California has had an uncharacteristically rainy season this year and, after years of severe drought, I know we all welcome this replenishment of California’s water tables. While Governor Brown has lifted the state’s emergency drought order, it is important to remember that water is still a precious resource. On average, Californians use over 190 gallons […]
The plans to build a new reservoir near Maxwell have been a long time in coming. At this point, 30 agencies throughout the state are on the list to help pay for planning efforts and later receive a share of an estimated average yield of 500,000 acre-feet of water. The next step is to apply […]
During droughts, groundwater pumping is increased to make up for losses from surface water. This is especially true in California’s Central Valley, which stretches roughly 400 miles from Redding to just south of Bakersfield, and is the heart of the state’s $47 billion-a-year agricultural industry. For decades, many parts of the Central Valley aquifer have been […]
In the wake of the recent drought, desalination of ocean water continues to be a central topic in California water debates. Some coastal communities were particularly hard hit by the drought, including a large swath of the central coast that is among the last regions in the state still suffering from drought conditions. Desalination seems to […]
California’s historic winter ended the drought in many parts of the state and piled up record levels of snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. With so much precipitation, surface water infrastructure – our network of dams, reservoirs and levees – has been called into action like never before, and in some cases has struggled to […]
If you’re expecting a quick and easy answer on what caused the spillway failure at Oroville Dam, think again. The leader of the independent forensics team studying the Oroville crisis said Thursday that the crack in the dam’s main flood-control spillway likely was caused by a combination of problems. “We do anticipate there will be […]
Sen. Bill Monning: We Still Need to Save Water This Summer
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Santa Cruz Sentinelby Sen. Bill MonningCalifornia has had an uncharacteristically rainy season this year and, after years of severe drought, I know we all welcome this replenishment of California’s water tables. While Governor Brown has lifted the state’s emergency drought order, it is important to remember that water is still a precious resource. On average, Californians use over 190 gallons […]
Sites Reservoir: Bond Fund Proposal Must Be Ready In August
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Oroville Mercury RegisterThe plans to build a new reservoir near Maxwell have been a long time in coming. At this point, 30 agencies throughout the state are on the list to help pay for planning efforts and later receive a share of an estimated average yield of 500,000 acre-feet of water. The next step is to apply […]
The Challenge of Measuring Groundwater in California’s Central Valley
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /News Deeplyby Ian EvansDuring droughts, groundwater pumping is increased to make up for losses from surface water. This is especially true in California’s Central Valley, which stretches roughly 400 miles from Redding to just south of Bakersfield, and is the heart of the state’s $47 billion-a-year agricultural industry. For decades, many parts of the Central Valley aquifer have been […]
Commentary: Desalination Will Not Solve California’s Water Woes
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Mercury Newsby Leon Szeptycki and Newsha K. AjamiIn the wake of the recent drought, desalination of ocean water continues to be a central topic in California water debates. Some coastal communities were particularly hard hit by the drought, including a large swath of the central coast that is among the last regions in the state still suffering from drought conditions. Desalination seems to […]
BLOG: The Hidden Opportunity for Water Storage in California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Environmental Defense Fund by Maurice HallCalifornia’s historic winter ended the drought in many parts of the state and piled up record levels of snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. With so much precipitation, surface water infrastructure – our network of dams, reservoirs and levees – has been called into action like never before, and in some cases has struggled to […]
Oroville Dam Update: Fracture Likely Caused By ‘Multiple Factors’
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dale KaslerIf you’re expecting a quick and easy answer on what caused the spillway failure at Oroville Dam, think again. The leader of the independent forensics team studying the Oroville crisis said Thursday that the crack in the dam’s main flood-control spillway likely was caused by a combination of problems. “We do anticipate there will be […]