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Sea level rise, driven by climate change, significantly increases flood risk for industrial and contaminated sites across the United States. A new study, published in Nature, reveals thousands of hazardous sites could flood in the coming decades. This threat creates a massive challenge for public health and environmental protection, especially in coastal zones.   The…

Two new studies from Scripps Institution of Oceanography researchers offer encouraging news about the resilience of California’s beaches.   The 2025 San Diego County Beach Report found most regional beaches gained width last year as they entered a post-El Niño recovery phase. Typically, El Niño years bring larger, more powerful waves that rip sand from…

The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Tribal Council recently made history with a unanimous vote that granted legal river personhood status to the Colorado River. CRIT is the first community to bestow such recognition on the 1,450-mile waterway. This action represents a dramatic departure from Western water law, which historically treats rivers as property to…

The Value of Water (VOW) Campaign released a new research report, “Tapping Potential,” detailing the necessity of closing the nation’s water infrastructure funding gap. This study states that investing in water is essential for promoting economic growth, supporting job development, strengthening communities, and protecting public health. In fact, maximizing water infrastructure investment stands as one…

Communities and water utilities are grappling with the increasing need for infrastructure to support digital service demands. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has released a white paper, titled Cooling the Cloud, which provides guidance for assessing the new challenges and opportunities arising from data centers.   Data centers are high-impact customers for water utilities…

A new map, developed by a collaborative team from the University of Nebraska, depicts the legal water rights systems across the US. This innovative tool shows the variability of surface water and groundwater rights systems, which provide the foundation for water management and policy development.   Understanding these boundaries becomes essential when developing and evaluating…

Tidal rivers provide essential water for drinking and irrigation. However, a new international study confirms these vital sources are facing increased vulnerability to saltwater contamination.    The research shows that climate-change-induced drought and sea-level rise are intensifying salinity issues. And localized human activities such as channel deepening and excessive road salt use contribute to the problem. …

A University of California San Diego study has uncovers a hidden driver of global crop vulnerability: the origin of rainfall itself. The research traces atmospheric moisture back to its source, whether it evaporated from the ocean or from land surfaces. Understanding this balance provides a new tool to predict rainfall source vulnerability before drought strikes.…

A new study shows that the regulatory costs for lettuce growers in California has surged by over 1,300% in under two decades. This sharp financial increase now consumes 12.6% of total production costs ands adds to mounting pressure on the state’s agriculture.   Labor, healthcare, and food safety drive the largest cost increases. Labor-related regulations,…