On the edge of the Mojave Desert, beneath 1,800 acres of scrubland and tumbleweeds, California’s giant public pension fund is trying to make a killing in the water business. CalPERS is the primary owner of the Willow Springs Water Bank, an underground reservoir that could hold as much water as Folsom Lake when fully developed. […]
Following five years of severe drought conditions, California is now in the midst of one of the wettest winters in recorded history – the effects of which can been seen locally in the Tuolumne River Watershed. So far in the 2017 precipitation year, which began in September, several months have already exceeded their historical averages, […]
Work crews in California have started repairs to a key pumping station in the state’s water system. State officials said repairs at the Clifton Court Forebay pumping station started Wednesday. The Department of Water Resources says the pumps there are being shut down to repair a damaged intake valve. The Clifton Court Forebay is a […]
On rich Delta farmland just outside Tracy, Suzanne Womack spent her childhood on more than 600 acres dating back to 1961. “I moved there when I was 3 years old,” said Womack. “I learned to ride horses there.” Now, for years, her attention has turned to preserving her land against what she calls poor maintenance by […]
In 2016, annual precipitation was average for the Central Valley and above average for northern California. But the allocation of Central Valley Project water to public water agencies that serve farmers south of the Delta was only 5%. The federal government blamed the low allocation of water on hydrological conditions, rather than environmental regulations that limited pumping of water and prevented […]
Images from the state Department of Water Resources show round-the-clock work the week of March 11-17, 2017 at Oroville Dam. A giant fracture developed in Oroville Dam’s main spillway during a heavy storm earlier this year. Five days later, water flowed over the dam’s emergency spillway for the first time, nearly causing the hillside below […]
Why CalPERS is Pouring Millions Into a Southern California Water Deal
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dale KaslerOn the edge of the Mojave Desert, beneath 1,800 acres of scrubland and tumbleweeds, California’s giant public pension fund is trying to make a killing in the water business. CalPERS is the primary owner of the Willow Springs Water Bank, an underground reservoir that could hold as much water as Folsom Lake when fully developed. […]
Rainfall Continues To Top Historical Averages
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Ceres Courier (Turlock, Calif.)by Alysson AredasFollowing five years of severe drought conditions, California is now in the midst of one of the wettest winters in recorded history – the effects of which can been seen locally in the Tuolumne River Watershed. So far in the 2017 precipitation year, which began in September, several months have already exceeded their historical averages, […]
Workers Start Repairs On Key Water Pumping Station
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Associated Press (As published by U.S. News and World Report)Work crews in California have started repairs to a key pumping station in the state’s water system. State officials said repairs at the Clifton Court Forebay pumping station started Wednesday. The Department of Water Resources says the pumps there are being shut down to repair a damaged intake valve. The Clifton Court Forebay is a […]
State Dealing With Another Reservoir Fix Near Tracy, Says It Won’t Interrupt Water Deliveries
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /ABC10 (Sacramento)by Kurt RiveraOn rich Delta farmland just outside Tracy, Suzanne Womack spent her childhood on more than 600 acres dating back to 1961. “I moved there when I was 3 years old,” said Womack. “I learned to ride horses there.” Now, for years, her attention has turned to preserving her land against what she calls poor maintenance by […]
Contradiction in Water Policy
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Fox & Hounds Dailyby Johnny AmaralIn 2016, annual precipitation was average for the Central Valley and above average for northern California. But the allocation of Central Valley Project water to public water agencies that serve farmers south of the Delta was only 5%. The federal government blamed the low allocation of water on hydrological conditions, rather than environmental regulations that limited pumping of water and prevented […]
VIDEO: A Look At Repair Efforts At The Lake Oroville Dam Spillway This Week
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby David CaraccioImages from the state Department of Water Resources show round-the-clock work the week of March 11-17, 2017 at Oroville Dam. A giant fracture developed in Oroville Dam’s main spillway during a heavy storm earlier this year. Five days later, water flowed over the dam’s emergency spillway for the first time, nearly causing the hillside below […]