Atmospheric patterns resembling those that appeared during the latter half of California’s ongoing multiyear drought are becoming much more common, a new study finds. “The current record-breaking drought in California has arisen from both extremely low precipitation and extremely warm temperature,” says Noah Diffenbaugh, associate professor of earth system science at Stanford University. “In this […]
In the nine months since the effective date of California Gov. Jerry Brown’s mandate of a 25-percent reduction in water use in urban areas of the state, reports from the 400-plus suppliers of that water indicate they’ve fallen just short of the goal. From June 2015 through February of this year, cumulative water savings among […]
Some residents of drought-stricken California who let their lawns turn brown and took shorter showers could soon get some relief, while others may continue to feel the pain. In the coming months, state officials will undertake a monumental task of rewriting conservation orders for a fifth year of drought. The challenge for state regulators will […]
Much-needed mountain snow and rain returned to California this winter, but fell short of expectations amid a super El Niño. The official snow season for California’s Sierra Nevada came to an end at the start of April on a below-normal note and one that AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark called “disappointing.” The amount of water stored […]
Taking a regional approach to saving water in California’s drought, state regulators suggest relaxing or dropping conservation orders for El Nino-soaked Northern Californians, while keeping in place strict rules for residents of drier Southern California. Officials on Monday will launch a discussion about the best approach to saving water as California’s drought modestly improves, but […]
A federal judge dismissed an environmental lawsuit challenging California’s now-dismantled emergency salinity barrier across a channel of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in response to the drought. U.S. District Judge Lawrence O’Neill ruled on March 31 that the complaint from the Center for Environmental Science, Accuracy and Reliability (CESAR) is moot. The 750-foot-wide rock barrier […]
Is California’s Drought Now the Rule, not the Exception?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Futurity (Rochester, N.Y.)by By Ker Than-StanfordAtmospheric patterns resembling those that appeared during the latter half of California’s ongoing multiyear drought are becoming much more common, a new study finds. “The current record-breaking drought in California has arisen from both extremely low precipitation and extremely warm temperature,” says Noah Diffenbaugh, associate professor of earth system science at Stanford University. “In this […]
El Niño Helped, but no Panacea, as California Battles Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Total Landscape Care (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)by By David RountreeIn the nine months since the effective date of California Gov. Jerry Brown’s mandate of a 25-percent reduction in water use in urban areas of the state, reports from the 400-plus suppliers of that water indicate they’ve fallen just short of the goal. From June 2015 through February of this year, cumulative water savings among […]
Things to know: The next Step in California’s Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Associated Press (As Published by Napa Valley Register)by By Scott SmithSome residents of drought-stricken California who let their lawns turn brown and took shorter showers could soon get some relief, while others may continue to feel the pain. In the coming months, state officials will undertake a monumental task of rewriting conservation orders for a fifth year of drought. The challenge for state regulators will […]
El Nino-Induced Snow Proves to be ‘Disappointing’ for Drought-Stricken California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /AccuWeather by By Kristina PydynowskiMuch-needed mountain snow and rain returned to California this winter, but fell short of expectations amid a super El Niño. The official snow season for California’s Sierra Nevada came to an end at the start of April on a below-normal note and one that AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark called “disappointing.” The amount of water stored […]
Drought-Stricken California Ponders Future of Conservation
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Associated Press (As Published by Merced Sun-Star) by By Scott SmithTaking a regional approach to saving water in California’s drought, state regulators suggest relaxing or dropping conservation orders for El Nino-soaked Northern Californians, while keeping in place strict rules for residents of drier Southern California. Officials on Monday will launch a discussion about the best approach to saving water as California’s drought modestly improves, but […]
Calif. Delta Smelt Lawsuit Tossed as Moot
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Courthouse News Serviceby By ELIZABETH WARMERDAMA federal judge dismissed an environmental lawsuit challenging California’s now-dismantled emergency salinity barrier across a channel of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in response to the drought. U.S. District Judge Lawrence O’Neill ruled on March 31 that the complaint from the Center for Environmental Science, Accuracy and Reliability (CESAR) is moot. The 750-foot-wide rock barrier […]