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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Indicators of Climate Change: Impacts on Wildlife from 2pm to 3:30pm. This webinar is the fourth in the series, co-convened with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It will address the impacts of climate change on California’s wildlife and the efforts underway to address them. Register on Zoom to join the webinar.
- STAFF WORKSHOP: Kaweah Subbasin Draft Staff Report at Sequoia High School in Visalia beginning at 5:30pm. Staff explain the draft staff report and share more about how to participate in the State Water Board’s state intervention process. Staff will also accept verbal public comments on the draft staff report at the workshops. Staff presentation will start at 5:30 PM. Staff will begin accepting public comments at 7:00 PM. Click here for the hearing notice.
In California water news today …
A legal battle could determine fate of groundwater regulation in rural San Joaquin Valley
“In May, the Kings County Farm Bureau sued the California State Water Resources Control Board, arguing the agency’s decision to place the region on groundwater probation was unconstitutional. The State Water Board handed down the probationary order after a marathon April 16 hearing in which growers revolted against the agency, complaining pumping fees attached to the probation could spell disaster – especially for smaller farms. Under probation, growers will have to pay fees based on the number of wells owned and the volume of water pumped. “The stakes are high, extremely high,” Dusty Ference, who leads the farm bureau, told KVPR. The conflict is playing out under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, also known as SGMA, which was enacted a decade ago in 2014. The Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers almost the entirety of Kings County, was the first to be placed on probation under the law. … ” Read more from Valley Public Radio.
Chaos continues to reign among Kings County water agencies following state action
“It’s been two and a half months since the state brought the hammer down on water managers in Kings County for lacking an adequate plan to stem overpumping in the region and the situation is, in a word – chaotic. One groundwater sustainability agency (GSA) has imploded, leaving the county to potentially pick up the pieces. Another doesn’t have enough money in the bank to pay its newly hired manager. One GSA has repeatedly canceled meetings, others appear to be crafting their own plans and one is banking on being exempted as a “good actor,” despite the state’s repeated insistence that there will be no such exemptions in San Joaquin Valley basins now under scrutiny. Oh, and the Farm Bureau is suing the state Water Resources Control Board over its vote April 16 to put the region, the Tulare Lake subbasin, into probation – the first step toward a possible state pumping takeover. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Central Valley farmers withstand legislation, litigation, and regulatory pressure
“Two L-words are getting Central Valley agriculture in the weeds — legislation and litigation. Alongside water regulations, pesticide bans, bankruptcy filings, and other issues afflicting the industry, legislation and litigation are generally the root causes of concern. Despite these challenges, there was a notable development recently as the groundwater measure that would restrict local entities from issuing a permit for a new groundwater well — AB 2079 — failed in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on June 11. The bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Steve Bennett, would have restricted the local control of groundwater — guaranteed by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act — by denying permits for large-diameter, high-capacity wells within a quarter mile of a domestic water well. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
Museum educates public about how farmers work hard to use less water
“Since Sacramento’s acclaimed Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) opened in November 2021, more than 331,000 visitors have toured the facility, which features dozens of interactive exhibits on topics such as health care, nature, space exploration and water. A popular MOSAC section is the Water Challenge Exhibit, which includes three interactive displays sponsored by Cultivate California and its nonprofit parent organization the California Farm Water Coalition that illustrate how farmers are working hard to use less water. Two sisters who recently visited MOSAC said they enjoyed the exhibits and the older one said she’d learned something as well. “I learned that water is very important and that we need water to grow food for people and to feed the animals we’re going to eat,” said 9-year-old Lyla Frith. Her sister, Kaylyn, 7, enjoyed the exhibits on her own level, saying, “I liked it a lot. The games were fun.” … ” Read more from Wine Business.
