The Delta smelt has survived 2016, but that’s about where the good news ends. Surveys that wrapped up this month revealed no real increase in smelt numbers despite a wetter year with more freshwater flow in the Delta. In fact, the smelt’s situation may actually have gotten worse: For the first time since the extensive […]
During the 1920s, the city of Los Angeles was burgeoning. Demographics were changing and geographic boundaries were being pushed out in all directions. Oil was booming, industrialization was in full swing, and water was in high demand. Southern California was very dry and thirsty, on the heels of a drought and on the verge of […]
The Colorado River is like a giant bank account for seven different states. Now it’s running short. For decades, the river has fed growing cities from Denver to Los Angeles. A lot of the produce in supermarkets across the country was grown with Colorado River water. But with climate change, and severe drought, the river […]
Donald Trump’s election has jolted environmentalists and voters who care about conservation. Trump has called for abolishing or greatly shrinking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), declared climate change a Chinese hoax and promised to “cancel” the Paris climate agreement. Though Trump appears to have backed off his pledge to “get rid of [EPA] in almost […]
The community has two extra months to comment on a controversial State Water Resources Control Board document that proposes cutting water use after Board chair Felicia Marcus sent a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown last week, effectively extending the public comment period into March.This extension comes just two days after the State Water Board held […]
Numerous storms brought changeable weather to many parts of the country, including significant precipitation in parts of the West, Northeast, and mid-South. Late in the drought-monitoring period, a particularly powerful winter storm produced heavy precipitation from California into the Southwest—and later resulted in a holiday blizzard across the north-central U.S. Meanwhile, the interior Southeast continued […]
No Bounceback For Delta Fish
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Record Net (Stockton)by Alex BreitlerThe Delta smelt has survived 2016, but that’s about where the good news ends. Surveys that wrapped up this month revealed no real increase in smelt numbers despite a wetter year with more freshwater flow in the Delta. In fact, the smelt’s situation may actually have gotten worse: For the first time since the extensive […]
Surveying the Colorado River Aqueduct
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The American Surveyor (Frederick, Md.)by Sherri Lee Barnes and Paul L. Tucker,During the 1920s, the city of Los Angeles was burgeoning. Demographics were changing and geographic boundaries were being pushed out in all directions. Oil was booming, industrialization was in full swing, and water was in high demand. Southern California was very dry and thirsty, on the heels of a drought and on the verge of […]
High Demand, Low Supply: Colorado River Water Crisis Hits Across The West
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /NPRby Grace Hood and Lauren SommerThe Colorado River is like a giant bank account for seven different states. Now it’s running short. For decades, the river has fed growing cities from Denver to Los Angeles. A lot of the produce in supermarkets across the country was grown with Colorado River water. But with climate change, and severe drought, the river […]
BLOG: How Scott Pruitt May Impact Air And Water Protections As Head Of EPA
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Robert PercivalDonald Trump’s election has jolted environmentalists and voters who care about conservation. Trump has called for abolishing or greatly shrinking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), declared climate change a Chinese hoax and promised to “cancel” the Paris climate agreement. Though Trump appears to have backed off his pledge to “get rid of [EPA] in almost […]
State Water Board Extends Public Comment Period For Flow Proposal
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Turlock Journalby Alysson AredasThe community has two extra months to comment on a controversial State Water Resources Control Board document that proposes cutting water use after Board chair Felicia Marcus sent a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown last week, effectively extending the public comment period into March.This extension comes just two days after the State Water Board held […]
California And National Drought Summary For December 27, 2016
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Sierra Sun Times (Mariposa)by Brad RippeyNumerous storms brought changeable weather to many parts of the country, including significant precipitation in parts of the West, Northeast, and mid-South. Late in the drought-monitoring period, a particularly powerful winter storm produced heavy precipitation from California into the Southwest—and later resulted in a holiday blizzard across the north-central U.S. Meanwhile, the interior Southeast continued […]