Water

Audubon reviewed eight groundwater management plans and found that they fell short in their consideration of managed wetlands.

As California faces another dry year, the state will have to decide whether to allow the violation of water quality standards in the Delta.

Here are some priorities the State Water Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife can tackle now to get ready for the next drought.

Huge gaps exist in scientific knowledge, but California is about to set the world’s first health guidelines for microplastics in drinking water. Yet no one agrees how to test water for the tiny bits of plastic, or how dangerous they are.

It is time for California’s leaders to take bold action to improve the health of our soils, which would improve water storage capacity.

Californians need actual solutions: Water markets cannot fix water scarcity, nor can they responsibly manage a public trust.

There are many opportunities for recycled water projects, and California would be proactive to invest in these projects.

Voluntary agreements help pull projects together into more uniform policies and allow us to then form regional partnerships.

While the new water futures markets may help manage the financial risk of droughts, the more important work ahead is to strengthen the state’s actual water market.

In April, the governor issued an executive order that barred water shutoffs for customers who don’t pay their water bills. State leaders are looking for ways to bail out struggling residents and smaller water systems alike, both buckling under $1 billion in water debt statewide.