Climate readiness – Using advanced lasers and sonar to determine if Lake Oroville has lost capacity
“With California experiencing extreme swings between severe drought to torrential rain, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) wanted to see if the State Water Project’s largest reservoir, Lake Oroville, had shrunk (or lost storage capacity) due to weather swings and almost six decades of service. DWR utilized the latest terrain-mapping technology to determine if there have been any changes in the lake’s volume to optimize how the reservoir is operated and ensure accuracy in estimating California’s water supply availability. Lake Oroville was created in the 1960s with the construction of Oroville Dam. When Lake Oroville was filled in 1968, surveys estimated the dam impounded 3,537,577 acre-feet of water with a maximum depth of 690 feet and 167 miles of shoreline spread across the main reservoir and its three connecting Feather River forks. … ” Read more from DWR News.
Video: Agencies in California are recycling wastewater into drinking water as demand grows
Every day, 130 gallons of treated wastewater, normally draining into the Pacific Ocean, undergo a three-step purification process, including microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light.
Sacramento River and major tributaries – warm spring water temperatures in 2024 stress salmon
“In this spring of Above-Normal Water Year 2024, with Central Valley storage reservoirs nearly full, warm water temperatures have again plagued salmon rivers. Spring is important, especially for winter-run salmon that are beginning to spawn in the upper Sacramento River near Redding. It is also important for spring-run salmon just finishing their runs up the Sacramento River to and into spawning tributaries to hold until the early-fall spawning season. Juvenile salmon (smolts) also head to the ocean in spring. If the waters are too warm, salmon smolts suffer stress, stored nutrient depletion, poor growth, higher predation rates, and even direct heat-induced mortality. …, ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog.
Feds boost water to central valley farmers. Is it too late?
“Better-than-expected water supplies prompted the federal government to increase the water it gives to farmers in the Central Valley on Tuesday. The latest boost from the Bureau of Reclamation grants water districts 50% of their allotment, up from 40% earlier. But farmers hoped to get the increase earlier. “Our family farms and downstream communities rely on meaningful and timely allocations for the water they contract and pay for to grow the food that feeds the world, ” said Rep. David Valadao (R-Kings County). “While I am grateful for this welcomed increase from Reclamation, it’s frustrating that we could have had this allocation back in February to give farmers proper time to plan their operations for the year.” … ” Read more from GV Wire.
REPORT SUMMARY: The Magnitude of California’s Water Challenges
“California is on the brink of a water crisis, with projections showing a potential decrease in water availability by 4.6 to 9 million acre-feet yearly. Despite conservation efforts, scarcity is inevitable, according to a new report titled “The Magnitude of California’s Water Challenges.” Commissioned by the California Municipal Utilities Association and written by Jay Lund at UC Davis, Josue Medellín-Azuara at UC Merced, and Alvar Escriva-Bou with UCLA, the report outlines the state’s water management issues and predicts future water losses. These estimates aim to guide public policy and investment choices in addressing California’s pressing water concerns. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
USDA: Exploring water solutions for a better future
“Scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Southwest Climate Hub and California Climate Hub have developed a browsable map-based tool that addresses water scarcity in the U.S. Southwest. The Water Adaptation Techniques Atlas (WATA) consolidates over 200 case studies on research and practices that water managers and producers can use to find location-specific and topical information to make informed decisions regarding water management. Over the years, urban areas and agriculture have expanded in the Southwest region. For the past century, water use in the Southwest has been sustained through the capture, storage, and distribution of surface water, aided by dams, canals, and associated infrastructure, while extraction of groundwater has also intensified. However, water scarcity has become a pressing issue with extremely hot temperatures and severe prolonged droughts in a region already challenged by its arid and semi-arid conditions. As reservoir and aquifer levels drop, information about strategies to adapt to this new reality is urgently needed. … ” Read more from the USDA.
