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.

As Paul Rogers reports, a coalition of Central Valley farmers and their supporters are "collecting signatures for a statewide ballot measure that would fast-track big water projects and provide billions of dollars to fund them — potentially setting up a major political showdown with environmentalists next year shaped by the state’s ongoing drought."
If the measure were to get on the ballot and pass, it would allocate 2 percent of California's general fund to expanding water supplies by 5 million acre-feet with projects such as dams, reservoirs, and desalination plants. Supporters of the measure argue that conservation alone won't keep up with demand as drought continues to batter the state. Meanwhile, Rogers writes, environmental groups argue that the measure would go too far in providing billions of dollars to projects without environmental oversight and accuse it of attempting to "gut" the state's Coastal Act.
In 2014, California voters approved $2.7 billion in funding for new storage projects, all of which have yet to be built. In the Bay Area, the Contra Costa Water District is planning to expand the Los Vaqueros reservoir to increase water supply capacity. The Los Vaqueros expansion is one of the few projects not facing opposition from environmental groups, partly because the agency has taken steps to mitigate environmental impacts.

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

‘Train Daddy’ Andy Byford to Oversee Amtrak’s High-Speed Rail Efforts
Byford, who formerly ran NYC Transit and Transport for London, could bring renewed vigor to the agency’s plans to expand regional rail in the United States.

Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations
An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.

Immigration Grows, Population Drops in Many U.S. Counties
International immigration to the country’s most populous areas tripled even as major metropolitan areas continued to lose population.

$616 Million in Development Incentives Approved for District Detroit
The “Transformational Brownfield” incentives approved by the Detroit City Council for the $1.5 billion District Detroit still require approval by the state.

Affordable Housing Development Rejected for Lack of Third Staircase in Connecticut
The New Canaan Planning Commission rejected a development proposal, including 31 below-market-rate apartments, for lack of a third staircase, among other reasons, at a time when advocates are pushing to relax two-staircase requirements.
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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