Entries by Brett Walton

Federal Water Tap, October 31: Reclamation to Chart Course for Limiting Future Colorado River Releases

The Rundown The Bureau of Reclamation begins paperwork to would allow for less water to be released from lakes Mead and Powell. The EPA publishes a plan for improving sewage lagoons. Government, state, and industry officials discuss low Mississippi River water levels. And lastly, Senate Democrats ask the EPA to adopt a “strong” Lead and […]

The Stream, October 26, 2022: Multiple Cholera Outbreaks Overwhelm Global Vaccine Supply

Multiple cholera outbreaks in countries like Haiti, Malawi, and Syria are challenging global health agencies.

2022 Election: Water Regulation and Spending Punctuate State and Local Ballots

Groundwater regulation, legal rights to clean water, and spending measures highlight this election cycle.

FRESH, October 25, 2022: New York Governor Must Decide Fate of Partial Crypto-Mining Moratorium

The future of the cryptocurrency industry is at stake in New York as the governor considers a moratorium on certain forms of crypto-mining.

Federal Water Tap, October 24: EPA Reviews Drinking Water Contaminant for Human Health Impacts

The Rundown A draft EPA report indicates that the drinking water contaminant hexavalent chromium can cause cancer when ingested. The GAO recommends the EPA collect national data on the demographics of areas with PFAS in drinking water. The EPA funds a wastewater monitoring research projects intended to prepare for future pandemics. The Treasury Department charters […]

The Stream, October 19, 2022: California City Approaches Water Supply Peril in Next Two Months

The destruction from Hurricane Ian may push the price of home insurance – and thus homeownership – out of reach for many in Florida.

Federal Water Tap, October 17: Interior Department Sets Price for Colorado River Conservation

The Rundown Interior names its price for water conservation in the lower Colorado River basin that will keep water in Lake Mead. The EPA submits draft PFAS drinking water regulations for review. Researchers test homes around California’s Clear Lake for cyanotoxins from harmful algal blooms. An EPA research office examines better approaches to measuring cumulative […]

Voices from the Drying Rio Grande

One of the West’s iconic waterways, the Rio Grande is under assault from a warming climate.

In New Mexico, Partners Collaborate to End Siege from Megafires

Initiative in the Rio Grande basin intends to thwart catastrophic wildfires that wreck watersheds.

Federal Water Tap, October 10: State Department Releases Global Water Strategy, Names Water Envoy

The Rundown The State Department and USAID identify global water priorities in a new five-year strategy. NOAA Fisheries releases a report on improving salmon and steelhead populations in the interior Columbia River basin. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removes a notorious species from the threatened list. The EPA’s science advisers will meet in November […]

Tap Water Failures and Distrust of Government: A Conversation with Manny Teodoro

Bad tasting and polluted tap water are not just infrastructure problems.

Federal Water Tap, October 3: Supreme Court Hears Key Clean Water Act Case

The Rundown The U.S. Supreme Court begins its October term today with a wetlands lawsuit that could redefine the Clean Water Act. Tribes tell the Bureau of Reclamation to prioritize long-term infrastructure solutions for the $4 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds for western drought response. President Biden signs a temporary funding bill that will […]