Still swirling in controversy, Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed $15.5 billion re-engineering of the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is heading into a critical phase over the next year that could well decide if the project comes to fruition. Crunch time starts Tuesday. The State Water Resources Control Board begins months of grueling public hearings on the details […]
Now that Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has completed its $175 million purchase of four islands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, totaling almost 20,000 acres in size, it is time to engage in a discussion of how Met can be a good Delta neighbor. Delta interests are rightly concerned about the presence of Met in […]
Californians living through a fifth year of historic drought received what seemed like a bit of good news last month: Researchers at Stanford found significantly larger-than-expected groundwater supplies 1,000 to 3,500ft (300 to 1,000m) below the state’s surface, in a first ever assessment of water supplies in California’s deep underground aquifers. Updated estimates of our […]
California decision makers are at a historic crossroads in the long-standing California water crisis. The outcome will permanently alter the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Your voice can steer these decisions in the right direction and now is the time to speak up. On July 26, 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board will begin a series […]
Forget about Tesla Motors Inc.’s batteries: The hottest way to store energy in the electricity business today is a century-old technology that involves moving water to stash power. Known as pumped storage, the giant facilities push large volumes of water uphill when there is surplus electricity, and then let gravity move it back down through turbines […]
Leaders in the Bay Area community of East Palo Alto imposed a moratorium on development until the city can increase its water supply. For the past 14 years, the city has used nearly all of its annual water allotment, making it increasingly difficult for East Palo Alto to approve new developments, unless they can essentially […]
Will the Delta Tunnels Get Built? Plan Enters Critical Make-Or-Break Phase
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dale Kasler and Ryan SabalowStill swirling in controversy, Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed $15.5 billion re-engineering of the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is heading into a critical phase over the next year that could well decide if the project comes to fruition. Crunch time starts Tuesday. The State Water Resources Control Board begins months of grueling public hearings on the details […]
OPINION: Here’s How Metropolitan Water District Can Be Good Delta Neighbor
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Mary Nejedly PiephoNow that Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has completed its $175 million purchase of four islands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, totaling almost 20,000 acres in size, it is time to engage in a discussion of how Met can be a good Delta neighbor. Delta interests are rightly concerned about the presence of Met in […]
Complications of ‘New’ Deep Groundwater
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Kirsten JamesCalifornians living through a fifth year of historic drought received what seemed like a bit of good news last month: Researchers at Stanford found significantly larger-than-expected groundwater supplies 1,000 to 3,500ft (300 to 1,000m) below the state’s surface, in a first ever assessment of water supplies in California’s deep underground aquifers. Updated estimates of our […]
A True Water Emergency Threatens the Delta
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Lodi News-SentinelCalifornia decision makers are at a historic crossroads in the long-standing California water crisis. The outcome will permanently alter the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Your voice can steer these decisions in the right direction and now is the time to speak up. On July 26, 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board will begin a series […]
Pumped Up: Renewables Growth Revives Old Energy-Storage Method
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Wall Street Journalby Rebecca SmithForget about Tesla Motors Inc.’s batteries: The hottest way to store energy in the electricity business today is a century-old technology that involves moving water to stash power. Known as pumped storage, the giant facilities push large volumes of water uphill when there is surplus electricity, and then let gravity move it back down through turbines […]
California City, Lacking Water, Halts Development
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Builder Magazine (Washington, D.C)Leaders in the Bay Area community of East Palo Alto imposed a moratorium on development until the city can increase its water supply. For the past 14 years, the city has used nearly all of its annual water allotment, making it increasingly difficult for East Palo Alto to approve new developments, unless they can essentially […]