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California Lacks the Capacity to Store Water That Atmospheric Rivers Dump on the State

/in , /by /Cal Mattersby Dan Walters

President Donald Trump is obsessed with how California manages its water supply, demanding changes as one price of giving the state billions of dollars in aid to cope with Southern California’s deadly and destructive wildfires. However, Trump’s specific complaints are not grounded in hydrologic or managerial reality — such as his insistence that a lack of water from Northern California was a factor in either the fires’ eruption or the firefighting efforts. Hydrants dried up largely because systems were designed to deal with individual structure fires, not widespread wildfires involving thousands of buildings.

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Southern California’s Wild Winter Continues With Record-Threatening Heat, Then a Chance of Rain

/in , /by /LA Timesby Grace Toohey and Joseph Serna

Southern California’s recent unusually warm temperatures are expected to ramp up over the next couple of days, peaking by midweek, when some areas will see highs reach into the low 90s. “There’s a possibility that a few locations could hit their daily record — or possibly exceed it,” said Paul Steward, a National Weather Service meteorologist in San Diego. He said a widespread ridge of high pressure will continue to strengthen through Wednesday, which is expected to be the region’s warmest day.

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Utah Close to Fully Banning Fluoride in Water, Stripping Cities’ Ability to Decide

/in , /by /KSL News Radioby Kenya Hunter

Utah appears to be the first state ready to put a full ban on fluoride in public water systems under a bill that doesn’t allow cities or communities to decide whether to add the cavity-preventing mineral.

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Even in Wet Years, Wells Are Still Dry. Why Replenishing California’s Groundwater is Painfully Slow

/in , /by /Cal Mattersby Alastair Bland

After abundant rain and moderate snowfall this year in the northern half of the state, California’s largest reservoirs are holding more than 120% of their historical average. But underground, the state’s supply of water for drinking and irrigating crops remains depleted.

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California Congressman Josh Harder Reintroduces Bill to Stop the Delta Tunnel and ‘Protect Our Water’

/in , /by /Sierra Sun Times

On Tuesday, as Sacramento attempts to advance the Delta Conveyance Project, also known as the Delta Tunnel, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) reintroduced legislation to finally kill this disastrous boondoggle once and for all. The Stop the Delta Tunnel Act would prohibit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) from issuing a federal permit necessary for the project to be implemented.

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Water Crisis in West Still Looms as Lakes Mead and Powell Only 35% Full

/in , /by /USA Todayby Doyle Rice

Last week’s rain and floods in California may soon give way to concerns about drought in the West as spring kicks off the region’s dry season. This year’s storms won’t erase looming drought worries across the entire southwestern U.S., experts fear. Of particular concern are the giant reservoirs of the Colorado River basin, Lakes Mead and Powell, which remain far below capacity.

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Strong Reservoir and Snowpack Levels Boost California’s Water Outlook

/in , , /by /ABC 10by ABC 10

The water outlook in California is bright, with major reservoirs exhibiting strong levels and a near-average snowpack, according to the latest data.

The state’s three largest reservoirs – Trinity, Shasta and Oroville – are currently holding more than 75% of their capacity, a significant boost compared to typical levels for this time of year.

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Examining the Truth About Fighting Fires in California Amid Water Management Claims

/in , /by /PBS Newsby William Branhgam, Sam Lane, Mike Fritz

Last month’s wildfires in California destroyed thousands of homes, killed at least 29 people and will likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars. President Trump has claimed that state officials made the disaster worse by how they managed the state’s complex water system. William Brangham looks at those allegations and the realities of water management in the nation’s most populous state.

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California Reservoirs Get Good News Amid Snowpack Update

/in , /by /Newsweekby Anna Skinner

Reservoirs across California recently received good news only weeks after a late January snowpack update from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) sparked concern. Although a series of atmospheric rivers brought heavy snow to high-elevation areas in parts of northern and central California in November and December, Southern California had an unusually dry start to the winter season. The lack of precipitation fueled wildfires in the region in January and furthered the state’s challenges with drought.

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How Better Water Systems Can Help Cities Survive the Next Firestorms

/in , /by /Associated Press

Santa Rosa. Paradise. Boulder County. Lahaina. Los Angeles. All are places that have shown that American cities and their water systems weren’t built to withstand wildfire, experts say. Hydrants trickled. Pumps and treatment plants lost power. Chemical contaminants were sucked into pipes, requiring extensive and costly work.  In Paradise alone, where the 2018 Camp Fire killed at least 85 people and destroyed more than 18,000 structures, rebuilding the drinking water system is expected to cost $125 million and take three-and-a half more years.

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