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Greg Pierce

@gregspierce.bsky.social

1.3K followers 410 following 530 posts

UCLA: Human Right to Water Solutions Lab, Luskin Center, Department of Urban Planning, Water Resources Group

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Mar 5

Our Nature Water comment “Redefining expectations for urban water supply systems to fight wildfire” is out ⬇️.

I started working on this w/ @edithdeguzman.bsky.social and @mullinmeg.bsky.social 10 days after the fires started.

We lay out 3 major implications from the fires for water supply systems

Nature Water @natwater.nature.com · Mar 5

Out now! A Comment in Nature Water discusses major implications for water supply after the Los Angeles Fires
@gregspierce.bsky.social l @edithdeguzman.bsky.social @mullinmeg.bsky.social
👇
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Redefining expectations for urban water supply systems to fight wildfires - Nature Water

Three major implications stemming from the water supply narratives around the Los Angeles fires have emerged: the need for greater infrastructure resilience, considering the uneven costs of new expect...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

MacKenzie Elmer, journalist. @journomack.bsky.social · 15h

Mayor Todd Gloria’s admin ousts climate and sustainability direction - The firing follows a pattern of weakening San Diego’s climate action activities. voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/08/m... @voiceofsandiego

Mayor Gloria’s Admin Ousts Climate and Sustainability Director

The firing of the city’s Chief Sustainability Officer follows a pattern of weakening San Diego’s climate action arm.

voiceofsandiego.org

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

MacKenzie Elmer, journalist. @journomack.bsky.social · 15h

Will miss @sammyroth.bsky.social ‘s voice at the @latimes.com. He is a legend.

Sammy Roth @sammyroth.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you @raineytime.bsky.social for spotlighting my last column for @latimes.com, about the end of coal power in California, in today’s Essential CA newsletter: www.latimes.com/california/n...

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 1d

Just a cool water-energy tech that has actual benefits and has no clear downsides.

"The East Bay Municipal Utility District says the system is part of its broader goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030."

Maven's Notebook @mavensnotebook.com · 1d

How 1st-in-the-state technology is harnessing energy from East Bay water pipes #cawater abc7news.com/post/inpipe-...

How 1st-in-the-state technology is harnessing energy from East Bay water pipes

InPipe Energy has installed the Bay Area's smallest hydroelectric power plant in a pipeline connecting part of the East Bay water distribution system, taking the place of the normal water pressure reg...

abc7news.com

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 1d

Amazing work by friends @kbdobbin.bsky.social, @alfencl.bsky.social and Justin McBride (@uclaurbanplanning.bsky.social)

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Linking variation in water democracy to system performance on the human right to water

Nature Water - Access to safe, affordable and accessible drinking water is influenced by various socioeconomic factors. A survey of a large number of California water systems shows how different...

www.nature.com

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 2d

I never want to "explore [X] as a living laboratory" personally, thanks.

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 2d

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Exploring urban vegetation type and defensible space’s role in building loss during wildfire-driven events in California

The role of building characteristics and survival during wildfires are well studied. Less so is the role of urban vegetation type, condition, and loca…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 2d

"A recent study led by Francisco Escobedo of the Forest Service suggested that the type and moisture level of vegetation in Zone Zero matters — that well-hydrated vegetation might not pose a threat — and that it varies among regions within California."

LA Public Press @lapublicpress.bsky.social · 2d

California’s Zone Zero fire rules clash with LA’s desperate need for shade.

Homeowners in fire hazard zones may have to remove bushes, hedges and flowers within five feet of their houses — even as extreme heat becomes more dangerous.

California's Zone Zero fire rules clash with LA's desperate need for shade

Homeowners in fire hazard zones may have to remove bushes, hedges and flowers within five feet of their houses — even as extreme heat becomes more dangerous.

lapublicpress.org

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

Michael Gollner @gollnerfire.bsky.social · 2d

I will be recruiting 1-2 new PhD students next year. Areas of interest include experimental fire research focused on flame spread, ignition, flammability or emissions of wildland or urban fuels and modeling the spread of fires through the wildland-urban interface.

Admissions - UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering

Breadcrumbs Graduate Programs Ph.D. & D.Eng. Master of Science Master of Engineering Fifth Year B.S./M.S. Program Degree Requirements 5th Year Masters Program Handbook Special Programs DEEST Graduate ...

me.berkeley.edu

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 2d

huh

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/10/01/h...

How much could a city-run utility save San Diegans? $130 billion, a new analysis finds

A city study from two years ago concluded that a municipal power agency could at best save up to $8 billion over the first 20 years and $15 billion over 30 years.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

Reposted by Greg Pierce

LAist @laist.com · 2d

Swapping out your grass for drought-tolerant plants is good for the environment, but it can be costly. LADWP's recently launched Landscape Efficiency Assistance Program can help you do it for free.

🔗 https://ow.ly/1OLw50X7VCn
✍️ Cato Hernández
📷 Courtesy Theodore Payne Foundation

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 2d

Special acknowledgment to the federal administration for occupying downtown LA the day before the workshop and making us pivot to online format w/ 100+ people overnight.

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 2d

Our big fire innovation report with LADWP and ~100 external experts, convened and synthesized by @luskininnovation.bsky.social, @uclasustainablela.bsky.social , @uclaioes.bsky.social and a much broader UCLA team of experts is out.

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/2025/10/07/b...

