A “sanctuary state” bill deal, the emergence of a $4 billion parks and water bond, two new California legal fronts against the Trump administration, and the Mexican foreign minister’s visit to the state Capitol – just another Manic Monday as lawmakers begin their final week of work before adjourning for the year.
Last week, my colleague published a report entitled Mismatched: A Comparison of Future Water Supply and Demand for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Its Member Agencies. The report compares the 2015 Urban Water Management Plans prepared by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and its member agencies. It documents that in average […]
Gov. Jerry Brown is trying to force California water agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Water District, to vote in the next month on whether they will pay for building his $17 billion “WaterFix” Delta tunnels project. It is an arbitrary, outrageous and irresponsible deadline. There is no formal agreement on how the project will […]
On Aug. 28, the Central Basin Water Board voted, 5-2, to postpone a decision on California Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed Delta Tunnel project (also known as California Water Fix) until rate impacts of the project can be clarified. Specifically, officials are concerned about the burden citizens from poorer areas of Los Angeles County will bear […]
In the confusion and chaos of the emergency at Oroville Dam, as thousands of residents were being evacuated, public safety officials and others involved in managing the crisis found themselves clashing with the people operating the nation’s tallest dam. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea questioned an assertion by the director of the state Department of […]
A federal agency left U.S. taxpayers on the hook for $50 million in water project costs that should have been paid by Central Valley irrigation districts, according to an inspector general’s report released Friday. The audit found that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation improperly subsidized the districts’ share of planning costs for a controversial proposal […]
Capitol Roundup: Immigration Deal, Parks Bond, DACA Developments
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Capital Public Radio News (Sacramento)A “sanctuary state” bill deal, the emergence of a $4 billion parks and water bond, two new California legal fronts against the Trump administration, and the Mexican foreign minister’s visit to the state Capitol – just another Manic Monday as lawmakers begin their final week of work before adjourning for the year.
BLOG: New Study: WaterFix Is Unnecessary For SoCal’s Water Supply
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /NRDC (New York)by Doug Obegi Mentioned: San Diego County Water AuthorityLast week, my colleague published a report entitled Mismatched: A Comparison of Future Water Supply and Demand for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Its Member Agencies. The report compares the 2015 Urban Water Management Plans prepared by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and its member agencies. It documents that in average […]
OPINION: Delta Tunnel ‘WaterFix’ Vote Now? Santa Clara Valley Should Say No Way
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Mercury News (San Jose)Gov. Jerry Brown is trying to force California water agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Water District, to vote in the next month on whether they will pay for building his $17 billion “WaterFix” Delta tunnels project. It is an arbitrary, outrageous and irresponsible deadline. There is no formal agreement on how the project will […]
Delaying Vote on California’s Delta Tunnels Gives Estuary Hope
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Multi BriefsOn Aug. 28, the Central Basin Water Board voted, 5-2, to postpone a decision on California Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed Delta Tunnel project (also known as California Water Fix) until rate impacts of the project can be clarified. Specifically, officials are concerned about the burden citizens from poorer areas of Los Angeles County will bear […]
Frustration, Friction Flashed Behind the Scenes as Oroville Dam Emergency Grew
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento BeeIn the confusion and chaos of the emergency at Oroville Dam, as thousands of residents were being evacuated, public safety officials and others involved in managing the crisis found themselves clashing with the people operating the nation’s tallest dam. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea questioned an assertion by the director of the state Department of […]
Taxpayer Money Was Wrongly Used to Plan California Water Tunnel Project, Federal Audit Says
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles TimesA federal agency left U.S. taxpayers on the hook for $50 million in water project costs that should have been paid by Central Valley irrigation districts, according to an inspector general’s report released Friday. The audit found that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation improperly subsidized the districts’ share of planning costs for a controversial proposal […]