New rules floated by California water regulators would force utilities to sell less water at a time when it is becoming more difficult for them to raise customer rates, credit ratings agency Fitch said on Monday. “Water rates have risen faster than incomes. If this trend continues, Fitch would expect that overall rate flexibility – […]
A few weeks ago, Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration released draft recommendations to develop water use targets for water suppliers and to improve drought planning as part of a new statewide framework to permanently use our state’s precious water supplies more wisely. The draft report identified statewide measures to eliminate water waste, strengthen local drought planning […]
Merced elected officials and community members alike gave the State Water Resources Control Board a tongue lashing Monday during a public hearing on the board’s Bay-Delta Plan. Officials called the state board members “the grim reaper,” “the assassin squad” and “domestic terrorists” for their proposal to send 40 percent of Merced River’s water into the […]
A professor of chemistry at Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif., shared images on Facebook of the extraordinary “needle ice” that formed outside his home when temperatures dropped to a chilly 20 degrees in the Sierra foothills Sunday night. “It’s everywhere at my place,” wrote Michael C. Brelle, who lives in Alta. “This is the result […]
The weather has quieted down across California after last week’s soaking storm across the state. The setup involved several different factors that led to the significant rainfall event across the state, especially along the coast of northern and central California. For starters, a plume of moisture was observed extending from the tropics near Hawaii to […]
The California Department of Water Resources will commission a new research vessel next week. The department will hold a ceremony and display the vessel Sentinel to news media on Monday in Sacramento. The department says the floating laboratory is critical to maintaining water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. The Sentinel […]
Water Conservation Push Could Put California Utilities In A Tough Spot: Fitch
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Reutersby Rory CarrollNew rules floated by California water regulators would force utilities to sell less water at a time when it is becoming more difficult for them to raise customer rates, credit ratings agency Fitch said on Monday. “Water rates have risen faster than incomes. If this trend continues, Fitch would expect that overall rate flexibility – […]
OPINION: Water Efficiency Must Become A Permanent California Habit
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dave Cogdill and Joe GrindstaffA few weeks ago, Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration released draft recommendations to develop water use targets for water suppliers and to improve drought planning as part of a new statewide framework to permanently use our state’s precious water supplies more wisely. The draft report identified statewide measures to eliminate water waste, strengthen local drought planning […]
Fed-up Farmers Drive Tractors To Protest At State Water Board Hearing
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Fresno Beeby Brianna CalixMerced elected officials and community members alike gave the State Water Resources Control Board a tongue lashing Monday during a public hearing on the board’s Bay-Delta Plan. Officials called the state board members “the grim reaper,” “the assassin squad” and “domestic terrorists” for their proposal to send 40 percent of Merced River’s water into the […]
Cold Weather Causes Needle Ice To Grow Out Of Ground In Sierra Foothills
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /SFGate (San Francisco)by Amy GraffA professor of chemistry at Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif., shared images on Facebook of the extraordinary “needle ice” that formed outside his home when temperatures dropped to a chilly 20 degrees in the Sierra foothills Sunday night. “It’s everywhere at my place,” wrote Michael C. Brelle, who lives in Alta. “This is the result […]
BLOG: A Quick Recap On Last Week’s Rain And Snow Across California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /AccuWeather (State College, Pa.)by Ken ClarkThe weather has quieted down across California after last week’s soaking storm across the state. The setup involved several different factors that led to the significant rainfall event across the state, especially along the coast of northern and central California. For starters, a plume of moisture was observed extending from the tropics near Hawaii to […]
California To Commission New Delta Research Vessel
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Capital Public Radio (Sacramento)The California Department of Water Resources will commission a new research vessel next week. The department will hold a ceremony and display the vessel Sentinel to news media on Monday in Sacramento. The department says the floating laboratory is critical to maintaining water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. The Sentinel […]