Building resilient utilities: UCLA issues report on key water and power infrastructure needs | UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Smart meters and undergrounding power lines are among promising innovations in addressing climate and fire risks.

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

Esther Schindler @estherschindler.bsky.social · 3d

I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 3d

The past and future of water, primarily groundwater, and housing in the Phoenix metro. I learned some new things - including that it took 39 years (!) for Arizona's 1980 groundwater law to halt any growth. Thorough reporting from Tony Davis @highcountrynews.org www.hcn.org/issues/57-10...

The dried-out subdivisions of Phoenix - High Country News

A groundwater crisis halted the construction of thousands of homes and pitted affordability against environmental concerns.

www.hcn.org

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 3d

What can we realistically expect from water systems during urban wildfire conflagrations? We held a recent workshop with on-the-ground experts and have written up some initial takeaways ucanr.edu/blog/conflue...

Water Systems and Wildfire: Understanding Capacities and Limitations | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Image

ucanr.edu

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

Twilight Greenaway @twyspy.bsky.social · 3d

Farmworkers in the Coachella Valley work in intense heat 8 months a year. Air conditioning is essential to their recovery at the end of each day. But it's expensive!

I visited on a sweltering day to document an effort to bring costs down for one family. 🌞
insideclimatenews.org/news/0410202...

Farmworkers in the Hottest Part of California Find State Funds to Cool Their Homes and Save on Energy - Inside Climate News

California allocates $20 million a year for energy efficiency upgrades for low-income homeowners, and supporters of the farmworkers program want $10 million added.

insideclimatenews.org

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

Maria Berlin @lilleberlin.bsky.social · 8d

Working on topics of Inequality and the #environment ? Join @sitestockholm.bsky.social
workshop on Nov 28! Deadline October 15.

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation @luskininnovation.bsky.social · 3d

Tomorrow (10/7)! Discover how 600+ SoCal drinking water systems stack up on safety, cost & access at our webinar and demo on #UCLA’s new Water Atlas.

Register: ucla.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #UCLALuskin @gregspierce.bsky.social @edithdeguzman.bsky.social @laurendunlap.bsky.social @ucanr.edu

Reposted by Greg Pierce

Miranda Willson @mirandawrites.bsky.social · 3d

Will allowing coal plants to continue with outdated water pollution controls actually save Americans' money, as the Trump administration has said? Maybe not, according to the agency's own cost-benefit analysis.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...

E&E News: Why Trump’s bid to save coal might raise your water bill

EPA says delaying wastewater curbs at coal plants will lower electricity prices, but it could spur higher costs for cleaning up drinking water.

subscriber.politicopro.com

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 3d

Full collab w/ @ucanrwater.bsky.social y.social, @luskininnovation.bsky.social, @uclasustainablela.bsky.social

Full report + out by end of the year.

See the broader work below.

sustainablela.ucla.edu/research-and...

Water Supply + Wildfire Research and Policy Coordination Network

In spring 2025, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and UC ANR California Institute for Water Resources announced a partnership through which they would host a series of four workshops as part of a wate...

sustainablela.ucla.edu

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 3d

Here's a blog with @fkearns.bsky.social @edithdeguzman.bsky.social and others on a topic that remains top of mind:

"Water Systems and Wildfire: Understanding Capacities and Limitations"

Summarizing our Aug 18 workshop w/ 35 external participants.

ucanr.edu/blog/conflue...

Water Systems and Wildfire: Understanding Capacities and Limitations | UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Image

ucanr.edu

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Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 4d

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Before and after images show glaciers vanishing before our eyes

They are melting like never seen before, changing landscapes around the world beyond recognition.

www.bbc.com

Reposted by Greg Pierce

UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation @luskininnovation.bsky.social · 6d

Our #UCLA grad students identified water system vulnerabilities after the Jan 2025 wildfires. Advised by @gregspierce.bsky.social & @edithdeguzman.bsky.social, they provided solutions in their capstone report, advancing water security as a human right.

luskin.ucla.edu/ucla-student... #UCLALuskin

UCLA Student Research Drives Water Resilience and Equitable Solutions in Post-Fire Los Angeles

A team of UCLA master’s students in urban and regional planning (MURP) has produced an extensive report offering real-world strategies to strengthen water security.

luskin.ucla.edu

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

Joshua Basseches @joshuabasseches.bsky.social · 5d

For literally decades, the political right accused the political left of subsidizing new industries that offered a product that was valuable: power production without atmospheric pollution. Now, they're literally subsidizing the opposite, with your money:
www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-bea...

DOE announces $625M for ‘beautiful, clean coal’ and gas

The U.S. Department of Energy did not immediately respond to questions about the structure of the funding, including whether it would be made available as loans or grants.

www.utilitydive.com

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Reposted by Greg Pierce

Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 6d

Had a chance to visit the Paris "sewer museum" - Musée des Egouts de Paris - last week. Wish more places had them. It's literally a curated walk through part of the sewer system, smells included, and does a great job explaining cholera as a driving force in building and what it takes to maintain.

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 9d

This is a really critical piece by jgolden08.bsky.social about historical context of clean water in the U.S. and how it too is in danger.

Nobody wants to talk about sewage systems until it’s too late, but we’d better have a chat pretty soon.

Urgent—Clean Water is Key to Protecting Public Health

Janet Golden

jackiewolf1.substack.com

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