Two bills are being considered in the state house that may force planners to consider a development's effect on the state's water supply.
Stephen K. Hall, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA, stresses the connection between land use and the availability of water resources in California communities. Builders and policy makers, alike, are enthusiastic about the positive economic impact that growth can have on communities, Hall observes. But this eagerness can have negative consequences for the state's water supply. Hall calls for tougher laws that make a clear connection between water availability, development, and the effect that development can have on water supply. Two bills are presently being considered, but these bills, along with overarching laws such as the California Environmental Quality Act, may be insufficient. The present bills should be amended so that the planning process involves assessing the availability of local water resources and the level of development that would severely impact the local supply. Regular inventories of present and future water supplies should also be mandated and used to guide land-use decisions, Hall concludes.
Thanks to California 2000 Project
FULL STORY: ADDING WATER TO THE PLANNING MIX IN CALIFORNIA CITIES

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

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California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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