Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · May 1

Human wastewater contamination is so bad in Alabama homes that 1 in 3 adults in one county had hookworm. Biden funded efforts to improve sanitation there. But the effort is cancelled as "DEI".

www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/...

Trump shut down program to end human waste backing into Alabama homes, calling it 'illegal DEI'

A $26 million federal program to help residents of Lowndes County, Alabama, who have dealt with inadequate sewage systems for decades was stopped by an executive order.

www.nbcnews.com

2 120 180

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Apr 28

Big job at the Water Foundation. The starting salary for the position is $200K to $225K.

www.joshswaterjobs.com/jobs/322672/

Chief Partnerships Officer

The Water Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropy working to support lasting water solutions for communities, economies, and the environment. The Foundation complements strategic grantmaking with…

www.joshswaterjobs.com

1 3

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Apr 23

Big BlueSky welcome to the inimitable Erin Stone of @laist.com

And as an example, check out the balanced article on undergrounding considerations 🔽

erstone7.bsky.social @erstone7.bsky.social · Apr 23

We can't eliminate wildfire risk in California and that risk is only growing with climate change. So what risk are we willing to tolerate, at what cost? What other options do we have? I try to dig into those questions here: laist.com/news/climate... #undergrounding #electricity #climate #wildfire

Utilities are planning to bury power lines after the LA fires. Should they?

We take a closer look at Southern California Edison’s plans to go underground with power lines in Altadena and Malibu.

laist.com

1 1 2

UCLA Water Resources Group @uclawater.bsky.social · Apr 18

Our director @gregspierce.bsky.social sums up federal action to release water from 2 Central Valley dams as "dangerous and wasteful"

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Analysis | Trump’s ‘tiny’ fish, a ‘giant faucet’ and ‘beautiful water flow’

Trump’s whopper of a fish tale has its roots in a tour given by politically connected farmers in California’s Central Valley.

www.washingtonpost.com

1

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Apr 16

TL; DR I commented on how even the few major cities (like Bogota) not currently reliant on far-flung imported sources (or over extracting groundwater!) now have to diversify their water supplies in light of climate change

apnews.com/article/wate...

Colombia's capital ends drought-related water rationing. Its case is a warning to other cities

Colombia’s capital has always seemed immune to water scarcity, nestled among cloud-kissed Andean peaks and known for steady rainfall.

apnews.com

1 2

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Apr 9

Nice coverage in the Daily Bruin of our recent @uclawater.bsky.social seminar featuring the work of Prof Jessica Cattelino & PhD student Kelsey Kim.

dailybruin.com/2025/04/07/p...

Panelists highlight gender, class gaps in LA water conservation efforts - Daily Bruin

This post was updated April 8 11:36 p.m. Panelists from the anthropology department called for a reframing of Los Angeles’ approach to water conservation in a talk hosted by the UCLA Graduate Student ...

dailybruin.com

1 3

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Apr 8

What are the potential local water (equity) impacts of "Green Hydrogen" for Energy Transition efforts in LA/CA?

Michael Rincon (joint @psr-la.bsky.social), @laurendunlap.bsky.social & I took a look in a @luskininnovation.bsky.social exploratory report.

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/exploring-th...

Exploring the water footprint of “green” hydrogen for power generation in california | UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu

1 1 4

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Water Alternatives @waalternatives.bsky.social · Apr 2

Check out Maurits Ertsen' review of
“Liquid Empire. Water and Power in the Colonial World”,
by Correy Ross, at www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/bo...

4 5

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Apr 2

Cheers to my UCLA & @nrdc.org colleagues on this work.

Recycled water is the by far the biggest "new" water source available in the West, and despite good CA run on snowpack (see Ian's other article today) and whatever may be agreed to on existing imported supplies, is urgent.

Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · Apr 2

In a new report, UCLA researchers say California and other states should recycle more wastewater to help address the Colorado River’s chronic shortages. "Modest gains in water reuse could make an enormous difference." www.latimes.com/environment/... @uclaioes.bsky.social #CAwater

More water recycling could help fix Colorado River shortfall. California has a ways to go, report says

UCLA researchers say California and other states aren't recycling enough water. They recommend reusing much more to ease water shortages along the Colorado River.

www.latimes.com

3 10

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation @luskininnovation.bsky.social · Apr 1

The Salton Sea may finally be seeing real momentum toward restoration but @gregspierce.bsky.social cautions: lithium riches alone won’t save it. Local communities must benefit or risk being left behind. Read more in @usatoday.com: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n... #UCLA #UCLALuskin

Sink or swim time for Salton Sea? Momentum builds for pricey lake restoration

California's biggest lake has languished for decades as increased salinity, a sinking waterline and a foul smell have robbed it of past glory.

www.usatoday.com

3 6

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Apr 1

If you're at the California-Nevada Section American Water Works Association conference next week, check out the full slate of speakers we have talking about wildfire-water supply impacts.

Reflecting on experiences in LA, Wrightwood, Colorado and more.

