Greg Pierce
@gregspierce.bsky.social
UCLA: Human Right to Water Solutions Lab, Luskin Center, Department of Urban Planning, Water Resources Group
Pinned
Greg Pierce
@gregspierce.bsky.social
· Mar 5
Out now! A Comment in Nature Water discusses major implications for water supply after the Los Angeles Fires
@gregspierce.bsky.social l @edithdeguzman.bsky.social @mullinmeg.bsky.social
👇
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
@gregspierce.bsky.social l @edithdeguzman.bsky.social @mullinmeg.bsky.social
👇
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Redefining expectations for urban water supply systems to fight wildfires - Nature Water
Three major implications stemming from the water supply narratives around the Los Angeles fires have emerged: the need for greater infrastructure resilience, considering the uneven costs of new expect...
www.nature.com
Our Nature Water comment “Redefining expectations for urban water supply systems to fight wildfire” is out ⬇️.
I started working on this w/ @edithdeguzman.bsky.social and @mullinmeg.bsky.social 10 days after the fires started.
We lay out 3 major implications from the fires for water supply systems
I started working on this w/ @edithdeguzman.bsky.social and @mullinmeg.bsky.social 10 days after the fires started.
We lay out 3 major implications from the fires for water supply systems
Reposted by Greg Pierce
Countries that do not use Fritos as currency could be "left behind," says Frito-Lay CEO Ken Biddleman
February 18, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Countries that do not use Fritos as currency could be "left behind," says Frito-Lay CEO Ken Biddleman
Reposted by Greg Pierce
Public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) have begun in the rural Texas panhandle. The strongest winds will kick in by early afternoon as cirrus continue to thin out.
February 17, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) have begun in the rural Texas panhandle. The strongest winds will kick in by early afternoon as cirrus continue to thin out.
Had me at "Hey dumb question for you"
February 17, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Had me at "Hey dumb question for you"
Hey look the federal government is backing what I have come to call "hands down, the worst idea in Southern California water", which is quite a distinction.
This seemed inevitable, but still:
cadizinc.com/cadiz-mojave...
This seemed inevitable, but still:
cadizinc.com/cadiz-mojave...
Cadiz Mojave Groundwater Bank Northern Pipeline Project Selected to Submit Application for $194 Million WIFIA Loan
Cadiz, CALIFORNIA (02.17.26) — Cadiz, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDZI / CDZIP, the “Company”) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has selected the Mojave Groundwater Bank – Northe...
cadizinc.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Hey look the federal government is backing what I have come to call "hands down, the worst idea in Southern California water", which is quite a distinction.
This seemed inevitable, but still:
cadizinc.com/cadiz-mojave...
This seemed inevitable, but still:
cadizinc.com/cadiz-mojave...
“The mean per capita consumption of water in Europe is 120 litres per person per day, but in some areas of Cyprus, being that much hotter, we have mean per capita consumption of 500 litres per day”
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Cyprus appeals to residents to cut water use by two minutes a day amid drought
Island’s reservoirs hit record lows even before tourist season starts as Cypriots are warned ‘every drop counts’
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 3:34 PM
“The mean per capita consumption of water in Europe is 120 litres per person per day, but in some areas of Cyprus, being that much hotter, we have mean per capita consumption of 500 litres per day”
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Reposted by Greg Pierce
Trump is shrinking the EPA more quickly & aggressively than ever before, culminating in this week's move to rescind the crucial "endangerment finding" underpinning key regulations of planet-warming pollution.
Here's what it all means (a gift link @bloomberg.com): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here's what it all means (a gift link @bloomberg.com): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Trump's EPA Rollbacks Will Reverberate for 'Decades'
The agency’s planned repeal of a cornerstone of US climate rules is part of an aggressive deregulatory agenda whose effects on the environment will outlast the president.
www.bloomberg.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Trump is shrinking the EPA more quickly & aggressively than ever before, culminating in this week's move to rescind the crucial "endangerment finding" underpinning key regulations of planet-warming pollution.
Here's what it all means (a gift link @bloomberg.com): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here's what it all means (a gift link @bloomberg.com): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Greg Pierce
Want to know how many disaster declarations are being made under the 2nd Trump Administration, and how long they are taking? I made a simple dashboard to help: andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/a-dashboar...
