The Salton Sea is a disaster in slow motion. For more than a century, California’s largest lake has been sustained by Colorado River water, which irrigates Imperial Valley farms and drains into the lake. But the Salton Sea will start shrinking rapidly at the end of this year, when increasing amounts of river water will […]
Travelers driving through parts of the Sierra Nevada on Sunday were treated to some unexpected June weather: Snow. Chain controls were in effect on Sunday and overnight in Donner Pass on Interstate 80, but have since been lifted. A tweet from the National Weather Service in Sacramento said 5 inches of snow fell in Kingvale, […]
Area Assemblyman James Gallagher called it frustrating, misprioritization and a “dereliction of duty.” Gallagher and state Sen. Jim Nielsen last week were unable to persuade a legislative committee to allocate $100 million for levee repairs. During the legislative budget subcommittee’s meeting, the state’s chief deputy director for the Department of Finance noted that a “compromise” […]
State Public Utilities Commission officials are seeking input on whether to conduct new hearings on California American Water’s proposed Monterey Peninsula desalination project to address a number of issues, potentially including an updated project demand forecast and desal plant sizing evaluation that could lead to a smaller initial plant that could be more easily expanded […]
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 […]
California Far From Solutions As Salton Sea Crisis Looms
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /USA Todayby Sammy Roth and Ian JamesThe Salton Sea is a disaster in slow motion. For more than a century, California’s largest lake has been sustained by Colorado River water, which irrigates Imperial Valley farms and drains into the lake. But the Salton Sea will start shrinking rapidly at the end of this year, when increasing amounts of river water will […]
Northern California Just Got Hit With Snow. In June.
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /The Sacramento Beeby Alexandra Yoon-HendricksTravelers driving through parts of the Sierra Nevada on Sunday were treated to some unexpected June weather: Snow. Chain controls were in effect on Sunday and overnight in Donner Pass on Interstate 80, but have since been lifted. A tweet from the National Weather Service in Sacramento said 5 inches of snow fell in Kingvale, […]
Gallagher Speaks Out Over Frustrations with Levee Funding
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Appeal-Democrat (Marysville)Area Assemblyman James Gallagher called it frustrating, misprioritization and a “dereliction of duty.” Gallagher and state Sen. Jim Nielsen last week were unable to persuade a legislative committee to allocate $100 million for levee repairs. During the legislative budget subcommittee’s meeting, the state’s chief deputy director for the Department of Finance noted that a “compromise” […]
CPUC May Order New Desal Project Hearings Considering Smaller Plant
/in California and the U.S. /by Andrea Mora /Monterey County Heraldby Jim JohnsonState Public Utilities Commission officials are seeking input on whether to conduct new hearings on California American Water’s proposed Monterey Peninsula desalination project to address a number of issues, potentially including an updated project demand forecast and desal plant sizing evaluation that could lead to a smaller initial plant that could be more easily expanded […]
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 […]