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

A Billion Pounds of California Almonds Stranded at Ports Amid Drought, Trade Woes

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Louis Sahagun

Almond producer David Phippen didn’t need to hear the latest predictions from agriculture economists to know that his industry was on the verge of losing its premier position in the global market.

He saw it coming during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when oceanic carriers discovered they could make twice as many annual round trips — and higher profit margins — by sending empty containers back to Asia to pick up more goods for export instead of waiting in port here to be loaded with his almonds. Almond exports are down by about 13% this year, industry officials said.

Full Story

Red Bluff Council to Discuss Water Conservation Efforts

/in , /by /Red Bluff Daily Newsby George Johnston

The City Council Tuesday will consider instituting water conservation efforts by declaring a Stage II Moderate Water Shortage.

If the council makes the declaration, city water customers would be required to refrain from landscape watering except between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., equip any hose with a shutoff nozzle and promptly repair all leaks in plumbing fixtures, water lines, and sprinkler systems.

Full Story

Colorado’s Water Leader Thinks Most of the Needed Colorado River Cuts Should Be Made by Arizona, Nevada and California

/in , /by /CPR Newsby Michael Elizabeth Sakas

Last month, the federal government dropped a bombshell on the states that share the Colorado River.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation gave Colorado and the other six states in the basin just two months to come up with a plan to drastically reduce the amount of river water they use. If they don’t, the federal government has threatened to use its emergency authority to make the cuts it feels are necessary.

Full Story

New Water Plant in Menifee Removes Salt, Fights Drought

/in , /by /The Press-Enterpriseby Monserrat Solis

A plant that removes salt from water is now running in Menifee, giving officials another tool to reduce their reliance on imported water as California’s drought continues.

The Eastern Municipal Water District opened its third groundwater desalination plant, the Perris II Groundwater Desalination Facility, on Thursday, June 23. The plant will remove salt from underground water basins tapped by wells in Perris — nearly 5.4 million gallons of water per day, according to the water district.

Full Story

Opinion: What Will Happen to the Colorado River? What We Know About Looming Water Cuts

/in , , /by /AZ Centralby Joanna Allhands

The seven states that rely on the Colorado River must come up with a plan to cut 2 to 4 million acre-feet of water use.

By mid-August.

And if they don’t, the federal Bureau of Reclamation will act for them.

Full Story

To Avoid Blackouts, California May Tap Fossil Fuel Plants

/in , , /by /AP Newsby Kathleen Ronayne

Looking to avoid power blackouts, California may turn to the one energy source it’s otherwise desperate to get rid of: fossil fuels.

A sweeping energy proposal Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Thursday puts the state in the business of buying power to ensure there’s enough to go around during heat waves that strain the grid. But some critics say the method of getting there is at odds with the state’s broader climate goals, because it paves the way for the state to tap aging gas-fired power plants and add backup generators fueled by diesel.

Full Story

What Do Increased Releases From Folsom Dam Mean For Region’s Water Levels?

/in , , /by /CBS Sacramentoby Steve Large

Rising river levels? It’s been a surprising sight in recent days for people out along the American River.

California is in year three of a severe drought and people are being asked to conserve, but water releases from Folsom Dam are being dramatically increased this week.

Full Story

California Lawmakers Pass Major Plastic-Reduction Measure After Years of Thwarted Attempts

/in , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Dustin Gardiner

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a sweeping plastic-reduction measure that aims to dramatically shrink the amount of disposable packaging and food ware that Californians use in their daily lives.

The bill, SB54, is the result of a breakthrough legislative deal between some environmentalists, business groups and waste haulers, a last-minute compromise that led proponents to withdraw an anti-plastic waste initiative from the November ballot.

Full Story

Mountain View Orders Water Cutbacks but Even Tougher Drought Measures Elsewhere in California

/in , , /by /KTVU FOX 2by Mark Sayre

Mountain View is the latest Bay Area city to approve new water restrictions as California deals with dry conditions for its third consecutive year.

As Bay Area residents deal with newly announced restrictions seemingly by the week the restrictions are even more severe in southern California and around the southwest.

Full Story

California Farmers Preparing for State Water Curtailment Orders

/in , , /by /The Paso Robles Pressby Camille DeVaul

Farmers up and down California are once again facing an uncertain season ahead of them as a state water curtailment order issued in August 2021 continues to take its toll on farming and ranching families.

In July 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order calling a drought emergency and asking for water conservation. Soon after, farmers and ranchers in California received curtailment orders from the California Water Board (CWB) to either immediately or prepare to suspend their senior water rights.

Full Story