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Water Management

All articles tagged with #water management

Colorado, Nevada push back on federal Colorado River plan amid drought
environment1 month ago

Colorado, Nevada push back on federal Colorado River plan amid drought

Colorado and Nevada negotiators signaled at a Boulder water conference that key parts of the Bureau of Reclamation’s plan to release water from Lake Powell and Lake Mead need revision, notably the idea of biannual reviews; with drought tightening supplies and Powell’s inflow forecasts at record lows, the long-standing compact remains unresolved as states fear litigation or a potential Supreme Court showdown. Reclamation aims to finalize a decade-long reservoir-operations plan within two months, but a temporary two-year approach from Lower Basin leaders and unresolved questions about who bears cuts and tribal allocations keep the dispute highly contentious.

via Colorado Public Radio|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
Google rolls out a water-conscious data-center framework
technology1 month ago

Google rolls out a water-conscious data-center framework

Google unveils a formal water-management framework for its data centers, pledging to return more water to local watersheds than it uses by 2030, cut water-intensive cooling in stressed regions, fund local water upgrades, pursue alternatives like reclaimed wastewater, and disclose annual usage; the move packages long-standing practices as a standard and aims to push industry adoption. In 2024 Google used 7.2 billion gallons of freshwater and replenished about 4.5 billion (64%), with two-thirds of centers using evaporative cooling and the rest relying on air cooling or recycled water, illustrating the trade-off between preserving water supplies and electricity use.

via Axios|
#cooling#data-centers#google
Tiny fixes won’t avert the Colorado River crisis
environment2 months ago

Tiny fixes won’t avert the Colorado River crisis

The Colorado River faces a dire set of conditions with record-low snowpack and reservoirs nearing historic lows. A short-term plan by Arizona, California and Nevada aiming to save about 3.2 million acre-feet by 2028 is unlikely to break the deadlock or prevent a longer-term crisis, because meaningful change will require deeper, negotiated reforms to water use and rights across the Lower Basin as negotiations among Western states remain stalled.

via The Washington Post|
#climate-change#colorado-river#droughts
Powell power boost from river releases comes with downstream costs
environment2 months ago

Powell power boost from river releases comes with downstream costs

In the drought-stricken Colorado River basin, officials plan to release more water into Lake Powell to boost hydroelectric generation. The move could improve Powell’s electrical output in the near term, but it trades increased power supply for reduced water deliveries or higher costs for downstream users in California, Nevada and the lower basin, underscoring the tough compromises of river management during continued drought.

via AP News|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
Emergency water shift aims to steady Lake Powell as Colorado River drought deepens
environment2 months ago

Emergency water shift aims to steady Lake Powell as Colorado River drought deepens

To avert a Powell failure amid a historic Colorado River drought, the federal government will move water from Flaming Gorge to raise Lake Powell and reduce releases to Lake Mead, aiming for a one-year pause while seven Western states negotiate longer-term water cuts; Powell is roughly 36% full and Mead about 32%, with major downstream impacts for California, Arizona and Nevada.

via Los Angeles Times|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
Drought paradox: Colorado River plants siphon groundwater, trimming river flows
planet-earth3 months ago

Drought paradox: Colorado River plants siphon groundwater, trimming river flows

A Princeton-backed study finds that in hot, dry summers vegetation taps groundwater rather than soil moisture, maintaining high evapotranspiration and drawing water away from the Colorado River, thereby reducing basin flows even when snowmelt is abundant. This “drought paradox” suggests climate warming could worsen water shortages and requires revising water budgets and management for the Colorado River basin, impacting states like Arizona and California.

via Live Science|
#colorado-river#drought-paradox#evapotranspiration
Drought-Driven Deadlock: Colorado River Talks Miss Deadline
environment4 months ago

Drought-Driven Deadlock: Colorado River Talks Miss Deadline

Colorado River negotiators failed to meet the federal deadline to adopt new water-sharing guidelines, heightening the risk of federally imposed cutbacks and lawsuits as climate-driven drought strains supplies for about 40 million people. The stalemate pits Upper Basin states arguing that hydrology requires tighter, shared limits against Lower Basin partners seeking equitable reductions, with talks continuing and federal action looming to avert a courtroom fight.

via KJZZ|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
Morocco braces for floods as 50,000 flee city amid weeks of heavy rain
climate-and-energy5 months ago

Morocco braces for floods as 50,000 flee city amid weeks of heavy rain

Morocco evacuated more than 50,000 people from Ksar el-Kebir as weeks of heavy rain caused floods that threatened the city, with authorities opening shelters, barring entry, and deploying the army for evacuation and rescue efforts; the floods were worsened by water releases from a full dam, while nearby regions also evacuated villagers and reinforced riverbanks as drought ends and reservoirs near capacity.

via Reuters|
#africa#climate-and-energy#climate-change
California's water-use reality beats forecasts, easing drought pressures
planet-earth5 months ago

California's water-use reality beats forecasts, easing drought pressures

A Virginia Tech study finds California's water use from 2000 to 2020 was consistently lower than suppliers’ projections, with five-year demand overestimates averaging 25% and 20-year estimates about 74%. The drop in per-capita demand, driven by efficiency programs and landscaping rebates, decouples use from population growth and supports drought resilience, but it also implies forecasts may be too high, potentially raising costs if extra supply or infrastructure is needed. The research highlights ongoing opportunities to save water across residential, commercial, and agricultural sectors and the importance of accurate forecasting for long-term planning.

via Live Science|
#california#demand-forecasting#drought
AI-powered map uncovers deep groundwater across the U.S. at 30-meter resolution
science5 months ago

AI-powered map uncovers deep groundwater across the U.S. at 30-meter resolution

Researchers from Princeton and the University of Arizona created a high-resolution, AI-driven map of groundwater depth for the continental United States by combining over a million direct measurements with regional climate and geological data. The result estimates about 306,000 cubic kilometers of groundwater at a 30-meter grid (roughly 98 feet), revealing shallow supplies previously unknown and enabling more informed irrigation, conservation, and water infrastructure decisions. The model also quantifies uncertainty at each location and is designed for global expansion via the HydroFrame platform, signaling a shift toward data-driven, local-scale groundwater management.

via Princeton Engineering|
#ai#groundwater#hydrology
Federal playbook outlines five paths to Colorado River scarcity
environment5 months ago

Federal playbook outlines five paths to Colorado River scarcity

The Interior Department published five potential future management options for the drought-stricken Colorado River, ranging from action as usual to scenarios that could trigger water cuts for California, Nevada, and Arizona; no preferred option is identified, and any plan requires agreement among the seven basin states, with deadlines such as Feb. 14 for an agreement and Oct. 1 for a final decision. Public comment is open through early March as Lake Powell and Lake Mead sit at roughly 27% and 33% capacity.

via KUNC|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
Tackling Global Water Loss to Support 280 Million People
environment6 months ago

Tackling Global Water Loss to Support 280 Million People

A new report highlights the alarming loss of freshwater from Earth's continents, amounting to enough water annually to meet the needs of 280 million people, primarily caused by groundwater extraction and climate change. It emphasizes the importance of improved water management, efficient agricultural practices, and global water trade to combat this crisis and ensure sustainable water use worldwide.

via Live Science|
#continental-drying#environment#groundwater-extraction