Media Coverage Archives

Desalination Plant Serves 10 Billion Gallons of Water

August 31, 2016/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /The CW6by Carlos Correa Quoted: Jeremy Crutchfield

Since the Carlsbad Desalination Plant went online last December, you have probably noticed the difference in your water bill. Well, that extra cash is going back into paying for the project.This project was in development for 16 years and even though it’s extremely expensive, more agencies are looking to build similar plants up and down California.The water at the Claude Bud Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant is flowing about 10 billion gallons of fresh drinking water since it went online at the end of last year.

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California Almond Harvest May Break Records Despite Drought

August 30, 2016/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /CNBCby Jeff Daniels

With the drought easing in parts of California, this year’s almond harvest is shaping up to be a record haul for the state that could help its growers crack the nut on more sales. The harvest underway in California’s San Joaquin Valley is expected to result in an estimated 2.05 billion pounds of almonds this season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s up about 8 percent from last year and would shatter 2011’s record crop, which weighed in at 2.03 billion pounds.

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BLOG: Experts Weigh In: California’s Biggest Water Policy Priorities

August 30, 2016/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Eline Gordts

Five years into a drought, California is facing essential decisions about its water future. It’s implementing new groundwater law, weighing the pros and cons of a large infrastructure project for water supply and beefing up its data collection. But there’s more to do. Water Deeply asked four experts who work in different arenas of California water issues what they think should be California’s biggest policy priority to address in the next year. Here’s what they had to say.

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California Farm Revenue Plunges in 2015

August 30, 2016/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dale Kasler

Farm revenue in California dropped by more than $9 billion last year as the drought forced farmers to scramble for water and crucial commodities declined in price, according to data released by the state and federal governments Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s economic research service said farm income totaled $47.07 billion last year in California. That compared with a record $56.61 billion in 2014. All through the drought, which has cut off deliveries of surface water supplies to large swaths of the Central Valley, farmers have been able to increase revenue by pumping more groundwater and switching to high-dollar crops such as almonds.

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Artificial Turf Fields Taking Shape in Encinitas

August 30, 2016/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Barbara Henry

Work is well under way on new artificial turf playing fields at Leo Mullen Sports Park in Encinitas, and kids should be able to play on the new surface soon if all goes as planned. Part of the project’s $1 million price tag is being covered by a $171,248 water rebate from the Metropolitan Water District, and in order to receive that money, the city has to have the construction activity “substantially complete” by Sept. 6. “We actually think we’ll get the project done before that,” said city Public Works Director Glenn Pruim.

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Brown Signs Bill Allowing Utilities to Fine Water Wasters

August 30, 2016/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /SCVTV (Santa Clarita) Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

California water suppliers can begin warning and fining residential users for excessive water use during drought emergencies under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown. California’s more than 400 urban water suppliers will be tasked with creating a scheme that identifies water-guzzling water homeowners drought emergencies as well as implementing a system to hand out warnings and potential fines. Senate Bill 814 takes effect Jan. 1 and gives suppliers the authority to create new rate structures for high-volume water offenders. The law also authorizes fines of $500 per each 748 gallons used above the district’s maximum threshold.

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BLOG: Should California Eradicate Bass From The Delta?

August 29, 2016/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Western Farm Pressby Todd Fitchette

If none of this were true this would sure make a great piece of fiction – except that it is true. It’s not fiction. A recent Modesto Bee editorial illustrates a level of absurdity among California’s agencies that may actually be malfeasance. The photo says it all, though I encourage you to read the entire editorial, particularly if following California’s water woes hasn’t been your thing. I understand if it hasn’t – the politics of it all is enough to cause brain hemorrhaging. Reading this was educational.

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OPINION: Support Garamendi in Twin Tunnels Fight

August 29, 2016/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Daily Democrat (Woodland)

The Delta region is home to Congressman John Garamendi, D-Solano, and that’s why he is willing to stand firmly against California Governor Jerry Brown on his continuing dream of creating Twin Tunnels. Garamendi, a native of Walnut Grove, and the long-time owner of a pear orchard knows what a healthy Delta means to the community, the farmers in the region, the fisheries and to the community at large. Building a tunnel system to export 15,000 cubic feet per second of water southward could effectively drain the Delta six months out of the year and cause irreparable harm, Garamendi said.

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Climate Change Has Less Impact on Drought Than Previously Expected

August 29, 2016/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /PHYS.ORG

As a multiyear drought grinds on in the Southwestern United States, many wonder about the impact of global climate change on more frequent and longer dry spells. As humans emit more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, how will water supply for people, farms, and forests be affected? A new study from the University of California, Irvine and the University of Washington shows that water conserved by plants under high CO2 conditions compensates for much of the effect of warmer temperatures, retaining more water on land than predicted in commonly used drought assessments.

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