Suzi Kerr’s Post

"....[groundwater sustainability] needs to be about revitalizing the very visible land and communities at the heart of the state." Ann Hayden at Environmental Defense Fund – a true Western water policy expert – makes this astute and crucial point in her recent Los Angeles Times op-ed on California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) implementation ⬇ https://lnkd.in/exviC_MV Her piece is a must-read, highlighting the role of the state’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program in making SGMA, California’s landmark groundwater sustainability law, successful.   In our experience, multi-pronged, multi-benefit strategies are vital to working effectively on the ground in California’s Central Valley to support sustainable agriculture and water management. And we see an important role for private capital to play in this process, by bringing needed financial resources and the ability to move quickly and creatively to support farmers and water managers in America’s leading agricultural state.   #SustainableInvesting #WaterResiliency #WaterResilientCA #SustainableAgriculture 

Our food systems increasingly rely on groundwater, a resource that is both invisible and rapidly declining. While the long road to groundwater sustainability is difficult, reducing our irrigated footprint can positively transform landscapes and rural communities. Initiatives like California’s land repurposing program highlight the potential for repurposed farmland to benefit people and ecosystems alike. As EDF’s Ann Hayden says, “we need to embrace what this means not just for our relationship with all the water we can’t see, but also for the beautiful, potent land we have the privilege to live with every day.” https://lnkd.in/gCxnUn59

Ten years ago, California made a major commitment to long-term water resilience. I had the privilege of reflecting on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act’s unfolding impact in an op-ed in today’s LA Times. Will this monumental effort pay off? Spoiler Alert: There’s reason for optimism. Particularly if we focus on opportunities for collaboration and the growing momentum around strategies — like land repurposing — to minimize impacts. SGMA isn’t just about managing invisible water; it’s about revitalizing the very visible land and communities that depend on it. And it can be a model for what's possible in other places facing similar challenges globally.

Over 300 river basins and lakes around the world cross national borders. Countries that share these water sources must build a cooperative relationship to ensure peace, water security, economic development, and environmental preservation. However, the United Nations noted that in 2022, around 60% of transboundary river basins lack cooperative arrangements. Meanwhile, the existing treaties were considered weak in implementation. The IUCN has worked to strengthen water governance through the BRIDGE initiative. What is water governance, and how does the BRIDGE initiative support it? Read the full article through the link below: https://lnkd.in/gPwkNDtF #greennetworkasia #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment #SDGs2030 #Water #River #TransboundaryWaterGovernance #IUCN #BRIDGE

As our climate changes and our state’s water system changes with it, sustainably managing our groundwater aquifers for community drinking water, agriculture, and ecosystems will only become more vital. Up-to-date groundwater legislation is vital for pursuing a sustainable groundwater future! Learn more about how we engage policy in today's National Groundwater Awareness Week blog! #ngaw #recharge #groundwater

In recognition of World Rainforest Day, June 22, the Cloudburst Group’s Environmental Review team is debuting a series of tips that will explore common issues, suggested actions, and other environmental compliance and review-related issues. We begin this series with the definition of environmental compliance and its importance to mitigating negative impacts to the environment. Environmental compliance is the practice of following environmental laws, regulations, restrictions, and requirements to minimize impacts of construction on the surrounding ecosystem, local community, and wildlife. Environmental regulations can push developers beyond compliance and into innovative practices and sustainable resourcing to further combat pressing environmental issues such as pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, and vulnerability to disasters.   Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969, which requires Federal agencies to assess the significant environmental consequences of their proposed actions and to inform the public of their decisions. The Office of Environment and Energy (OEE) ensures that environmental compliance under NEPA is advanced and sustained within projects and programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), by managing HUD’s environmental review process.   An environmental review is the process of determining whether a project complies with NEPA as well as state and local government regulations. All HUD-assisted projects are required to undergo an environmental review to evaluate and mitigate their potential environmental impacts before funds, regardless of source, are committed. You can learn more about the various levels and extent of environmental review here. Cloudburst’s Environmental Review Team works with our clients to facilitate the environmental review process once their projects receive HUD funding. Our mission is to achieve sustainable environmental development through accessible environmental review training, ensuring a thorough analysis of the physical, biological, and social impacts of clients’ projects. Our efforts also ensure that indigenous, vulnerable, and marginalized communities are prioritized in the face of construction and development impact as well as climate and disaster resilience, response, and recovery. Image: Adobe Stock / © Galyna Andrushko #worldrainforestday #sustainability #environmentalcompliance #climateresilience #environmentalreview Additional Resources: HUD Environmental Justice: https://lnkd.in/dCU8wQ9M HUD Environmental Assessment Guide https://lnkd.in/dHCe3iXK Environment and Climate Resilience: https://lnkd.in/d4NQ7MsX