California Senate casts doubt on climate bond deal by June deadline
“California Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire said Monday that the Legislature has until July 3 to place bonds on the November ballot, signaling the likelihood that lawmakers will miss their original June 27 deadline to pass climate and school funding measures. McGuire said on the eve of the original deadline that lawmakers aren’t ready to release bond language that can be voted on by Thursday. “We’ve been working like hell on the issue of bonds, and we’re in the home stretch,” he said in a statement. “We do have a little bit of wiggle room — bond measures can be added to the November ballot until July 3. We are working with the Secretary of State and Legislative Counsel to ensure we meet the July 3 deadline.” Lawmakers are still hashing out their spending priorities for some $20 billion in climate and education funding that they’re hoping to place on the November ballot. Hundreds of millions of dollars in climate funding priorities were still being negotiated as of Monday afternoon, according to three people with knowledge of the negotiations whom POLITICO granted anonymity to discuss confidential talks. … ” Read more from E&E News (sorry, subscription required).
California Democrats approve budget with spending wins. Why they still want billions from voters
“California’s Legislature on Wednesday night approved most of the bills that make up the $298 billion budget agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom to close a roughly $47 billion deficit. The final budget — which Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders announced on Saturday — contains many of Democrats’ spending priorities, including money for homelessness grants, social safety net services, public health initiatives and affordable housing programs. The governor on Wednesday signed the placeholder budget the Legislature passed on June 13 to meet the June 15 deadline they needed to hit to receive their paychecks. The budget battle is not over, though. Legislators are still working out two bond measures that will ask voters in November to allow California to borrow even more money for school facilities and climate change-related programs. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Garamendi secures wins for Bay Area and Delta in Water Resources Development Act
“Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08) voted to pass the “Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024” (H.R.8812) in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure by a bipartisan vote of 61 to 2. The full House of Representatives is expected to take up the bill in the coming weeks. “The biennial Water Resources Development Act strengthens flood protection and our precious water resources in communities across California and the country. This soon-to-become law will upgrade our water infrastructure, strengthen climate resiliency, and restore aquatic ecosystems across the Bay Area and California Delta,” Garamendi said.”As a longstanding member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I secured key provisions in the bill to support dredging the Mare Island Strait, enhance environmental restoration efforts at Lake Tahoe, and expand the Army Corps’ existing vessel removal authority to also include abandoned and derelict vessels. I expect President Biden to sign this bipartisan bill into law.” … ” Read more from Congressman John Garamendi.
A Northern California lake with an algae problem inspired a swamp rock classic
“There are few songs that evoke the bayou quite like Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Green River.” John Fogerty’s signature growl sounds like a humid day with a cold beer — feet in the water, a fish on the line. When the song dropped in the summer of 1969, it shot up the charts, and it’s been one of the band’s best-known tunes ever since. But there is no Green River in Louisiana. Tucked in the rolling golden hills of Yolo County, an artificial lake with an algae problem was Fogerty’s inspiration for the ultimate swamp rock song. If you know anything about CCR, you likely already know their famous bayou sound didn’t originate in Cajun country. The band met while going to school in El Cerrito, and much of lead singer Fogerty’s inspiration came from life growing up in California — which explains why a Louisiana-sounding band wrote a song lamenting how boring Lodi is. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
9 large watershed planning grants totaling $53m for California National Forests
“The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced $53 million in grants to protect and restore forests and watersheds in California using voluntary, targeted headwater resilience planning and monitoring. The grants leverage $31.4 million in matching contributions, for a total conservation impact of $84.4 million. The awards were made possible by a first-of-its-kind agreement between the USDA Forest Service and NFWF. This effort pools multiple funding sources from public and private organizations to meet the level needed for effective landscape-scale projects to tackle California’s wildfire crisis. “Our partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation helps us mutually support communities throughout California. Combining our resources, we can use the best available science and monitoring to protect our vital watersheds,” said Jennifer Eberlien, regional forester for the Pacific Southwest Region. “These investments help ensure future generations have healthy, productive forests and help the region combat the effects of climate change.” …, ” Read more from the US Forest Service.
