get to fish again Commercial salmon fishing is set to resume along the California coast this spring for the first time since 2022. Fishery regulators decided to allow a fishing season with strict catch limits.

Commercial fishers will be allowed to catch salmon along the California coast for the first time since 2022 after a rebound in fish numbers prompted regulators to end a three-year ban. Still, there are are far fewer salmon than there were in the early 2000s. www.latimes.com/environment/...

Commercial salmon fishing set to resume along California coast after 3-year shutdown Commercial salmon fishing is set to resume along the California coast this spring for the first time since 2022. Fishery regulators plan to allow a fishing season with strict catch limits.

Commercial fishing for salmon is set to resume along the California coast for the first time since 2022. After a three-year shutdown, regulators plan to allow a fishing season with strict limits. I spoke with people who fish for a living about what it means: www.latimes.com/environment/...

A river curves through a snowy meadow.

The West Fork of the Carson River in the snow.

Closeup of snow on boulders in the West Fork of the Carson River on April 12, 2026.

The West Fork of the Carson River in Hope Valley, California, on April 12, 2026.

The West Fork of the Carson River today

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