Legislation

On August 29, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of the Army (the agencies) issued a final rule to amend the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule, published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2023. The amendments conform with the U.S. Supreme Court’s May …

A newly established education effort, CA Water for All, formed by the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) is urging California lawmakers to act on a legislative solution to address the water supply threat that continues to loom over the Golden State. “The impacts of the failure to act now are far too …

Just ahead of the new year the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of the Army jointly announced a final rule establishing a durable definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that rolls back the Trump-era rule. “This final rule recognizes the essential role …

Californians will be expected to do more with less, again. This time with water. Last week Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1157 (Hertzberg) which lowers indoor water use standards to 47 gallons starting in 2025 and 42 gallons in 2030. “Climate change is resulting in less available water and more …

On Tuesday Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) introduced S.4231, the Support to Rehydrate the Environment, Agriculture and Municipalities Act or STREAM Act, a bill they claim would increase water supply and modernize water infrastructure in California and throughout the West. “As the past two years have …

Senators Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff) and Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) introduced Senate Bill 890 to ensure millions of acre-feet of water is stored during wet years instead of being flushed out to sea. “In 2014, California voters approved funding to build large, aboveground water storage,” said Senator Nielsen. “Because of bureaucratic …