Water Hub

California lawmakers have introduced SB 601, a bill that would restore state protections for wetlands and streams after a Supreme Court ruling weakened federal clean water regulations. The bill would require permits for pollution discharges and set state standards for water protections, aligning them with previous federal regulations. 🔗 Read more from Ian James in the Los Angeles Times: https://lnkd.in/eRCpBBze

For #WomensHistoryMonth, we’re celebrating #ColorOfWater member Maisah Aniqa Khan, whose work bridges water policy, regenerative agriculture, and climate funding. 🌱🌊 As SHOT Fund Partnerships Manager at the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation, she helps rural nonprofits and historically underserved farmers secure public funding for climate-smart agriculture and water solutions. Her policy expertise spans Mississippi & Missouri River protections, climate policy, and sustainable agriculture—from serving as Policy Director at the Mississippi River Network to her role in the Obama Administration’s U.S. Department of Energy. 📖 Explore her insights on water & climate policy: https://lnkd.in/eSyY_awF 💧 Looking for expert insights on climate funding, regenerative ag, or water policy? Connect with Maisah: https://lnkd.in/eq7byvG2 #WaterJustice #RegenerativeAg #ClimatePolicy #EnvironmentalPolicy

In this BridgeDetroit op-ed, Erin Kanzig examines how Detroit’s aging water infrastructure is impacting communities—and who’s paying the price. After a major rupture in February displaced 400+ homes, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) responded with rate hikes, pushing costs onto residents instead of addressing long-overdue infrastructure fixes. As Tiana Starks of WE THE PEOPLE OF DETROIT puts it: "GLWA has shifted the burden onto those least able to afford it, underscoring the urgent need for federal funding to rebuild a crumbling system that puts profits over people’s basic right to clean, safe, and affordable water." Detroit’s water crisis is about more than one break, it’s a systemic issue. Read more in BridgeDetroit: https://lnkd.in/eVGcWq7n

Billions in clean energy funding are now frozen, as the EPA pulls back grants that were set to drive solar, EV, and efficiency projects. With lawsuits looming, communities are left in limbo. More from Aman Azhar for Inside Climate News: https://lnkd.in/e2MwKvam

Colorado’s snowpack levels are a mixed bag—strong in the north but dangerously low in the south. Some basins sit at just 65% of normal levels, raising concerns for water supply across the West. Read more from Olivia Prentzel for The Colorado Sun: https://lnkd.in/e2k7wRTe

“I hate the term resilient because that stops you from grieving.” – Joy Banner, cofounder of the Descendants Project This expectation of resilience is part of what abolitionist geographer Ruth Wilson Gilmore calls organized abandonment: a pattern where governments and institutions neglect communities, forcing them to shoulder the burden of recovery on their own. Sarah Jaffe explores how resilience rhetoric masks this cycle, making it harder to demand real investment and care. Read more in The Baffler: https://lnkd.in/eQ8Tsv4s

“Depraved and mind-blowing”: Water officials knew that opening dams to meet Trump’s wishes was ill-advised. Here’s why it happened anyway: https://lnkd.in/ghcEEZSS

💧 Unpacking disinfo & building power The latest Water Cooler newsletter is here! This edition (penned by Nicole Lampe) reflects on the hopeful green shoots of grassroots organizing against a backdrop of disinformation and policy rollbacks that threaten public & environmental health. Read to learn more about how water remains a bridge builder in divided times, new polling on public concern for water, the need for culturally relevant, people-powered storytelling, and more. A huge shout out to our partners at American Rivers and River Network for their work supporting grassroots solutions, and to WE THE PEOPLE OF DETROIT & Sport for Impact's collaboration to advance the #WaterForEverybody campaign! 🔗 Give it a read and sign up to get future editions delivered to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/d6mjjKPF

The EPA is reconsidering federal #CleanWaterAct protections for wetlands. This change follows the 2023 Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision, which reduced federal oversight of wetlands, raising concerns about increased pollution, flooding, and habitat loss. Wetlands are vital. They filter pollutants, protect communities from extreme weather, and support ecosystems. As federal protections weaken, some states and local communities are stepping up to safeguard their water resources to protect clean water and increase climate preparedness. 📰 Michael Phillis for The Associated Press: https://lnkd.in/eZpVd_TG #Flooding #SackettDecision

💧 The Water Cooler newsletter returns to inboxes this Thursday! It’s where we share the latest on water news, messaging insights, media trends, and partner wins—helping communicators, advocates, and experts sharpen their skills. Don’t miss out! Sign up today to stay in the flow. 🌊➡️ https://lnkd.in/gKDcFQz8 #WaterCommunications #ClimateCommunications