California
Latest snowpack survey reveals California could be in for extremely dry year

California’s snowpack has fallen well below average following an extremely dry January, according to the Department of Water Resources’ second snow survey of the season.
The survey was conducted Friday at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada near Sacramento.
The survey recorded 22.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 8 inches—just 46% of the historical average at that location. Statewide, the snowpack sits at 65% of normal for this time of year.
The alarmingly low figures come after California’s snowpack was more than 108% of average at the start of the year thanks to winter storms in November and December in the Northern Sierra.
But persistent dry conditions in January have pushed levels downward and wiped out much of that healthy head start.
“California missed out on critical snow-building storms in January which has pushed the state down below average for this time of year,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “For each day it’s not snowing or raining, we are not keeping up with what we need.”
Currently, the Central Sierra snowpack sits at 58% of average while the Southern Sierra has dipped below 50%.
While some storms are forecast for February, Nemeth says the state has experienced previous years where early-season gains were erased by prolonged dry spells.
“Despite a good start to the snowpack in the Northern Sierra in November and December, we can look back as recently as 2013 and 2021 to show how quickly conditions can change for the drier,” Nemeth said.
But there’s probably no reason to despair quite yet. The state’s snowpack has also gotten off to a slow start and roared back as recently as last year.
During the 2024 January Phillips Station survey, the state’s snowpack level was only around 25% of historical averages. By April’s survey, which DWR says is the most telling, the state had bounced back to more than 113% of average.
And despite lower snowpack levels, officials say California’s reservoirs remain in strong shape due to effective water management.
Lake Oroville, the largest reservoir in the State Water Project, is at 126% of average for this time of year, while San Luis Reservoir is at 101% of average. Southern California’s reservoirs are also near or above normal levels.
Snowpack levels are a crucial component of the state’s annual water supply forecast, which helps determine water allocation across the state throughout the year. The state’s snowpack accounts for about 30% of the state’s water availability, according to DWR.
The California Department of Water Resources conducts four to five snowpack surveys at Phillips Station throughout the year, beginning in early January and continuing each month through April and May, if necessary. The next snow survey will take place Feb. 28.
To read more about California’s current water conditions, click here.

California
California increases efforts to test safety of marijuana sold in the state

SACRAMENTO — For California, 2024 was a record-breaking year for the amount of marijuana products pulled by state regulators due to consumer safety issues.
The state is now increasing efforts to test the safety of marijuana sold in the state.
“We had 63 recalls that affected 259 product lines,” said Zarha Ruiz with the Department of Cannabis Control.
Ruiz said state inspectors track cannabis safety throughout the production process.
“Anywhere from cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, or retail,” Ruiz said.
Recalled and embargoed items include vape cartridges, beverages, edibles, pre-rolls, and flower products.
Some contained fungus, pesticides and other harmful chemicals like methylene chloride. Other products exceeded THC concentration limits.
“The cannabis regulations are based on health and safety and science and so those rules are meaningful and they protect public health,” Ruiz said.
Maisha Bahati, the owner of the dispensary Crystal Nugs, said that state inspectors keep a close eye on the products she sells in her midtown Sacramento store.
“Customers want that. Customers want transparency in their products. They want to know what they’re putting in their body,” Bahati said. “We as a retailer want to make sure that we are selling products that are safe.”
Manufacturers and retailers face fines and suspensions if they don’t comply.
“It’s important that the state is on top of it,” Bahati said. “I appreciate them being on top of it because that puts us in a position where we know we’re giving the safest products to our customers.”
Last year, the Department of Cannabis Control issued more than 360 disciplinary actions and suspended 230 licenses.
California
PFAS Ban Sees Tech Suit Shipments Halted In California and New York; No Suit Ban Imminent

