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

New State Water Regulations Cause Angst on All Sides

/in , /by /Bakersfield.comby Lois Henry

A new set of water regulations aimed at protecting California’s native fish came down from the state earlier this week to near universal condemnation from both agricultural and environmental water folks.

The regulations are contained in a 143-page “incidental take permit” issued by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife that lays out when — and how much — water can be pumped out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by the State Water Project.

Agricultural contractors who get water from the project fear they could lose up to 300,000 acre-feet a year under the new permit.

Environmentalists say the permit gives a “free pass” to pumpers and is a path to extinction for native fish.
Full Story

Consultant Predicts a Post-Coronavirus ‘Construction Tsunami’ Copy

/in , , /by /Construction Diveby Jenn Goodman

President Donald Trump’s decision this week to extend the country’s social distancing guidelines until April 30 was based partly on data from statistical models that predict the peaks and plateaus of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.

Full Story

There’s No Need to Stockpile Water During Coronavirus Pandemic

/in , , /by /Whittier Daily Newsby Vera Robles and Rob Katherman

During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, worried consumers have been snapping up bottled water as soon as it hits grocery store shelves.

Full Story

Water District, Local Business Donate More than 50,000 Masks During Coronavirus Outbreak

/in , , /by /NBC 3 News Las Vegasby Tiffany Lane

More than 50,000 masks are in the hands of people who need them the most, our first responders and medical professionals in the Las Vegas valley.

Full Story

Consultant Predicts a Post-Coronavirus ‘Construction Tsunami’

/in , /by /Construction Diveby Jenn Goodman

President Donald Trump’s decision this week to extend the country’s social distancing guidelines until April 30 was based partly on data from statistical models that predict the peaks and plateaus of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.

Full Story

California’s Winter Goes Down as one of the Driest, Thin Snowpack Shows

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

When California snow surveyors trekked into the Sierra Nevada on Wednesday, they officially logged this past winter as one of the driest in state history.

Full Story

NASA, University of Nebraska Release New Global Groundwater Maps and U.S. Drought Forecasts

/in , /by /NASAby Ellen Gray

NASA researchers have developed new satellite-based, weekly global maps of soil moisture and groundwater wetness conditions and one to three-month U.S. forecasts of each product. While maps of current dry/wet conditions for the United States have been available since 2012, this is the first time they have been available globally.

Full Story

California Cities Want Transparency Rules Waived in Pandemic

/in , /by /AP Newsby Juliet Williams

Citing unprecedented challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, city officials across California are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend or delay numerous state laws, saying they’re unable to comply with everything from environmental regulations to public records laws that give people a window into how the government is spending public money.

Full Story

Utilities Aim to Keep Specially Trained Employees Healthy and Working

/in , , /by /NPRby Clay Masters Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Some municipal water utilities are taking emergency measures to sequester some employees to assure that they can keep the water flowing as the coronavirus spreads.

In this country, millions of Americans can follow advice to stay at home so long as the electricity stays on and the water and the phone service. Utility workers need to keep moving about. And to stay on the job, they also need to stay safe. Iowa Public Radio’s Clay Masters reports that some utilities are taking extraordinary measures, including locking in employees at work.

MASTERS: After two weeks, a new group of workers with the same set of skills, who are currently sitting at home, will switch with the current onsite crew. Something similar is happening at a desalination plant in Carlsbad, California, that produces 50 million gallons of water a day. Ten workers are living there for three weeks. Sandy Kerl is general manager for the San Diego County Water Authority.

SANDY KERL: “These are critical services, highly trained individuals, not easily replaceable, so they have to be protected to ensure that water continues to flow.”

Select Download File to hear the 3-minute story as featured on National Public Radio.

 

Full Story
Download File

EPA Urges States to Support Water, Wastewater Operations During COVID-19

/in , , /by /Water World

In a letter to Governors in all 50 states, territories and Washington, D.C. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler asked states to ensure that drinking water and wastewater employees are considered essential workers.

Full Story