With the diverse mix of crops grown in the state and the complex nature of different farming systems, California farmers and their advocates told the State Water Resources Control Board that its one-size-fits-all approach to regulating water quality remains burdensome, expensive and infeasible for many farmers. They shared their concerns during a public workshop on […]
The worst drought in California’s history ended in April when Gov. Jerry Brown declared it officially over after an especially wet winter. But one city isn’t backing down on water conservation. Santa Monica, a progressive town on the Southern California coast, is proceeding as if the drought were still under way, and it still requires residents […]
California has many unmet needs in its water system—most notably in the areas of flood protection, safe drinking water, stormwater treatment, and ecosystem support. While dedicated funding over the long term has been hard to come by, water bonds have helped fill some gaps in these areas. Looking at how the 2014 water bond is […]
Is it too early to mention the dreaded D-word? Maybe. After five years of drought — Gov. Jerry Brown declared an end to the drought last April — it’s almost unthinkable to imagine we could return to critically dry conditions so soon.But where the heck is the rain?
The Sierra Nevada mountains grew nearly an inch taller during the recent drought and shrank by half an inch when water and snow returned to the area, according to new research from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. Researchers used 1,300 GPS stations throughout the mountain range to closely observe how its elevation […]
Another 27 million trees died in California last year due to the lingering effects of drought, according to new aerial survey data from the U.S. Forest Service. That brings the total number of trees killed statewide to a staggering 129 million since 2010. In a typical year, about one million trees die across California. But […]
State Water Board Hears Concerns About Regulation
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /AgAlert (Sacramento)With the diverse mix of crops grown in the state and the complex nature of different farming systems, California farmers and their advocates told the State Water Resources Control Board that its one-size-fits-all approach to regulating water quality remains burdensome, expensive and infeasible for many farmers. They shared their concerns during a public workshop on […]
Santa Monica Prepares to Eliminate Water Imports, Drought-Proof Supply
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)The worst drought in California’s history ended in April when Gov. Jerry Brown declared it officially over after an especially wet winter. But one city isn’t backing down on water conservation. Santa Monica, a progressive town on the Southern California coast, is proceeding as if the drought were still under way, and it still requires residents […]
BLOG: How California’s Water Bond Is Being Spent
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Public Policy Institue of CaliforniaCalifornia has many unmet needs in its water system—most notably in the areas of flood protection, safe drinking water, stormwater treatment, and ecosystem support. While dedicated funding over the long term has been hard to come by, water bonds have helped fill some gaps in these areas. Looking at how the 2014 water bond is […]
Using The D-Word: Is It Too Soon?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Bakersfield.comIs it too early to mention the dreaded D-word? Maybe. After five years of drought — Gov. Jerry Brown declared an end to the drought last April — it’s almost unthinkable to imagine we could return to critically dry conditions so soon.But where the heck is the rain?
Water Loss Caused Sierra Nevada To Grow An Inch During California Drought, Researchers Say
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles TimesThe Sierra Nevada mountains grew nearly an inch taller during the recent drought and shrank by half an inch when water and snow returned to the area, according to new research from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. Researchers used 1,300 GPS stations throughout the mountain range to closely observe how its elevation […]
Drought Kills 27 Million More Trees in California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /89.3 KPCC (Los Angeles)Another 27 million trees died in California last year due to the lingering effects of drought, according to new aerial survey data from the U.S. Forest Service. That brings the total number of trees killed statewide to a staggering 129 million since 2010. In a typical year, about one million trees die across California. But […]