Earlier this week, while areas downstream of Oroville Dam were still under an evacuation order, California’s State Water Resources Control Board released a draft resolution for a comprehensive response to climate change. It resolves that the agency will embed climate science into all its existing work, both to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to build […]
In a region that has seen so much drought over the last decade, the prospect of moisture would be a welcome one. But right now, not so much. The state of California has seen more moisture in the last few weeks than it typically gets in a year and this could actually turn into their […]
It’s raining in California. Again. A storm system hitting north and central California on Monday and Tuesday will deliver two to three inches of rain to the Central Valley, and up to 10 inches of rain to the mountains, said Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. The service has issued […]
Oroville Dam’s badly damaged main spillway is still deteriorating from an onslaught of fast-paced water, but state officials insist that it is “stable” as they make repairs. State officials expected the concrete main spillway to erode last week when they opened its gates, betting that it was a safer option than the dam’s little-used emergency […]
You hear this every time there’s a drought or deluge in California: “Why haven’t they built more dams?” Truth is, they’ve built a bunch. And they’re about done with it. Tally them up. There are more than 1,400 dams in the state. At least 1,000 are major and 55 can hold 100,000 acre-feet or more […]
The early settlers snatched up the rich, loamy land along the Feather River to grow grapes and orchards. Edward Mathews, an Irishman who fled the potato famine, was peddling vegetables and didn’t have the cash for that kind of soil. During heavy rains, the Yuba River would flow so hard into the Feather at Marysville, it […]
BLOG: Learning from Oroville: Water Board Proposes Climate Change Resolution
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Juliet Christian-SmithEarlier this week, while areas downstream of Oroville Dam were still under an evacuation order, California’s State Water Resources Control Board released a draft resolution for a comprehensive response to climate change. It resolves that the agency will embed climate science into all its existing work, both to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to build […]
California Is Getting Too Much Of A Good Thing
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Fox 9 (Eden Prairie, Minn.)by Cody MatzIn a region that has seen so much drought over the last decade, the prospect of moisture would be a welcome one. But right now, not so much. The state of California has seen more moisture in the last few weeks than it typically gets in a year and this could actually turn into their […]
California Braces For More Rain. How Bad Can It Get?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The New York Timesby Erin McCannIt’s raining in California. Again. A storm system hitting north and central California on Monday and Tuesday will deliver two to three inches of rain to the Central Valley, and up to 10 inches of rain to the mountains, said Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. The service has issued […]
Continued Erosion Of Oroville Dam’s Main Spillway Part Of ‘Normal Process,’ State Officials Say
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Adam AshtonOroville Dam’s badly damaged main spillway is still deteriorating from an onslaught of fast-paced water, but state officials insist that it is “stable” as they make repairs. State officials expected the concrete main spillway to erode last week when they opened its gates, betting that it was a safer option than the dam’s little-used emergency […]
OPINION: Does California Really Need More Dams? We’re Running Out Of Places To Put Them
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby George SkeltonYou hear this every time there’s a drought or deluge in California: “Why haven’t they built more dams?” Truth is, they’ve built a bunch. And they’re about done with it. Tally them up. There are more than 1,400 dams in the state. At least 1,000 are major and 55 can hold 100,000 acre-feet or more […]
‘Flood Fighting Is In Our DNA’: To Live By The Feather River Is To Know Its Power And Danger
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Joe Mozingo and Phil WillonThe early settlers snatched up the rich, loamy land along the Feather River to grow grapes and orchards. Edward Mathews, an Irishman who fled the potato famine, was peddling vegetables and didn’t have the cash for that kind of soil. During heavy rains, the Yuba River would flow so hard into the Feather at Marysville, it […]