It's time to recognize the interconnectedness of land use planning, water policy, and sustainability initiatives.

Although land use and water planning decisions have historically been made by separate agencies, the Water Foundation's Mike Myatt argues that more comprehensive, intersectional planning is crucial to developing sustainable and equitable policies for the future.
With water challenges facing more and more communities, many of them low-income and rural, an integrated framework is crucial for making policy decisions that address climate change, restore ecosystems, ensure safe and accessible drinking water, and create long-term employment that supports local economies. Supporting capacity-building and leadership training at all levels can "generate more democratic, responsive, and effective water institutions" and give a stronger voice to communities whose needs often go unheard.
A number of resources by researchers, advocates, and community groups share recommendations for adapting government decision-making to a more comprehensive model that takes into account climate change, environmental justice, and historical inequities in land and water policies. Recommendations include technical assistance in more languages, leadership building and investment in community organizations, and transparency that lets people understand the true effects of land use and water policies in their communities.
FULL STORY: Single-Issue Decisions Are Over. Let’s Bring Water and Land Back Together

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

Opinion: California’s SB 79 Would Improve Housing Affordability and Transit Access
A proposed bill would legalize transit-oriented development statewide.

Record Temperatures Prompt Push for Environmental Justice Bills
Nevada legislators are proposing laws that would mandate heat mitigation measures to protect residents from the impacts of extreme heat.

Downtown Pittsburgh Set to Gain 1,300 New Housing Units
Pittsburgh’s office buildings, many of which date back to the early 20th century, are prime candidates for conversion to housing.
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