The California Senate approved two water measures by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, last week, including legislation to protect California’s aquifers and groundwater resources from permanent damage due to overdraft. Both bills will head to the Assembly next. The Senate voted 21-17 to support Senate Bill 1317, which addresses a sharp increase in groundwater extraction through new […]
It is easy to assume seawater desalination is the answer to California’s long-term water woes. All you have to do is look west, and the vast Pacific Ocean simply glimmers with opportunity. But as with so many things involving water, desalination is not that simple. Converting seawater into drinking water is very expensive, it consumes […]
With a Southern California water district’s purchase of 20,000 acres in the Delta expected to become official as soon as next week, San Joaquin County and central Delta farmers have erected one more legal hurdle in an effort to stop the deal. They filed suit in Contra Costa County Superior Court, alleging that the terms […]
California’s drought is perhaps more of a political ping pong ball than it is anything else, but makes no mistake: drought in California is real; it happens; it’s cyclical; and, politicians have done nothing to mitigate its impacts to the state’s 40 million residents. While El Niño arguably did not materialize as predicted it did […]
June 2, 2016 – The past week’s weather brought about a mixed bag of changes to the U.S. Drought Monitor map, with expansion of dryness and/or drought noted in the Northeast, Southeast, upper Great Lakes, northern Plains and Pacific Northwest. The most notable expansions this week are the advancement of D0 across the northern Cascades […]
A water briefing in the Central Valley gave attendees an outline of how the water situation looks in California and clarified that the winter wasn’t as wet as some reports. The California Department of Water Resources and Water Education Foundation, in cooperation with the Center for Irrigation Technology, held a water briefing seminar at California […]
Wolk Bill to Protect State’s Aquifers Moves Forward
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Davis EnterpriseThe California Senate approved two water measures by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, last week, including legislation to protect California’s aquifers and groundwater resources from permanent damage due to overdraft. Both bills will head to the Assembly next. The Senate voted 21-17 to support Senate Bill 1317, which addresses a sharp increase in groundwater extraction through new […]
BLOG: Why Desalination Isn’t the Solution to Water Woes
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Matt Weiser Mentioned: Carlsbad Desalination PlantIt is easy to assume seawater desalination is the answer to California’s long-term water woes. All you have to do is look west, and the vast Pacific Ocean simply glimmers with opportunity. But as with so many things involving water, desalination is not that simple. Converting seawater into drinking water is very expensive, it consumes […]
Another challenge to Delta land buy
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Stockton Recordby Alex BreitlerWith a Southern California water district’s purchase of 20,000 acres in the Delta expected to become official as soon as next week, San Joaquin County and central Delta farmers have erected one more legal hurdle in an effort to stop the deal. They filed suit in Contra Costa County Superior Court, alleging that the terms […]
Will California ever have its water needs met?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Western Farm Pressby Todd FitchetteCalifornia’s drought is perhaps more of a political ping pong ball than it is anything else, but makes no mistake: drought in California is real; it happens; it’s cyclical; and, politicians have done nothing to mitigate its impacts to the state’s 40 million residents. While El Niño arguably did not materialize as predicted it did […]
California Drought Monitor and National Drought Summary for May 31, 2016
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Sierra Sun Times (Mariposa)June 2, 2016 – The past week’s weather brought about a mixed bag of changes to the U.S. Drought Monitor map, with expansion of dryness and/or drought noted in the Northeast, Southeast, upper Great Lakes, northern Plains and Pacific Northwest. The most notable expansions this week are the advancement of D0 across the northern Cascades […]
Water Briefing Clarifies ‘Wet’ Winter
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /AgNet WestA water briefing in the Central Valley gave attendees an outline of how the water situation looks in California and clarified that the winter wasn’t as wet as some reports. The California Department of Water Resources and Water Education Foundation, in cooperation with the Center for Irrigation Technology, held a water briefing seminar at California […]