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

These Key Players Could Decide The Fate Of The Colorado River Drought Deal

/in , /by /The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)by Ian James and Dustin Gardiner

Federal Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman has drawn a line in the sand for Arizona and other Western states: Finish a deal to take less water from the Colorado River by Thursday, or the federal government will be forced to step in and decide how to prevent reservoirs from falling to critical levels. With just four days until that deadline, many pieces have yet to fall into place for Arizona to finish its part of the agreement and join California and Nevada in endorsing the Drought Contingency Plan.

Full Story

Week Will Start Off Warm But Turn Cool, Maybe Rainy

/in , /by /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary Robbins

San Diego basked in summer-like weather on Sunday as a high pressure system sent the daytime high to 77 degrees, which is 12 degrees above average. But things are about to change.

Full Story

Body Found In San Vicente Reservoir During Search For Missing Kayaker

/in , /by /10 Newsby Mark Saunders, Rina Nakano, Maureen Sheeran

A body was found by San Diego authorities in Lakeside’s San Vicente Reservoir Saturday. San Diego Fire-Rescue Marine Safety Lt. Rich Stropky said it was an Asian or Hispanic man in his 50’s.

Full Story

Western States Near Deadline For Colorado River Drought Plan

/in , /by /Associated Pressby Felicia Fonseca

Western states are watching with interest as Arizona comes up against a deadline to approve a plan to ensure a key reservoir doesn’t become unusable for the farmers, cities, tribes and developers that depend on it.

Full Story

Shasta Dam Project Sets Up Another Trump-California Showdown

/in , /by /KQED (San Francisco) by Craig Miller

The Trump administration is laying the groundwork to enlarge California’s biggest reservoir, the iconic Shasta Dam, north of Redding, by raising its height. It’s a saga that has dragged on for decades, along with the controversy surrounding it. But the latest chapter is likely to set the stage for another showdown between California and the Trump administration.

Full Story

Rounds Of Strong Winds To Blast Southern California In Final Days Of January

/in , /by /Accuweather by Kristina Pydynowski

Residents of Southern California will endure another round of winds strong enough to cause power outages and travel disruptions during the final days of January. “While there will be gusty winds that can cause sporadic issues for residents and motorists through Friday (during the late-night and morning hours), winds are expected to ramp up at the start of the weekend,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Maggie Samuhel.

Full Story

January Storms Fill Up State’s Water Reserves

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

Storms swept through California in recent weeks, drenching striking teachers and blocking roads with debris flows in recent burn areas, but they weren’t all bad: The state’s reservoirs are healthy and full, a good sign for the water supply. Nearly all California reservoirs are at or above average levels. Overall, 580 billion gallons of water were added across the state since Jan. 1. Some major water sources, such as the San Luis Reservoir in Merced County and Lake Perris in Riverside County, are near capacity.

Full Story

OPINION: Newsom Needs To Make Water Supply, Protections A Priority

/in , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby George Miller

Water issues are notoriously difficult for California governors. Just look at former Gov. Jerry Brown’s floundering tunnels proposal for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Yet two factors suggest that Gov. Gavin Newsom must make water a priority. First, California needs more climate-resistant water supplies. Climate change is making California’s weather more extreme. For the past decade, most years have brought drought or the risk of catastrophic floods. And looking forward, scientists warn that climate change will reduce the water we get from our rivers.

Full Story

San Francisco, Agricultural Interests Band Together For Water Rights Fight

/in , /by /Redding Record Searchlightby Mike Wade

“The judiciary is the safeguard of our liberty and of our property under the Constitution,” said U.S. Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes in Elimra, New York in 1907. That quote exemplifies the reason that five irrigation districts on tributaries to the San Joaquin River as well as the city of San Francisco filed lawsuits recently against the State Water Resources Control Board. They are defending their water rights. In December, ahead of the Water Board hearing, Governor Brown and Governor-elect Newsom both asked the Water Board to hold off and let the districts, the State, and the federal government finalize the voluntary agreements.

Full Story

Governor’s Budget Targets Safe Drinking Water, Wildfires, Healthy Soils

/in , /by /Public Policy Institute of California (San Francisco)by Gokce Sencan and Henry McCann

Governor Newsom’s first proposed state budget, released earlier this month, addresses several critical water and natural resource management challenges. Here are highlights from his plans to mitigate problems with safe drinking water, improve forest health and reduce the risk of wildfires, and encourage healthy soils to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase drought resilience. The governor’s budget proposal revives last year’s failed legislative proposal to tap urban water customers, agricultural fertilizer users, and dairies to pay for safe drinking water projects in small, disadvantaged communities with water quality challenges.

Full Story