Drought
Colorado River Deal Fails—Feds Step In
California and Arizona couldn't come to terms on a drought contingency plan for the Colorado River, compelling the Department of the Interior to act.
The Price of Natural Disasters
Worldwide, natural disasters cost $155 billion in 2018, according to an insurance industry report.
Op-Ed: Implications for Phoenix as Lake Mead Runs Dry
Metro Phoenix has a lot to think about as Lake Mead water shortages become ever more likely. A three-state drought contingency plan may only be a temporary fix for a problem that'll divide cities and stakeholders.
Arizona Struggles to Balance Demand for Water
Two case studies exemplify the extreme economic and legal pressures surrounding water supply in the state of Arizona.
California Awards $2.7 Billion to Water Storage Facilities
The California Water Commission made an historic commitment to new water storage projects. Many of the largest projects planned in the state will require additional funding before construction can commence.
Los Angeles (and Climate Change) Seriously Threaten Air Quality at Mono Lake
With water levels habitually low, officials from the Eastern Sierra say they are "headed for a showdown” with L.A.
Pools Making a Comeback in California
While California's tendency toward drought is on temporary hiatus, homeowners flush with equity again feel enabled to install pools at record levels.
Mapping the Effects of Human Intervention on the Global Water Supply
Climate change is only part of the story, but humans have left a detectable footprint on the distribution of the global water supply.
Climate Change Already Obvious in California
We've all seen the maps that show the water rising around the edges of costal and waterfront communities as sea-level rise and climate change take effect. A new report shows the effects that have already changed the state of California.
As Drought Returns to Texas, Report Recommends Stricter Rules on Outdoor Water Use
A report from a coalition of nonprofits recommends, among other restrictions, allowing outdoor watering only twice per week.
Why Would Arizona Deregulate Groundwater Now?
For decades the arid state has required most new construction projects to demonstrate adequate water supply, but at the edge of the next dry spell, two lawmakers are trying to get rid of the rules.
Can Water Supply Keep Up with the Need to Build More Housing?
Population growth creates a collision course in the American West.
This Is What Really, Really Cheap Water Is Actually Costing Utah
The state's widespread practice of supplying unlimited untreated water to homes may be part of the reason it has to spend billions on a new pipeline and dam.
Songs About Places: Water, Rain, and Rivers
A playlist for those who seek inspiration from water—whether it's falling from the sky or running downhill.
Largest Desalinated Water Reserve Ever Unveiled in Abu Dhabi
The UAE has created a storage facility under the desert that can provide up to 100 million liters per day in the event of an emergency.
After the Drought, San Diego Faces Lead and Sewage
In 2017, the Southern California city no longer had to be concerned about water quantity, but was plagued by issues of water quality.
In Phoenix, Sustainability Will Be Built by Node
If the desert metropolis wants to survive, it will need a strategy built on something other than a denser, more urban downtown.
Severe Fires After a Wet Winter? Experts Cite Climate Change
In the Western states, an especially hot summer stoked the yearly blazes, to many experts' surprise. For some, bigger wildfires are a "canary in the coal mine" for climate change.
Climate Change Impacts at the County Level
A recent study lends new specificity of the human cost and economic damage wreaked by climate change in the coming decades.
There Are Some Major Irrigation Problems We Need to Talk About
We can all do better when it comes to water.
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
