It would be easy to think California may not have a lot to learn from farmers in places like the Great Plains. After all, the Golden State is a leader in so many things: computer technology, environmental policy, social justice issues, lifestyle and culinary trends. But farmers in the Great Plains and other parts of […]
The Sierra snowpack, which is responsible for more than 60 percent of California’s water, won’t likely make it back to its pre-drought levels until 2019, scientists said in a study published this week, dashing the hopes of those who believed one extremely wet El Niño year could alleviate the state’s water crisis. In the study, […]
Families in a poor farming community where hundreds of domestic wells have dried up during California’s historic drought will soon have clean water again flowing into their homes, officials said Wednesday. The state announced plans to spend $10 million to begin connecting unincorporated East Porterville in Tulare County to the water system of neighboring Porterville. […]
A lethal combination of drought, heat and voracious bark beetles has killed 26 million trees in the Sierra Nevada over the last eight months — an alarming finding for a state already raging with wildfires fueled by desiccated landscapes. The dire estimate offered Wednesday by federal officials brings the loss of trees since 2010 to at […]
For the first time, scientists have produced a computer image showing huge sections of California rising and sinking around the San Andreas fault. The vertical movement is the result of seismic strain that will be ultimately released in a large earthquake. The San Andreas fault is California’s longest earthquake fault, and one of the state’s most dangerous. Scientists […]
The state’s new groundwater management laws mean Californians no longer have unfettered use of underground water. State law will require the creation of local agencies with sweeping powers to meter wells, tax and penalize anyone who overuses groundwater. If agencies aren’t created by next year, state regulators can take over. The wine region of Paso Robles is […]
BLOG: California: Catching Up With the Irrigation World
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Matt WeiserIt would be easy to think California may not have a lot to learn from farmers in places like the Great Plains. After all, the Golden State is a leader in so many things: computer technology, environmental policy, social justice issues, lifestyle and culinary trends. But farmers in the Great Plains and other parts of […]
Study shows Sierra snowpack 3 years away from pre-drought levels
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /SFGate (San Francisco)by Kevin SchultzThe Sierra snowpack, which is responsible for more than 60 percent of California’s water, won’t likely make it back to its pre-drought levels until 2019, scientists said in a study published this week, dashing the hopes of those who believed one extremely wet El Niño year could alleviate the state’s water crisis. In the study, […]
State: Dry California Town Soon to Have Running Water Return
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Associated Press (As Published by ABC News)by scott smithFamilies in a poor farming community where hundreds of domestic wells have dried up during California’s historic drought will soon have clean water again flowing into their homes, officials said Wednesday. The state announced plans to spend $10 million to begin connecting unincorporated East Porterville in Tulare County to the water system of neighboring Porterville. […]
26 million trees have died in the Sierra since October, raising fire risk
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Los Angeles Timesby Matt Stevens and Corina KnollA lethal combination of drought, heat and voracious bark beetles has killed 26 million trees in the Sierra Nevada over the last eight months — an alarming finding for a state already raging with wildfires fueled by desiccated landscapes. The dire estimate offered Wednesday by federal officials brings the loss of trees since 2010 to at […]
‘Seismic strain’: Land around the San Andreas fault is rising and sinking, new earthquake research shows
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Los Angeles Timesby Rong-Gong Lin IIFor the first time, scientists have produced a computer image showing huge sections of California rising and sinking around the San Andreas fault. The vertical movement is the result of seismic strain that will be ultimately released in a large earthquake. The San Andreas fault is California’s longest earthquake fault, and one of the state’s most dangerous. Scientists […]
No Easy Path to Implementing California Groundwater Law
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Capital Public Radio (As Published by KPBS)by Amy QuintonThe state’s new groundwater management laws mean Californians no longer have unfettered use of underground water. State law will require the creation of local agencies with sweeping powers to meter wells, tax and penalize anyone who overuses groundwater. If agencies aren’t created by next year, state regulators can take over. The wine region of Paso Robles is […]