Watersheds

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

What Is Green Infrastructure?

Green infrastructure harnesses nature to the benefit of the built environment as well as human and animal life.

July 25, 2023 - James Brasuell

Klamath River

Dams on the Way Out on Two California Rivers

The largest dam removal project in U.S. history is about to commence on the Klamath River. Due to a recent development, a dam on the Eel River is also on expected for decommission.

May 25, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

Water rushes over a spillway at a large concrete dam.

Congressional Bills Could Hit Refresh on U.S. Dams

The 21st Century Dams Act, a proposal to remove four dams on the lower Snake River, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act all have a chance to redefine the country's approach to dams and watersheds.

August 25, 2021 - American Rivers

Desert Rain

Drought Takes Hold of the American West

The megadrought continues, with contingency plans differing by location.

April 21, 2021 - CNN

Gila National Forest

A New Tool for More Flexible and Resilient Water Policies

A new book created by the Sonoran Institute explains how exploratory scenario planning can be useful to prepare for the uncertainty of water in the near- and long-term future.

November 10, 2020 - Sonoran Institute

kayak

Water Recreation Brings $18 Billion Annually to Colorado

Water recreation is an important contributor to the state's economy. A recent report found that water-related activities contribute an annual $18 billion to the state's economy.

June 30, 2020 - The Denver Post

Mississippi River Flooding

America's 'Most Endangered River' in 2020: The Mighty Mississippi

Heavy flooding are expected to strain the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in Spring 2020, just as resources are stretched thin by the coronavirus.

April 15, 2020 - American Rivers

Mississippi River Missouri

Leaving Flood-Prone Area Free of Development Would Save Billions, Study Says

It makes more fiscal sense to buy flood-prone land and conserve it than to cover the costs of the damages to developments, according to researchers from the University of Bristol and other institutions.

December 15, 2019 - St. Louis Public Radio

Central Valley

Volunteers Work to Reclaim an City's Watershed From Trash and Abuse

The Tuolumne River originates in the pristine environment of Yosemite National Park, but eventually some of the water makes its way into the Central Valley and the city of Modesto, where conditions are far less natural.

August 16, 2019 - The Modesto Bee

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

A Direct Line From Forest Management to Water Supply

Urban water suppliers have had to learn quickly that fire ecology is a major concern in maintaining a secure water supply system.

March 15, 2019 - Yale Environment 360

Environmental Impact Bonds Change the Funding Game for Green Infrastructure

The Rockefeller Foundations EIB Challenge is putting a spotlight on an innovative new funding mechanism.

November 22, 2017 - Saporta Report

Sockeye Salmon

Spawning Salmon Are Changing the Natural Environment

In the course of spawning, salmon are uplifting sediment and changing the course of watersheds.

October 22, 2017 - Laboratory Equipment

Hydroelectric Power

Lessons from Oroville: Resilience for Scarcity and Abundance

Swings in weather-related fortunes will continue to push to unprecedented extremes, in California, in Texas, in Boston, in Long Island, in Louisiana, and everywhere else.

February 15, 2017 - James Brasuell

U.S. EPA Announces New 'Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center'

The U.S. EPA recently announced the Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center "as a resource to communities to improve their wastewater, drinking water and stormwater systems." Two reports show why it's the new resources are so badly needed.

January 20, 2015 - The Courier-Journal

California High-Speed Rail's Second Construction Contract: $1.36 Billion

A week after the groundbreaking ceremony for California's beleaguered high speed rail project, a second construction contract has been awarded. The rail authority will now build 29 miles north and 65 miles south of Fresno to the Kern County line.

January 16, 2015 - The Fresno Bee

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

It's a Hydropower World

Around the world, countries are building new dams for hydroelectric power at a frenzied pace. Vox examines the benefits and drawbacks of hydroelectric power.

October 29, 2014 - Vox

Healing Rivers By (Voluntarily) Limiting Development

A voluntary program of incentives for land owners along the two rivers in Oregon, the Mckenzie River east of Eugene and the Rogue River near Medford, provides incentives for maintaining natural conditions along the river bed.

March 11, 2014 - KUOW

The United (Watershed) States of America

What if the great adventurer and geographer John Wesley Powell had his way: That as the western states were brought into the union their shape would be dictated by watershed rather than political boundary? This blog - and map - depict this scenario.

October 4, 2013 - Community Builders

Watershed States

This post from GOOD points to an old map of the Western U.S. in which state lines are redrawn based on the locations of watersheds.

November 21, 2010 - Good

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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.