Wildfire smoke affects the function of lake ecosystems
“Wildfires are on the rise. The smoke they bring darkens the sky and deposits ash. Ocean research has provided clues about how smoke affects marine ecosystems, but little is known about how it affects freshwater ecosystems like lakes. A new study published in Communications Earth and Environment shows that in some California lakes, smoke can alter physical and biological processes that are key to systems such as nutrient cycling, rates of carbon sequestration, and food web structure. Both the number of smoky days and the extent of smoke coverage have climbed in recent decades, said Adrianne Smits, an environmental scientist at the University of California, Davis, and coauthor of the new study. “Smoke cover in California is really no longer an ephemeral event,” she said, but “could be thought of more as a seasonal phenomenon.” “Given that,” she continued, “we need to have a better understanding of how freshwater ecosystems respond to this fundamental change.” … ” Read more from EOS.
In commentary today …
When it comes to Calif.’s water, the numbers do lie
Bill Hammonds, an attorney and chairman of Firebaugh-based Hammonds Ranch, writes, “Years ago, I wrote a tongue in cheek essay dedicated to the authors of “How to Lie with Statistics”, which proved beyond any doubt that rainfall caused mental illness. There is, by the way, significant statistical evidence to back this up, but it may well be confusing coincidence with causation. That said, there is an anomaly in how the State of California reports rainfall records. Simultaneously, the state is using this data to allocate water to farmers in the Central Valley, and year after year, there are more emergencies, and the farms get less water. The state tracks rainfall in the Sierra in three different regions, the Northern Sierra 8 Station Average, the Tulare Basin and the San Joaquin stations. In the southern San Joaquin Valley the water we use comes mostly from the Northern Sierra. … ” Continue reading at the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
C-WIN: Fisheries expert: Fish & Game Commission’s move to list white sturgeon is a red herring
Confessions of a known “Alfalfaphile”
Dan Keppen, Family Farm Alliance Executive Director, writes, “Never in my wildest dreams as a much younger man would I have thought that I would someday spend so much of my professional time defending the production of alfalfa. I remember my senior year in high school, in northern California’s Lassen County, where many of my friends were from ranching families. Most of them spent a lot of their spare time in the summer cutting, baling and stacking hay. I was not a rancher. I was a skinny kid who liked music from the 60’s. My only direct experience with alfalfa was in the hippy-owned restaurant I worked at, where the locally famous “Veggie Pizza” was actually topped with fresh alfalfa sprouts! In recent years, after over three decades in the Western water policy arena, alfalfa matters have consumed much of my time. The Family Farm Alliance membership encompasses most of the “Reclamation West” – those arid and semi-arid states located West of the 100th Meridian. That includes all seven Colorado River Basin states. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Forest Service begins restoration activities at Burke Creek
“In April 2024, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in partnership with the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, issued the final decision for restoration activities to restore the natural function of Burke Creek and Rabe Meadow which will improve water quality, meadow vegetation, and aquatic and terrestrial habitat for wildlife and plants. This project complements previous restoration work between U.S. Highway 50 and the outlet of Burke Creek at Lake Tahoe. Visitors to Kahle Drive Trailhead, Lam Watah Trail, Nevada Beach, Nevada Beach Campground and Rabe Meadow can expect to see project activity in the area including staging of equipment and construction materials, tree removal and culvert replacement over the next several weeks. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte County focuses on community-driven groundwater sustainability approach
“Butte County is working to diversify its groundwater sustainability using these summer months to communicate with the community on how to better do so. On Wednesday the Department of Water and Resource Conservation teamed up with agencies that focus their work on groundwater sustainability. KRCR spoke with the Butte County Department of Water and Resource Conservation Assistant Director, Christina Buck, who said the county is treating this topic as a four-piece puzzle. “One piece is looking at opportunities to bring new supplies when that’s possible, the next is putting more water in the ground through groundwater recharge when that’s possible.” Buck continued, “Then managing the land, land owners are really in the lead on land management. The final puzzle piece is addressing water conservation and reducing demand when possible.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
BAY AREA
Living with climate swings: Heat 101
“The Bay Area’s mild weather is a liability in the face of all kinds of growing heat risks, from temperature swings to hotter nights—both in the flatlands and in the hills. The average summer temperature can vary widely, and locals will experience a very different baseline if they live in the notoriously foggy Sunset district of San Francisco or in Solano County’s farmland near Dixon, where 90 degrees is a summertime average. If your town’s summer gradually warms up until most days are around 85 degrees out, you’ll probably not be too uncomfortable at that temperature. But if you live in a place that rarely gets over 70 degrees, a sudden week of 85- degree days can be crippling—or even lethal. “For a senior living in San Francisco that could do a number to your body,” says Angela Yip, an analyst for the City Administrator. But what exactly—geography, surfaces, weather, buildings—helps the heat linger? KneeDeep examines the basic science. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
Commentary: Equitable access to affordable, safe, clean water for all is always a board priority
“Valley Water is responsible for securing a sufficient supply of safe, clean drinking water for Silicon Valley; however, while most residents do not pay Valley Water directly, costs for water supply management do impact residents’ water bills. With fairness and sustainability in mind, the Valley Water Board of Directors established “groundwater benefit zones” that help ensure costs passed on to residents, businesses, farmers, and other members of our community are only associated with water and water infrastructure for their zone. In addition, benefit zone pricing policies allow better overall water supply management and protection of this most precious resource. … ” Read more from Valley Water.
