As California enters its fifth year of official drought — and its ninth dry year in the past 10 — the elements of a modern, sustainable water system are finally taking shape. The state is improving water efficiency in agriculture and urban areas, expanding wastewater treatment and reuse, figuring out how to capture more storm water, […]
A Tuolumne County judge has thrown out a lawsuit seeking to drain San Francisco’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the linchpin of a system that supplies drinking water to 2.5 million people in the Bay Area. In a ruling delivered Thursday, Superior Court Judge Kevin Seibert sided with San Francisco officials who have objected to emptying the […]
There was no change in drought conditions last week in California and Nevada, but spring storms added snow to the northern Sierra Nevada. The U.S. Drought Monitor released April 28 shows that slightly more than 4 percent of California, in the northwest part of the state, is not in drought. But, unlike the previous update, which […]
There is talk that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is purchasing four islands and tracts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to construct a reservoir project to divert more water from the estuary. It’s not true, and events will prove so in the days and weeks ahead. But the prevalence of this opinion, which […]
For nearly two decades, Los Vaqueros Reservoir — a sprawling lake in eastern Contra Costa County nearly 3 miles long and 170 feet deep — has been a popular spot for boating, fishing, hiking and a key source of water for local residents. But now, after years of drought and new money available from a […]
“Don’t count it out yet,” Klaus Wolter, a research scientist at CU Boulder and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association’s Earth System Research Laboratory, told me recently. It was a warm April day in Boulder, Colorado, where the lab is located, and Wolter, an El Niño expert wearing a short-sleeve floral print shirt, seemed excited for the […]
Congress is about to wipe out decades of progress in sustainable water use
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angles TImesby Peter H. GleickAs California enters its fifth year of official drought — and its ninth dry year in the past 10 — the elements of a modern, sustainable water system are finally taking shape. The state is improving water efficiency in agriculture and urban areas, expanding wastewater treatment and reuse, figuring out how to capture more storm water, […]
Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Seeking to Drain Hetch Hetchy and Restore Valley
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KQED (San Francisco) by By Dan BrekkeA Tuolumne County judge has thrown out a lawsuit seeking to drain San Francisco’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the linchpin of a system that supplies drinking water to 2.5 million people in the Bay Area. In a ruling delivered Thursday, Superior Court Judge Kevin Seibert sided with San Francisco officials who have objected to emptying the […]
Spring Storms Help Snowpack As California Drought Persists
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Capital Public Radio (Sacramento)by By Ed JoyceThere was no change in drought conditions last week in California and Nevada, but spring storms added snow to the northern Sierra Nevada. The U.S. Drought Monitor released April 28 shows that slightly more than 4 percent of California, in the northwest part of the state, is not in drought. But, unlike the previous update, which […]
OPINION: Delta Islands Purchase is to Restore Wetlands, Not Capture Water
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Jose Mercury News by By Jeffrey KightlingerThere is talk that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is purchasing four islands and tracts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to construct a reservoir project to divert more water from the estuary. It’s not true, and events will prove so in the days and weeks ahead. But the prevalence of this opinion, which […]
Plan to enlarge Los Vaqueros Reservoir gains momentum
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Jose Mercury Newsby Paul RogersFor nearly two decades, Los Vaqueros Reservoir — a sprawling lake in eastern Contra Costa County nearly 3 miles long and 170 feet deep — has been a popular spot for boating, fishing, hiking and a key source of water for local residents. But now, after years of drought and new money available from a […]
Is El Niño Over? Not By a Long Shot
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Outside Magazine (New Mexico)by Andrew Lewis“Don’t count it out yet,” Klaus Wolter, a research scientist at CU Boulder and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association’s Earth System Research Laboratory, told me recently. It was a warm April day in Boulder, Colorado, where the lab is located, and Wolter, an El Niño expert wearing a short-sleeve floral print shirt, seemed excited for the […]