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Highlights
USGS/Landsat Webinar: On October 15, WSWC hosted USGS’s National Land Imaging Program to discuss Landsat’s status and future. The FY27 budget request would replace the three-satellite Landsat Next with a single Landsat 10, expected around 2031, paired with a shift toward commercial data, and Congress has not settled the question.
EPA/Army Corps WOTUS SNPRM Comments: WSWC submitted comments on the supplemental proposal to redefine “Waters of the United States.” The letter reaffirms its earlier comments and argues that a one-size-fits-all national approach ignores the West’s hydrologic and legal differences, calling for regional flexibility and a larger role for states as co-regulators.
Senate ENR/Western Water Bills: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard western water, hydropower, and aquifer-mapping bills on September 16. On September 30 it advanced a 16-bill package, including the TAAP reauthorization, despite DOI’s objection.
California, Nevada, Texas/Data Centers: In September, the governors of all three states acted to increase data center transparency and protect local grids and water supplies. California enacted reporting laws, Nevada issued an executive order, and Texas ordered enforcement of water use reporting.
California/Delta Levees: Governor Newsom vetoed SB 872, which would have provided $150 million a year each for Delta levee and State Water Project canal repairs. Supporters criticized the veto, while Newsom pointed to existing budget allocations.
Fifth Circuit/Methylene Chloride/TSCA: On September 15, the Fifth Circuit vacated and remanded EPA’s methylene chloride risk management rule under TSCA, finding legal errors and insufficient evidence. The court denied the Sierra Club’s petition, holding that EPA need not evaluate every water exposure pathway.
Webinars and Meetings
October 21 · Webinar
DOE Industrial Water Reuse Webinar Series: Where Do I Fall in Water Use? Leveraging DOE Tools to Quantify Plant Water Use
DOE continues its Industrial Water Reuse Webinar Series with a demonstration of its Plant Water Profiler.
October 21–23 · Meeting
WSWC Fall (211th) Meetings
Hilton Garden Inn, Las Cruces, New Mexico
The Western States Water Council holds its Fall (211th) Meetings.
October 23 · Registration deadline
2026 OpenET Applications Conference
Conference: November 17–18, Salt Lake City, Utah
Agencies, researchers, and water users will share how satellite-based evapotranspiration data is applied to water rights administration, consumptive use accounting, groundwater management, and drought and conservation programs.
October 26 · Webinar
Cybersecurity Awareness Month Webinar
Hosted by ASDWA and the Cyber Readiness Institute
The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and the Cyber Readiness Institute host a webinar showcasing the free Cyber Readiness Program for Water Utilities.
October 29 · Webinar
WestFAST Webinar: Overview of Selected Federal Funding Programs Available to States
Representatives from Reclamation, BLM, the Forest Service, FEMA, and others will give high-level overviews of authorized funding programs of interest to state water agencies, including eligible activities, typical application timelines, and more.