This summer, as temperatures soared and depleted groundwater turned the San Joaquin Valley into a collection of sinkholes, state Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, put forth legislation to fast-track conservation of underground water supplies. The proposal was modest: Delay drilling in overdrafted basins until the state’s new groundwater law takes hold in earnest. The bill squeaked […]
A plan to build two huge tunnels to shunt fresh water around the Sacramento Delta is supposed to be funded entirely by the people who received the water. But taxpayers may end up paying a substantial amount of the tab. That’s according to documents obtained by the Stockton-based environmental group Restore the Delta that discuss […]
Gov. Jerry Brown this week signed a bill by Assemblyman James Gallagher to expedite construction of water storage projects, such as the proposed Sites Reservoir in Colusa and Glenn counties. The new law will allow water storage construction projects to utilize alternative delivery methods for procurement. “It’s great. It’s something we worked with a lot […]
September 29, 2016 – For the USDM 7-day period ending on September 27, a low pressure system produced above-normal precipitation in the western High Plains southwestward into the much of the Mountain West. The frontal boundary that was associated with the low produced copious amounts of rainfall for the Southern Plains stretching northward into Upper […]
One of my fondest memories growing up in Hawaii was Hurricane Nina, which wasn’t very significant in the history books, but it left an impression on me. Torrential rains and heavy winds knocked down banana trees and power lines, and took out water mains. We didn’t have running water for part of the time – […]
What will the 2016-20127 winter deliver, weatherwise, for California and Arizona farmers? AccuWeather says that northern California could have a stormy start to the season while points south of the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe will remain warm and dry for the entire winter season. Much the same is predicted for all of Arizona. […]
OPINION: Stop the groundwater grab
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento BeeThis summer, as temperatures soared and depleted groundwater turned the San Joaquin Valley into a collection of sinkholes, state Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, put forth legislation to fast-track conservation of underground water supplies. The proposal was modest: Delay drilling in overdrafted basins until the state’s new groundwater law takes hold in earnest. The bill squeaked […]
$16 Billion Delta Tunnels May Hit Taxpayers
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KCETby Chris ClarkeA plan to build two huge tunnels to shunt fresh water around the Sacramento Delta is supposed to be funded entirely by the people who received the water. But taxpayers may end up paying a substantial amount of the tab. That’s according to documents obtained by the Stockton-based environmental group Restore the Delta that discuss […]
Governor signs Gallagher’s water storage bill
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Appeal-Democratby Jake AbbottGov. Jerry Brown this week signed a bill by Assemblyman James Gallagher to expedite construction of water storage projects, such as the proposed Sites Reservoir in Colusa and Glenn counties. The new law will allow water storage construction projects to utilize alternative delivery methods for procurement. “It’s great. It’s something we worked with a lot […]
California Drought Monitor and National Drought Summary for September 27, 2016
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Sierra Sun TimesSeptember 29, 2016 – For the USDM 7-day period ending on September 27, a low pressure system produced above-normal precipitation in the western High Plains southwestward into the much of the Mountain West. The frontal boundary that was associated with the low produced copious amounts of rainfall for the Southern Plains stretching northward into Upper […]
Why California Is Challenged by Its Mind-set of Plenty
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Laurie ParkOne of my fondest memories growing up in Hawaii was Hurricane Nina, which wasn’t very significant in the history books, but it left an impression on me. Torrential rains and heavy winds knocked down banana trees and power lines, and took out water mains. We didn’t have running water for part of the time – […]
Forecasters mixed on West’s winter weather
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Western Farm Press by Todd FitchetteWhat will the 2016-20127 winter deliver, weatherwise, for California and Arizona farmers? AccuWeather says that northern California could have a stormy start to the season while points south of the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe will remain warm and dry for the entire winter season. Much the same is predicted for all of Arizona. […]