Today, House committee legislators will be voting to approve or deny a California irrigation bill that would forgive $375 million worth of debt owed by one of the nation’s largest farm-focused irrigation districts, Westlands Water District. Approving the plan would, essentially, relieve the federal government of its obligation to provide drainage for each farm in […]
The Imperial Irrigation District has given California officials an ultimatum on the Salton Sea, demanding the state finalize a 10-year “roadmap” for the shrinking lake by the end of this year. The Imperial Valley water district made the appeal this week, urging state officials to uphold their responsibility to control dust and protect public health as […]
Next year, A new California law will revolutionize how the state manages its groundwater. By June 30, 2017, according to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), many groundwater users must form new agencies and begin drafting plans to “sustainably manage” their aquifers. Three years later, they must begin operating aquifers according to those new plans, which […]
Business as usual on the Colorado River may be about to come to a screeching halt. One of the worst recorded droughts in human history has stretched water supplies thin across the far-reaching river basin, which serves 40 million people. Nowhere is this more obvious than Lake Mead, which straddles the border of Arizona and […]
Business as usual on the Colorado River may be about to come to a screeching halt. One of the worst recorded droughts in human history has stretched water supplies thin across the far-reaching river basin, which serves 40 million people. Nowhere is this more obvious than Lake Mead, which straddles the border of Arizona and […]
A key House committee on Wednesday approved a big irrigation drainage deal with California’s politically potent Westlands Water District, opening another front in the state’s ongoing conflict over water, money and power. Watched over by a handful of lobbyists and activists, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the controversial Westlands deal by a mostly party […]
California’s Westlands Water District Could Win Forgiveness for $375 Million Debt
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /And Now You Know (Sacramento)by Jessica DonnelToday, House committee legislators will be voting to approve or deny a California irrigation bill that would forgive $375 million worth of debt owed by one of the nation’s largest farm-focused irrigation districts, Westlands Water District. Approving the plan would, essentially, relieve the federal government of its obligation to provide drainage for each farm in […]
Salton Sea ultimatum: California water district demands state plan by Dec. 31
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Desert Sunby Ian JamesThe Imperial Irrigation District has given California officials an ultimatum on the Salton Sea, demanding the state finalize a 10-year “roadmap” for the shrinking lake by the end of this year. The Imperial Valley water district made the appeal this week, urging state officials to uphold their responsibility to control dust and protect public health as […]
BLOG: ‘Sustainable’ Groundwater? It’s Not a Universal Standard in California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Matt WeiserNext year, A new California law will revolutionize how the state manages its groundwater. By June 30, 2017, according to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), many groundwater users must form new agencies and begin drafting plans to “sustainably manage” their aquifers. Three years later, they must begin operating aquifers according to those new plans, which […]
Drought on Colorado River Sparks Revolutionary Idea: Sharing Water
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KQED (San Francisco)by Lauren Sommer and Grace HoodBusiness as usual on the Colorado River may be about to come to a screeching halt. One of the worst recorded droughts in human history has stretched water supplies thin across the far-reaching river basin, which serves 40 million people. Nowhere is this more obvious than Lake Mead, which straddles the border of Arizona and […]
Drought on Colorado River Sparks Revolutionary Idea: Sharing Water
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KQED (San Francisco)by Lauren Sommer and Grace HoodBusiness as usual on the Colorado River may be about to come to a screeching halt. One of the worst recorded droughts in human history has stretched water supplies thin across the far-reaching river basin, which serves 40 million people. Nowhere is this more obvious than Lake Mead, which straddles the border of Arizona and […]
Another step in long march toward California water deal in Congress
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Michael DoyleA key House committee on Wednesday approved a big irrigation drainage deal with California’s politically potent Westlands Water District, opening another front in the state’s ongoing conflict over water, money and power. Watched over by a handful of lobbyists and activists, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the controversial Westlands deal by a mostly party […]