In January 2014, acting after two successive dry years, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. declared a State of Emergency for the entire state of California. He cited the extreme and prolonged drought. Seven executive orders followed from April 2014 to May and California remains to the present day in a state of what amounts to […]
After six years of drought and a few months of flooding, California’s decades-long political commitment to ideology of being either for the environment or against progress has endangered the state’s water supply system and is threatening public safety, environmental health and economic stability. Rather than upgrade California’s water collection and delivery systems, for 50 years […]
State government leaders are making a push to turn recycled toilet, shower and other treated wastewater into the newest source of drinking water for Arizona residents. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is planning to lift a 2001 prohibition. If it happens, some residents could be drinking recycled wastewater water from their tap by the […]
Creeks and rivers topped their banks, hundreds of homes were evacuated and several thousand people found themselves trapped in a rural hamlet as Northern California emerged Tuesday from yet another winter storm. The atmospheric river of moisture that has saturated drought-parched ground with a series of drenching storms in recent weeks returned with a vengeance […]
The San Francisco Bay area can take a load off. There are four months left in what meteorologists call the “water year,” but already the city of ferryboats and suspension bridges has received more rain than in an entire normal year. Overachievers. We weather nerds made up the water year because the rainy season tends […]
The state water board has egg—or should I say mud—all over its collective face. Earlier this month, board members refused to lift the drought restrictions on Californians. By keeping them in place until the traditional review time in April, they ignored pleas from water agencies to eliminate the restrictions now. Board members refused to lift […]
Governor Brown’s Never-Ending Drought Emergency
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Western FarmPressby Aubrey BettencourtIn January 2014, acting after two successive dry years, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. declared a State of Emergency for the entire state of California. He cited the extreme and prolonged drought. Seven executive orders followed from April 2014 to May and California remains to the present day in a state of what amounts to […]
OPINION: Eight Water Bonds Passed Since 2000, And We Still Have The Oroville Disaster
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Fresno Beeby Aubrey BettencourtAfter six years of drought and a few months of flooding, California’s decades-long political commitment to ideology of being either for the environment or against progress has endangered the state’s water supply system and is threatening public safety, environmental health and economic stability. Rather than upgrade California’s water collection and delivery systems, for 50 years […]
Would You Drink Treated Toilet Water? You May Get The Chance
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Cronkite News (Phoenix, Ariz.)by Ethan Millman and Morgan WheelerState government leaders are making a push to turn recycled toilet, shower and other treated wastewater into the newest source of drinking water for Arizona residents. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is planning to lift a 2001 prohibition. If it happens, some residents could be drinking recycled wastewater water from their tap by the […]
Evacuations, Levee Break In Drenched Northern California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /CBS NewsCreeks and rivers topped their banks, hundreds of homes were evacuated and several thousand people found themselves trapped in a rural hamlet as Northern California emerged Tuesday from yet another winter storm. The atmospheric river of moisture that has saturated drought-parched ground with a series of drenching storms in recent weeks returned with a vengeance […]
With 4 Months Left In The ‘Water Year,’ San Francisco Has Already Surpassed Its Rain Quota
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Washington Postby Angela FritzThe San Francisco Bay area can take a load off. There are four months left in what meteorologists call the “water year,” but already the city of ferryboats and suspension bridges has received more rain than in an entire normal year. Overachievers. We weather nerds made up the water year because the rainy season tends […]
BLOG: The State Water Board Missed The Mark
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Pleasamton Weeklyby Tim HuntThe state water board has egg—or should I say mud—all over its collective face. Earlier this month, board members refused to lift the drought restrictions on Californians. By keeping them in place until the traditional review time in April, they ignored pleas from water agencies to eliminate the restrictions now. Board members refused to lift […]