California will not be able to take Arizona’s unused water in Lake Mead. That was the take home message in a letter from a federal water official to Sen. Jeff Flake on Wednesday. As the drought on the Colorado River has lingered on, Arizona has voluntarily foregone some of its water and left it in […]
California’s prolonged drought has driven home the need to improve our balance sheet for water – determining how much there is, who has claims to it and what is actually being used. Our research, which was released Wednesday, has identified major gaps in the collection, management and use of water information. Compared to 11 other […]
When a coalition of California and federal agencies announced a new Delta Smelt Resiliency Strategy last week, the ambitious plan to save the region’s nearly extinct fish grabbed headlines. But whether most, or even parts, of the comprehensive program can realistically put in place the changes needed to rescue this endangered native species is another […]
The California Supreme Court is set to issue a ruling Thursday that could add millions of dollars to the cost of the governor’s $15.7 billion plan to build two giant water tunnels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. At issue is whether California officials must pay landowners to access thousands of acres of private property to […]
Climate change and population growth are rapidly increasing stress on our water systems, challenging their ability to deliver critical services. To respond to this, we need more than simple course adjustments in how we manage our water – we need entirely new paradigms that will improve resource efficiency and support more sustainable urban water systems. […]
Local officials are judged on how well their governments provide basic services from transportation to trash collection. So it has been with drinking water: if the water was safe to drink and reliably delivered, water managers were doing their job. Moreover, when water managers thought about long-term planning, the answer was always the same: increase […]
Federal Department: Arizona’s Excess Water Safe From California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /91.5 KJZZ (Arizona)by Will StoneCalifornia will not be able to take Arizona’s unused water in Lake Mead. That was the take home message in a letter from a federal water official to Sen. Jeff Flake on Wednesday. As the drought on the Colorado River has lingered on, Arizona has voluntarily foregone some of its water and left it in […]
California needs better account of groundwater
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Alvar Escriva-Bou, Ellen Hanak and Jay LundCalifornia’s prolonged drought has driven home the need to improve our balance sheet for water – determining how much there is, who has claims to it and what is actually being used. Our research, which was released Wednesday, has identified major gaps in the collection, management and use of water information. Compared to 11 other […]
Plan to Save Delta Smelt Faces Tough Road
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Michael LevitinWhen a coalition of California and federal agencies announced a new Delta Smelt Resiliency Strategy last week, the ambitious plan to save the region’s nearly extinct fish grabbed headlines. But whether most, or even parts, of the comprehensive program can realistically put in place the changes needed to rescue this endangered native species is another […]
Court ruling could boost cost of California water project
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby SUDHIN THANAWALAThe California Supreme Court is set to issue a ruling Thursday that could add millions of dollars to the cost of the governor’s $15.7 billion plan to build two giant water tunnels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. At issue is whether California officials must pay landowners to access thousands of acres of private property to […]
Accelerating Innovation in the Urban Water Sector
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Michael KiparskyClimate change and population growth are rapidly increasing stress on our water systems, challenging their ability to deliver critical services. To respond to this, we need more than simple course adjustments in how we manage our water – we need entirely new paradigms that will improve resource efficiency and support more sustainable urban water systems. […]
The Unforgiving New Landscape for Water Utilities
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Max GombergLocal officials are judged on how well their governments provide basic services from transportation to trash collection. So it has been with drinking water: if the water was safe to drink and reliably delivered, water managers were doing their job. Moreover, when water managers thought about long-term planning, the answer was always the same: increase […]