1 2

UCLA Water Resources Group @uclawater.bsky.social · Mar 25

Important work involving UCLA's Park Williams and colleagues @uclasustainablela.bsky.social @ahewitt.bsky.social

Kevin Anchukaitis @thirstygecko.bsky.social · Mar 25

New from @dustybowl.bsky.social et al. 'Megapluvials in Southwestern North America' agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... - drought usually gets all the attention, but especially 20th century wet periods were important too

Megapluvials in Southwestern North America

Pluvials in Southwestern North America occur as often as droughts, including two 20th century megapluvials from 1905 to 1923 and 1978-1999 The 1978–1999 megapluvial was the wettest interval of th...

agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

1 2

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Peter Gleick @petergleick.bsky.social · Mar 19

Our new paper in Science on the environmental implications of the destruction of Kakhovka dam in Ukraine.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Environmental effects of the Kakhovka Dam destruction by warfare in Ukraine

The use of water as a weapon in highly industrialized areas in the Russo-Ukrainian war has resulted in catastrophic economic and environmental damages. We analyze environmental effects caused by the m...

www.science.org

1 13 41

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Mar 19

The more things change:

"The city of Live Oak [CA] hasn't raised water rates in more than 19 years. They're facing a water fund deficit of $3.5 million.

Proposing to ⬆️ rates by an initial 60% through 2026, 60% more over next 2 years, and by 10% 2 years after that."

www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/n...

Live Oak proposing 60% water rate hike to fund $3.5M deficit

The city of Live Oak is proposing a 60 percent water rate hike to tackle a $3.5 million water fund deficit.

www.cbsnews.com

1

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Mar 18

Check out @pacificinstitute.bsky.social's 3rd and final report in its series on small water system equity and resilience to climate change.

I was able to provide a depressing quote about how urgent this is yet we're unlikely at best to see progress the next few years.

apnews.com/article/wast...

Report highlights how communities hardest hit by climate change can build resilient water systems

A new report identifies ways to create resilient water and wastewater systems in communities hardest hit by climate change.

apnews.com

1 4 8

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

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

1 9 26

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Feb 27

The FAQ aims to provide clear, accurate answers to the 19 most common questions we heard from the public, media, and policymakers about fire hydrants, firefighting, water infrastructure, and more.

Available in English and Spanish, and w 2 pager-versions.

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/water/local-...

¿Los sistemas de agua urbana pueden apagar incendios forestales? | UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

innovation.luskin.ucla.edu

1 4 3

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · Feb 28

Are urban water systems able to put out wildfires? A question @gregspierce.bsky.social and I got A LOT during the recent LA fires. This set of FAQs is our attempt to answer that and many other questions related to water supply infrastructure and wildfire innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/u...

Do Urban Water Supply Systems Put Out Wildfires?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY DID WE WRITE THIS GUIDE?
The January 2025 wildfires devastated Los Angeles,
claiming lives, homes, jobs, and whole communities. As
the fires raged, discussions erupted across social and
mainstream media, questioning whether water supply
systems could have been more prepared to fight the fires.
This FAQ provides clear, accurate answers to the most
common questions we heard from the public, media,
and policymakers about fire hydrants, firefighting, water
infrastructure, and more. Our goal is to offer a better
understanding of how water systems work, address
common concerns, and provide useful information that
can help communities stay informed and prepared, and
advocate for change. We seek to answer these questions
in ongoing research, as they have not been well studied
and explained in clear language. Feel free to contact us
with additional questions that we can help answer. UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute.

2 16 38

UCLA Water Resources Group @uclawater.bsky.social · Feb 25

Our director @gregspierce.bsky.social lends insight to @ericholthaus.com's story on the near term future of Colorado River management

Eric Holthaus @ericholthaus.com · Feb 25

Trump's early actions – like purging the government of federal employees working on climate – have given pause to those who study the Colorado River, a lifeline for 40 million people throughout the desert Southwest.

“We are near a tipping point"

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

California faces worsening drought despite recent heavy rainstorms

Dry pattern seen among entire ‘lower basin’ of the Colorado River, including Arizona and desert cities such as Las Vegas

www.theguardian.com

3 7

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Feb 19

If you're in the LA area on March 4, check out our @uclawater.bsky.social seminar featuring Professor Jessica Cattelino and doctoral candidate Kelsey Kim at 12 pm.

"Gender and Los Angeles Residential Water: Use, Knowledge, and Justice in Water Conservation"

Lunch provided. RSVP below.

1 1 5

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · Feb 14

After the fires, the mud

#climate breakdown in action

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Southern California roads submerged in sludge as heavy rains batter region

Parts of Los Angeles devastated by wildfires at risk of rock and mudslides as evacuation orders issued in Sierra Madre

www.theguardian.com

1 7 22

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · Feb 5

Urban #wildfires impact water, soil, and #wildlife. @uofcalifornia.bsky.social experts offer tips on testing drinking water and rehabilitating gardens.
bit.ly/4hGZXo3

3 7

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

UC Water Institute @ucanrwater.bsky.social · Feb 12

Join us for the next @ucanr.bsky.social Water Webinar series talk on Feb. 24, '25 at 12PM, with @edithdeguzman.bsky.social and @gregspierce.bsky.social: "Water Supply and the Los Angeles Fires: Emerging Lessons and Implications".

Zoom links: tinyurl.com/anrwaterwebi... and at tinyurl.com/yuccgenm

7 5

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · Feb 13

Seems important and promising precedent. And sort of obvious when you find that:

"The tax information from 1998 through 2015 showed non-agricultural customers paid 17 times more in taxes for the infrastructure than agricultural customers. "

somachlaw.com/policy-alert...

California Court of Appeal Holds that a Water District’s Surcharge to Cover Water Infrastructure Construction Costs Violates Proposition 218

somachlaw.com

2 1 1

Reposted by UCLA Water Resources Group

UCLA Environment @uclaioes.bsky.social · Feb 11

UCLA IoES Professor Travis Longcore joined #ABC7 News to discuss how North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and what’s driving the crisis. “We know how to fix it if we have the will to do it.”

Full segment: ucla.in/4hDIqxp

4 12