• In today’s Aquafornia scroll:
• States lose federal water funds as lawmakers redirect money to pet projects, The Washington Post
• Why California lakes, reservoirs are nearly full after years of drought, The Washington Post
• How US-Mexico collaboration could help stabilize the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin, The Hill
• Click here to read all of today’s water news from California and across the West

Water Word of the Week: Fire is a natural part of the landscape in California and much of the West. However, recent environmental changes – including fire suppression and global warming - have increased the intensity, frequency and size of wildfires. Researchers recently found that wildfire risk and intensity is increasing at higher elevations. This impacts not just people and wildlife but water resources – especially the forested watersheds where our major rivers begin. So we’re making Watershed our Water Word of the Week. To learn more about California water, visit Aquapedia, our water encyclopedia.

What’s on Tap This Week: On Tuesday and Thursday, the California Water Commission will discuss planning ahead for drought. The Delta Stewardship Council meets on Thursday and Friday. Be sure to check out our calendar for the latest information on events by the Foundation and other groups.

Fall Water Tours: Our one-time-only Eastern Sierra Tour September 12-15 is filling up fast! Reserve your seat now for the 3-day, 3-night tour that journeys from the Truckee River to Mono Lake and on through the Owens Valley and Mojave Desert.

Registration is also open for our popular Northern California Tour Oct. 18-20. This 3-day, 2-night excursion across the Sacramento Valley features stops at Lake Oroville, Shasta Lake, rice farms, a national wildlife refuge and more. 

Water Resource of the Week: Climate change is expected to amplify wildfire threats to California’s already vulnerable headwater forests. Learn more about how the state is planning to mitigate wildfires and other climate hazards in our Layperson’s Guide to Climate Change and Water Resources.

Western Water, our flagship publication produced by Foundation journalists, is available online. Check out our latest articles: 

• High-Tech mapping of Central Valley’s underground blazes path to drought resilience
• Upper Colorado River states add muscle as decisions loom on the shrinking river’s future
• Testing at the source: California readies a groundbreaking hunt to check for microplastics in drinking water

To get the latest updates on Foundation tours, conferences and publications, including Western Water, sign up here for announcements.

Aquafornia is a news aggregation compiled each weekday and published by the Water Education Foundation.