Valley Headlines

Lost water still hot topic

SJV Water. Water managers vent frustration over water dump from Tulare lakes.
Synopsis: It wasn’t the amount of water, about 7,300 acre feet, that has so bothered folks in the Valley, but the process in releasing it. “The amount of water was not huge,” said Kaweah Delta Water District board member Brian Watte. “It was the process. He has no idea how bad he effed up.” Since most of the water was diverted onto recharge areas, “the end result wasn’t calamitous,” but water managers are asking how any recurrence can be prevented. They’re worried because of the “data gaps” in determining who was responsible for releases.

Politico. Trump dumped these farmers’ water; they’d rather not talk about it. 
Synopsis: Most of the Tulare County farmers who lost water support Donald Trump, and they’re loath to appear critical of his decision to dump 7,300 acre feet in the middle of winter. Said the president of the Tulare Farm Bureau: “I’m a farmer. I have a conservative mindset. I encourage the trigger-pulling attitude.” Rep. Vince Fong and Porterville Mayor Greg Meister are looking at the bright side. If the rains continue, any lost water will be forgotten but the reasons for releasing it will still be talked about.

Sacramento Bee. CA’s smart and vocal farmers are silent about Trump as he wasted their water.
Synopsis: Tom Philp writes about the silence from Tulare County where roughly 7,300 acre feet of water was poured onto the ground. They’re not willing to criticize Trump because they believe he will bring them “more water” and “more certainty” in its delivery, says former Sec of Natural Resources Lester Snow. Philp hopes they don’t forget this loss when the next stunt fails.

Manteca Bulletin. Trump wasted water? Newsom channels Trump? The mad, mad world of water. 
Synopsis: Dennis Wyatt tries to make sense of the week’s water news. He says the water Trump released, while misdirected, wasn’t wasted because it soaked into the ground and is replenishing the Tulare Lake aquifer. Then there’s Gavin Newsom’s decision to ramp up pumping when storm runoff allows it, a move many on the left say is pandering to the Trump crowd. Dennis, like water managers throughout the Valley, disagrees. The one lesson to take from both events: The bureaucracy is not nimble enough to respond to crises or opportunities, no matter how they arise.

Reservoir road can proceed

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus County approves new road to bypass proposed reservoir. 
Synopsis: Supervisors approved a new route for 4 miles of Del Puerto Canyon Road, making way for the reservoir nearby. The route avoids the reservoir and provides access to Frank Raines Park. Meanwhile, Judge John R. Mayne’s ruling to throw out the reservoir’s EIR was overturned by the 5^th Appellate Court, saying the EIR was fine. DPWD chief Anthea Hansen says further studies are proving that the canyon is an “ideal spot for off-stream storage.”

Smoke damages Macy’s

Modesto Bee. $4 million in good damaged or destroyed by arson at Macy’s in Vintage Faire Mall.
Synopsis: A fire was intentionally started in a compactor at Vintage Faire Mall and sent smoke billowing into the store. The smoke damaged a lot of merchandise. Christopher Smith was arrested.

How water treatment works

Merced Sun Star. Merced’s wastewater treatment plant plays crucial role in protecting environment.
Synopsis: Extensive and detailed story explains how the city’s wastewater goes through at least five distinct processes (and a sixth if needed) before being released back into the environment. Before water is deemed clean enough for release, all the solids, fats, ammonia, bacteria and organic pollutants must be removed. Doing that, says Bill Osmer, requires careful use of microbes. Some 70% of the water meets standards for drinking. The rest goes into irrigation. Biosolids are spread on 50 acres on a rotating basis, making the ground better for growing.

Big ‘rats’ living at Millerton

Fox26. Invasive nutria found at Millerton Lake, funding increased.
Synopsis: It appears the one orange-toothed rodents have taken up residence at Millerton. That has sparked David Valadao to join forces with Josh Harder, who has made nutria eradication one of his top legislative priorities, in getting federal funds to kill them. Along the SJ River, Fresno County has hired additional staff to seek out the nutria. Nutria burrow deep into levees and breed very quickly, turning the levees into Swiss cheese.

Merced school exec fired

Merced Focus. Merced City Schools board fires a top administrator; district provides few details.
Synopsis: Brian Meisenheimer, a 10-year administrator in the district, has been terminated as associate superintendent. He had served as acting superintendent in 2023 as the board was searching for Julianna Stocking. He had been earning $225,000 per year. He had been a principal in Atwater and the district’s HR director – becoming the Assn of CA School Administrators administrator of the year in 2023.

Modesto adding 48 apartments

Modesto Bee. Another rundown motel in Modesto could become low-cost apartments.
Synopsis: The El Capitan motel, completed in 1963 on Needham Street, is now scheduled to become 48 low-cost studio apartments via an $18.5 million grant from the state. An on-site manager would live in the 49^th unit. The transformation will be based on the same model used at the Clarion Inn on Sisk. It will be the fourth hotel turned into low-cost housing. Expect completion by late 2026.

Two cities, two approaches

GV Wire. Will Clovis become non-sanctuary city? Diane Pearce pushes for it. 
Synopsis: David Taub writes about the efforts of councilmember Diane Pearce to have Clovis declare itself in alignment with Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Former police chief Matt Bagsall says that would be asking officers to violate state law, so he’s against it. Besides, he hasn’t heard anyone asking for this other than Pearce and her pals.

Modesto Bee. How coalition looks to revive activism as Valley support of conservative politics grows.
Synopsis: Reporter Julietta Bisharyan writes about the Central Valley Black, Indigenous and People of Color Coalition and its support for Black Lives Matters and the Free Palestine movement. It emerged from an Instagram page 10 years ago and now is focused on seeing that Modesto align itself with the priorities of the Trump resistance. Quoted were Efren Diaz, Julissa Ramirez and Learkana Chong, but no one expressing an opinion.  

River park is top of mind

Modesto Bee. Modesto, Stanislaus want to make improvements to Tuolumne Regional Park. 
Synopsis: The Tuolumne River Trust is trying to spark greater interest in completing the long-dreamed-of park along the river. Hilary Moak believes greater involvement will push it along. Nathan Houx of the city is emphasizing walking, biking and birdwatching to become a “huge economic driver” for the region. Chris Guptill, who created the 9-to-99 cleanups years ago, chairs the TRRP Advisory Committee and wants to see more participation. File comments by Feb. 12 at Tenth Street. 

Electric car sales stalling?

Cal Matters. CA’s surge in EV sales has stalled, so what happens to its landmark mandate?
Synopsis: After three years of steadily growing sales, last year sales of EVs “stabilized” with about 25% of the market. While some consider that a victory, others say it will keep CA from meeting its climate-change goals – including a ban on new gas-powered vehicles by 2030. For the past three years, sales of EV increased by 30% to 50% per year. But in 2024, the increase was less than 1%. Now, dealers say sales are declining. Biggest trend: People who buy an EV also own a gas-powered car for longer trips.

Auctioning off some classics

SF Chronicle. Fleet of classic cars is up for auction in SF – including a $1.5 million Mercedes-Benz.
Synopsis: If you want some emission-spewing classics, you can have a 1955 300 SL Gullwing Coupe for around $1.2 million. It’s one of 105 classic cars being auctioned from the estate of Richard A. Stephens, the former president of the Academy of Art University. A 1953 Jag XK120 roadster is expected to fetch $130K; the 1933 Chrysler Imperial could go for $1 million. The auction will be Feb. 15 online and in person in the old Plymouth dealership on Van Ness. Don’t forget your checkbook.