The delta smelt is on a trajectory toward extinction in the wild. Heading into 2017, the spawning adult population was at an all-time low, although this past wet winter has apparently seen a small resurgence. However, increasingly warm summer temperatures in the Delta may dampen any upswing. Given the long-term trajectory of the population and […]
After suffering more than a week under searing, desert-like heat, winter might be the furthest thing from the minds of Southern Californians. However, to borrow a phrase from TV’s “Game of Thrones,” winter is coming. The only question is whether the gods will allow a rerun of last winter which unexpectedly dumped record amounts of […]
When the National Weather Service announced that Hurricane Harvey had set a new rainfall record for a tropical storm in the continental United States — with 51.88 inches at Cedar Bayou, Texas — that seemed to epitomize just how massive and unprecedented Harvey was. In terms of sheer volume, Harvey’s rainfall could fill the Great […]
A bill that would have created a major hurdle for a company trying to sell groundwater from the Mojave Desert died in a California Senate committee on Friday, despite Gov. Jerry Brown’s call for lawmakers to approve the measure. Senate leaders decided to hold the bill during the Senate Appropriations Committee’s final hearing of the legislative session. […]
The heat wave that has gripped California for a week took a dramatic turn Thursday as lightning storms sparked brush fires, knocked out power to thousands and caused downpours across the region. Forecasters said the extreme weather will continue through the weekend, with some parts of Northern California flirting with all-time record high temperatures. Lightning […]
A desalination plant planned for Huntington Beach and more than a decade in the making got a small step closer toward opening, this week, after its application with the regional water district was determined to be ready for consideration. The agency also has enough information to make a decision about whether the project complies with […]
Reasons for Optimism About California WaterFix From a Fish Perspective
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)The delta smelt is on a trajectory toward extinction in the wild. Heading into 2017, the spawning adult population was at an all-time low, although this past wet winter has apparently seen a small resurgence. However, increasingly warm summer temperatures in the Delta may dampen any upswing. Given the long-term trajectory of the population and […]
‘Winter is Coming’: What Do Climate Scientists Predict for Southern California?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Gabriel Valley TribuneAfter suffering more than a week under searing, desert-like heat, winter might be the furthest thing from the minds of Southern Californians. However, to borrow a phrase from TV’s “Game of Thrones,” winter is coming. The only question is whether the gods will allow a rerun of last winter which unexpectedly dumped record amounts of […]
California’s Past and Coming Superstorm: Flooding that Will Make Harvey a Dim Memory
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Salon Media GroupWhen the National Weather Service announced that Hurricane Harvey had set a new rainfall record for a tropical storm in the continental United States — with 51.88 inches at Cedar Bayou, Texas — that seemed to epitomize just how massive and unprecedented Harvey was. In terms of sheer volume, Harvey’s rainfall could fill the Great […]
Bill That Targeted Company’s Controversial Desert Water Project Dies in Calif. Legislature
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)A bill that would have created a major hurdle for a company trying to sell groundwater from the Mojave Desert died in a California Senate committee on Friday, despite Gov. Jerry Brown’s call for lawmakers to approve the measure. Senate leaders decided to hold the bill during the Senate Appropriations Committee’s final hearing of the legislative session. […]
Record Heat, Lightning, Fires, Intense Rain: California’s Extreme Weather Gets Wilder
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles TimesThe heat wave that has gripped California for a week took a dramatic turn Thursday as lightning storms sparked brush fires, knocked out power to thousands and caused downpours across the region. Forecasters said the extreme weather will continue through the weekend, with some parts of Northern California flirting with all-time record high temperatures. Lightning […]
Huntington Beach desalination Plant One Step Closer to Becoming a Reality
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Orange County RegisterA desalination plant planned for Huntington Beach and more than a decade in the making got a small step closer toward opening, this week, after its application with the regional water district was determined to be ready for consideration. The agency also has enough information to make a decision about whether the project complies with […]