Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law Monday that will increase the frequency of inspections at the state’s most at-risk dams and require the Department of Water Resources to update dam safety protocols. Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, authored Assembly Bill 1270 following the Lake Oroville spillway crisis last February that saw more than […]
Finally, rain. And snow. Some hail, even. Plus there’s more to come. A storm doused Northern California on Monday, ending Sacramento’s month-plus dry spell and setting the table for a heavy pounding that could dump up to 4 feet of snow on the Sierra Nevada range later this week. After a pause in the weather […]
After one year of torrential respite, drought may have returned to California, and with it, a renewal of the state’s perpetual conflict over water management. State and federal water systems have told farmers not to expect more than a fifth of their paper allocations, the state Water Resources Control Board is weighing a new regime […]
A proposal to make California’s drought-era water restrictions permanent could allow the state to chip away at long-held water rights in an unprecedented power grab, representatives from water districts and other users told regulators Tuesday. Members of the state Water Resources Control Board delayed a decision about whether to bring back what had been temporary […]
Even a single water tunnel burrowed under the California’s Delta would be worth it for urban ratepayers and farmers who would to pay to build and maintain the project, according to an analysis released recently by Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration. The Department of Water Resources commissioned David Sunding, a professor of natural resource economics at […]
According to Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., the company contracted to perform the repairs, work stopped heavy construction on the main spillway over the winter, but plans to start back up in the coming months to meet its January 2019 deadline, Appeal-Democrat reported. “Our crews will be ready to go May 1, weather permitting, said Kiewit Project Director […]
Bill Beefing Up Dam Inspections Signed Into Law
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Union (Western Nevada County, Calif.)by Jake AbbottGov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law Monday that will increase the frequency of inspections at the state’s most at-risk dams and require the Department of Water Resources to update dam safety protocols. Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, authored Assembly Bill 1270 following the Lake Oroville spillway crisis last February that saw more than […]
Rain, Snow And Hail Pound Northern California At End Of Bone-Dry February
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dale Kasler and Benjy EgelFinally, rain. And snow. Some hail, even. Plus there’s more to come. A storm doused Northern California on Monday, ending Sacramento’s month-plus dry spell and setting the table for a heavy pounding that could dump up to 4 feet of snow on the Sierra Nevada range later this week. After a pause in the weather […]
OPINION: The Next Big Front In California’s Water War
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Fresno Beeby Dan WaltersAfter one year of torrential respite, drought may have returned to California, and with it, a renewal of the state’s perpetual conflict over water management. State and federal water systems have told farmers not to expect more than a fifth of their paper allocations, the state Water Resources Control Board is weighing a new regime […]
Some Say California Drought Cuts May Harm Water Rights
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Las Vegas Review-Journalby Jonathan J. CooperA proposal to make California’s drought-era water restrictions permanent could allow the state to chip away at long-held water rights in an unprecedented power grab, representatives from water districts and other users told regulators Tuesday. Members of the state Water Resources Control Board delayed a decision about whether to bring back what had been temporary […]
Study Says Delta Tunnel Plan Would Pay Off For Farmers, Cities
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Bee (As Published by Ventura County Star)by Ryan SabalowEven a single water tunnel burrowed under the California’s Delta would be worth it for urban ratepayers and farmers who would to pay to build and maintain the project, according to an analysis released recently by Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration. The Department of Water Resources commissioned David Sunding, a professor of natural resource economics at […]
Crews Nearly Complete Construction On Oroville Dam’s Emergency Spillway
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Construction Equipment Guide (Fort Washington, Penn.)According to Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., the company contracted to perform the repairs, work stopped heavy construction on the main spillway over the winter, but plans to start back up in the coming months to meet its January 2019 deadline, Appeal-Democrat reported. “Our crews will be ready to go May 1, weather permitting, said Kiewit Project Director […]