California and the U.S.
The latest news and analysis covering water issues in Caliornia and the rest of the United States.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
Farm vs. City: California Landmark Water-Sharing Deal May Be Crumbling
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)One of the nation’s most successful partnerships between farm and urban water agencies has lately run into serious turbulence, potentially threatening an important Colorado River water-sharing deal. Twelve years ago, the Palo Verde Irrigation District in Blythe, California, signed an agreement with the powerful Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It allowed the latter to pay Palo Verde […]
Lessons Learned 25 Years After Landmark California Water Reform Law
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)California’s most important federal water reform law – the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) – celebrated its 25th anniversary on October 30. The landmark law, signed by President George H.W. Bush, was a historic effort to protect and restore California’s wetlands, rivers, migratory waterbirds, salmon and other fish species, and also to promote more sustainable water […]
Will We Be ‘Wiped Out?’ How Climate Change is Affecting California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento BeeCalifornia could one day be uninhabitable. Fire. Heat. Floods. Infestation. Disease. Suffering. Scientists have for years warned about the ravaging consequences of a warming planet. Decamping for the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Convention on Climate Change, California academics and political leaders were mulling how to better deploy the […]
Tracing Water’s Path Through the Santa Clara Valley Aquifer
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Journal of Geophysical ResearchCalifornia governor Jerry Brown declared a drought state of emergency in January 2014, following years of wintertime rainfall levels dipping below historic averages. A lack of rainfall throughout 2015—precipitation was 20% below average—sustained the drought. Surface water levels got so low that residents had to increasingly tap into groundwater resources in order to meet agricultural, […]
South Coast Board Poised to Make Another Decision on Doheny Desalination Facility
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles TimesA proposed desalination facility producing 5 million gallons of drinkable water a day would satisfy the needs of all South Coast Water District customers, district General Manager Andy Brunhart said this week, though he added the agency would not rely completely on that source to serve ratepayers. The 5-acre Doheny Ocean Desalination Project would be […]
Oroville Dam: Coalition, Politicians Say D.C. Lobbying Trip a Success
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Mercury News (San Jose)Representatives for Oroville and downstream communities affected by the spillway crisis said they got the attention they were seeking in Washington this week. Sen. Jim Nielsen, Assemblyman James Gallagher, and members of the Oroville Dam Coalition are seeking federal assistance on issues relating to the dam they say need to be resolved. They met with […]