CENTRAL COAST
In a stunning vote, two cities nix Monterey One Water’s billing process one week before it begins.
“A cost-saving plan to shift all of Monterey One Water’s billing to collection through county property tax bills was killed just seven days before it was to go into effect, thanks to opposition from just two of the board’s 10 members in a weighted vote. Anthony Rocha, a city councilmember from Salinas who serves as the city’s representative to the sanitation agency board, and Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, representing Seaside, were the deciding votes. (Salinas gets six votes because it has the largest population in the district’s service area. Seaside gets three votes.) Eight board members voted to move ahead with contracting with the Monterey County Tax Collector to collect fees from M1W ratepayers beginning July 1. But with the weighted vote means instead of an 8-2 vote to proceed, the total was 13-9 to proceed—although it’s a majority, the vote failed because it required at least two-thirds of the total possible votes, or 14 of 22. “Yes, I was surprised,” says M1W General Manager Paul Sciuto. He and his staff had been working on the changeover for well over a year. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Residents oppose De Oro rate increase
“A proposed rate increase for Springville area residents in the Del Oro Water Company’s District has angered those residents and those living in the area continue to be upset with Del Oro. Those living in the area have been upset with Del Oro essentially ever since the March, 2023 flooding seriously disrupted residents access to water. The residents maintain Del Oro has fulfilled its legal responsibility to provide them with usable water. Water Warriors Against Del Oro who represent residents in the district have also written a letter against Resolution W-5229 which proposes a rate hike for those in the district. They maintain its the company that owes them a refund for not providing usable water. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
EASTERN SIERRA
Is it just me? What the heck is in Inyokern’s water?
Darla Baker writes, “The folks in Inyokern just got hit with another water woe. Apparently, residents were served with notices advising them to boil or disinfect their water due a problem with the one operating well that recently went down. One woman I talked to said her notice was stuck inside her chain link fence of her front yard. Good thing she happened to look at her fence or she could have very easily missed seeing the notice. Good thing the wind didn’t blow the notice away. I saw a copy of the notice, and I am rather perplexed. It tells you not to drink the water or cook with it, and gives steps on how to render it safe. What the notice doesn’t say is what exactly is in the water that makes it unsafe. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
State officials warn of ‘dangerous’ algae bloom in Lake Elsinore
“Officials from the California Water Resources Control Board are urging people to avoid Lake Elsinore due to an algae bloom that’s created dangerous levels of harmful toxins. Visitors are urged to stay out of the water, keep their pets at a safe distance and do not drink water or eat any fish or shellfish from the lake. Five “distinct areas” of Lake Elsinore were tested and high levels of toxins were detected that officials say pose a significant health risk. “DANGER” signs have been placed at the lake to warn visitors about the elevated risks. … ” Read more from KTLA.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego’s water prices face doomsday increase
“Thursday is doomsday for water prices in San Diego. That’s when the region’s water importer – the San Diego County Water Authority – debates whether to boost its prices a whopping 18 percent come Jan. 1. The price increase is massive compared to previous rate increases, and the Water Authority’s biggest customer, the city of San Diego, is pretty ticked off. For the last five years, water rates rose between 5 and 10 percent per year. The last time San Diego passed a higher price spike was 2010 at 20 percent. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria directed his powerful contingent of 10 water board members to fight the increase. We won’t know how hard they’ll fight until the full 33-member board meets Thursday afternoon to vote on it. Gloria’s administration is building a water recycling project, which costs billions of dollars. Once its built, in 2035, San Diego won’t buy as much water from the Water Authority. But for now, San Diegans are saddled with the cost of building water recycling and purchasing expensive water from outside city boundaries. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Commentary: The case for water rate increases
