On Thursday, state and federal officials were invited to Butte County to learn what happened at Oroville Dam, and to get an update on repair progress. A day prior, Governor Brown paid his own, quieter visit too. It was one Sheriff Kory Honea said he didn’t even know about until an hour before the Governor was there. Honea said […]
After two weeks that saw evacuations near Oroville, Calif., and flooding in Elko County, Nev., America’s dams are showing their age. Nearly 2,000 state-regulated high-hazard dams in the United States were listed as being in need of repair in 2015, according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. A dam is considered “high hazard” […]
Billions of dollars in flood projects have eased fears of levee breaks near California’s capital and some other cities, but state and federal workers are joining farmers with tractors in round-the-clock battles this week to stave off any chain-reaction failure of rural levees protecting farms and farm towns.
Consistent storms across California this year have helped improve drought conditions and bring above-average downpours to cities throughout the state. According to the Western Regional Climate Center, rainfall since Oct. 1, 2016—the beginning of the water year—is 120 percent to 200 percent of normal in regions across California. The heavy rainfall is a sign of […]
After a nail-biting week of rain, it looks like the Oroville Dam spillway crisis is under control, for now. Downstream communities, including the nearly 200,000 people whose lives were disrupted by a two-day evacuation, will remain on alert as the large snowpack in the Northern Sierra (more than 150 percent of normal) begins to melt […]
A statewide downpour brought chaos to Californians this week, but it also provided some welcome relief to the state’s 20 million residents who have suffered from drought conditions for more than four years. The record precipitation now has some experts declaring the drought over. The drought began in 2012, but California Gov. Jerry Brown did […]
Federal, State Elected Officials Visit Oroville Dam
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KRCR News (Redding)by Taylor TorreganoOn Thursday, state and federal officials were invited to Butte County to learn what happened at Oroville Dam, and to get an update on repair progress. A day prior, Governor Brown paid his own, quieter visit too. It was one Sheriff Kory Honea said he didn’t even know about until an hour before the Governor was there. Honea said […]
America’s Aging Dams Are in Need of Repair
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The New York Timesby Troy Griggs, Gregor Aisch and Sarah AlmukhtarAfter two weeks that saw evacuations near Oroville, Calif., and flooding in Elko County, Nev., America’s dams are showing their age. Nearly 2,000 state-regulated high-hazard dams in the United States were listed as being in need of repair in 2015, according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. A dam is considered “high hazard” […]
Rural California Levees Besieged By Pounding Wet Winter
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Seattle Timesby Ellen KnickmeyerBillions of dollars in flood projects have eased fears of levee breaks near California’s capital and some other cities, but state and federal workers are joining farmers with tractors in round-the-clock battles this week to stave off any chain-reaction failure of rural levees protecting farms and farm towns.
Rainfall Up To 200 Percent Of Normal In California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Signal (Santa Clarita Valley)by Christina CoxConsistent storms across California this year have helped improve drought conditions and bring above-average downpours to cities throughout the state. According to the Western Regional Climate Center, rainfall since Oct. 1, 2016—the beginning of the water year—is 120 percent to 200 percent of normal in regions across California. The heavy rainfall is a sign of […]
Who Should Pay To Fix The Oroville Dam?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KCET (Burbank)by Barbara Barrigan-ParrillaAfter a nail-biting week of rain, it looks like the Oroville Dam spillway crisis is under control, for now. Downstream communities, including the nearly 200,000 people whose lives were disrupted by a two-day evacuation, will remain on alert as the large snowpack in the Northern Sierra (more than 150 percent of normal) begins to melt […]
California’s Wet Weather Has Some Believing The Drought Is Over
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /ABC Newsby Emily ShapiroA statewide downpour brought chaos to Californians this week, but it also provided some welcome relief to the state’s 20 million residents who have suffered from drought conditions for more than four years. The record precipitation now has some experts declaring the drought over. The drought began in 2012, but California Gov. Jerry Brown did […]