Water

Mendenhall Glacier

Climate Change Having Dramatic Effect on Mountains

The ecology of mountains around the world is changing as summer plants bloom earlier and forests march up hill to newly temperate ground.

July 2, 2017 - Pacific Standard

Water Treatment

San Diego Mayor: Recycled Wastewater Program Will Be a Model

Mayor Kevin Faulconer sees San Diego's Pure Water Program as proof of concept for other cities with uncertain water supplies. By 2035, the initiative aims to derive one-third of the city's supply from recycled wastewater.

May 24, 2017 - Brookings

Drinking Water

The Sorry State of U.S. Water Infrastructure

Water bills are going up because pipes put in shortly after World War II are in need of repair and replacement all over the country, and federal funding for water is shrinking.

May 17, 2017 - Vox

California State Water project

California Groundwater Difficult to Replenish

After a wet winter, California's historic drought is over for now. But larger stores of groundwater stored in natural aquifers, steadily depleting, will be difficult to refill.

May 12, 2017 - Water Deeply

Magnolia Gardens

Google's South Carolina Groundwater Battle a Sign of Things to Come

A political battle over a large withdrawal of water for use by a Google server farm has one reporter deploying words like "war" and "free-for-all" to tell the story.

April 25, 2017 - The Post and Courier

Los Angeles City Hall

Sent A Strong Message, Los Angeles Leaders Respond With Planning Reforms

In the aftermath of the Measure S vote, members of the Los Angeles City Council have responded by pushing for expediting community plan updates and finding a sustainable source of funding for updating the region's plans.

April 4, 2017 - The Planning Report

Fresno State

FresYes: How Fresno Fueled and Funded a Comeback

Recently termed-out Mayor Ashley Swearengin sits down for an exclusive interview about how she planned for high speed rail investments, championed sustainable water management, and took steps to rebuild the local economy.

March 30, 2017 - The Planning Report

Water Main

Report: How Do Local Water Utilities Measure Up?

With the federal funding situation uncertain, water utilities are left in widely varying financial positions. Comparing local utilities across six metrics paints a grim picture.

January 19, 2017 - Brookings Institution

California State Water project

California Water Plan Foretells Tension Between Cities, Farmers

Recognizing the ongoing drought's severity, Sacramento is set to adopt a new statewide conservation plan. But some say the regulations don't place enough pressure on California's agricultural sector.

December 12, 2016 - KPCC

recycled water sign

California Using Data To Maximize Water Conservation Efforts

Even as the Golden State has a wetter fall, California's water leaders have launched a new tool to leverage information technology and available information to support decisions around local water reliability.

December 5, 2016 - The Planning Report

Maroon Creek, Aspen, Colorado

Doomsday Prepping: Aspen Protecting Water Against Future Shortages, Increased Demand

Aspen, Colorado's City Council has voted to preserve the city's water rights with an option to dam local waterways if climate change or population growth creates a shortage of water in the future.

November 15, 2016 - Boulder Weekly

Rocky Mountain National Park

How to Plan for an Uncertain Climate Future

Creating adaptive, sustainable communities may require rethinking some planning basics.

November 7, 2016 - Denver Business Journal

Meadow Wetlands

California Legislation Recognizes Natural Environments as Water Infrastructure

AB 2480, recently signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown takes a small but important step toward making better use of natural systems for water management infrastructure.

October 7, 2016 - American Rivers

Clara Meer

Building Atlanta's Future

Big projects are setting up Atlanta for a big future, argues Pete Saunders in a recent Forbes piece

October 3, 2016 - Forbes

Outhouse

Close to a Half Million Americans Lack Proper Plumbing

Nearly 500,000 people in the rural parts of the United States cannot afford modern plumbing.

September 28, 2016 - The New York Times

Midwest Flooding

Midwest Cities Preparing for the Water Management Challenges of Climate Change

Climate researchers are hoping to coordinate the efforts of Midwest cities toward creating plans and working toward more holistic approaches to climate change.

August 14, 2016 - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lake Powell

Is Glen Canyon Dam Obsolete?

As climate changes in the Rockies and the southwest, Lake Powell is gradually shrinking. The debate over Glen Canyon Dam is on again, and this time environmentalists aren't the only ones against it.

June 23, 2016 - Pacific Standard

Garcetti Tree People

L.A.'s Water Supply Increasingly Relying on Management of Stormwater

In October 2014, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acted to make the city more resilient from drought and climate change. In 2016, we get an update from leaders Gary Hildebrand and Marty Adams on L.A.'s stormwater capture systems.

May 27, 2016 - The Planning Report

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

Environmentalist Alarmed Over California-Focused Federal Water Legislation

An op-ed argues that instead of building a more resilient and sustainable water supply infrastructure, two water bills before congress would rollback exiting environmental protections.

April 29, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Santa Monica Bay

Los Angeles Reaps the Benefits of Restoring the Santa Monica Bay

Los Angeles has made major progress in restoring the Santa Monica Bay. Now, The Bay Foundation's Tom Ford sees opportunities for L.A. to capitalize on its natural resources.

April 28, 2016 - The Planning Report

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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.