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Issue #2684
Issue #2684 Special Report
HIGHLIGHTS
On October 22, California state, federal, and regional partners celebrated the signing of an updated Water Control Manual for Coyote Valley Dam and Lake Mendocino, formally integrating Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) after more than a decade of collaboration. The update allows for more flexible storage of up to 11,650 acre-feet based on forecasts, enhancing both flood protection and drought resilience while serving as a model for future reservoir management statewide.
On October 22, Google completed construction of a $28M aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system in The Dalles, Oregon, transferring ownership and 100 million gallons of annual storage capacity to the city as part of its data center operations. The system, built on a remediated Superfund site, includes transferred water rights and supports local groundwater management as Google expands with another data center set to open in 2026.
On October 7, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon joined local officials and business leaders to break ground on a $1.2 billion water-free data center in Cheyenne. The facility will rely on high-efficiency air-cooled chillers.
On October 20, the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) presented on its use of Landsat satellite data for water management, including evapotranspiration mapping, groundwater modeling, and water rights adjudication. IDWR highlighted advancements in Landsat-based modeling, such as the METRIC system and ongoing validation projects, which improve the precision of water budgets and strengthen management of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.
On October 23, the California State Water Resources Control Board launched CalWATRS, a new online data system providing public access to 40,000 water rights records and simplifying reporting for rights holders. Replacing eWRIMS, CalWATRS adds advanced mapping tools and automated quality checks to improve data accuracy and support climate-responsive water management.
On October 23, the University of Kansas hosted the 2025 Kansas Economic Policy Conference, “Ripple Effect: Water and the Kansas Economy,” which brought together researchers, policymakers, and water managers to discuss the connection between water resources and economic sustainability. A legislative panel featuring State Representatives Sandy Pickert and Lindsay Vaughn, Senator Kenny Titus, and former Agriculture Secretary Josh Svaty explored topics including State Water Plan funding, reuse, water quality, and agency reorganization.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Newsletter Changes
The Western States Water newsletter will switch to biweekly publication. Following recent strategic directions discussions, WSWC staff have determined that publishing the newsletter every other week will allow for more robust analysis of priority topics while freeing staff time to advance other objectives. No issue will be released next Friday. The next issue (#2685) will be released on November 14, 2025.
ACWA/EPA Water Reuse For Data Centers Webinar
The Association of Clean Water Administrators and the Environmental Protection Agency will host a Water Reuse for Data Centers Webinar on December 3, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET. Presentations and discussions will include considerations for permitting, treatment and cooling technologies, as well as an audience/presenter Q&A. Participation in this event will be limited to state and federal regulators. Please reach out to Ashley Harper, harper.ashley@epa.gov, if you have any questions.
State and Federal Regulators can register for the webinar HERE.
WSWC Spring Meetings
The WSWC Spring (209th) Meetings and Washington Roundtable, jointly hosted by the Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP), will be held from April 21-24, 2026. The deadline for our room block is March 19.
WSWC/ICWP Spring (209th) Meetings and Washington Roundtable Meeting Page