California and the U.S.

The latest news and analysis covering water issues in Caliornia and the rest of the United States.

Pelosi Rails Against Bipartisan California Drought Bill, Calls Republicans Arrogant

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi railed against a bipartisan provision tacked onto the Water Resources Development Act providing California drought relief funding Thursday, alleging Republicans “hijacked” the must-pass legislation. While the rider was negotiated between House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein, critics, including outgoing California Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer, slammed […]

Industry Heads Praise California Drought Legislation

Representatives of some of California’s leading agricultural bodies have highlighted a “litany of positives” in the state’s recently introduced drought legislation for its “short term and long term solutions to California’s needs”. In a statement, California Citrus Mutual president Joel Nelsen, California Fresh Fruit Association president George Radanovich and California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association […]

House Approves California Water Plan That Splits State’s Democratic Senators

The House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the biggest federal reset of California water use in a generation, setting the stage for easier dam-building, more recycling and potentially happier Central Valley farmers. By a 360 to 61 vote that divided California representatives, the House approved the drought-inspired California provisions as part of a broader water projects […]

House Approves California Water Plan That Splits State’s Democratic Senators

The House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the biggest federal reset of California water use in a generation, setting the stage for easier dam-building, more recycling and potentially happier Central Valley farmers. By a 360 to 61 vote that divided California representatives, the House approved the drought-inspired California provisions as part of a broader water projects […]

Two top California Water Officials Retire Amidst Growing Opposition to Delta Tunnels

Both Mark Cowin and Carl Togersen are retiring at a time when Governor Jerry Brown’s Delta Tunnels plan, the California WaterFix, has come under increasing fire from recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, Tribal leaders, family farmers environmentalists, scientists and elected officials for the enormous threat it poses to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary and West Coast […]

Speakers Say River-Flow Plan Should Be Revised

Central to the ongoing tug of war about how best to balance California water uses is a plan by the State Water Resources Control Board to leave more water in the main tributaries of the San Joaquin River during periods it considers key for at-risk native species.