After a season of normal rainfall, both state and local water regulators are poised to cancel the range of use regulations put in place during the past two years. Pointing to reservoirs now almost fully-filled, water agencies here in Northern California – having just raised water rates to compensate for the reduced billings during the […]
While the rest of California may still be struggling with drought, Del Norte County is not. And, that has some local officials questioning why the state wants to apply the same tighter water regulations here as elsewhere. A new regulation requiring water diversion permit holders to monitor withdrawal beyond what they are currently doing — […]
The fact-checkers had a field day with Donald Trump’s pronouncement last week that, in effect, there is no drought in California.“Lies Trump reality,” blared the headline in Slate. I realize that because he’s running for president, and because of his track record, everything Trump says will be — and should be — closely scrutinized. But everyone […]
The perhaps not-so-secret nature of California’s major reservoirs — the big artificial lakes designed to impound floodwaters and snowmelt coursing down the state’s biggest rivers — is that they’re little more than big bathtubs. We depend on a beneficent nature to turn on the taps every winter and fill them. And we pull the plug […]
Water is vital to our agricultural industry here on the Central Coast, and I believe state Assembly candidate Jordan Cunningham is willing to fight for it. I have spoken at length with Jordan, who is fully engaged in making sure that our Proposition 1 water bond is spent wisely and responsibly. The bond will help prepare […]
For years California was behind the curve on managing groundwater, with dire results. There are now 21 groundwater basins or subbasins in the state that are critically overdrafted. Help may be on the way, though. The state took action in 2014 with the passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The legislation will take […]
OPINION: The Drought is Over?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Sonoma Valley SunAfter a season of normal rainfall, both state and local water regulators are poised to cancel the range of use regulations put in place during the past two years. Pointing to reservoirs now almost fully-filled, water agencies here in Northern California – having just raised water rates to compensate for the reduced billings during the […]
Water Regulations: California Monitoring Mandate Draws Fire
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Del Norte Triplicate (Crescent City)by David AndersonWhile the rest of California may still be struggling with drought, Del Norte County is not. And, that has some local officials questioning why the state wants to apply the same tighter water regulations here as elsewhere. A new regulation requiring water diversion permit holders to monitor withdrawal beyond what they are currently doing — […]
BLOG: ‘Drought’ not so easily defined
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Joaquin Blogby Alex BreitlerThe fact-checkers had a field day with Donald Trump’s pronouncement last week that, in effect, there is no drought in California.“Lies Trump reality,” blared the headline in Slate. I realize that because he’s running for president, and because of his track record, everything Trump says will be — and should be — closely scrutinized. But everyone […]
California Reservoirs Full Again; Let the Draining Begin
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KQED (San Francisco)by Dan BrekkeThe perhaps not-so-secret nature of California’s major reservoirs — the big artificial lakes designed to impound floodwaters and snowmelt coursing down the state’s biggest rivers — is that they’re little more than big bathtubs. We depend on a beneficent nature to turn on the taps every winter and fill them. And we pull the plug […]
OPINION: California Assembly Candidate Jordan Cunningham’s Plan is Water Tight
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The San Luis Obispo TribuneWater is vital to our agricultural industry here on the Central Coast, and I believe state Assembly candidate Jordan Cunningham is willing to fight for it. I have spoken at length with Jordan, who is fully engaged in making sure that our Proposition 1 water bond is spent wisely and responsibly. The bond will help prepare […]
BLOG: The Key to Saving California’s Groundwater
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Tara LohanFor years California was behind the curve on managing groundwater, with dire results. There are now 21 groundwater basins or subbasins in the state that are critically overdrafted. Help may be on the way, though. The state took action in 2014 with the passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The legislation will take […]