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Much of the Colorado River’s Water goes to Feed Cows. How Changing your Diet Could Help

/in , /by /LAistby Erin Stone

Western states and the federal government face a looming 2026 deadline to divvy up falling water levels in the Colorado River basin. As overuse and climate change stretch the river thin, research suggests relatively small shifts in global eating patterns could save enough water to fend off steeper cuts for cities and agriculture — and help reduce climate pollution.

Nearly half — 46% — of all the water drawn from the Colorado River goes to growing feed for beef and dairy cows, according to a recent study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. It’s the most detailed analysis yet of how the river’s water is used.

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California has Enough Debt. It Doesn’t Need $10 Billion More for a Climate Bond

/in , /by /Cal Mattersby Brian Jones

Imagine using your credit card to buy something, knowing that by the time you finish paying off the debt, you’ll have spent nearly double the original price due to interest. It’s a poor financial decision most of us would avoid.

Yet this is precisely what Democrats in the state legislature are asking California taxpayers to do with Proposition 4: add $10 billion in bond debt — with billions more in interest — to pay for ambiguous, short-term, so-called “climate” programs.

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Climate Costs will Only Go Up if California Fails to Act. Voters Should Back a $10 Billion Bond

/in , /by /Cal Mattersby Horacio Amezquita

High on the list of things most Californians take for granted is the ability to confidently drink water that comes from their kitchen taps, or to safely bathe in water from their bathroom faucets. Take it from me and the dozens of farmworker families who lived in the housing cooperative that I managed and lived in for years: It’s not something that should ever be taken for granted.

To live without a safe, clean water supply is to be constantly aware of its absence. There are the itchy, painful rashes and illnesses caused by showering in contaminated water. There are the constant trips to purchase bottled water. There are the soaring water bills to pay for the drilling of ever-deeper wells that sometimes provide temporary relief.

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State Budget Cuts having “Profound” Impact on Water Agencies from State to Local Levels

/in , /by /SJV Waterby Jesse Vad

The impacts from California’s financial problems are starting to be revealed as some water agencies are implementing serious cutbacks.

During its August board meeting, staff at the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board announced they are trimming the operations budget by 5% because of state budget cuts.

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Thanks to Cleanup of Groundwater and New Systems, San Fernando Celebrates its ‘Water Independence’

/in , /by /Los Angeles Daily News

The City of San Fernando celebrated a water milestone on Thursday, Sept. 5.

State Sen. Caroline Menjivar and Metropolitan Water District Board Chair Adan Ortega joined San Fernando’s mayor and City Council members to “turn off the valve” and mark the city’s “return to water independence.”

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Gov. Gavin Newsom Drops Drought Emergency for Southern California and Bay Area

/in , /by /CBS Newsby Matthew Rodriguez

After two wet winters, 19 counties encompassing most of California’s population have officially emerged from the drought emergency that has afflicted the state for the past three years.

On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the executive order rolling back the restrictions.

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Securing California’s Future Water Supply is Critical

/in , /by /Capitol Weeklyby Joseph Cruz and Craig Miller

Unless a new bill to grow California’s essential water supply, SB 366 (Caballero), is signed into law, our only progress on water supply this year – as this summer’s record temperatures foreshadow potential droughts to come – will be another, dubious conservation mandate, which is a multi-billion-dollar effort for a miniscule volume of water.

SB 366 is where state policy should start: With an overall target for a sustainable, statewide water supply, and a timeline to achieve that target. Our legislators agree: The legislature has done the right thing with the bill passing both the Assembly and Senate without receiving a single “no” vote and now needs only Gov. Newsom’s signature by Sept. 30 to become law.

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Californians to Face Steep Fines for Violating Water Orders Under New Legislation

/in , /by /Capital Public Radioby Rachel Becker

California lawmakers late Friday approved a massive increase in fines for water scofflaws after ranchers intentionally defied state orders and pumped water from the drought-plagued Shasta River for eight days.

Two years ago, state officials imposed the maximum fine allowed under law — $4,000, or roughly $50 per rancher, causing outrage among tribes and conservationists. The river provides vital habitat for salmon, and California was experiencing its driest three-year stretch on record.

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US Plans New Water-Powered Battery Tech to Target Gird-Scale Energy Storage

/in , /by /Interesting Engineeringby Jijo Malayil

The Aqueous Battery Consortium, comprising Stanford University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and 13 other institutions, aims to overcome batteries’ major limitations by using water as the primary component of its electrolyte.

On September 3, the US Department of Energy (DOE) selected the Aqueous Battery Consortium as an energy hub research project. Under the DOE’s Energy Innovation Hubs program, the consortium could receive up to $62.5 million over five years.

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EXPLAINER: Delta Conveyance Project

/in , /by /Maven's Notebook

Trans-Delta System, Peripheral Canal, Bay Delta Conservation Plan, California Water Fix, and now, the Delta Conveyance Project – the idea of a canal to route water around the Delta is certainly not new. It was initially thought of as part of the master plan for the State Water Project but wasn’t included in the initial construction due to cost considerations. In the 1980s, plans were begun to construct such a canal, but it was put to a statewide vote, which was soundly defeated due to concerns about its potential impact on the Delta’s ecosystem and native fish populations.

Despite past setbacks and strong opposition, the idea of constructing a bypass around the Delta was never entirely abandoned. Over the years, it has continued to be a topic of intermittent discussion, with geography playing a significant role in the level of opposition. The most vocal opponents are often found in the northern part of the state, particularly within the Delta itself.

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