Fresh off the Oroville Dam crisis, California lawmakers on Thursday voted to make dam-safety plans secret through language that was quietly inserted into a budget-related bill. The legislation, which requires Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature before becoming law, says emergency action plans at dams would be kept confidential to “protect public safety.” Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-Yuba […]
California’s Mediterranean climate, with its wet winters and dry summers, brings enviable weather to the Golden State but also earthquakes, according to UC Berkeley research. In a study over nine years, university scientists found that the weight of winter snow and rain on California’s mountains puts enough pressure on both the Sierra Nevada and coastal […]
From hundreds of fish annually to nearly 9,000 per year, Butte Creek salmon are thriving, thanks to a project begun 20 years ago. That project was celebrated Thursday at Gorrill Ranch on the Midway. At the spot where Ralph Gorrill first pulled water from Butte Creek to grow his crops 100 years ago, 101 people […]
In 2007, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger revived a plan that big agriculture loved – to build a peripheral canal or tunnels around or under the Sacramento Delta. Since then, a coalition of fishermen, Tribal leaders, conservationists, environmental justice advocates and Delta residents have been fighting to stop this Delta tunnels plan pushed by corporate agribusiness interests and Southern California water agencies. Now, […]
In the middle of a severe drought in November 2014, California voters approved Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion water bond that set aside $2.7 billion for the public benefits of new water storage projects.Now, project proponents have less than two months to finalize applications for bond funds, which can be used for attributes such as […]
Sunshine and extreme heat, that’s what is in store for much of California and other areas of the western U.S. during the last stretch of Spring. After some cool rainy weather days in many areas of the West, with daytime temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average, a drastic change in the weather pattern is […]
California Legislature Votes to Keep Dam-Safety Plans Secret
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan Sabalow, Jim Miller and Dale KaslerFresh off the Oroville Dam crisis, California lawmakers on Thursday voted to make dam-safety plans secret through language that was quietly inserted into a budget-related bill. The legislation, which requires Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature before becoming law, says emergency action plans at dams would be kept confidential to “protect public safety.” Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-Yuba […]
Study: California’s Seasonal Rain and Snow Triggering Earthquakes
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Francisco Chronicle by Kurtis AlexanderCalifornia’s Mediterranean climate, with its wet winters and dry summers, brings enviable weather to the Golden State but also earthquakes, according to UC Berkeley research. In a study over nine years, university scientists found that the weight of winter snow and rain on California’s mountains puts enough pressure on both the Sierra Nevada and coastal […]
Salmon Salvation: How Farmers, Water Districts and the Federal Government Worked Together to Bring Butte Creek Salmon Back from the Brink
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Chico Enterprise-Record Newsby Dan ReidelFrom hundreds of fish annually to nearly 9,000 per year, Butte Creek salmon are thriving, thanks to a project begun 20 years ago. That project was celebrated Thursday at Gorrill Ranch on the Midway. At the spot where Ralph Gorrill first pulled water from Butte Creek to grow his crops 100 years ago, 101 people […]
OPINION: California’s Water-stealing Delta Tunnels Could Be Approved in September
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Red, Green, and BlueIn 2007, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger revived a plan that big agriculture loved – to build a peripheral canal or tunnels around or under the Sacramento Delta. Since then, a coalition of fishermen, Tribal leaders, conservationists, environmental justice advocates and Delta residents have been fighting to stop this Delta tunnels plan pushed by corporate agribusiness interests and Southern California water agencies. Now, […]
Sites Reservoir Proponents Make Their Case
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /AgAlertby Christine SouzaIn the middle of a severe drought in November 2014, California voters approved Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion water bond that set aside $2.7 billion for the public benefits of new water storage projects.Now, project proponents have less than two months to finalize applications for bond funds, which can be used for attributes such as […]
Final Stretch of Spring Brings High Heat to California, West
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Weather NetworkSunshine and extreme heat, that’s what is in store for much of California and other areas of the western U.S. during the last stretch of Spring. After some cool rainy weather days in many areas of the West, with daytime temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average, a drastic change in the weather pattern is […]