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Colorado Outlines Its Plan for How the State Will Deal With Water Shortages Worsened by Climate Change and Population Growth

/in , , /by /CPR Newsby Michael Elizabeth Sakas

Colorado’s water leaders have released an updated blueprint detailing how the state will manage and conserve water supplies as climate change and population growth strain the system in unprecedented ways.

The first Colorado Water Plan was released in 2015 after back-to-back years of historic drought and sought to address the possibility that the state might not have enough water in the next few decades.

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California Is Missing an Entire Year of Rainfall Since Mid-2019, New Figures Show

/in , , /by /The Mercury Newsby Paul Rogers

California’s water issues may be complicated. But the rainfall shortage driving the state’s current drought comes down to basic math.

“In most places we are missing an entire year of rain over the past three years,” said Jan Null, a meteorologist with Golden Gate Weather Services in Half Moon Bay. “It’s like if you worked three years but only got paid for two. You are going to be hurting.”

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The Southwest Is Bone Dry. Now, a Key Water Source Is at Risk

/in , , /by /Politicoby Lara Korte

California and six other Western states have less than 60 days to pull off a seemingly impossible feat: Cut a multi-way deal to dramatically reduce their consumption of water from the dangerously low Colorado River.

If they don’t, the federal government will do it for them.

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Opinion: State’s Leaders Must Change Water Agreements to Reflect Climate Realities

/in , , /by /CalMattersby Tom Stokely

California’s once-abundant salmon runs are on the verge of collapse. That’s a tragedy, but this story is bigger than the extinction of an iconic fish that once fed millions of people and was the basis of thriving commercial, tribal and sport fisheries. Salmon (to mix zoological metaphors) are the canary in the coal mine for California’s water and power ratepayers.

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Utah’s Great Salt Lake Hits New Historic Low Amid Drought in Western US

/in , , /by /The Guardian

The Great Salt Lake has hit a new historic low for the second time in less than a year, a dire milestone as the US west continues to weather a historic mega-drought.

The Utah department of natural resources said in a news release on Monday that the Great Salt Lake dipped over the weekend to 4,190.1ft (1,277.1 meters).

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Chandler Approves Construction for Water Facility Supporting Drought Prevention

/in , , /by /KTAR Newsby Suelen Rivera

The Chandler City Council approved construction last month for a reclaimed water facility supporting drought prevention.

Through agreements made between the city and Intel, construction of a Reclaimed Water Interconnect Facility was approved on June 23 to begin immediately at the RWIF located near Queen Creek and McQueen roads which is set to be completed in 2024, the city said in a press release.

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Southern California Residents Cut Water in Drought of ‘Epic Proportions’

/in , , /by /VC Starby Cheri Carlson

Southern California areas told to cut water use by 35% finished June on track to stave off an outdoor watering ban.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California supplies those communities in Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties with Northern California water delivered by the State Water Project. After a record dry start to the year, the state limited its deliveries to just 5%.

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California’s Drought Is Dire. But There’s a Surprising Bright Spot That May Make This Year Better Than Last

/in , , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Kurtis Alexander

The outlook for California’s drought is grim.

The first five months of the year have been the driest on record. Snowpack in the mountains, at its usual April 1 peak, was the smallest it’s been in seven years. Reservoirs are hovering near historic lows for the season, including Lake Shasta, the state’s largest.

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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.

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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.

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