Minnesotans have 10,000 good reasons to care about their water resources. And they do, demonstrating it by voting themselves a tax increase in 2008 largely on the strength of an appeal for the value of our lakes, rivers and streams. Beyond that, “there’s an alignment of planets right now” when it comes to attention to water […]
Two of Gov. Jerry Brown’s favorite projects — building a high-speed rail system and a pair of massive tunnels under the Delta — face a serious threat if California voters pass a measure heading for the November ballot. The “No Blank Checks Initiative,” bankrolled with $4.5 million from Stockton farmer and businessman Dean Cortopassi, would […]
Following the first year of near average rainfall compared to the past four years of extreme drought conditions, California has decided to retract all urban water conservation efforts for the foreseeable future. The state’s reservoirs are full and various urban water municipalities have been losing money as a result of the water conservation efforts enforced […]
A wildfire burning in Northern California has grown to more than 1,500 acres and continues to threaten thousands of homes, forcing residents to flee, authorities said Thursday. The Trailhead fire broke out Tuesday along the middle fork of the American River near Todd Valley, about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to the Department of […]
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton….” Hold it there. Cotton growers don’t like those fish jumpin’. Neither do hardly any other growers in the thirsty San Joaquin Valley. Not bass, anyway, jumpin’ in the bucolic California Delta. They want `em dead. Striped and black bass, so popular with recreational anglers, […]
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s $175 million purchase of five islands in the heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has been cleared to move forward, even as legal challenges continue. On Thursday, the 3rd District Court of Appeal lifted a temporary stay order it had issued in June that briefly prevented the sale […]
OPINION: Paying Attention to our Water Supply
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.)Minnesotans have 10,000 good reasons to care about their water resources. And they do, demonstrating it by voting themselves a tax increase in 2008 largely on the strength of an appeal for the value of our lakes, rivers and streams. Beyond that, “there’s an alignment of planets right now” when it comes to attention to water […]
California Bullet Train, Delta Tunnels: Jerry Brown’s Pet Projects Face Threat From Ballot Measure
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Jose Mercury Newsby Paul RogersTwo of Gov. Jerry Brown’s favorite projects — building a high-speed rail system and a pair of massive tunnels under the Delta — face a serious threat if California voters pass a measure heading for the November ballot. The “No Blank Checks Initiative,” bankrolled with $4.5 million from Stockton farmer and businessman Dean Cortopassi, would […]
BLOG: Is California a ‘State in Denial’ Concerning its Drought?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Weather Undergroundby Christopher C. BurtFollowing the first year of near average rainfall compared to the past four years of extreme drought conditions, California has decided to retract all urban water conservation efforts for the foreseeable future. The state’s reservoirs are full and various urban water municipalities have been losing money as a result of the water conservation efforts enforced […]
2,600 Buildings Threatened by Northern California Wildfire, Forcing Residents to Flee
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Matt Hamilton and Joseph SernaA wildfire burning in Northern California has grown to more than 1,500 acres and continues to threaten thousands of homes, forcing residents to flee, authorities said Thursday. The Trailhead fire broke out Tuesday along the middle fork of the American River near Todd Valley, about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to the Department of […]
Let Bass off the Hook in Gov. Jerry Brown’s Delta Tunnel Plan
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby George SkeltonSummertime, and the livin’ is easy. Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton….” Hold it there. Cotton growers don’t like those fish jumpin’. Neither do hardly any other growers in the thirsty San Joaquin Valley. Not bass, anyway, jumpin’ in the bucolic California Delta. They want `em dead. Striped and black bass, so popular with recreational anglers, […]
Court Rules That Sale of Delta Islands Can Proceed
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan SabalowThe Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s $175 million purchase of five islands in the heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has been cleared to move forward, even as legal challenges continue. On Thursday, the 3rd District Court of Appeal lifted a temporary stay order it had issued in June that briefly prevented the sale […]