Drought
Controversy Follows California's Massive Desalination Plant Proposal
Poseidon Water, a massive desalination project proposed for the Pacific coast in Huntington Beach, has been in the works for more than two decades. A critical vote is expected for the project next month.
Booming Arizona Must Confront its Water Problem
Even as more people and companies flock to the state for its climate and economic opportunities, Arizona's water supplies are facing historic shortages.
NOAA Expects U.S. Drought To Continue and Spread
Low rainfall and unusually high temperatures are contributing to worsening drought conditions in more than half of the continental United States.
$50 Billion 'Wildfire Risk Strategy' Targets the Wildland-Urban Interface
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in January announced an ambitious, and only partially funded, new plan to reduce wildfire risks for communities around the United States.
Arizona Governor Pledges $1 Billion to Water Infrastructure
The billion-dollar investment in the state's water supplies sounds good on paper, but lawmakers must also distribute funding effectively to mitigate the state's urgent water shortage.
States Agree to Drastic Water Cuts From Colorado River
In the throes of a historic megadrought, three Southwestern states will make deep reductions in their water usage to preserve diminishing resources.
Utah Debates Solutions to Water Shortage
With a rapidly growing population and strained water supplies, Utah lawmakers and conservation groups debate how to best replenish the state's water sources.
California Ballot Measure Could Streamline Permitting for Water Projects
A coalition of farmers and desalination supporters is collecting signatures for a California ballot measure that would fast-track construction processes for water storage projects.
New Drought Plan Would Mean Voluntary Cutbacks of Colorado River Water
California, Arizona, and Nevada are hammering out a plan to address the worsening drought along the Colorado River.
Grant Program Will Pay California Farmers To Repurpose Fallow Land
A new state grant program will help California farmers convert idle land to new purposes in an effort to mitigate the environmental and economic effects of drought on the state's Central Valley.
California Governor Declares Statewide Drought Emergency
The declaration applies to all of California's 58 counties, with agencies and households urged to implement stricter conservation measures as the historic drought deepens.
Report: Southwest Drought a 'Preview of Coming Attractions'
A NOAA-led task force warns that the drought facing the western U.S. will continue well into 2022 or later without serious efforts to mitigate human-caused global warming.
Utah Wants to Build Water Pipeline Amid Historic Shortages
As water supplies around the West dwindle, one Utah county is moving ahead with plans for a new Colorado River pipeline.
'Fire Weather' Is Stoking More Extreme Wildfires
The number of annual 'fire weather' days has increased over the past 50 years, leading to deadlier and more massive fires in the West.
Federal Government Declares Water Shortage as Lake Mead Reaches Critical Low
The first-of-its-kind declaration triggers major water cutbacks for Arizona farmers and reduced allocations for Nevada and Mexico.
How Cities Can Manage Drought Risk and Conserve Water
As climate change and population growth strain fresh water resources, tactics from around the world provide universal lessons for building water-smart cities.
Do Water Parks Belong in the Desert?
Three planned Phoenix-area developments have drawn criticism for wasteful water use, but how do water parks compare to other municipal uses?
Water, Affordable Housing on a Collision Course in California
Marin County, the wealthy county in the North Bay Area with a history of exclusionary land use and transportation practices, is using the shortage of water to justify blocking the development of an affordable housing project.
Visualizing the Western Drought
Lower-than-average rainfall and reduced snowpacks have led to one of the driest and most dangerous fire seasons in history.
Nevada Bans the Use of Colorado River Water for Ornamental Grass
AB 356 could be "the most aggressive municipal water conservation measure that's been taken in the western United States."
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
