California

A new survey of farmers and ranchers found they mainly trust local agencies and have not taken much advantage of state and federal payout programs.

The System Conservation Pilot Program is ready to spend additional millions from the Inflation Reduction Act to save water in the agriculture industry through 2024.

Federal officials said Tuesday they will ease water cuts for Western states reliant on the Colorado River next year. Bountiful snowfall and rain last winter pulled much of the region out of drought this spring and raised water levels at key reservoirs.

The policy, which goes into effect August 14, applies to all In-N-Out employees in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah, except for those who need to wear masks or other protective gear for job duties like working in the patty room or painting.

Farmers in California's Imperial Valley have the single largest water allocation along the Colorado River. They say they need to be compensated before taking cutbacks.

Trujillo has served as assistant secretary for water and science since 2021. She oversees the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and has been involved in talks between the federal government, seven states, Native American tribes and Mexico over how to reduce the reliance on the Colorado River.

Hamby represents the state of California in Colorado River negotiations. The 27-year-old is leaning on history and his Imperial Valley upbringing for guidance.

Colorado and Idaho represent two different poles of state-level political homogenization. Both are fast-growing Rocky Mountain states that have been transformed by the influx of new, like-minded residents.

A snowy winter and rainy spring have provided a major boost to states in the grips of drought and helped ease pressure on water managers in the Colorado River basin.

Federal land managers have fallen behind on several of their priority forests in a multi-billion dollar thinning campaign aimed at dead trees and undergrowth.

The court found that the federal government isn't responsible for securing that water for the 170,000 tribal members who live there.

States that draw water from the river — Arizona, Nevada and Colorado — and water districts in California had urged the court to decide for them, and that's what the justices did in a 5-4 ruling.