Welcome to the Water Report Blog

A landmark bill aimed at securing water rights for the Navajo, Hopi, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribes in northeastern Arizona failed to pass Congress before the end of the year. The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, a decades-long effort, faced opposition from other Colorado River Basin states, despite widespread support from tribal…

The City of Tucson, located in southern Arizona, is taking a significant step towards water sustainability by moving forward with plans to build its first advanced wastewater treatment facility. This ambitious project aims to reduce reliance on the Colorado River by converting wastewater into drinking water through advanced purification methods.  Tucson City Council has approved…

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to designate critical habitat for four populations of foothill yellow-legged frog in California. The foothill yellow-legged frog is a threatened amphibian that has declined due to habitat loss and degradation. The proposed critical habitat would include land along streams and other water bodies inhabited by the frog,…

The City of Antioch is nearing the completion of a nearly $100 million brackish water desalination plant, expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2025. This project aims to enhance the City’s water supply reliability by treating brackish water sourced from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, addressing the challenges posed by increasing salinity…

The Tijuana River Valley has faced ongoing challenges due to pollution stemming from untreated wastewater and significant debris flows originating in Mexico. Recent developments indicate a multi-pronged approach to address this issue.   Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades: Senator Padilla and the San Diego Congressional delegation secured a significant allocation of $250 million for the International…

Utah has initiated a Demand Management Pilot Program aimed at conserving water within the Colorado River Basin. This program incentivizes farmers to temporarily cease irrigation in designated fields, a practice known as fallowing. Participating farmers receive financial compensation while maintaining their existing water rights.   The program’s core feature is a focus on meticulously tracking…

The Department of the Interior announced on Jan. 7, a $41 million investment in 21 water resource projects across the United States. This funding, allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support initiatives aimed at improving water resource management, enhancing ecosystem health, and building community resilience to climate change impacts.   Projects receiving funding will…

The passage and approval of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) by the House of Representatives’ and Senate in December 2024, signified a meaningful development in the nation’s water infrastructure landscape. This bipartisan legislation was signed into law by President Biden on January 4, 2025 and offers a multifaceted approach to improving water resources management.…

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a new rule aimed at modernizing and streamlining the process for state and tribal involvement in Clean Water Act (CWA) implementation. This long-awaited update focuses on Section 404 of the CWA, which regulates the discharge of dredged or filled material into waterways.   The new rule, titled…