California and the U.S.

The latest news and analysis covering water issues in Caliornia and the rest of the United States.

Trump Administration Talks Of Boosting Central Valley Water Deliveries. But Is It Just Talk?

With talk of boosting water deliveries to Central Valley agriculture, the Trump administration is telling growers exactly what they want to hear. But given California’s complex water system and a web of federal and state environmental regulations, such promises could prove more political than practical.

Wildfire Risk Likely To Increase Into Late September As Hot, Dry Weather Builds Across West

The western United States remains a tinderbox, and wildfire conditions may worsen as September weather patterns progress. A persistent northward bulge in the jet stream allowed temperatures to soar to well above average and at times record levels in parts of the West this summer. That same weather pattern may return later in September. Most of […]

California Is Sinking: Drought Conditions Are Causing The San Joaquin Valley To Shift By Up To A Half-Meter Annually

California is sinking. New researcher has found that ongoing droughts are causing some areas in the central California to dip by up to 50cm a year. Despite heavy higher-than-normal amounts of rain in early 2017,  when the rain stopped, drought conditions returned and the ground has continued to sink, researchers say. ‘With the heavy storms in early 2017, […]

Is Help On The Way For Californians Whose Tap Water Is Tainted?

Karen Lewis knows about water problems. The 67-year-old lives in Compton, where the water coming out of her tap is tinged brown by manganese, a metal similar to iron, from old pipes. The water is supplied by the troubled Sativa Los Angeles County Water District. The district has been plagued by administrative scandal and charges […]

Is Your Drinking Water Dangerous? In Some Parts Of California, It Could Be

Five years ago, California became the first state in the nation to recognize the human right to safe, clean, affordable and accessible water. Today, we look at how the state is working to ensure that right and where the biggest concerns for Californians are. The California Water Resources Control Board’s records show more than 266 water […]

Groundwater Banking: A Likely Solution To Achieve Greater River Flows

A proposal by the California Water Resources Control Board to require additional water to be left in the Tuolumne River and other San Joaquin River tributaries has prompted strong negative opinions, including from some newspapers serving the region, such as the Modesto Bee. Regrettably, what has received little attention in this debate are the opportunities for improving water management […]