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This Week's News Highlights

Policy:

EPA floats changes to NEPA implementation rules

E&E by Politico (accessible), June 24, 2026

EPA has proposed what it describes as “minor changes” to its procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act, the law that requires agencies to consider the environmental actions of projects and permits.

Many of the proposal’s changes are meant to comply with laws passed in 2023 and 2025 amending NEPA amid complaints from Republicans and some Democrats that environmental reviews have been increasing the expense and time of new projects.

“Our new reforms, if finalized, would set hard deadlines, cut the red tape, and let America build more, and we’re doing it without weakening a single environmental protection,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement. “Faster, smarter, and cleaner is exactly how government should work for the American people.”

 

The future of California’s water supply

Capitol Weekly, June 25, 2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s comments at the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Conference in Sacramento provided some insight into his definition of success and the direction he believes the state should go.

Let’s hope that whoever the state’s next governor will be was listening and taking to heart the unparalleled importance water is to every Californian.

Newsom talked a lot about the projects that should provide new water supplies; the Delta Conveyance Project, Sites Reservoir and groundwater storage, all of which are important. What remains unclear is what the final cost for these new supplies will be.

The factors creating high water supply costs, especially for farmers, include aging infrastructure, environmental regulations and ESA compliance, litigation, and permitting delays, are killing good projects that would provide real water supply benefits.

 

Colorado River:

Lake Powell hits lowest summer level ever, raising risk of ‘dead pool’

USA Today, June 25, 2026 Lake Powell is currently 23.28% full, the lowest summer level on record and its first time below full since 1983. A June 15 federal projection says the lake will fall to the “minimum power pool” next spring, which would stop electricity generation at Glen Canyon Dam. If water levels drop below the power pool, the Colorado River could cease flowing through the Grand Canyon, a condition known as “dead pool.” The 2025‑26 winter was unusually dry, preventing the usual spring snowmelt that normally refills the reservoir. Federal water managers are already drawing water from upstream reservoirs in Colorado and Wyoming, and have begun partially draining reservoirs such as Wyoming’s Flaming Gorge to keep Lake Powell above the power pool.

Tribes:

Drought emergency at largest Native American reservation in the US could create ripple effect

Fox Weather, June 15, 2026
SEE ALSO, Native News Online: Navajo Nation Declares Drought Emergency as President Buu Nygren Signs Order

The Navajo National Commission on Emergency Management — the largest Native American reservation in the United States — has officially declared a State of Emergency due to severe, ongoing drought conditions. Authorities said drought conditions are impacting communities across the Navajo Nation.

“The health of our communities, livestock and natural resources depends on our ability to respond proactively to these challenging conditions,” Nygren said. “This declaration allows us to coordinate resources, strengthen drought mitigation efforts and support the families who rely on agriculture and ranching for their livelihoods.”

The declaration followed drought disaster designations issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for counties encompassing the Navajo Nation, and recent emergency actions taken by the states of Arizona and New Mexico in response to persistent drought and elevated wildfire risks.

Critical concerns include declining water availability, deteriorating livestock infrastructure, reduced stock pond capacity and increasing pressure on grazing land, according to the Navajo Nation Drought Contingency Plan.

To address these challenges, the commission recommended allocating $6.5 million from the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund for windmill repairs, livestock water storage systems and other drought mitigation projects designed to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and improve long-term resiliency.

Energy / Data Centers:

Alliance for Water Efficiency releases data center primer for water service providers

Mavens Notebook, via Alliance for Water Efficiency, June 27, 2026

The Alliance for Water Efficiency, in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, has released A Data Center Primer for Water Service Providers to help water utilities and other water practitioners engage more effectively in the planning and design of data center projects in their communities. The Primer provides both technical background and practical guidance to support early, informed involvement by local water providers.

The Primer provides information on.

  • Data center types and functions
  • Data center cooling technologies
  • How much water is used in data centers
  • How to ensure water is appropriately considered in data center development.

Data Centers and Groundwater Resources: National Ground Water Association Position Statement

JD Surpa, June 29, 2026

The National Ground Water Association (“NGWA”) issued a position statement titled:

Data Centers and Groundwater Resources (“Statement”).

NGWA stated that it launched a Data Center Task Force consisting of NGWA members to focus on developing guidance for policymakers, utilities, communities, and data center developers. The Task Force addressed ways to protect long-term water resources by focusing on:

  • Groundwater availability.
  • Transparency in water use.
  • Best practices for siting and operating data centers.

The stated concern is that the proliferation of data centers in groundwater-reliant and rural communities makes it important that water resource professionals and communities are incorporated early in the conversation.

The NGWA Statement notes by way of introduction:

… data center development must protect groundwater quality and quantity, be transparent in water and energy use, and incorporate best available technologies to minimize or eliminate consumptive water use while supporting reliable and sustainable infrastructure growth.

 

Climate:

California’s water crisis driving higher interest in desalination as a new source

ABC 7, June 21, 2026

From a fast-melting snowpack in the Sierra to over-pumped groundwater in the Central Valley and a drought on the Colorado River, California’s water supply is facing enormous pressure. Increasingly, some believe the only real alternative is to draw water from the Pacific Ocean offshore.

Former Water Manager Tim Quinn believes he and his team at OceanWell can do it safely and more affordably.

 

Only 3% of Arizona’s rain, snow ends up in our groundwater supply

Arizona Daily Star, June 21, 2026

More than 95% of all precipitation that falls in Arizona ends up evaporating into the air from soil or plants that take up the water. Only 3% of our rainfall and snowfall ever finds its way into the state’s often parched aquifers.

Those two realities form the backdrop for a new, state-financed report on groundwater recharge from researchers at the state’s three major universities. It urges public officials to step up efforts to capture precipitation and encourage it to infiltrate through sands and gravels in the ground into our groundwater supply.

The $3.7 million report concludes that carrying out even a small increase in the amount of water captured and recharged could cause significant increases in water supplies, although it didn’t specify how much of an increase.

Treatment:

Advanced water purification: Creating Arizona’s next water supply

KTAR News, June 26, 2026 

Arizona communities have spent decades showing that we can thrive in the desert by making every drop of water count. To do so, cities have invested in conservation programs, infrastructure upgrades, groundwater storage and water recycling, while residents have reduced water use. These efforts have helped Arizona communities grow while using water more efficiently than ever.

As Colorado River supplies become increasingly uncertain, conservation alone cannot solve every challenge. While continuing to conserve, communities must also develop new, dependable local water sources to replace reduced Colorado River water supplies and avoid relying solely on groundwater pumping. One of the most promising tools available today is Advanced Water Purification (AWP)