Near the southeastern shore of the Salton Sea, hot steam bubbles up from the earth and gurgles out of mud volcanos, rising into the air. This active geothermal zone runs along the San Andreas Fault, where geologic forces allow the Earth’s natural heat to rise near the surface, creating one of the world’s most powerful […]
Monitor, patch, watch and then monitor. This is the fundamental problem with California’s failing water infrastructure. Nearly 200,000 evacuees downstream of Oroville Dam witnessed how this failed government approach can impact their lives. My review of inspection reports shows a pattern of monitoring, delayed action and patchwork maintenance at Oroville Dam, including painting cracks to […]
While deep mountain snow combined with high temperatures caused California rivers to swell, Colorado officials on Monday downplayed flood risks saying much of the snow already has melted. Statewide snowpack in the major river basins hit 207 percent of the median — 332 percent in the South Platte River Basin and 288 percent in the […]
At a board meeting Tuesday, District One Supervisor Bill Connelly will present a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The letter is requesting that FERC steps in and prohibits the Department of Water Resources from dropping Lake Oroville to an elevation lower than 800 feet. “I can never predict what DWR will do,” said Connelly on […]
A civil engineer who formerly worked for the contractor doing the Oroville Dam spillway reconstruction has proposed a dual design spillway so the emergency spillway never has to be used again. Henry Burke’s argument for a different design than what the state Department of Water Resources proposed, centers around the need for high-flow back ups. […]
A report from the Public Policy Institute of California says the state’s cities and suburbs responded well to the unprecedented mandate to cut water use by 25 percent during the drought. The PPIC says by some measures, the state’s water conservation requirement was a success. Californians cut water use 24 percent on average while the economy grew. But […]
Two Paths For Long-term Fixes At California’s Shrinking Sea
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /USA Todayby Zoe Meyers and Jay CalderonNear the southeastern shore of the Salton Sea, hot steam bubbles up from the earth and gurgles out of mud volcanos, rising into the air. This active geothermal zone runs along the San Andreas Fault, where geologic forces allow the Earth’s natural heat to rise near the surface, creating one of the world’s most powerful […]
OPINION: Brown, California Democrats Are Approaching Flood Control All Wrong
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /The Sacramento Beeby James GallagherMonitor, patch, watch and then monitor. This is the fundamental problem with California’s failing water infrastructure. Nearly 200,000 evacuees downstream of Oroville Dam witnessed how this failed government approach can impact their lives. My review of inspection reports shows a pattern of monitoring, delayed action and patchwork maintenance at Oroville Dam, including painting cracks to […]
Colorado’s Steady Snow-Melting Boosts Water Supplies While California Faces Flooding
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /The Denver Postby Bruce FinleyWhile deep mountain snow combined with high temperatures caused California rivers to swell, Colorado officials on Monday downplayed flood risks saying much of the snow already has melted. Statewide snowpack in the major river basins hit 207 percent of the median — 332 percent in the South Platte River Basin and 288 percent in the […]
Supervisor Prepares Letter To Stop DWR From Lowering Oroville Lake
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /KRCR News (Redding)by Taylor TorreganoAt a board meeting Tuesday, District One Supervisor Bill Connelly will present a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The letter is requesting that FERC steps in and prohibits the Department of Water Resources from dropping Lake Oroville to an elevation lower than 800 feet. “I can never predict what DWR will do,” said Connelly on […]
Former Kiewit Civil Engineer Suggests Second Gated Oroville Dam Spillway
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /Oroville Mercury Registerby Risa JohnsonA civil engineer who formerly worked for the contractor doing the Oroville Dam spillway reconstruction has proposed a dual design spillway so the emergency spillway never has to be used again. Henry Burke’s argument for a different design than what the state Department of Water Resources proposed, centers around the need for high-flow back ups. […]
What Did California Learn From The Drought?
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /Capital Public Radio (Sacramento) by Amy QuintonA report from the Public Policy Institute of California says the state’s cities and suburbs responded well to the unprecedented mandate to cut water use by 25 percent during the drought. The PPIC says by some measures, the state’s water conservation requirement was a success. Californians cut water use 24 percent on average while the economy grew. But […]