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Fearing Trump, California is Preparing to go its Own Way on Water

/in , /by /Politicoby Camille Von Kaenel

Gov. Gavin Newsom is making moves to keep control of California’s water — and protect the state’s endangered species from a potential second Trump administration.

With federal and state officials in the midst of renegotiating how they manage a 400-mile system of reservoirs, pumps and canals that moves water out of the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta to deliver it to taps and farms across the state, California water officials are taking steps to adopt guidelines from the state’s own wildlife officials rather than federal ones.

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New Regulations to Cement Conservation as a “California Way of Life”

/in , /by /Daily Journalby Wendy Y. Wang and Samuel Johnson

For nine out of the last 13 years, California was in a state of drought. The five-year drought from 2012 and 2016 is one of the top five most severe droughts California experienced in the last 120 years. Many wells went dry during this period; farmers fallowed land; some rural communities had no running water; and trees died in mass in the Sierra.

Against this backdrop, Governor Jerry Brown issued a record number of executive orders and emergency proclamations regarding drought and water conservation during this period.

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US Government Report Says Fluoride at Twice the Recommended Limit is Linked to Lower IQ in Kids

/in , /by /AP Newsby Mike Stobbe

A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children.

The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined — “with moderate confidence” — that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. While the report was not designed to evaluate the health effects of fluoride in drinking water alone, it is a striking acknowledgment of a potential neurological risk from high levels of fluoride.

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Violence Over Water is on the Rise Globally. A Record Number of Conflicts Erupted in 2023

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

In Pakistan, two groups of farmers started arguing in the fields and attacked each other with axes, clubs and bricks in a bloody fight over water. In South Africa, hundreds of people protesting a water shortage blocked roads with burning tires and hurled rocks at police. In Ukraine, Russian attacks on infrastructure left a city of nearly 1 million people without water.

These are some of the 347 water-related conflicts that researchers have documented during 2023, a year that saw violence over water increase dramatically worldwide. The number of incidents reached a new record last year, far surpassing the 231 conflicts recorded in 2022 and continuing a rising trend that has persisted over the last decade.

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Boiling Point: Heat, Fires, Floods — Extreme Weather has Affected 99% of Americans

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

Extreme weather alerts for dangerous heat, wildfires, storms, flooding and other hazards have affected nearly everyone in the United States over the past few months.

Tracking data from the National Weather Service, the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists has found that since the beginning of May, extreme weather alerts have been issued for 99% of the country’s population.

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US Plans to Limit Water Usage from Colorado River

/in , /by /VOA Newsby Suman Naishadham

The U.S. government plans to reduce the amount of Colorado River water several states are permitted to use next year.

The river supplies water to seven Western states, more than 20 Native American tribes, and two states in Mexico. Those states and the country of Mexico are also considering plans for how to share the water after 2026. That is when many current rules and agreements about the use of Colorado River water will come to an end.

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SoCal Farmers Agree to Big Cuts to Colorado River Water Use in Major Deal with Feds

/in , /by /LAistby Erin Stone

Farmers in the Imperial Valley of Southern California who use the most Colorado River water across the river basin have agreed to cut their use significantly in a new deal struck with the federal government.

The cuts will happen through 2026 and add up to more than double the amount the entire state of Nevada uses in a year.

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As La Niña Strengthens, Forecasters Warn of a Potential Return to Drought

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Hayley Smith and Grace Toohey

As La Niña gathers strength in the tropical Pacific, forecasters are warning that the climate pattern could plunge California back into drought conditions in the months ahead.

La Niña is the drier component of the El Niño Southern Oscillation system, or ENSO, which is a main driver of climate and weather patterns across the globe. Its warm, moist counterpart, El Niño, was last in place from July 2023 until this spring, and was linked to record-warm global temperatures and California’s extraordinarily wet winter.

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Federal Official: Nevada, Lower Basin States Meet Key Colorado River Water Goals Ahead of Schedule

/in , /by /Las Vegas Sunby Kyle Chouinard

A plan from water officials in Arizona, Nevada and California to cut back on the amount of water those states use from the Colorado River in exchange for money with hopes of saving 3 million acre-feet of water over three years is meeting conservation goals, a top water official said Wednesday.

The 2023 agreement has already seen 1.7 million acres of improvement less than one year into the effort, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton said. She says she believes the states are on pace to reach their original goal.

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US Gov’t Agency Issues Warning over Water Sector’s Security

/in , /by /Cyber Magazineby Kristian McCann

The rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape is increasingly putting critical infrastructure at risk, with a watchdog putting The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under scrutiny for its lacklustre approach to cybersecurity in the water sector.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlights alarming trends in cyber attacks targeting water and energy systems, emphasising the urgent need for improved defences and strategic planning.

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