The largest estuary on the West Coast of the Americas lies at California’s heart. It’s a place of constant change, affected by daily tides, sea-level rise, water diversions that serve 25 million residents and a growing population closing in around it. Yet most of those people have no idea the Delta is the subject of one […]
Sen. Barbara Boxer was almost out the door of the U.S. Senate a few weeks ago when she broke ranks with Dianne Feinstein, her fellow Democrat and Capitol Hill colleague, on a massive water-projects bill that included key provisions for California. Boxer echoed environmental groups and backed Bay Area interests in opposing the bill, calling […]
After years of working on water, environment and agriculture issues in California, it remains a mystery to me why the appointed State Water Resources Control Board and several other environmental boards and commissions so often don’t understand the pushback from ordinary Californians on their regulatory agenda. The latest example is occurring during the public comment […]
Amazing as it is, we’ve all made it through another year. Time to take stock of 2016. Or, as I like to put it, “Where the heck did those 12 months go?” Twenty-sixteen started off with a bang, so to speak, for me. I was solicited for prostitution after dropping my car at the repair […]
The $10 billion Congressional water bill approved in December which transfers federal control of some water supplies in California to water authorities at the state level and provides funds for some badly needed structures is being applauded by farmers both north and south. President Obama signed the bill Dec. 16. Sweeping victories by Republicans in […]
These are not good times for Governor Brown’s Delta Tunnels (WaterFix) proposal. The twin 40-foot-diameter, 30-mile-long tunnels would harvest Sacramento River water before it flows through the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. A vast majority of this water would be sent to Big Ag operations like The Wonderful Company in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. It […]
BLOG: Humans Are Missing In Delta Restoration Plan
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Matt WeiserThe largest estuary on the West Coast of the Americas lies at California’s heart. It’s a place of constant change, affected by daily tides, sea-level rise, water diversions that serve 25 million residents and a growing population closing in around it. Yet most of those people have no idea the Delta is the subject of one […]
In The U.S. Senate, Boxer Is Out And Harris Is In – So What’s That Mean For The Valley?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Merced Sun-Starby John EllisSen. Barbara Boxer was almost out the door of the U.S. Senate a few weeks ago when she broke ranks with Dianne Feinstein, her fellow Democrat and Capitol Hill colleague, on a massive water-projects bill that included key provisions for California. Boxer echoed environmental groups and backed Bay Area interests in opposing the bill, calling […]
OPINION: What State Water Board Is Doing Wrong
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Aubrey BettencourtAfter years of working on water, environment and agriculture issues in California, it remains a mystery to me why the appointed State Water Resources Control Board and several other environmental boards and commissions so often don’t understand the pushback from ordinary Californians on their regulatory agenda. The latest example is occurring during the public comment […]
OPINION: Putting Another Busy Year To Bed
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Bakersfield Californianby Lois HenryAmazing as it is, we’ve all made it through another year. Time to take stock of 2016. Or, as I like to put it, “Where the heck did those 12 months go?” Twenty-sixteen started off with a bang, so to speak, for me. I was solicited for prostitution after dropping my car at the repair […]
Ag At Large: New Water Bill Holds Promise For California Agriculture
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Western Farm Press (Fresno)by Don CurleeThe $10 billion Congressional water bill approved in December which transfers federal control of some water supplies in California to water authorities at the state level and provides funds for some badly needed structures is being applauded by farmers both north and south. President Obama signed the bill Dec. 16. Sweeping victories by Republicans in […]
OPINION: Single Tunnel Option Not A Quick Fix For The Delta
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Antioch Heraldby Barbara Barrigan-ParrillaThese are not good times for Governor Brown’s Delta Tunnels (WaterFix) proposal. The twin 40-foot-diameter, 30-mile-long tunnels would harvest Sacramento River water before it flows through the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. A vast majority of this water would be sent to Big Ag operations like The Wonderful Company in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. It […]