Watershed Health & Allocation

Stanford researchers collaborate through Water in the West to find a balance between the water needs of cities and agricultural interests and those of wildlife and the outdoor recreation sector.

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What's New

September 06, 2022

The San Joaquin Valley Cooperative Action Project, a broad-based coalition representing diverse groups of water users, seeks to change how the valley uses water.

August 18, 2022

Felicia Marcus discusses how states can utilize nature-based solutions to help meet climate targets and water objectives while enjoying multiple other benefits.

In Focus

The coming months in the Colorado River basin

The Colorado River basin supplies water to over 40 million people and five million acres of farmland across two countries, seven U.S. states, and up to 30 federally recognized Native American Tribes. Since 2000, consumptive uses and losses of the basin’s water have regularly exceeded natural flows, and levels of Lakes Mead and Powell, the largest surface water reservoirs in the U.S., are at historic lows. Consequently, the U.S. government is taking and considering unprecedented steps to reduce water use. Stanford experts from Water in the West created a resource for the water sector, policymakers, and journalists on what to expect in the coming months.

In the Media

November 30, 2022
grist

Visiting scholar Felicia Marcus discusses the challenges associated with enforcing water regulations in the West.

September 01, 2022
Water in the West

Water in the West Director Barton "Buzz" Thompson discusses the implications of California's ongoing drought in a 60-minute CBS News special report.

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