This year was supposed to be different. With Northern California’s reservoirs finally brimming and cities liberated from stringent conservation rules, farmers were expecting more water for their crops. The worst of the drought seemed over. Or maybe not. Despite a winter of fairly abundant rain and snow in the north state, federal fisheries regulators are considering […]
Ongoing drought conditions have contributed to the 29 million tree deaths in California, a number that is still on the rise. In addition to millions of oak trees in the state being killed off by sudden oak death disease, bark beetles have also played a large role in taking out the timbers. “The tree mortality […]
More than $30 million in funding through the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI program were awarded today by Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael L. Connor. The money will support seven projects that will provide clean water to California communities and promote water and energy efficiency. “With California in its fifth year of drought, these […]
The winter El Nino, once described as a “Godzilla” weather pattern threatening to drench the coast with rains and put a dent in the Southland’s years-long drought, is officially over, forecasters announced Thursday. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center said the El Nino pattern, characterized by warming ocean temperatures, dissipated […]
California water regulators will re-examine the way they determine water rights violations in the wake of the State Water Resources Control Board’s dismissal of a proposed $1.5 million fine to a water district east of the San Francisco Bay area. Officials issued the fine to the Byron Bethany Irritation District at the height of the […]
Speaking on May 18 to the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, Phil Isenberg said, “I have learned the hardest thing in public life to do is change human behavior. It’s a lot easier to pass a law than to get people to like it and to pay attention to it.” With 50 years of public […]
How Plans to Save Fish Species Could Cut Summer Water Supply
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Bee by Ryan Sabalow, Dale Kasler, and Phillip ReeseThis year was supposed to be different. With Northern California’s reservoirs finally brimming and cities liberated from stringent conservation rules, farmers were expecting more water for their crops. The worst of the drought seemed over. Or maybe not. Despite a winter of fairly abundant rain and snow in the north state, federal fisheries regulators are considering […]
29 Million Trees Have Died in California From Bark Beetles, Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Weather ChannelOngoing drought conditions have contributed to the 29 million tree deaths in California, a number that is still on the rise. In addition to millions of oak trees in the state being killed off by sudden oak death disease, bark beetles have also played a large role in taking out the timbers. “The tree mortality […]
Water Reuse and Reclamation Projects in California get $30M Boost from Interior Department
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /WaterWorld (Tulsa, Okla.)More than $30 million in funding through the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI program were awarded today by Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael L. Connor. The money will support seven projects that will provide clean water to California communities and promote water and energy efficiency. “With California in its fifth year of drought, these […]
So Long, El Nino! Hello, La Nina?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Mateo PatchThe winter El Nino, once described as a “Godzilla” weather pattern threatening to drench the coast with rains and put a dent in the Southland’s years-long drought, is officially over, forecasters announced Thursday. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center said the El Nino pattern, characterized by warming ocean temperatures, dissipated […]
Water Board to Refine Enforcement Procedures After Ruling
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Capital Press (Salem, Ore.)by Tim HeardenCalifornia water regulators will re-examine the way they determine water rights violations in the wake of the State Water Resources Control Board’s dismissal of a proposed $1.5 million fine to a water district east of the San Francisco Bay area. Officials issued the fine to the Byron Bethany Irritation District at the height of the […]
Phil Isenberg: What’s Next for the Delta?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Tara LohanSpeaking on May 18 to the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, Phil Isenberg said, “I have learned the hardest thing in public life to do is change human behavior. It’s a lot easier to pass a law than to get people to like it and to pay attention to it.” With 50 years of public […]