The city of Fresno announced this week that Shell USA, Dow Chemical, and other oil and chemical companies have agreed to pay the city $230 million to settle the city’s 2007 lawsuit against them for allegedly contaminating...more
Like much of the western and southwestern U.S., California has experienced drought conditions on and off for decades. Fortunately, the regulatory landscape is starting to catch up with water treatment technology, paving the...more
On December 21, 2023, I published a post on the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management’s DeltaCurrents blog discussing integration of resource optimization into endangered species policy to improve...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
A global movement is underway to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s lands and waters by 2030. More than seventy countries support this goal to combat climate change and slow the pace of species extinction, both of which are...more
The Arizona’s First Regular Session of the 55th Legislature has been moving along at a pretty fast and steady pace. A total of 40 bills have already been sent to the Governor’s desk; and 32 of those have been signed into law...more
Stakeholders Have Until Sept. 21 to Review and Comment - The California Department of Water Resources released its long-awaited draft Guidebook for 2020 Urban Water Management Plans last week. The Guidebook is designed to...more
A year ago, we blogged about the Senate-proposed Natural Resources Management Act (NRMA) which sought to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The proposed NRMA was developed largely due to the...more
Climate Change Regulatory Issues & Updates - Comment Period Ending on EPA's Affordable Clean Energy Proposal - A 60-day public comment period on the Affordable Clean Energy rule to replace the Obama Administration's...more
On July 11, 2018, Governor John R. Kasich issued Executive Order 2018-09K, “Taking Steps to Protect Lake Erie.” Through Executive Order 2018-09K, Governor Kasich has ordered the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture,...more
Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1668 and Senate Bill 606 yesterday, which are jointly designed to overhaul California’s approach to conserving water. ...more
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (“ANRC”) has published a document titled: Strategic Plan FY 2018 – FY 2019 (“Plan”) ANRC states that the Plan “is a blueprint for ANRC as we continue to work to manage and...more
Urban water suppliers would face significant new requirements under water conservation and drought resiliency legislation proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The legislation, released in the form of budget trailer bill language...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Trump EPA pick: still 'some debate' over human role in climate change - The Guardian - Jan 18 - During a combative Senate confirmation hearing this week, Scott Pruitt,...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Federal and state officials sign Klamath River dam removal deal - San Jose Mercury News - Apr 7 - The governors of California and Oregon and several other state, federal, power,...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Proposed ballot initiative would shift funding from high speed rail to new water projects - Los Angeles Times - Feb 15 - The state’s powerful agriculture industry and its...more