Beginning January 1, 2025, the “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulatory framework requires urban retail water suppliers — not individual households or businesses — to adopt a series of “urban water use...more
7/25/2025
/ California ,
Conservation ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Justice ,
Environmental Policies ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Inland Waterways ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Water ,
Water Quality ,
Water Supplies
California stands at a pivotal juncture in 2025, confronting an array of environmental and housing challenges. As usual, the California State Legislature is considering numerous strategies to address these issues. This year’s...more
6/24/2025
/ Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ,
Affordable Housing ,
California ,
California Coastal Commission ,
California Endangered Species Act ,
CEQA ,
Citizen Suits ,
Clean Energy ,
Demolition ,
Density Bonus ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Habitat Conservation Plan ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Market ,
Impact Fees ,
Natural Disasters ,
Natural Resources ,
New Legislation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Sackett v EPA ,
Water Conservation ,
Waters of the United States ,
Wetlands ,
Wildfires
As climate variability and drought continue to challenge California’s water supply, the state is renewing its focus on seawater desalination as part of a diversified water portfolio. While only a handful of large-scale...more
6/20/2025
/ California ,
Department of Water Resources ,
Desalination ,
Environmental Policies ,
Government Agencies ,
Natural Resources ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Stakeholder Engagement ,
Water ,
Water Quality ,
Water Supplies
Beginning January 1, 2025, the “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulatory framework requires urban retail water suppliers — not individual households or businesses — to adopt a series of “urban water use...more
6/20/2025
/ California ,
Climate Change ,
Drought ,
Environmental Policies ,
Natural Resources ,
New Regulations ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
Sustainability ,
Utilities Sector ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Supplies
Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing to lay the groundwork for building a $20-billion water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta before his term expires, and state water regulators are considering whether to grant a...more
4/28/2025
/ California ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Policies ,
Governor Newsom ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Permits ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Water Rights
President Donald Trump on Monday issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior to develop a new plan within 90 days “to route more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to...more
1/27/2025
/ California ,
Clean Water Act ,
Crops ,
Department of the Interior ,
Desalination ,
Environmental Justice ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Farmers ,
Governor Newsom ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
State and Local Government ,
State Water Boards ,
State Water Project ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
Water ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Rights ,
Water Supplies ,
Wildfires
Traditional sources of freshwater are dwindling as a result of increased demand, reduced natural replenishment, volatile weather patterns, and extended-duration droughts. Desalination, the industrial-scale removal of salt...more
1/16/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Contamination ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Natural Resources ,
Pollution Control ,
Public Health ,
Sustainability ,
Wastewater ,
Water ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Quality
California officials have joined a legal effort to restore water to the Kern River after an abrupt shutoff of water dried up the river and killed thousands of fish in Bakersfield....more
10/25/2024
/ Bureau of Land Management ,
California ,
Critical Habitat ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Farms ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Inland Waterways ,
Natural Resources ,
Salmon ,
Water ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Supplies
Powerful pumps that supply much of California’s population with water have killed several thousand threatened and endangered fish this year, prompting environmental groups to demand that state and federal agencies take...more
4/15/2024
/ Bureau of Reclamation ,
Department of Environmental Quality ,
Department of the Interior ,
Department of Water Resources ,
Endangered Species ,
Environmental Policies ,
Farms ,
Groundwater ,
Rivers ,
Water ,
Water Management ,
Water Supplies
The Third District Appellate Court recently issued a long-awaited decision in Environmental Law Foundation vs. State Water Resources Control Board (ELF v. SWRCB). The decision confirms the expansive scope of California's...more