Senate and House panels advanced the 2026 water projects bill last week, with drought, storage, and drinking water provisions that matter across the West.

The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled two public virtual meetings in late July 2026 covering a Cachuma contract extension and Central Valley water operations.

Across the American West, the pressure on water continues to build. Our weekly video report summarizes the issues reported over the past week.

Severe and extreme drought gripped the Colorado River Basin in July 2026, as wildfires burned across parched Colorado and dry skies offered little relief.

Lake Powell is at 24% capacity, six major wildfires burn across the basin, and post-2026 Colorado River negotiations remain deadlocked.

The EPA proposes rescinding drinking water limits for four PFAS chemicals while Congress introduces bills to ban forever chemicals from food packaging and cosmetics.