For engineer Christopher Neudeck, the levee reinforcement near Discovery Bay is just one small piece of a giant challenge left by an extraordinary winter. “If that levee were to fail, the lake, the golf course, the commercial area in here, that would all go under water” says Neudeck, pointing to a map of Discovery Bay in his […]
Once upon a time, Californians would have no excuse to complain about a drought. Some 8,200 years ago, the area was wet and stormy for a stretch of about 150 years. The uncharacteristically rainy period accompanied a climate anomaly which took place at the same time, first discovered in Greenland ice cores in 1997. The “8.2 ka” event took […]
President Donald Trump’s nomination of a Bureau of Reclamation veteran to head the agency with primary responsibility on the Colorado River won the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton and a cautious reaction from U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, both Republicans. Brenda Burman is an excellent choice with a strong background in Western water issues, Tipton’s […]
In the Ohlone Wilderness south of Pleasanton is a 220-foot tall reminder that the past may catch up with California. Calaveras Dam — built by the City of San Francisco 92 years ago — sits next to an active earthquake fault. Downstream are Fremont and other communities along Alameda Creek where 300,000 people live that […]
The Golden State is making a strong lobbying push to try to win new federal loans for water infrastructure projects, according to data and documents reviewed by Bloomberg BNA. The EPA has received applications from water systems across the country for these loans in 2017, the first year the agency will dole them out. But […]
California’s drought might be over, but the state continues to suffer groundwater woes. The state’s first groundwater market for individual landowners hopes to address some of those problems. For much of California’s history, groundwater was completely unregulated – cities and farmers freely pumped from underground aquifers. Then in 2014, the state passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act […]
Winter Runoff Straining Delta’s Levees
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /CBS San Francisco Bay AreaFor engineer Christopher Neudeck, the levee reinforcement near Discovery Bay is just one small piece of a giant challenge left by an extraordinary winter. “If that levee were to fail, the lake, the golf course, the commercial area in here, that would all go under water” says Neudeck, pointing to a map of Discovery Bay in his […]
8,200 Years Ago, California’s Forecast Was 150 Years Of Rain
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /Popular Science (Harlan, Iowa) by Sara Kiley WatsonOnce upon a time, Californians would have no excuse to complain about a drought. Some 8,200 years ago, the area was wet and stormy for a stretch of about 150 years. The uncharacteristically rainy period accompanied a climate anomaly which took place at the same time, first discovered in Greenland ice cores in 1997. The “8.2 ka” event took […]
Reclamation Nominee Wins Mostly Acceptance And a Little Wait-And-See
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, Colo.)by Gary HarmonPresident Donald Trump’s nomination of a Bureau of Reclamation veteran to head the agency with primary responsibility on the Colorado River won the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton and a cautious reaction from U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, both Republicans. Brenda Burman is an excellent choice with a strong background in Western water issues, Tipton’s […]
OPINION: Lies, Damned lies & The Twin Tunnels
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /Manteca Bulletinby Dennis WyattIn the Ohlone Wilderness south of Pleasanton is a 220-foot tall reminder that the past may catch up with California. Calaveras Dam — built by the City of San Francisco 92 years ago — sits next to an active earthquake fault. Downstream are Fremont and other communities along Alameda Creek where 300,000 people live that […]
California Mounts Lobbying Blitz for EPA Water Loans
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /Bloomberg BNA (Arlington, Va.)by David SchultzThe Golden State is making a strong lobbying push to try to win new federal loans for water infrastructure projects, according to data and documents reviewed by Bloomberg BNA. The EPA has received applications from water systems across the country for these loans in 2017, the first year the agency will dole them out. But […]
How California Got Its First Groundwater Market
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /Water Deeply (New York)by Ian EvansCalifornia’s drought might be over, but the state continues to suffer groundwater woes. The state’s first groundwater market for individual landowners hopes to address some of those problems. For much of California’s history, groundwater was completely unregulated – cities and farmers freely pumped from underground aquifers. Then in 2014, the state passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act […]