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 […]
Donald Trump has made surprising and even shocking statements a veritable staple of his campaign for president. But possibly no statement surprised California farmers more than when he told thousands in Fresno’s Selland Arena last week that there is no drought. Specifically, the businessman and former reality show host accused state lawmakers of directing water […]
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 […]
Trump’s water bomb hits snag with ag
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Salinas Californianby DAVID CASTELLONDonald Trump has made surprising and even shocking statements a veritable staple of his campaign for president. But possibly no statement surprised California farmers more than when he told thousands in Fresno’s Selland Arena last week that there is no drought. Specifically, the businessman and former reality show host accused state lawmakers of directing water […]