Valley farmers like Joe Del Bosque, whose situation was spotlighted recently in the Los Angeles Times, was begging for and buying water during last year’s drought at $1,000 to $1,300 per acre-foot after federal water officials failed to make good on water allocation contracts.These farmers thought themselves lucky to find willing sellers. But now it […]
After flows down Oroville Dam’s fractured main spillway were dialed back to nothing Monday afternoon, heavy equipment operators worked through the night to clear the massive debris pile that has formed at the base of the damaged concrete structure. The efforts to open the channel below the spillway, which will allow engineers to once again […]
When California state biologists crested a sandbar along the Feather River on Tuesday morning, they expected to find at least some of the water that just a day before had raged through the channel, too deep to stand in – and plenty of fish needing to be rescued. Instead, to their chagrin, the flows powering […]
Federal water managers in California say they’ll provide many cities and farms their full water supply in a year of record rain and snowfall. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Tuesday announced its initial allocations for a wet 2017 following five drought years. The vast system of reservoirs and canals irrigates three million acres of […]
President Trump stepped up his attack on federal environmental protections Tuesday, issuing an order directing his administration to begin the long process of rolling back sweeping clean water rules that were enacted by his predecessor. The order directing the Environmental Protection Agency to set about dismantling the Waters of the United States rule takes aim […]
The extraordinary turnaround in California’s water picture is becoming a windfall for farm country. Federal officials announced Tuesday that the 20 reservoirs that make up the Central Valley Project are so swollen with winter runoff that many growers will get all the water they requested this year — a remarkable change from the past few […]
OPINION: Trump Should Stop Reclamation From Stealing Farmers’ Water
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Fresno Beeby Erik HansenValley farmers like Joe Del Bosque, whose situation was spotlighted recently in the Los Angeles Times, was begging for and buying water during last year’s drought at $1,000 to $1,300 per acre-foot after federal water officials failed to make good on water allocation contracts.These farmers thought themselves lucky to find willing sellers. But now it […]
Oroville Dam’s Power Plant May Be Operational By Thursday
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan SabalowAfter flows down Oroville Dam’s fractured main spillway were dialed back to nothing Monday afternoon, heavy equipment operators worked through the night to clear the massive debris pile that has formed at the base of the damaged concrete structure. The efforts to open the channel below the spillway, which will allow engineers to once again […]
Massive Fish Rescue Plays Out On Feather River After State Closes Damaged Oroville Dam Spillway
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan SabalowWhen California state biologists crested a sandbar along the Feather River on Tuesday morning, they expected to find at least some of the water that just a day before had raged through the channel, too deep to stand in – and plenty of fish needing to be rescued. Instead, to their chagrin, the flows powering […]
Many Cities, Farms Getting Full Water Supplies, But Not All
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Associated Press (as published by U.S. News - Washington, D.C.)Federal water managers in California say they’ll provide many cities and farms their full water supply in a year of record rain and snowfall. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Tuesday announced its initial allocations for a wet 2017 following five drought years. The vast system of reservoirs and canals irrigates three million acres of […]
Trump Directs EPA To Begin Dismantling Clean Water Rule
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Evan HalperPresident Trump stepped up his attack on federal environmental protections Tuesday, issuing an order directing his administration to begin the long process of rolling back sweeping clean water rules that were enacted by his predecessor. The order directing the Environmental Protection Agency to set about dismantling the Waters of the United States rule takes aim […]
California Farms Given Good News As Reservoirs Fill And Snowpack Builds
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /SFGate (San Francisco)by Kurtis AlexanderThe extraordinary turnaround in California’s water picture is becoming a windfall for farm country. Federal officials announced Tuesday that the 20 reservoirs that make up the Central Valley Project are so swollen with winter runoff that many growers will get all the water they requested this year — a remarkable change from the past few […]