🌍 Announcing the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Environmental Justice Clearinghouse! On April 21, 2023, President Biden’s Executive Order 14906 (https://lnkd.in/gS-XSPGr) established the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse, which is now accessible to all. This resource hub is designed to empower communities and stakeholders by providing a wealth of information and materials related to environmental justice efforts. 🔗 What You’ll Find in the EJ Clearinghouse: The EJ Clearinghouse offers a comprehensive collection of culturally and linguistically appropriate resources. These include research materials, policy updates, best practices, and actionable tools, all aimed at supporting environmental justice advocates and practitioners. Accessible Information: Resources are tailored to be accessible and useful to a diverse range of communities and stakeholders. Community Empowerment: Materials are designed to equip communities with the tools they need to advocate for and achieve environmental justice. 🤝 Contribute and Collaborate: Share Your Resources: Help enrich the Clearinghouse by submitting your own materials that could benefit others. Submit your resources through the EJ Clearinghouse submission form: https://lnkd.in/g2n4_Fh3

Two $200K grant applications for environmental assessments of the Brunswick Factory and Westside Cleaners are being given. "The $200,000 environmental assessment of the property is the next step and will include seeking hazardous materials, emerging contaminants, potential releases due to current operations, a building renovation feasibility study, wetlands and flood plain studies, and an environmental land use restriction analysis." These are two great projects to be a part of as they require so many different types of environmental work to be done. Great to see environmental advancements all across the Northeast! #environmentalremediation #environmentalsustainability

Very interesting read from our Environmental Compliance and Climate Resiliency team at Cloudburst!!!

Riverkeeper applauds Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for their dedication to our environment and clean water, as demonstrated by the passage of the 2025 state budget which includes significant wins for New York and the Hudson River. The budget not only allocates substantial funding for environmental initiatives but also supports policy victories crucial for the protection of New York’s natural resources. However, we are disappointed that NY HEAT was not included in the final budget and urge all parties to pass this significant climate legislation by the end of the session. Key highlights of the budget include: - $500 Million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act: This allocation will aid communities statewide in upgrading their aging water infrastructure, bringing the total investment in New York’s water infrastructure to $5.5 billion since the program’s inception in 2017. These funds are especially important in light of recent EPA drinking water quality standards for 6 PFAS related chemicals, which will require costly upgrades to drinking water treatment plants across New York State. - $400 Million for the Environmental Protection Fund: This funding will bolster various environmental programs, encompassing water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, fisheries research, and pollution prevention efforts. - Restoration of $7.5 Million for the Hudson River Estuary Program: This ensures that critical Hudson River programs can continue unimpeded, furthering efforts to preserve and enhance the ecological health of the Hudson River Estuary. - $150 million for the NY SWIMs initiative is a step in the right direction to ensure we enhance access to safe swimming in Hudson River, upgrading existing beaches and creating opportunities for new beaches. Jeremy Cherson, Senior Manager of Government Affairs for Riverkeeper, echoed the sentiment, stating, “Riverkeeper celebrates the policy and funding triumphs in the New York State budget, including $500 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act and $400 million for the Environmental Protection Fund. These investments will bolster New York’s climate resilience, habitat restoration efforts, and community engagement with waterfronts. We extend thanks to Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, Assemblymember Glick, and Senator Harckham for their unwavering dedication to clean water and environmental stewardship. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with state leaders to advance additional climate, clean water, and environmental legislation in the coming weeks.” https://lnkd.in/eUuCMzJ9