Marking a major shift in California water policy, state regulators Wednesday voted to lift the statewide conservation targets that for the past year have required dramatic cutbacks in irrigation and household water use for the Sacramento region and urban communities across the state. The new rules adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board allow […]
California on Wednesday suspended its mandatory statewide 25 percent reduction in urban water use, telling local communities to set their own conservation standards after a relatively wet winter and a year of enormous savings in urban water use. The new rules are a sharp change in policy for a state struggling to manage one of […]
The federal agency that manages fishing harvests along the Pacific Coast has strongly criticized drought legislation proposed by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, saying it will cause “irreparable harm” to salmon and the coastal communities that depend on fishing. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, based in Portland, Ore., prepared a letter on May 11 analyzing Feinstein’s […]
The Department of Water Resources’ new Water Footprint webpage features two online calculators designed to help individuals and households determine how much water they use. According to Water Plan e-news, the GRACE Communications Foundation developed a calculator that individuals and households can use to calculate their water footprint. The Water Footprint Network also has a […]
Stratford, California, is located in the Central Valley—where years of drought threaten the livelihood of the community. Lack of water in the region has severely decreased crop yields for farmers, meaning fewer jobs in rural communities. In this short documentary by Joris Debeij and Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Stratford residents mull over what the decrease in food […]
Lake Mead is less than a foot of dropping to its lowest point in history. Stefano Fasano says he’s been coming to Lake Mead for nearly 20 years and understands the water level is down. Fasano said even launching a boat has changed, but he’s an optimist pointing out there’s still a lot of lake left. […]
California lifts tough statewide water conservation rules
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Phillip Reese and Ryan SabalowMarking a major shift in California water policy, state regulators Wednesday voted to lift the statewide conservation targets that for the past year have required dramatic cutbacks in irrigation and household water use for the Sacramento region and urban communities across the state. The new rules adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board allow […]
In Sharp Reversal, California Suspends Water Restrictions
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The New York Timesby ADAM NAGOURNEY and IAN LOVETTCalifornia on Wednesday suspended its mandatory statewide 25 percent reduction in urban water use, telling local communities to set their own conservation standards after a relatively wet winter and a year of enormous savings in urban water use. The new rules are a sharp change in policy for a state struggling to manage one of […]
BLOG: Fishery Agency Slams Feinstein Drought Bill
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York) by Matt WeiserThe federal agency that manages fishing harvests along the Pacific Coast has strongly criticized drought legislation proposed by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, saying it will cause “irreparable harm” to salmon and the coastal communities that depend on fishing. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, based in Portland, Ore., prepared a letter on May 11 analyzing Feinstein’s […]
California’s Online Water Footprint Calculator Helps Citizens Track Usage
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Government Technology (Folsom)The Department of Water Resources’ new Water Footprint webpage features two online calculators designed to help individuals and households determine how much water they use. According to Water Plan e-news, the GRACE Communications Foundation developed a calculator that individuals and households can use to calculate their water footprint. The Water Footprint Network also has a […]
VIDEO: When a Town Runs Dry
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Atlantic (Washington, D.C.)Stratford, California, is located in the Central Valley—where years of drought threaten the livelihood of the community. Lack of water in the region has severely decreased crop yields for farmers, meaning fewer jobs in rural communities. In this short documentary by Joris Debeij and Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Stratford residents mull over what the decrease in food […]
Lake Mead Water Level Drops Close to its Lowest Point
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KSNV (Las Vegas, Nev.)by Denise RoschLake Mead is less than a foot of dropping to its lowest point in history. Stefano Fasano says he’s been coming to Lake Mead for nearly 20 years and understands the water level is down. Fasano said even launching a boat has changed, but he’s an optimist pointing out there’s still a lot of lake left. […]