The ban of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in select U.S. states has resulted in a disruption of suit orders and shipments for swimmers and parents gearing up for championship season.
PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, are a group of man-made chemicals that don’t break down easily and are therefore harmful to the environment.
On January 1, 2025, California and New York officially banned textile articles and apparel containing PFAS, while Colorado began a phased approach, beginning with prohibiting PFAS in outdoor apparel for “severe wet conditions,” beginning with a PFAS disclosure requirement.
As a result of the bans, we’ve seen multiple reports of swimmers and parents in California and New York attempting to order tech suits, but being unable to do so due to “state-specific regulations,” specifically the presence of PFAS in the suit making them unable to be shipped.
Thus far, the suit brand parents and swimmers have reported the most issues with is TYR, while there’s also word of Mizuno suits having issues.
TYR has this disclaimer on its website if you attempt to order a suit with PFAS:
PFAS Regulation Notice: This product contains Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The sale of products containing PFAS may be restricted or prohibited in certain states. Please note that orders for this product placed by residents of states where the sale of products containing PFAS is prohibited will be automatically canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Mizuno’s website includes this disclaimer for the Men’s GX-Sonic V Multi Racer:
*This product contains intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in amounts less than 100 ppm for water-repellent purposes. It is not available for sale or shipment to California or New York.
USA Swimming told SwimSwam that there are currently no rules relating specifically to PFAS, as their suit guidelines align with World Aquatics, which also has not implemented any restrictions as of yet.
However, USA Swimming said it is monitoring the situation, is in communication with suit manufacturers, and will address their Rules and Regulation Committee if necessary.
In January, an article in the Wall Street Journal outlined how top apparel brands such as L.L. Bean, Columbia and Patagonia have spent the last few years testing chemical alternatives to move away from PFAS.
PFAS RESTRICTIONS
California: 2022 – Assembly Bill 1817 (Ting, Philip), Product safety: textile articles: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Prohibits, beginning January 1, 2025, any person from manufacturing, distributing, selling, or offering for sale in the State any new, not previously owned, textile articles that contain regulated PFAS, except as specified, and requires a manufacturer to use the least toxic alternative when removing regulated PFAS in textile articles to comply with these provisions. The bill requires a manufacturer of a textile article to provide persons that offer the product for sale or distribution in the State with a certificate of compliance stating that the textile article is in compliance with these provisions and does not contain any regulated PFAS.
New York: Senate Bill 1322 Assembly Bill 994
Effective January 1, 2025, New York Bill S1322/A994[3] prohibits the sale or offer for sale within the state of any new apparel containing intentionally added PFAS.
California
Local leaders react to Trump's criticism of California's High-Speed Rail project

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — President Trump announced Tuesday he will be investigating California’s High-Speed Rail project.
“The train that’s being built between Los Angeles and San Francisco is the worst managed project I think I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some of the worst,” Trump said to the press on Tuesday.
Critics of the project have said it was set to cost taxpayers $33 billion and be completed four years ago, but both the timeline and budget have grown.
“Billions and billions, hundreds of billions of dollars over budget,” Trump said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Trump says he plans to investigate California’s High-Speed Rail Project
California Assemblymember David Tangipa agreeing with Trump’s investigation and proposing AB377, which asks the rail authority to provide a detailed funding plan.
“We do have these buildings,” Tangipa said. “We know that construction is going on. But we need to make sure that there’s a financial plan for the Fresno portion of it.”
Henry Perea Sr., who serves on the project’s board, agreed the rail’s initial projections were wrong.
“If you look back 10-15 years, I don’t think people really had an idea of what it was going to cost because they had not laid out the total plan itself of what it was going to include,” Perea said.
He says now, the project could cost between 100 to 130 billion dollars.
“It’s impossible that something could cost that much and now it’s not even going to San Francisco, and it’s not going to Los Angeles,” Trump said. “Now it’s at little places way away from San Francisco and way away from Los Angeles.”
Perea adamant the project will reach from SF to LA.
“Have we had delays in the project? Of course we have. We acknowledge that when you’re building a project and you’re going through an area, sometimes you’re going to find things that you didn’t know were there. For example, there’s PG&E power lines,” Perea explained.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer sharing similar concerns to Trump, but hoping the project continues.
“It’s taken too long, it’s become far too expensive but here’s the reality, we need high speed rail here in the valley to connect us to connect us to the rest of the California economy,” Dyer said.
Despite the setbacks, Perea says the project is “moving along fine.”
For news and weather updates, follow Tiffany Olin on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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