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

Lake Powell to Drop Below Target Level, a Troubling Sign for Colorado River

/in , , /by /The Nevada Independentby Daniel Rothberg

In the coming days, Lake Powell, a major reservoir on the Colorado River, is expected to drop below a critical threshold, a sign of the water stress facing the region amid a prolonged drought, warming temperatures and changes in how water cycles through the environment.

Forecasters with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency charged with managing much of the West’s water infrastructure, expect Lake Powell to fall below a key low-level water mark within a matter of days.

Full Story

Santa Barbara County Sees Third Year in a Row of Drought

/in , , /by /The Independentby Jean Yamamura

Santa Barbara County supervisors had the bad news confirmed that the drought is on and not about to end, but water agency manager Matt Young also brought some promising ideas to the mix.

Full Story

Omnibus Package Opens Spigots for Water Project Earmarks

/in , /by /E&E Newsby Hannah Northey

A sprawling $1.5 trillion fiscal 2022 spending deal is awash in cash for water and natural resources projects, including a number of Republican proposals to gird coastal communities against the effects of climate change.

The omnibus package is the first in years to contain congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks. Lawmakers revived them under tight rules and only for certain parts of the federal budget.

Full Story

With Russia Targeting West, U.S. Water Systems On High Alert

/in , , /by /Water Onlineby Peter Chawaga

With a geopolitical crisis playing out thousands of miles away, the drinking water sector in the U.S. has doubled its resolve against potential attacks against their digital systems.

Full Story

California Drought: Snowpack Falls Below Average, Which Means Another Down Year for Hydroelectricity

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Rob Nikolewski

At the start of the year, it looked like California would finally get some relief from a persistent drought, with reservoirs poised to help contribute an abundant amount of hydroelectricity to the state’s grid come summertime. But those hopes are fading like a mirage.

“Realistically, as far as our dams and our hydroelectric production, it’s looking like we could be in a similar spot as last summer, potentially even worse by the end of the summer,” said Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist that the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab. “It’s not looking great, to be honest.”

Full Story

Council Supports Initial Steps Toward Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant

/in , , /by /Dana Point Timesby Breeana Greenberg

The Dana Point City Council last week voiced continued support for South Coast Water District’s desalination plant, which looks to establish a local source for drinking water and reduce dependency on imported water.

In a unanimous decision, councilmembers voted to send a letter to the San Diego Water Board, imploring the agency to renew the South Orange County Wastewater Authority’s permit to discharge wastewater through the San Juan Creek Ocean Outfall.

Full Story

Leaks an Untapped Opportunity for Water Savings

/in , , /by /UC Davisby Kat Kerlin

Before a drop of treated water in California ever reaches a consumer’s faucet, about 8% of it has already been wasted due to leaks in the delivery system. Nationally, the waste is even higher, at 17%. This represents an untapped opportunity for water savings, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, is the first large-scale assessment of utility-level water loss in the United States.

Full Story

California Hasn’t Seen Drought Conditions Like This Since 1984

/in , , /by /Bloomberg

People and companies are competing for the world’s most basic resource – water- in California. We’re in Madera County, California, where a never-ending drought is pitting citizens against corporations.

Full Story

Gov. Declares Emergency in Klamath County as Drought Worsens

/in , , /by /KGW8by Associated Press

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has declared a state of emergency in Klamath County as southern Oregon remains in an ongoing drought that shows no sign of letting up.

The Monday declaration directs state agencies, including the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Water Resources Department and the Water Resources Commission, to provide assistance to water users in the region and to seek federal resources to help residents and wildlife, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Full Story

Lake Powell’s Water Levels Declining, Officials Worry About Generators and Drought

/in , , /by /ABC 4by Jordan Verdadeiro

3,490 feet is the minimum elevation at which the generators in Lake Powell can run, according to Gene Shawcroft, the general manager for the Central Water Conservancy District and Utah’s Colorado River Commissioner.

He says 3,525 feet was the buffer level, water leaders decided on, to move forward with a plan after witnessing record drought conditions.

Full Story