Gary Arant, member of the Water Authority Board of Directors and general manager of the Valley Center Water District, writes, “Most San Diegans don’t often think about the journey water takes before reaching our faucets. It involves hundreds of miles of pipes, multiple treatment plants and countless moving parts to deliver a reliable water supply to our region, which has nowhere near enough natural water sources to sustain us. Any disruption along the way could have serious implications for local families and businesses. As a result, regular maintenance isn’t just a good idea, it’s an absolute necessity. San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies are responsible for securing this reliable water supply for our region’s 3 million residents and businesses and delivering it to our taps every day without fail. As stewards of your water needs, we have a responsibility to maintain our 80-year-old system in the most cost-efficient manner possible and balance your expectation for reliable service with demands to keep bills low. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Utah’s rivers could lose water at an alarming rate without conservation
“Utah’s rivers are in danger of losing millions of gallons of water over the next few decades. Our reservoirs have been busy collecting as much water as they can, but heavy demands on supply remain. General manager Scott Paxman with the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District says landscaping is a huge tax on our water. Paxman says simply decreasing the amount of times we water our yards — or at least making it more efficient — can save both money and thousands of gallons of water. “About 60 to 67% of the water we use in our homes or at our homes is used outdoors on our landscape,” Paxman said. … ” Read more from KSL.
Hot, dry conditions could push much of Colorado into drought by summer’s end
“Colorado has seen an average water year so far, but looking ahead, climate experts say much of the state could fall into drought conditions and struggle to find relief. Colorado’s very average snowpack has officially melted away from all 115 federal snow monitoring stations in the state, as of this week. Reservoir levels are at 94%, just slightly below average, while precipitation was at exactly 100% of the 30-year median, according to a Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meeting Tuesday. Heat, however, has been on the rise. Even summer showers may not be enough to combat its effects, or to keep the state away from drought. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Supreme Court decision leaves more than half of water flowing out of rivers vulnerable, study says
“Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the 1972 Clean Water Act should only apply to waters that are navigable year-round, and not to ephemeral streams — waterways that are underground for much of the year, until there is significant rainfall. In doing so, the court significantly rolled back federal environmental protections that had been around for half a century. A new study seeks, for the first time, to quantify the volume of water that was affected by last year’s ruling. According to the paper, published Thursday in the journal Science, ephemeral streams are responsible for roughly 55% of all water that comes from regional river systems in the U.S. In other words, more than half of the water flowing in and out of rivers in the U.S. is no longer under the protection of federal law. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Environmental rulings to watch at the Supreme Court
“As the Supreme Court gets ready to issue the final rulings of the term, the justices are still sitting on a handful of cases that could deal a blow to environmental protections and agency powers. In four decisions expected by next week, the justices could toss out EPA controls on cross-state smog pollution, expose old rules to new lawsuits, stifle agencies’ power to handle their own enforcement cases and demolish a 40-year-old doctrine that helps environmental regulators win in court. The cases are among about a dozen decisions that are still pending from the Supreme Court — and many of those opinions will have a profound effect on the U.S. public and politics, wrote Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice in a recent analysis. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO: The Ten Most Important U.S. Environmental Laws, from Dan Farber at the Legal Planet
