California and the U.S. Archives

LADWP Answers Your Questions About How SoCal Fires Impact Water Safety

In the wake of the Southern California wildfires in January, the safety of the water supply came into question as ash and particulate matter traveled from fire zones and into surrounding areas. Many people want some clarification about how safe their water is, what’s being done to monitor water conditions, what the orders mean and more. ABC7 Eyewitness News talked to LADWP Director of Water Quality Jonathan Leung to answer your questions and more.

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Trump’s Order Chaos Hits The Water Taps

February 4, 2025/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage, News /by Milla Kuiper /Politicoby Annie Snider

The Trump administration’s efforts to block federal spending are disrupting one of the most critical — and typically bipartisan — functions of government: providing clean, safe and affordable water.

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The Water Unexpectedly Released From Dams on Trump’s Order Didn’t Help Farms or L.A.

February 4, 2025/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage, News /by Milla Kuiper /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James, Jessica Garrison and Sean Greene

Days after President Trump startled some of his most ardent supporters in California’s San Joaquin Valley by having the Army Corps of Engineers suddenly release water from two dams, many in the region and beyond were still perplexed.

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Lake Shasta Waters Rise During Atmospheric River. Here’s How Full Reservoir Is

February 4, 2025/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage, News /by Milla Kuiper /Redding Record Searchlightby Jessica Skropanic

Lake Shasta waters lapped 30 feet from its top after an atmospheric river dropped more than 8 inches of rain in the Redding area since last Friday — and a new storm is expected to bring more rain to the region.

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Acting on Trump’s Order, Federal Officials Opened Up Two California Dams

February 3, 2025/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage, News /by dguillen /LA Timesby Ian James and Jessica Garrison

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dramatically increased the amount of water flowing from two dams in Tulare County, sending massive flows down river channels toward farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley. Federal records show that water releases from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success jumped early Friday morning.

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Another Casualty of a Bone-dry Winter: LA Won’t Take Less Water From Mono Lake

February 3, 2025/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage, News /by dguillen /Cal Mattersby Alastair Bland

Los Angeles will take most or all of its allotment of water from Mono Lake through March, disappointing local environmentalists and conservation experts after raising hopes that more water would be left in the iconic alpine lake. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power had indicated last spring that it might, in a rare move, substantially reduce the amount taken from Mono Lake.

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The Reality Stopping Water Pipelines to the Parched Western US

February 3, 2025/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage, News /by dguillen /NPRby Alex Hager, Wailin Wong, Julia Ritchey, Kate Concannon

With so much water in the eastern U.S., why can’t the region pipe some of it to its drought-prone neighbors in the West? This perennial question nags climate journalists and western water managers alike. We break down why building a pipeline is unrealistic right now for the Colorado River.

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California Snowpack Falls to 65% of Normal After Dry January

February 3, 2025/in California and the U.S., News /by dguillen /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein

The California winter snowpack, which typically supplies a third of the state’s water, has declined to 65% of normal after a dry January. The state Department of Water Resources announced the new level on Friday following its second official snow survey of the season. At the first survey on Jan. 1, the snowpack was at 108%.

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Newsom Orders More Water for California Farmers and Towns

February 3, 2025/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by dguillen /Cal Mattersby Alastair Bland

As downpours soak Northern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered state officials to capture and store more stormwater in San Joaquin Valley reservoirs for farmers and towns, and to “remove or minimize” any obstacles that stand in the way. If that sounds familiar, it is: The governor issued similar orders two years ago, when he waived environmental laws to store more water as storms drenched the state and caused disastrous flooding.

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