A dashboard for tracking FEMA major disaster declarations
My last post described how presidential disaster declarations are an important indicator of how the 2nd Trump Administration intends to govern disasters.
andrewrumbach.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Want to know how many disaster declarations are being made under the 2nd Trump Administration, and how long they are taking? I made a simple dashboard to help: andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/a-dashboar...
Reposted by Greg Pierce
Babe, wake up, new sarcastic but entirely worthwhile internet abbreviation just dropped
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Babe, wake up, new sarcastic but entirely worthwhile internet abbreviation just dropped
Reposted by Greg Pierce
A look back at what we discussed at our water- fire – finance workshop a few weeks ago, and what you’ll see in our full report in a few months
ucanr.edu/blog/conflue...
ucanr.edu/blog/conflue...
Water, Fire, and Finance: Investigating How To Pay for Resilient Water Supply Systems in the Face of Changing Fire Risks | The Confluence
Image
ucanr.edu
February 11, 2026 at 4:56 PM
A look back at what we discussed at our water- fire – finance workshop a few weeks ago, and what you’ll see in our full report in a few months
ucanr.edu/blog/conflue...
ucanr.edu/blog/conflue...
Reposted by Greg Pierce
A record snow drought with unprecedented heat is hitting most of the American West, depleting future water supplies, making it more vulnerable to wildfires and hurting winter tourism and recreation. #cawater apnews.com/article/west...
Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for a spring of water shortages and wildfires
Except for California, most Western states are experiencing the worst snow drought in decades not because of dry conditions but really warm temperatures that change snow to rain.
apnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:35 PM
A record snow drought with unprecedented heat is hitting most of the American West, depleting future water supplies, making it more vulnerable to wildfires and hurting winter tourism and recreation. #cawater apnews.com/article/west...
Reposted by Greg Pierce
New water pipelines run at least >$1m per mile, so…what’s not to like?
The largest desal plant in the world, in Saudi Arabia, reportedly cost about $7 billion to construct, and uses enough to power each day to power tens of thousands of homes.
You’d need about 20 of those, a lot of energy, and extensive pumping and piping infrastructure to move the water to around.
You’d need about 20 of those, a lot of energy, and extensive pumping and piping infrastructure to move the water to around.
One group is now proposing “Abundance” on the Colorado River by building a “coordinated suite of desalination plants.”
“At some point, doesn’t it seem just a little bit easier, and a hell of a lot less expensive, to live within our means?” @landdesk.bsky.social
www.landdesk.org/p/abundance-...
“At some point, doesn’t it seem just a little bit easier, and a hell of a lot less expensive, to live within our means?” @landdesk.bsky.social
www.landdesk.org/p/abundance-...
February 6, 2026 at 5:27 PM
New water pipelines run at least >$1m per mile, so…what’s not to like?
Reposted by Greg Pierce
Read the latest Weather Ready research for insights on developing more holistic, multi-hazard interventions and educational campaigns for wildfire preparedness and response: bit.ly/3NPtIcO
February 4, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Read the latest Weather Ready research for insights on developing more holistic, multi-hazard interventions and educational campaigns for wildfire preparedness and response: bit.ly/3NPtIcO
This is one of the most wild stories in CA (Western) water.
Not unlike Buckeye, AZ, you have a utility, albeit a very unconventional one (Union Pacific Railroad), saying it will stop serving a certain community, with no viable alternative emerging.
Not unlike Buckeye, AZ, you have a utility, albeit a very unconventional one (Union Pacific Railroad), saying it will stop serving a certain community, with no viable alternative emerging.
Keene residents are facing the possibility of water bills skyrocketing as the Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary that operates their water system seeks dramatic rate increases or permission to abandon service entirely. #cawater www.turnto23.com/news/in-your...
Keene residents face $800 monthly water bill increase as railroad seeks a rate hike or service exit
Keene residents are facing the possibility of water bills skyrocketing as their water system seeks dramatic rate increases or permission to abandon service entirely.
www.turnto23.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:43 PM
This is one of the most wild stories in CA (Western) water.
Not unlike Buckeye, AZ, you have a utility, albeit a very unconventional one (Union Pacific Railroad), saying it will stop serving a certain community, with no viable alternative emerging.
Not unlike Buckeye, AZ, you have a utility, albeit a very unconventional one (Union Pacific Railroad), saying it will stop serving a certain community, with no viable alternative emerging.
