No disaster is entirely natural in our re-engineered state and valley. Owing to our hubris, we humans have a direct hand in them all. We have built cities on earthquake faults, balanced mansions on hillsides that burn in one season and slide into the ocean in the next, and moor boats in marinas where tsunamis […]
A powerful atmospheric river storm is bringing rain Friday to much of California, resulting in a flood watch for three counties down south and strong winds to the Bay Area. In Southern California, a flash flood watch will be in effect from 7 a.m. Friday through Saturday morning for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, according […]
Since going over capacity last week, the water level in the Oroville Dam has dropped, but it’s still at a higher level for this time of year than the previous 16 years. The dam reached capacity causing overflowing water to go into two of the dam’s spillways. But damage to those spillways created concern that […]
The utterly avoidable, terrifying and still potentially catastrophic failures of the spillways of North America’s highest dam – California’s 170 foot, earth-filled Oroville – could, with the right national leadership, awaken America to the urgency of investing in our physical safety and future – our infrastructure.
Communities just downstream of California’s Lake Oroville dam would not receive adequate warning or time for evacuations if the 770-foot-tall dam itself — rather than its spillways — were to abruptly fail, the state water agency that operates the nation’s tallest dam repeatedly advised federal regulators a half-decade ago. The state Department of Water Resources […]
Starved of freshwater inflow from the Central Valley rivers that feed it, the San Francisco Bay-Delta is on the verge of collapse. This iconic estuary, which defines our region, has been neglected for too long. Fortunately, the state Water Board is poised to provide relief by updating the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan. Phase […]
OPINION: The Bill Comes Due For Our Re-Engineered Way Of Life
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento BeeNo disaster is entirely natural in our re-engineered state and valley. Owing to our hubris, we humans have a direct hand in them all. We have built cities on earthquake faults, balanced mansions on hillsides that burn in one season and slide into the ocean in the next, and moor boats in marinas where tsunamis […]
California Storm: Rain, Gusty Winds Impacting Much Of State
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Mercury News (San Jose)by Mark GomezA powerful atmospheric river storm is bringing rain Friday to much of California, resulting in a flood watch for three counties down south and strong winds to the Bay Area. In Southern California, a flash flood watch will be in effect from 7 a.m. Friday through Saturday morning for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, according […]
Oroville Dam Reached Capacity Faster Than Previous 16 Years
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /NPRby Wynne Davis and Alyson HurtSince going over capacity last week, the water level in the Oroville Dam has dropped, but it’s still at a higher level for this time of year than the previous 16 years. The dam reached capacity causing overflowing water to go into two of the dam’s spillways. But damage to those spillways created concern that […]
Lessons of Oroville: The Flood Next Time
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Huffington Postby Carl PopeThe utterly avoidable, terrifying and still potentially catastrophic failures of the spillways of North America’s highest dam – California’s 170 foot, earth-filled Oroville – could, with the right national leadership, awaken America to the urgency of investing in our physical safety and future – our infrastructure.
AP Exclusive: If California Dam Failed, People Likely Stuck
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Associated Pressby Ellen KnickmeyerCommunities just downstream of California’s Lake Oroville dam would not receive adequate warning or time for evacuations if the 770-foot-tall dam itself — rather than its spillways — were to abruptly fail, the state water agency that operates the nation’s tallest dam repeatedly advised federal regulators a half-decade ago. The state Department of Water Resources […]
OPINION: California Can Revive San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Mercury News (San Jose)by Peter DrekmeierStarved of freshwater inflow from the Central Valley rivers that feed it, the San Francisco Bay-Delta is on the verge of collapse. This iconic estuary, which defines our region, has been neglected for too long. Fortunately, the state Water Board is poised to provide relief by updating the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan. Phase […]