When San Diego passed a far-reaching Climate Action Plan last December, there was real reason to celebrate. The nation’s eighth-largest city, a poster child for Southern California suburbia, had passed a far-reaching, progressive environmental policy (with a Republican mayor in charge) that not only advocated for important goals, such as slashing carbon emissions in half by 2035, […]
You don’t have to look too far to find disheartening stories about water in the American West. In general, it seems, we’re running out. We have droughts and climate change impacts. There are “water wars” between states or stakeholders. John Fleck, a journalist first in Southern California and then later for 25 years in Albuquerque, […]
President Obama made a historic announcement Wednesday, saying that the federal government is considering investing in the geothermal power in the rock formations under the Salton Sea in Southern California. Considered to be “the most powerful geothermal reservoirs in the world,” the Salton Sea announcement could play a critical role in the future management of the Colorado River. Fifty […]
This U.S. Drought Monitor week saw a swath of above normal precipitation stretching from western Texas northeastward through parts of western Oklahoma, much of Kansas, northwest Missouri and into northern Illinois. A combination of moisture flowing in from the Southwest and Southeast along with a stalled frontal boundary brought abundant precipitation to areas of Texas […]
Cotton plants are getting ready to bloom, and as you drive by some of the cotton farms in the San Joaquin Valley, you might notice a lot more white. That’s because farmers in the state are growing more cotton, according to the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations. The acreage size in California has grown […]
/in California and the U.S./by Mike Lee /Total Landscape Care (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) by Jill Odom Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority
Although most of California has continued to conserve water during the ongoing drought after mandatory water usage cuts were dropped, the state has now passed legislation to discipline water wasters if conservation levels fall. A bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday requires urban water suppliers, cities, water districts and private water companies with more than […]
Can San Diego’s Ambitious Environmental Plan Make it a Test Case For Green Urbanism?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Curbed (New York City, N.Y.)by Patrick SissonWhen San Diego passed a far-reaching Climate Action Plan last December, there was real reason to celebrate. The nation’s eighth-largest city, a poster child for Southern California suburbia, had passed a far-reaching, progressive environmental policy (with a Republican mayor in charge) that not only advocated for important goals, such as slashing carbon emissions in half by 2035, […]
BLOG: Debunking the West’s Biggest Water Myths
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Tara LohanYou don’t have to look too far to find disheartening stories about water in the American West. In general, it seems, we’re running out. We have droughts and climate change impacts. There are “water wars” between states or stakeholders. John Fleck, a journalist first in Southern California and then later for 25 years in Albuquerque, […]
Could the ‘Most Powerful Geothermal Reservoirs in the World’ Save the Colorado River?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Eco Watch (Cleveland)by Gary WocknerPresident Obama made a historic announcement Wednesday, saying that the federal government is considering investing in the geothermal power in the rock formations under the Salton Sea in Southern California. Considered to be “the most powerful geothermal reservoirs in the world,” the Salton Sea announcement could play a critical role in the future management of the Colorado River. Fifty […]
California and National Drought Summary for August 30, 2016
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Sierra Sun Times (Mariposa)by Chris FenimoreThis U.S. Drought Monitor week saw a swath of above normal precipitation stretching from western Texas northeastward through parts of western Oklahoma, much of Kansas, northwest Missouri and into northern Illinois. A combination of moisture flowing in from the Southwest and Southeast along with a stalled frontal boundary brought abundant precipitation to areas of Texas […]
Valley Farmers Growing 35% More Cotton, Despite Another Year of Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Your Central Valley (Fresno)by Connie TranCotton plants are getting ready to bloom, and as you drive by some of the cotton farms in the San Joaquin Valley, you might notice a lot more white. That’s because farmers in the state are growing more cotton, according to the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations. The acreage size in California has grown […]
California Law Enables Public Shaming of Those Who Waste Water
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Total Landscape Care (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) by Jill Odom Mentioned: San Diego County Water AuthorityAlthough most of California has continued to conserve water during the ongoing drought after mandatory water usage cuts were dropped, the state has now passed legislation to discipline water wasters if conservation levels fall. A bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday requires urban water suppliers, cities, water districts and private water companies with more than […]