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
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
State and federal officials move forward plans and policies for water conservation, conveyance, and climate resilience. The winter of 2022-23 brought historic levels of precipitation to California after years of deep...more
On Monday, September 12, 2022, a California Court of Appeal upheld a decision that the State Water Resources Control Board (the “Board”) lacks jurisdictional authority to issue curtailment notices to pre-1914 appropriative...more
California legislators reject bill to curb agricultural groundwater pumping - The Bakersfield Californian – September 4 - California lawmakers have rejected proposed legislation seeking to rein in agricultural...more
On May 24, 2022, the California State Water Resources Control Board announced emergency drought restrictions resulting from Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-7-22. The regulations are the latest in a series of attempts by...more
THE DROUGHT CRISIS - 2021 was the driest year California has experienced in a century. At the end of the water year, spanning October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, the State received only 11.87 inches of precipitation,...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
This week was a busy week at the Arizona State legislature. Several bills were dropped in order to meet deadlines placed by the federal government to have agreement on a drought contingency plan “DCP” by January 31, 2019. ...more
New California Laws Stress Efficient Water Use for Cities and Farms - From 2012 to 2016, California endured its worst drought on record, drier than any four-year period in the last 450 years. ...more
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (“ANRC”) issued a June 5th document titled: Drought Contingency Response Network Report (“Report”) ...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 State Water Resources Control Board released this week a formal proposal to extend the emergency statewide drought regulations that have been in effect for California in various forms since early 2015. Cities, counties,...more
Despite objections from many water suppliers that drought conditions have ended, the State Water Resources Control Board this week voted unanimously to extend emergency water conservation regulations throughout California....more
On May 18, 2016, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted new emergency conservation regulations that repeal and replace its prior drought regulations. The new regulations, which are...more
State Water Resources Control Board Releases Draft Regulation to Modify Water Conservation Requirements - Mandatory statewide water use restrictions in California would be replaced by a more locally driven set of water...more
The State Water Resources Control Board released a fact sheet Wednesday detailing the information urban water suppliers will need to submit to receive a conservation standard adjustment under the recently adopted emergency...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California extends mandatory water cuts despite growing snowpack - Sacramento Bee - Feb 2 - California’s drought regulators agreed Tuesday to extend water conservation mandates...more
El Niño is upon California. Yet, despite the ample rain and snow expected this winter, the State Water Resources Control Board (“Water Board”) is almost certain to extend its emergency drought regulation into 2016. The...more
Public Comments Due Jan. 28 - The State Water Resources Control Board released a proposed regulation that will extend statewide emergency water conservation mandates through October 2016. Several key provisions could...more
Cities and communities throughout California logged impressive water savings during the month of June, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. Figures released Thursday show the use of urban potable water in...more
As California enters another summer under severe drought conditions, regulators are taking steps to encourage significant reductions in water usage. After years of a “carrot” approach, Californians may start seeing the...more
To address the worsening drought, on April 1, 2015, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-29-15 (“Executive Order”), mandating a 25% reduction in potable urban water consumption. In response, the State Water Resources...more
Sweeping Regulations Expected to Take Effect by May 15 - The State Water Resources Control Board took final action on emergency regulations designed to achieve an overall 25 percent reduction in potable urban water use...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California approves sweeping urban water cuts: U-T San Diego - May 5: On May 5, the State Water Resources Control Board voted to approve mandatory water cuts of up to 36 percent for...more