California and the U.S.
The latest news and analysis covering water issues in Caliornia and the rest of the United States.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
26 million trees have died in the Sierra since October, raising fire risk
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Los Angeles Timesby Matt Stevens and Corina KnollA lethal combination of drought, heat and voracious bark beetles has killed 26 million trees in the Sierra Nevada over the last eight months — an alarming finding for a state already raging with wildfires fueled by desiccated landscapes. The dire estimate offered Wednesday by federal officials brings the loss of trees since 2010 to at […]
‘Seismic strain’: Land around the San Andreas fault is rising and sinking, new earthquake research shows
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Los Angeles Timesby Rong-Gong Lin IIFor the first time, scientists have produced a computer image showing huge sections of California rising and sinking around the San Andreas fault. The vertical movement is the result of seismic strain that will be ultimately released in a large earthquake. The San Andreas fault is California’s longest earthquake fault, and one of the state’s most dangerous. Scientists […]
No Easy Path to Implementing California Groundwater Law
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Capital Public Radio (As Published by KPBS)by Amy QuintonThe state’s new groundwater management laws mean Californians no longer have unfettered use of underground water. State law will require the creation of local agencies with sweeping powers to meter wells, tax and penalize anyone who overuses groundwater. If agencies aren’t created by next year, state regulators can take over. The wine region of Paso Robles is […]
California Proposes Adopting New Permitting Program for Wetlands and Waters of the State
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The National Law Review (Western Springs, Ill.)On June 17, 2017, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) published proposed amendments to the Ocean Plan and the water quality control plan for Inland Surface Waters and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries and Ocean Waters of California to adopt procedures for discharges of dredged or fill material to waters of the state that […]
Drought Conditions Improve in West
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Feedstuffs (Bloomington, Minn.)by Krissa WelshansIn May, the West saw the biggest decreases in drought areas, while the Southeast saw the biggest increases, according to National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) climatologist Deborah Bathke. A steady improvement in conditions in northern California and western Nevada led to a reduction of extreme (D3) and severe (D4) drought in these areas. “Extreme southeastern California […]
It’s Going to be a Long, Fiery Summer
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Appeal-Democrat (Marysville)by Chris KaufmanAmple rainfall helped put a dent in California’s drought, but it also created more fuel for wildfires, officials said. Fire departments are gearing up for a long summer with training exercises and are encouraging people to be fire safe. “With lots of rain this winter, the grass grew a lot, and we became a dry tinderbox,” […]