Western communities are facing effects of a warming climate with slower and earlier snowmelt reducing streamflows and possibly the amount of water reaching reservoirs used for drinking water and agriculture, according to a study published in July. “As the climate warms, there is actually a slower snowmelt – both in timing and rates, which makes […]
Shortly before state water officials announced today that most urban water providers will no longer be subject to mandatory conservation targets, three environmental groups pleaded with the same panel for emergency flows through the Delta to prevent extinction of the smelt. It’s normal for some smelt to die off this time of year as juveniles mature into […]
The San Joaquin Valley Weather Infrastructure Authority (SJVWIA), a Joint Power of Authority composed of many San Joaquin Valley cities, counties and water agencies, is charged with the goals of ensuring completion of the Temperance Flat Dam feasibility studies and preparing the necessary bond funding application to get the structure built. Stephen Worthley, president of the SJVWIA and member […]
Amid punishing drought, federal water managers projected Tuesday that — by a very narrow margin— the crucial Lake Mead reservoir on the Colorado River won’t have enough water to make full deliveries to Nevada and Arizona in 2018. A federal report shows the surface level of the lake behind Hoover Dam is expected to remain […]
State-imposed water conservation targets are mostly a thing of the past in San Joaquin County — and much of California — after water providers determined they have enough supply to scrape through another three years of drought. This doesn’t mean the drought is over, of course, and residents must still abide by relatively new rules […]
The vast majority of California’s urban water districts report they have enough supplies to withstand three more years of drought, clearing them from an imminent return to state-mandated cutbacks under a new program of locally controlled conservation. The State Water Resources Control Board in May dropped a statewide mandate to cut urban water use by […]
Slower Snowmelt Affects Downstream Water Availability in Western Mountains
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Phys.orgWestern communities are facing effects of a warming climate with slower and earlier snowmelt reducing streamflows and possibly the amount of water reaching reservoirs used for drinking water and agriculture, according to a study published in July. “As the climate warms, there is actually a slower snowmelt – both in timing and rates, which makes […]
BLOG: ‘Still an Opportunity’ to Save the Smelt?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /ESanJoaquin.comby Alex BreitlerShortly before state water officials announced today that most urban water providers will no longer be subject to mandatory conservation targets, three environmental groups pleaded with the same panel for emergency flows through the Delta to prevent extinction of the smelt. It’s normal for some smelt to die off this time of year as juveniles mature into […]
Temperance Flat Dam Feasibility Studies Underway
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /California AG Today (Sacramento)by Laurie GreeneThe San Joaquin Valley Weather Infrastructure Authority (SJVWIA), a Joint Power of Authority composed of many San Joaquin Valley cities, counties and water agencies, is charged with the goals of ensuring completion of the Temperance Flat Dam feasibility studies and preparing the necessary bond funding application to get the structure built. Stephen Worthley, president of the SJVWIA and member […]
Nevada Could See Cut in its 2018 Water Allocation Because of Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Las Vegas Sunby Ken RitterAmid punishing drought, federal water managers projected Tuesday that — by a very narrow margin— the crucial Lake Mead reservoir on the Colorado River won’t have enough water to make full deliveries to Nevada and Arizona in 2018. A federal report shows the surface level of the lake behind Hoover Dam is expected to remain […]
Bar Lowered on Water Conservation During Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Stockton Recordby Alex BreitlerState-imposed water conservation targets are mostly a thing of the past in San Joaquin County — and much of California — after water providers determined they have enough supply to scrape through another three years of drought. This doesn’t mean the drought is over, of course, and residents must still abide by relatively new rules […]
California Water Supplies Pass ‘Stress Test’
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Wall Street Journal by Jim CarltonThe vast majority of California’s urban water districts report they have enough supplies to withstand three more years of drought, clearing them from an imminent return to state-mandated cutbacks under a new program of locally controlled conservation. The State Water Resources Control Board in May dropped a statewide mandate to cut urban water use by […]