President Donald Trump's administration announced a hold on more than $11 billion of Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects across 12 states controlled by Democrats as part of an ongoing partisan battle over the U.S. government shutdown.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will pause work on what it calls low-priority projects in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Boston and Baltimore, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said on social media, adding that the projects could eventually be canceled. Read more here.
Researchers Create Primary Water Rights Map
A research team from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has produced a new thematic map that clarifies the diverse primary water rights systems across the United States. The tool distinguishes between the two main legal frameworks governing both surface water and groundwater rights, providing a resource for water managers, policymakers and landowners.
The map is expected to significantly aid in the development and evaluation of water governance strategies, especially in the context of drought adaptation and interstate management. Learn more about it here.
Washington Cities Face Water Cuts
The Washington Department of Ecology has issued unprecedented and extreme water curtailments across the Yakima River Basin due to the severity of this year's drought. With the exception of the Yakama Indian Nation's treaty-protected water supply, virtually every water user in the basin — including farmers, ranchers, irrigation ditches and various cities — received letters cutting off one of their main surface water sources.
Although most residents are not facing cuts to their indoor household drinking water, as cities rely on other sources or special state allowances, the depth of the cuts raises concerns about future residential water security if drought conditions persist.
