Remember that “historic” drought? The one that erased snow from the Sierra and was turning the Central Valley into a dusty bowl? Remember how it was supposed to be permanent? How all Californians need to forever change the wasteful ways we use water because most of the state is, in fact, a desert? We remember. We’re […]
A judge has upheld major provisions of a state plan that lays out a long-term strategy for managing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, rejecting most complaints included in a cluster of long-standing lawsuits. But in a ruling Wednesday, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael P. Kenny also found that some aspects of the plan are inadequate, raising […]
Winter and spring rains put a decent-sized dent in California’s water woes. In Yosemite National Park, its storied falls are flowing with the kind of force not seen in four years. But the return of torrents of swift, cold water also have park officials concerned about increased drowning hazards. “The hazard is the water is flowing […]
Wedged between Arizona and Utah, less than 20 miles up river from the Grand Canyon, a soaring concrete wall nearly the height of two football fields blocks the flow of the Colorado River. There, at Glen Canyon Dam, the river is turned back on itself, drowning more than 200 miles of plasma-red gorges and replacing […]
Water rates for some 200,000 Central Contra Costa residents will drop in early June after the Contra Costa Water District board agreed Wednesday to end a temporary drought surcharge. With plenty of water this year, the water board decided there is no need to continue collecting the higher drought rate that was passed last summer to […]
On Wednesday, California said goodbye to its mandatory statewide water restrictions for urban use, a tip of the umbrella to the relatively wet winter northern parts of the state had, which helped fill reservoirs and brought a relatively normal snowpack to the Sierras. That decision was probably premature. For Southern California especially, the drought is […]
OPINION: California’s ‘Historic’ Drought Isn’t History Just Yet
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento BeeRemember that “historic” drought? The one that erased snow from the Sierra and was turning the Central Valley into a dusty bowl? Remember how it was supposed to be permanent? How all Californians need to forever change the wasteful ways we use water because most of the state is, in fact, a desert? We remember. We’re […]
Judge Upholds Major Provisions of Complex Delta Management plan
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento BeeA judge has upheld major provisions of a state plan that lays out a long-term strategy for managing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, rejecting most complaints included in a cluster of long-standing lawsuits. But in a ruling Wednesday, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael P. Kenny also found that some aspects of the plan are inadequate, raising […]
Yosemite’s Waterfalls Bring Torrents of Swift, Cold Water and Drowning Concerns
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /NBC Bay Area (San Jose)by By Joe Rosato Jr.Winter and spring rains put a decent-sized dent in California’s water woes. In Yosemite National Park, its storied falls are flowing with the kind of force not seen in four years. But the return of torrents of swift, cold water also have park officials concerned about increased drowning hazards. “The hazard is the water is flowing […]
Drought Be Dammed
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /ProPublica (New York)by By Abrahm LustgartenWedged between Arizona and Utah, less than 20 miles up river from the Grand Canyon, a soaring concrete wall nearly the height of two football fields blocks the flow of the Colorado River. There, at Glen Canyon Dam, the river is turned back on itself, drowning more than 200 miles of plasma-red gorges and replacing […]
Drought Water Rates End at Contra Costa Water District
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /East Bay Times (Walnut Creek)by By Denis CuffWater rates for some 200,000 Central Contra Costa residents will drop in early June after the Contra Costa Water District board agreed Wednesday to end a temporary drought surcharge. With plenty of water this year, the water board decided there is no need to continue collecting the higher drought rate that was passed last summer to […]
We’re in Year Five of California’s Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Slate Magazine (New York)by By Eric HolthausOn Wednesday, California said goodbye to its mandatory statewide water restrictions for urban use, a tip of the umbrella to the relatively wet winter northern parts of the state had, which helped fill reservoirs and brought a relatively normal snowpack to the Sierras. That decision was probably premature. For Southern California especially, the drought is […]