California Plans Wetlands Protection Legislation After Supreme Court Ruling

In response to ongoing drought conditions, California lawmakers have introduced Assembly Bill 1572, which prohibits the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf, requiring homeowners' associations to switch to recycled water by 2029. This legislation aims to promote conservation and address the state's frequent droughts, despite concerns that it may reduce green spaces. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, Bluffton has enacted a wetlands protection ordinance following a Supreme Court decision that weakened federal safeguards, allowing local authorities to regulate development that disturbs wetlands. In Tennessee, lawmakers are considering a bill that would remove protections for isolated wetlands, which are crucial for flood management and water quality, raising environmental concerns among advocates. California is also pursuing new legislation to restore protections for its waterways in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling limiting the Clean Water Act, emphasizing the need to safeguard vital water ecosystems. Advocates argue that the rollback of federal protections poses significant risks to water quality and the environment.