You are now in California and the U.S. category.

Sustainable use of groundwater matters

/in /by /Sierra Vista Heraldby Robert Weissler

Is it possible to plan new housing that makes sustainable use of groundwater? Why should we care? One word: California. The members of the Friends of the San Pedro River have concerns that, without our own groundwater use being sustainable, we will follow in California’s footsteps.

While California has historically suffered intermittent water shortages, the past five years of drought have resulted in drying rivers and aquifers, as groundwater was pumped to compensate for the shortfall in the snowpack and surface water.

Full Story

Wind, not Water, to Blame for Drought, Says Study

/in /by /Water Deeply (New York)by Tara Lohan

Since California’s most recent drought began more than four years ago, scientific studies have been helping us better understand the causes and implications. We know now that a lack of precipitation has largely been caused by a very stubborn high-pressure system sitting off the West coast – dubbed at one time the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge. We’ve also learned that high-pressure systems like this may be the kind of thing we’ll see more of with climate change. A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters helps increase our understanding of the relationship between drought and the water cycle.

Full Story

Suit Challenges Delta Pumping Restrictions

/in /by /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan Sabalow

In a failed effort to protect endangered fish, the federal government decided without proper study to default to restricting the giant pumps at the bottom of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

So argues a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Sacramento by a powerful consortium of water agencies. They’re hoping for a larger share of Delta water. It’s the latest salvo in a political and legal dispute over how to manage the competing demands on the fragile estuary.

Full Story

Dying of Thirst

/in /by /Okland Magazineby Alastair Bland 0

Two herons—one chalky blue, the other snowy white—lift from the reeds beside a gravel road running along the levee. On the other side, a lone mallard lands with a skid on the surface of the Santa Fe Canal, which is filled with water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. As Ric Ortega steers his white pickup along these marshy wetlands southeast of Mount Hamilton, he says the patchwork of canals, tule clusters, and grassy bogs comes alive with clouds of birds in the fall, when ducks and geese are migrating south from Canada.

Full Story

Proponents Planning a Redo of Stalled Water-Train Initiative

/in /by /Los Angeles Timesby Bettina Boxall

Backers of a controversial ballot measure intended to shift billions of dollars in state bond money from high speed rail to water storage projects say they will rewrite the stalled initiative in an effort to gain broader support.

The original proposal, despite receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from conservative and corporate agriculture interests, fell short of its money-raising goals and divided Central Valley growers. The measure has been promoted as a means of redirecting money earmarked for California’s proposed bullet train.

Full Story

California Water-Bill Fight is Percolating Again on Capitol Hill

/in /by /The Sacramento Bee

 

California water will retake the Capitol Hill stage in coming days, with compromise nowhere in sight.

Deep into a largely arid legislative season, lawmakers will again reflect on the state’s drought as early as Monday and wrangle over efforts to address it. A hearing and one or two votes in the House of Representatives whose outcomes are effectively preordained will expose the divisions that endure. “Things are on hold for the moment,” Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, said Friday, adding that “I don’t think we’re going to see a compromise” for at least several months.

 

 

Full Story

Wind, Not Water, to Blame for Drought, Says Study

/in /by /Water Deeply (New York)by Tara Lohan

Since California’s most recent drought began more than four years ago, scientific studies have been helping us better understand the causes and implications. We know now that a lack of precipitation has largely been caused by a very stubborn high-pressure system sitting off the West coast – dubbed at one time the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge. We’ve also learned that high-pressure systems like this may be the kind of thing we’ll see more of with climate change.

A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters helps increase our understanding of the relationship between drought and the water cycle.

Full Story

California water-bill fight is percolating again on Capitol Hill

/in /by /McClatchy DCby Michael Doyle

California water will retake the Capitol Hill stage in coming days, with compromise nowhere in sight.

Deep into a largely arid legislative season, lawmakers will again reflect on the state’s drought as early as Monday and wrangle over efforts to address it. A hearing and one or two votes in the House of Representatives whose outcomes are effectively preordained will expose the divisions that endure.

“Things are on hold for the moment,” Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, said Friday, adding that “I don’t think we’re going to see a compromise” for at least several months.

Full Story

DROUGHT: Experts: Why California should be stingy with water

/in /by /The Press-Enterpriseby SUZANNE HURT

Water suppliers are loosening water-use restrictions and reporting they’ll have enough water to meet demand for the next three years.

But is that a good idea in the midst of ongoing drought?

While the end of the state’s mandated water conservation targets is intended to give agencies more flexibility, some experts worry customers are being sent the message it’s no longer vital to conserve.

Water officials expect people to keep conserving after suppliers were allowed to set their own water conservation goals for the rest of 2016.

Full Story

DROUGHT: Experts: Why California should be stingy with water

/in /by /The Riverside - Press Enterpriseby SUZANNE HURT

Water suppliers are loosening water-use restrictions and reporting they’ll have enough water to meet demand for the next three years.

But is that a good idea in the midst of ongoing drought?

While the end of the state’s mandated water conservation targets is intended to give agencies more flexibility, some experts worry customers are being sent the message it’s no longer vital to conserve.

Water officials expect people to keep conserving after suppliers were allowed to set their own water conservation goals for the rest of 2016.

Full Story