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This issue of ESA Connects focuses on water, the element essential for a healthy world, but increasingly threatened by climate change. These stories explore some of the ways that ESA is meaningfully involved in positive, innovative progress to adaptively steward water resources. ESA’s efforts include the development of an industry-leading groundwater accounting platform that makes tracking water availability and usage much easier to support more sustainable groundwater management.
Jim O’Toole, ESA’s Practice Director, who has been leading environmental analysis of water and wastewater projects for more than 25 years, will take it from here.
Leslie Moulton-Post
President/CEO
We Can Be Heroes
When David Bowie and the band Queen released “Under Pressure” in 1981, little could they have known the lyrics “Pressure…pushin’ down on me, pressin’ down on you, no man ask for” might apply to the weight we collectively feel due to the changing climate.
But as climate change continues to put resource management to the test, there are a couple of bright spots in water and species resource management that can’t be denied. From a much-needed approach to conservation on the Colorado River system, to groundwater capture in California, to Florida elevating effluent discharges to their highest and best use, water managers are adapting to increasing reliability and system pressures.
And lo and behold, the Endangered Species Act has made it to 50 years, safeguarding more than 2,300 species and the ecosystems they live in. Over 50 species have seen full recovery and 99 percent have avoided extinction. Coupled with the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, these seminal legal constructs protect our ecological systems. And don’t forget NEPA, getting a Phase 2 “tune up” here in 2024. Indeed, there are a couple of bright spots in water and species resource management that can’t be denied. In this issue of ESA Connects, we provide some articles that highlight these and more.
As our natural systems are increasingly under pressure, our management of them must in turn become increasingly more sophisticated and resilient and ESA intends to do just that in collaboration with you all – our clients, partners, and industry colleagues. We can be heroes.
Stories from the field to your inbox.
The Colorado: A Lifeline Under Pressure
Following historically low water levels, states and water agencies are working to significantly reduce water use on the Colorado River through conservation programs. As these programs get underway, complex decisions are needed to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems and the well-being of millions of water users impacted downstream. See how ESA is working closely with the Bureau of Reclamation to monitor ecological impacts and support water management actions. Learn more »
Time to Recharge: Strategies for Groundwater and Stormwater Capture
With climate change and warming temperatures, drought continues to pose a significant threat in California, and capturing and storing rainwater has become a top priority for water managers. We explore two approaches California is utilizing to replenish underground aquifers, which are vital to the state's water supply management. Learn more »
Supporting Water Supply Resiliency at the Local Level
Across the Pacific Northwest, Florida, and California, ESA’s Water experts are supporting local water districts’ efforts to enhance their systems’ resilience and reliability, amidst drought, aging infrastructure, and other supply challenges to maintain safe and reliable drinking water deliveries to their communities. Learn more »
Florida's Water Future: Navigating the Shifting Tides of SB 64
Florida's SB 64 is driving a fundamental change in how wastewater is managed, from simply aiming for zero surface discharge to pursuing beneficial uses of treated and reclaimed water. We break down the legislation's significant changes affecting the disposal of wastewater, and how ESA can help managers navigate these complexities and achieve compliance. Learn more »
Groundwater Accounting Platform Offers Data-Driven Solution
Throughout much of the West, unsustainable groundwater pumping and intensifying water challenges have endangered long-term water supplies. The Groundwater Accounting Platform, developed by ESA and partners, empowers users to manage water supplies long-term, enabling them to track water availability and usage with user-friendly dashboards and workflows. Learn more »
Diving into Phase 2 NEPA Updates
Big NEPA updates this summer! Effective this July 1, the latest Phase 2 NEPA revisions aim to accelerate environmental review. We detail the significant changes and their potential impacts, and what to consider to get your project in compliance with the latest NEPA regulations. Learn more »
Current Job Opportunities
CEQA Project Manager | San Diego
Environmental Scientist and Permitting Lead | Bend, Portland, Seattle
Coastal Engineer - Mid Level | Southeast region
In Other News at ESA
Sustainable Communities Director Jeff Caton talks technology and sustainability in an interview with the Environmental Business Review.
A new frontier for NEPA aviation compliance: FAA now requiring pre-planning phase for NEPA process, in tandem with broader regulation updates.
Seattle's Lowman Beach Park Shoreline Restoration Project, designed and engineered by ESA, receives Best Restored Shore award from American Shore and Beach Preservation Association.
ESA is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore—for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years and 700+ people strong in offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.
