Water Supply

Michigan Governor Finds Himself at Center of Flint Water Crisis

A case is made that Gov. Rick Snyder's handling of the lead-tainted water in Flint, Michigan is analogous to former President George W. Bush's bungling of the crisis resulting after Hurricane Katrina touched-down on the Gulf coast in August 2005.

January 14, 2016 - MSNBC

As El Niño Arrives, Los Angeles Needs to Update its Stormwater System

"The hard lesson here is that infrastructure systems built to make cities resilient in one era may not serve them well at all in another era," writes Jon Christensen.

January 6, 2016 - LA Observed

Visualizing the Drought in the Colorado River Basin

The Colorado River, drinking water source for one in ten Americans, is severely impacted. A new interactive visualization illustrates just how dramatic the problem has become.

December 17, 2015 - U.S. Department of the Interior

State of Emergency Declared in Flint Water Crisis

A crisis that stretches back for several months escalated this week, bringing this news of the very bad variety to national attention.

December 16, 2015 - The Washington Post

Where Climate Change Means Diminished Snowpacks, Water Supplies

A new study by researchers at Columbia University estimates how predicted changes in the levels and locations of snowfall will affect water supplies.

November 29, 2015 - The New York Times

New Groundwater Regulations Taking Shape in California

Out of sheer necessity, the state of California has embarked on a new process for regulating the use of groundwater.

November 20, 2015 - Capital Press

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

California's Bay Delta Explained

As California's drought drags on, the Delta—which provides water to much of the state—has come to symbolize the tension among water users with competing interests. But the strained resource has also prompted ambitious initiatives for sustainability.

October 23, 2015 - VerdeXchange News

Water Dripping

How the Internet of Things Can Help Solve Water Woes

New tools and technologies of the so-called Internet of Things are helping cities get a better handle on water scarcity and overabundance.

September 28, 2015 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Greenfield Developments Suffer Amid California Drought

The building industry has identified a culprit in the California affordability crisis: the drought.

September 11, 2015 - Bloomberg Business

Gross Resevoir

Should City Planners Worry About Water Supply?

It’s a big question being tackled by land use planners and water providers in Colorado, where the traditional disconnect between water realities and land use decisions precludes a sustainable balance between water supply and urban growth.

July 1, 2015 - Dean Saitta

Texas Rains Haven't Solved State's Water Supply Issues

Though the number of residents in the state affected by drought dropped by the millions after recent heavy rains, areas of the state that rely on underground supplies of water could still run out of water within months.

June 13, 2015 - The Houston Chronicle

drinking fountain

Report Finds Weak Spots in the Los Angeles Water Grid

A "water atlas" compiled by UCLA's Luskin Center for Innovation reveals the patchwork that is Los Angeles' water supply system. Neighborhoods reliant on small providers and groundwater sources may be vulnerable.

May 30, 2015 - CityLab

The Lake Mead Water Crisis Explained

The water level in Lake Mead dropped to an all-time low at the end of April, falling below 1080 feet above sea level for the first time in 78 years.

May 6, 2015 - Brookings

Las Vegas Water Grab a 'Poster Child' for Urban vs. Rural Resource Conflict

In what has been described as a "poster child" for future water showdowns in the west, local interests in Las Vegas are attempting a water grab from ranch land 275 miles north of the city.

March 10, 2015 - Bloomberg News

Below Average Snowpack Sparks Drought Concerns in Washington State

It might be hard to believe if you're in Boston right now, but the entire West Coast is suffering a poorly timed dearth of snow, a critical source of drinking water and hydroelectric capacity for the region.

March 5, 2015 - The Bellingham Herald

U.S.-Mexico Agreement Returns Water to the Colorado River Delta

National Geographic details the effects of the "Minute 319" agreement that will return water to the Colorado River Delta.

December 19, 2014 - National Geographic

Lake Powell: Threatened Water Supply; Recovered Landscape

Jonathan Waterman describes a kayaking trip into Lake Powell—the "reservoir formed by the confluence of the San Juan and the Colorado Rivers and the holding power of Glen Canyon Dam" above the Grand Canyon.

November 29, 2014 - National Geographic

The Urban Water Blueprint Extends Well Beyond the City

A new project by the Nature Conservancy maps the impact of natural infrastructure—often found well outside the city limits—on urban water supplies.

November 28, 2014 - Next City

Smart Planning for Watershed Protection

Planning for growth impacts watersheds in rural and urban settings. Kaid Benfield provides access to best practices for both ends of the development spectrum.

November 17, 2014 - The Huffington Post

Colorado Planning for a Water Supply Shortfall of 163 Billion Gallons by 2050

Colorado officials predict a 163-billion-gallon shortfall in its water supply by 2050, and the Continental Divide stands in the way of easy solutions to the challenge.

November 10, 2014 - The Denver Post

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

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