Reposted by Greg Pierce
The Southwest Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) held its first meeting in six months and covered a lot of ground including setting a policy to fine landowners $1,000 a day for not registering their wells and vowing to sue a neighboring GSA. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/02/04/s...
SJV WATER: Kings County groundwater agency threatens to fine landowners $1,000 a day and shut off wells if they don’t register and report extractions
By Monserrat Solis, SJV Water The Southwest Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) held its first meeting in six months and covered a lot of ground including setting a policy to fine landowners...
mavensnotebook.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:35 PM
The Southwest Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) held its first meeting in six months and covered a lot of ground including setting a policy to fine landowners $1,000 a day for not registering their wells and vowing to sue a neighboring GSA. #cawater mavensnotebook.com/2026/02/04/s...
Reposted by Greg Pierce
(LA taxpayers will be on the hook for the first $270 million in cost overruns if the LA 2028 Olympics goes over budget.
CA taxpayers will then be on the hook for the next $270 million.
After that, LA taxpayers will again be on the hook for any remaining cost overruns.)
CA taxpayers will then be on the hook for the next $270 million.
After that, LA taxpayers will again be on the hook for any remaining cost overruns.)
February 4, 2026 at 2:05 AM
(LA taxpayers will be on the hook for the first $270 million in cost overruns if the LA 2028 Olympics goes over budget.
CA taxpayers will then be on the hook for the next $270 million.
After that, LA taxpayers will again be on the hook for any remaining cost overruns.)
CA taxpayers will then be on the hook for the next $270 million.
After that, LA taxpayers will again be on the hook for any remaining cost overruns.)
Reposted by Greg Pierce
I've spent the past couple weeks combing through data from dozens of power plant sites where coal ash disposal contaminated drinking water supplies, and whenever I work on a project like this I start to feel like it's a miracle that any of us are still alive
February 3, 2026 at 6:37 PM
I've spent the past couple weeks combing through data from dozens of power plant sites where coal ash disposal contaminated drinking water supplies, and whenever I work on a project like this I start to feel like it's a miracle that any of us are still alive
Reposted by Greg Pierce
On Monday, Trump administration exempted new nuclear reactors from environmental review
www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
The Trump administration exempts new nuclear reactors from environmental review
The announcement comes just days after NPR revealed the administration had secretly rewritten safety and environmental standards.
www.npr.org
February 3, 2026 at 6:48 PM
On Monday, Trump administration exempted new nuclear reactors from environmental review
www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
I’m not sure what we’re expecting to happen when we don’t provide financial support to what are effectively small businesses w 80% fixed costs which have lost much of their customer base, and don’t have other revenue sources.
Small water companies in Altadena are struggling financially after the fire, which left costly damage and sharply cut the revenues they are collecting from customers. One utility plans a new "fire recovery fee" to stave off financial failure. www.latimes.com/environment/... @myungchun.bsky.social
Fighting to survive, an Altadena water company is charging a new 'fire recovery fee'
Small water companies in Altadena are struggling financially after the Eaton fire and are starting to charge customers more. One of the utilities is trying to stave off insolvency.
www.latimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:30 PM
I’m not sure what we’re expecting to happen when we don’t provide financial support to what are effectively small businesses w 80% fixed costs which have lost much of their customer base, and don’t have other revenue sources.
Reposted by Greg Pierce
for us Americans, that's 98°F at night and 120°F in the day
ENDLESS HELL IN AUSTRALIA
36C AT NIGHT 49C IN THE DAY
Crazy MINIMUM 35.9C Arkaroola
4th hottest night in Southern Hemisphere history
Another 49C+ day in New South Wales
RECORDS
all time
49.1 Fawlers Gap
49.0 Smithville
48.9 White Cliffs
Monthly
48.4 Ivanhoe
46.0 Forbes
36C AT NIGHT 49C IN THE DAY
Crazy MINIMUM 35.9C Arkaroola
4th hottest night in Southern Hemisphere history
Another 49C+ day in New South Wales
RECORDS
all time
49.1 Fawlers Gap
49.0 Smithville
48.9 White Cliffs
Monthly
48.4 Ivanhoe
46.0 Forbes
January 31, 2026 at 11:53 AM
for us Americans, that's 98°F at night and 120°F in the day
