You are now in California and the U.S. Media Coverage category.

As the Colorado River and its once massive reservoirs shrink from overuse and climate change, officials are faced with a decision that pits conservation against ratepayer costs for electricity.

To fight off predators of the humpback chub, a threatened fish native to the river, Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona would need to do what is known as a “cool mix flow,” where cold water is released from deep in its reservoir to cool the river below. But there are no hydropower turbines in the cool, deep section, so significant power generation would be lost.

Amid growing awareness that so-called forever chemicals, or PFAS, can linger in landscapes and waterways for centuries, federal and state regulators have repeatedly insisted they’re working aggressively to protect us all from the cancer-linked poisons.

They are not.

Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California began work Monday on a broad package of projects involving water reuse, fire preparedness, and habitat repair, according to ABC 7 News. All of these projects aim at making the botanical garden more resilient in the face of drought and fire risk.

Officials said the plan’s new underground stormwater capture system will hold about 1.5 million gallons. It’ll take in up to 21 million gallons of stormwater annually from a 256-acre drainage area.

A potential “super” El Niño later this year could bring much-needed relief to the drought-stricken Colorado River system, raising hopes for improved snowpack, reservoir levels and water supplies across the American West.

The river irrigates millions of acres of farmland and provided water to tens of millions of Americans, making the prolonged drought a major concern for long-term water stability. Key reservoirs along the river have seen declining water levels in recent years, raising concerns about power generation, water supply, and local ecosystems.

EMILY KWONG: Hey, Short Wavers. Emily Kwong here with NPR alum, now Independent science writer, Dan Charles.

DAN CHARLES: Hi, Emily.

EMILY KWONG: Hi. So I hear you just got back from the front lines of the California water wars.