On-Demand Webinar | Taking the Plunge: Lessons Learned from Water System Consolidations
On-Demand Webinar | Flood or Drought? A Discussion of the Election’s Potential Legislative Impacts on the Water Sector
Water Agencies Beware Before Proceeding with Forced Municipalization - California’s state water system serves roughly 40 million people and irrigates nearly 10 million acres of farmland. The 2023 water year was ranked as...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced last week that it would investigate the California State Water Resources Control Board (Board) after some Native American tribes and environmental groups complained the...more
Earlier this week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed EPA’s NPDES permit issued to San Francisco’s Oceanside sewer system. San Francisco had challenged the permit on the ground that EPA does not have authority to...more
The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is accepting public comment through July 28 on new recommendations to expedite permits for seawater desalination plants in the state....more
Facing an onslaught of criticism that water was “wasted” during January storms, Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday issued an executive order authorizing the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to “consider modifying”...more
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) recently updated the regulated community and the public on the Board’s statewide investigation to study and sample potential sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl...more
EPA’s power to curb greenhouse gases faces Supreme Court scrutiny - Courthouse News Service – October 29 - The Supreme Court announced last Friday that it will hear challenges brought by the states of West Virginia...more
EPA to propose first-ever PFAS discharge limits - The Hill – September 8 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday that it will propose a rule to set the first-ever limits on the...more
On June 10, 2021, the State Water Resources Control Board (“Water Board”) issued a Revised Public Notice that changed certain dates noted in our June 2, 2021 blog post. The Water Board’s public hearing to receive public...more
$4.2 million fine upheld for California homeowner’s blocking of beach access - The Mercury News – April 6 - A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a $4.2 million fine against a Malibu homeowner for blocking beach...more
Governor Newsom proposes new plan for San Joaquin River Delta - Governor Gavin Newsom revealed a novel approach Tuesday to managing the San Joaquin River Delta that would keep more water in the fragile delta while restoring...more
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (“MDNR”) issued its Draft Missouri 2020 Section 303(d) Impaired Water List. MDNR states that it has included the prioritization of waters for the Total Maximum Daily Load...more
Focus - Governor Newsom issues executive order requiring drought-climate plan - San Francisco Chronicle - April 29 - Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday issued an executive order directing state agencies to review and...more
..Within the month, the State Board will issue orders requiring investigation of potential PFAS contamination, a widely used class of chemicals, at more than a thousand California facilities. ..Phase I targets airports and...more
Focus - Santa Clara Valley Water District files suit challenging state plan to divert water for fish - THE MERCURY NEWS - Jan 14 The Santa Clara Valley Water District (District) has filed a lawsuit to block the State...more
Focus - Appeals court puts youth climate change lawsuit on hold - ASSOCIATED PRESS - Nov 8 A constitutional climate lawsuit filed in Oregon federal court in 2015 by a group of young Americans against the U.S. government...more
Focus - DOJ appeals ruling ordering EPA to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos - THE HILL - Sep 24 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is appealing a federal court ruling ordering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...more
Focus - Trump administration halts study of offshore oil inspections - ABC News - Dec 21 The Trump administration has halted an independent scientific study of offshore oil inspections by the Bureau of Safety and...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California extends emergency drought regulations despite heavy rain and snow - Sacramento Bee - Feb 8 - The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) on...more
California Prepares for Possible Rollback of Federal Water, Wetlands Regulations - Scott Pruitt, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has discussed eliminating what he...more
On June 17, 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) issued its much-anticipated draft “Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Materials to Waters of the State” (Draft Permitting Procedures). The...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Appellate court temporarily blocks Delta island sale - Sacramento Bee - Jun 7 - The California Third District Court of Appeal on Tuesday granted a temporary stay blocking...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - In sharp reversal, California suspends mandatory water restrictions - New York Times - May 18 - The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) on Wednesday suspended its...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Some emergency drought rules might be eased - Los Angeles Times - May 9 - Governor Jerry Brown and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) on Monday laid out a revised...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Lawsuit claims Delta fish harmed by relaxed water standards - Modesto Bee - Apr 25 - Relaxed water quality standards during the drought have harmed salmon, smelt, and other fish...more