Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Danielle Zoe Rivera @danielle-rivera.bsky.social · 4h

This article is an amazing reconceptualization of rural water capacities! First-authored by an awesome colleague of mine! 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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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

National Weather Service @nws.noaa.gov · 9h

An ongoing flux of moisture from the Tropical Pacific into the Southwest will foster locally heavy rainfall through early next week, brining daily flash flooding risks. Follow your local weather forecast office for specific information.

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 8h

New blog post out just before my 3pm PT YouTube livestream! Hurricane Priscilla moisture to bring big rain event to AZ/SE CA later this week, but significant NorCal rain event also possible next week (blame recurving West Pacific typhoon!). #CAwx #CAfire

Hurricane Priscilla remnants to bring widespread Southwest rain/thunderstorms (including far SoCal); more widespread precipitation possible with colder NorCal system by mid-Oct - Weather West

An very mild September across CA, but humidity & some unusual rainfall kept fire risk low September 2025 was yet another "strange" weather month along the Pacific Coast. In California, multiple episodes of precipitation (and a fair bit of thunderstorm activity) brought wetter conditions to much of the state--particularly across central and southern California. Serious,

weatherwest.com

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 5h

True: “This process is a backroom negotiation. We need to shift the governance of the Colorado River Basin back into the halls of democracy so that people can get engaged.” From @ianjames.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...

Millions rely on dwindling Colorado River — but are kept ‘in the dark’ about fixes, critics say

Negotiations aimed at solving the Colorado River's water shortage are at an impasse. Environmentalists are criticizing a lack of public information about the closed-door talks.

www.latimes.com

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 5h

Looks like a good scicomm opportunity for early career folks (one year of experience).

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 11h

Best consideration deadline, Friday Oct 10:

#SCIMaP (scienceimacts.org) seeks to hire a Research Communications and Media Outreach Specialist at U-Maryland to facilitate public engagement related to federal investment in science and health research.

umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMCP/j...

SCIMaP job opportunity - https://umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMCP/job/Research-Communications-and-Media-Outreach-Specialist_JR102577

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 7h

repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself

violent alien @blipstress.bsky.social · 7h

An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.

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

Read about it today in Wudan’s newsletter-looking forward to reading!

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Nick Mustoe @nickmustoe.bsky.social · 7h

It is raining gold on the San Juans. Probably peak color for the season as rain moves in this weekend.

Golden aspen and Engelmann spruce surround a dirt road.

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 14h

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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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Tedious Tree Syrups Connoisseur @brothercadfile.bsky.social · 1d

maybe i’m a soulless technocrat at bottom but man, so much of the foundation for human prosperity is thinking carefully about stuff like this

Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

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

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ucanr.edu

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Dr. Sandra Steingraber 🏳️‍🌈 @ssteingraber1.bsky.social · 1d

“There is no more water available” is the literal lede of the story.

Seems…bad

insideclimatenews.org/news/0610202...

As Colorado River Nears Collapse, It Faces Leadership, Transparency ‘Crisis,’ Environmentalists Warn - Inside Climate News

A new report from a coalition of environmental organizations offers recommendations on how to address the declining water supply in the river as negotiations over its future stall.

insideclimatenews.org

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you for reading and sharing - glad it was useful!

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 1d

"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 · 1d

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 Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Jason Pudlo @jasonpudlo.bsky.social · 1d

Really enjoyed this write-up about water systems and wildfire. Some great ideas for local leaders, but also, they clearly outline the process for doing a workshop like this. Pretty helpful for other scholars doing public outreach.

Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

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

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ucanr.edu

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you!

Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

Has anyone seen a solid source on actual job creation or economic growth related to data centers? We're getting better numbers in some places on resource use, but hard to find anything concrete around the argument that they are economic boons.

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Nick Cunningham @nickcunningham.bsky.social · 2d

“By 2028, an average family in the region will be paying around $70 a month extra on their electricity bills because of forecasted data center growth”

I'm once again asking why ratepayers are subsidizing AI titans?

www.eenews.net/articles/dat...

Data center boom sparks sticker shock for PJM ratepayers

New analyses show that costs passed on to utility customers to guarantee future electricity demand are rising rapidly.

www.eenews.net

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

"It is time for the Basin States and Federal Government to acknowledge there is no painless strategy...both Basins, including all seven states, must negotiate an enforceable agreement to reduce their total consumptive uses...to level equal to or less than the amount of water nature is providing."

Emily Green @chanceofrain.bsky.social · 2d

#westwater #ColoradoRiver Click on the URL to be taken to a new white paper by Eric Kuhn, Anne Castle, John Fleck, Kathryn Sorensen, Jack Schmidt, and Katherine Tara introduced by John Fleck www.inkstain.net/2025/10/the-...

For the second time in its history, the 1922 Colorado River Compact is a limiting factor in the operation of Lake Powell. But unlike the mid-70s when Article III (d) (75 maf every 10 years) limited the rate at which Lake Powell could be filled, this year, the stakes are much higher.1 The Secretary of the Interior could be faced with a choice between protecting the integrity of the power generating facilities and outlet works at Glen Canyon Dam or triggering litigation between the Upper and Lower Division States over disputed compact issues.

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Jason Mark @jasondovemark.bsky.social · 2d

Yep, this is a great article, and written by the legendary AZ journalist Tony Davis, which is reason enough to give it a read.

Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

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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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

One thing I'd love to see more of is a crossover between the water and heat beats when in comes to reporting on Arizona. This article would be even more interesting with a heat overlay -- at this point it feels impossible to talk about growth without looking at both issues simultaneously.

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

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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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

With @gregspierce.bsky.social @edithdeguzman.bsky.social and others, and institutional support via @luskininnovation.bsky.social @ucanrwater.bsky.social

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Faith Kearns, Ph.D. @fkearns.bsky.social · 2d

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

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ucanr.edu

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Jackie Schuster @jackieschuster.bsky.social · 3d

Especially important to understand moving forward in the CV as CA already has a lot of data centers and more want to move in! fresnoland.org/2025/08/26/c...

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Reposted by Faith Kearns, Ph.D.

Greg Pierce @gregspierce.bsky.social · 2d

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

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ucanr.edu

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