If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Over two dozen U.S. Geological Survey Water Science Centers are slated to close due to Department of Government Efficiency cuts, putting key water management resources at risk, reports Wyatt Myskow in Inside Climate News.
According to Myskow, “Staffers at targeted centers, speaking anonymously because they are not authorized to speak to the media, said they are in the dark as to what happens when the leases end and how their operations, vital to water management across the country, will be able to continue, though talks continue about renewing some of the affected leases.”
The centers monitor water quality and collect data crucial to states’ water management plans. “In a worst case scenario, workers said, the termination of the leases would result in employees being unable to get out in the field to make the necessary checkups and repairs, making the agency unable to produce the data.” The USGS manages stream gauges that dictate how water is appropriated and determine when drought conditions require cuts in water use, among other functions. Myskow points out that most of the work done by the Science Centers is actually funded by states, not federal dollars.
FULL STORY: USGS Water Data Centers May Soon Close, Threatening States’ Water Management

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.
With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont