A judge has temporarily blocked a plan by a California state water board to take over monitoring groundwater use in a portion of the crop-rich San Joaquin Valley, according to a copy of the decision obtained on July 16. Kings...more
Over the past five weeks, we have described the wide range of water resources available to meet Arizona’s current and future needs. These resources include groundwater, in-state surface water, Colorado River water, long-term...more
On May 22, Arizona, Nevada, and California sent a letter to the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) that announced their agreement to conserve an additional 3 million acre-feet of Colorado River water...more
The Department of Interior announced on Monday, May 22, 2023 an agreement with the Lower Basin states to conserve 3 million acre-feet (“MAF”) of water in Lake Mead for the next four years, with 2.3 MAF paid for with funding...more
On January 10, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his $297 billion budget proposal for 2023-2024, which includes a $22.5 billion budget deficit. Despite environmental/climate change programs facing $6 billion in cuts,...more
EPA floats sharply increased social cost of carbon - E&E News – November 21 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new estimate for the social cost of carbon emissions, nearly quadrupling an interim...more
Overview The Department of the Interior (DOI) recently announced the newly created Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program (the “Program”), funded through the $4 billion pot of money in the...more
Biden administration outlines plan to pay for Colorado River water cuts as crisis looms - CNN – October 12 As concerns grow over the future of the drought-plagued Colorado River system, the Biden administration has announced...more
Governor Gavin Newsom announced a revamped water strategy on August 11, 2022, in response to updated projections that California could witness a 10% reduction in water supply by 2040 due to the accelerated impacts of climate...more
Governor Newsom calls for boosting water supply projects to curb California drought and climate change - The Vacaville Reporter – August 11 Governor Gavin Newsom released a broad plan on August 11 seeking to expand...more
CARB addresses California’s increasingly severe climate impacts. On May 10, 2022, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released its Draft 2022 Scoping Plan Update (Draft Scoping Plan) for public review and comment....more
Limited water supply, restrictions on use, and higher costs may be in store for next year if the state’s drought conditions persist. This year has been critically dry and hot for California, resulting in déjà vu as the...more
The American West is in the throes of a “megadrought”—one that’s plagued the region since 2000. Indeed, the Western U.S. has entered an era of water crisis that’s unprecedented in recorded American history. Due to climate...more
In a first, U.S. declares shortage on Colorado River, forcing water cuts - The New York Times – August 16 - With climate change and long-term drought continuing to take a toll on the Colorado River, the federal Bureau of...more
Environmental groups oppose developer’s plan to fill in part of Redwood City tidal lagoon to build apartment complex - Bullet The Mercury News – August 10 - Environmental groups are opposing a developer’s plan to...more
California water managers vote to cut off farmers as statewide drought intensifies - Courthouse News Service – June 15 - Citing severe drought conditions, the California State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday sent...more
EXTREME WEATHER OR EXTREME EXAGGERATION? About half of Wallace-Wells’s book, Uninhabitable Earth, is devoted to what he describes as the “Elements of Chaos” that will result from man-made climate change unless fossil fuels...more
South Africa: Raw sewerage continues to flood major river - The South African Department of Water and Sanitation has set aside ZAR341 million for the resuscitation of all wastewater treatment infrastructures in the Vaal...more
New paper outlines transferable lessons from Cape Town drought - A new study by the University of Cape Town’s African Centre for Cities has unpacked lessons that other South African municipalities can learn from to adapt to...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Trump signs executive order to expand drilling off America’s coasts - Washington Post - Apr 28 - President Trump signed an executive order Friday that aims to expand offshore...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Governor Brown signs into law two landmark climate bills - San Francisco Chronicle - Sep 8 - Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday signed SB32, the nation’s toughest climate law,...more
Sustainable Development Focus - How cities are taking the lead on green building - Wall Street Journal - Apr 28 - Cities in the U.S. are leading the way on climate and energy policies—especially policies...more
As we enter the fall season, substantial portions of California and the Pacific Northwest are experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions. While conditions are better in Texas and other nearby states this year,...more
Leading the News - Libya: On October 8th, The Washington Post provided an update on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) activities in Sirte, Libya. Since taking hold of Sirte earlier this year, ISIL...more
California's drought is now in its fourth year, and state leaders are faced with making unprecedented decisions further restricting water use. The brown lawns and dying trees are all too obvious and painful examples of the...more