It doesn’t matter how old you are, or if you weren’t even born at the time: Most residents know about the great floods of the area from 1955, 1986 and 1997. One flood residents may not know about, though, is the “Forgotten Flood” of 1940 that devastated 780 square miles of Sutter, Butte, Tehama, Glenn […]
New research suggests that “flash droughts” – like the one that unexpectedly gripped the Southern Rockies and Midwest in the summer of 2012 – could be predicted months in advance using soil moisture and snowpack data. Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) analyzed the conditions leading up to the 2012 drought, which […]
Sacramentans are still saving water, but their conservation efforts have slipped compared with a year ago, suggesting that the relaxation of statewide drought mandates is prompting more consumption. The Sacramento Regional Water Authority reported Wednesday that area residents reduced water consumption in September by 15 percent compared with the September 2013 baseline. A year ago, […]
Farmland values are tumbling in California’s Central Valley, reflecting a drop in key commodity prices as well as concerns over water shortages and the state’s enduring drought. A study released Wednesday by agricultural lender Rabobank N.A. says the price of farmland in parts of the valley will decline by as much as 30 percent between […]
Rain will douse California late this week, with the potential for some rain to reach southern portions of the state. While the rain will be beneficial in terms of the drought, enough rain can fall to cause travel disruptions and localized flash flooding from Thursday to Friday. More than 40 percent of California is dealing […]
It looks like the politically powerful Westlands Water District, one of the main backers of Governor Jerry Brown’s Delta Tunnels and Congressional legislation to eviscerate protections for Sacramento River Chinook salmon and Delta smelt, is in more financial trouble. Fitch Ratings downgraded the scheduled October 26 bond sale by Westlands from ‘AA-‘ to ‘A+’. Among […]
Remembering a ‘Forgotten Flood’
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Appeal Democrat (Marysville)by Rachel RosenbaumIt doesn’t matter how old you are, or if you weren’t even born at the time: Most residents know about the great floods of the area from 1955, 1986 and 1997. One flood residents may not know about, though, is the “Forgotten Flood” of 1940 that devastated 780 square miles of Sutter, Butte, Tehama, Glenn […]
Soil moisture, snowpack data could help predict ‘flash droughts’
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /WHNT19 News (Huntsville, Alabama)by Jake ReedNew research suggests that “flash droughts” – like the one that unexpectedly gripped the Southern Rockies and Midwest in the summer of 2012 – could be predicted months in advance using soil moisture and snowpack data. Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) analyzed the conditions leading up to the 2012 drought, which […]
Is Sacramento slacking when it comes to saving water?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dale KaslerSacramentans are still saving water, but their conservation efforts have slipped compared with a year ago, suggesting that the relaxation of statewide drought mandates is prompting more consumption. The Sacramento Regional Water Authority reported Wednesday that area residents reduced water consumption in September by 15 percent compared with the September 2013 baseline. A year ago, […]
The value of Central Valley farmland is falling. Here’s why.
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dale KaslerFarmland values are tumbling in California’s Central Valley, reflecting a drop in key commodity prices as well as concerns over water shortages and the state’s enduring drought. A study released Wednesday by agricultural lender Rabobank N.A. says the price of farmland in parts of the valley will decline by as much as 30 percent between […]
Late-Week Storm To Deliver Critical Rainfall To California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /AccuWeather (State College, Pa.)by Renee DuffRain will douse California late this week, with the potential for some rain to reach southern portions of the state. While the rain will be beneficial in terms of the drought, enough rain can fall to cause travel disruptions and localized flash flooding from Thursday to Friday. More than 40 percent of California is dealing […]
Delta Tunnels: Fitch Ratings Downgrades Westlands’ Next Bond Sale
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Centerby Dan BacherIt looks like the politically powerful Westlands Water District, one of the main backers of Governor Jerry Brown’s Delta Tunnels and Congressional legislation to eviscerate protections for Sacramento River Chinook salmon and Delta smelt, is in more financial trouble. Fitch Ratings downgraded the scheduled October 26 bond sale by Westlands from ‘AA-‘ to ‘A+’. Among […]