The last time two states went to war over water, it was 1934. The combatants were California and Arizona and the casus belli was the start of construction of Parker Dam, which would direct water from the Colorado River into California via the Colorado River Aqueduct. The episode unfolded with a sort of Gilbert and Sullivan absurdity. Arizona’s […]
There have been repeated false claims by The Bee’s guest opinion writers and letter writers stating that San Joaquin River water is being “wasted” to the sea. In fact, not one drop of restoration water in the San Joaquin River over the last five years has reached the ocean. Just drive across the riverbed out […]
It’s already late May. But parts of Northern California got another blast of rain and snow this weekend, helping the state’s drought relief efforts. A spring storm dropped rain in parts of Northern California on Saturday afternoon, but it was less severe than the one a day earlier that dumped up to 13 inches of […]
Congress could be taking another swing at modernizing the state’s water management policies to provide both short- and long-term solutions, under legislation introduced by 3rd District Congressman John Garamendi, D-Fairfield. Whether the package introduced Tuesday will make it through Congress, however, is anyone’s guess. California lawmakers have been trying for the last three years to […]
Despite the strongest El Niño event on record and the well above normal amounts of rainfall it brought to Northern California, the worst category of drought (D4 Exceptional Drought) continues to persist throughout most of San Luis Obispo and Kern counties and all of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Since the start of 2016, nearly […]
Drought has taken a record toll on the western United States. The 16-year drought we are experiencing (with no end in sight) affects millions of Americans and poses a serious threat to local communities. From farmers who need water to irrigate crops to families that rely on healthy waterways for jobs and recreation, to wildlife and […]
As Lake Mead Swindles, Can An Interstate Water War Be Far Behind?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Times by Michael HiltzikThe last time two states went to war over water, it was 1934. The combatants were California and Arizona and the casus belli was the start of construction of Parker Dam, which would direct water from the Colorado River into California via the Colorado River Aqueduct. The episode unfolded with a sort of Gilbert and Sullivan absurdity. Arizona’s […]
OPINION: Many Myths in San Joaquin River Politics
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Fresno BeeThere have been repeated false claims by The Bee’s guest opinion writers and letter writers stating that San Joaquin River water is being “wasted” to the sea. In fact, not one drop of restoration water in the San Joaquin River over the last five years has reached the ocean. Just drive across the riverbed out […]
Northern California Hit By More Rain and Snow
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Associated Press (As Published by Los Angeles Times)It’s already late May. But parts of Northern California got another blast of rain and snow this weekend, helping the state’s drought relief efforts. A spring storm dropped rain in parts of Northern California on Saturday afternoon, but it was less severe than the one a day earlier that dumped up to 13 inches of […]
Garamendi, Congress Take Another Stab at Water Legislation
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Chico Enterprise-Recordby By Jim SmithCongress could be taking another swing at modernizing the state’s water management policies to provide both short- and long-term solutions, under legislation introduced by 3rd District Congressman John Garamendi, D-Fairfield. Whether the package introduced Tuesday will make it through Congress, however, is anyone’s guess. California lawmakers have been trying for the last three years to […]
Cloud Seeding Can Only go so Far in Fighting California Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The San Luis Obispo Tribune by By John LindseyDespite the strongest El Niño event on record and the well above normal amounts of rainfall it brought to Northern California, the worst category of drought (D4 Exceptional Drought) continues to persist throughout most of San Luis Obispo and Kern counties and all of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Since the start of 2016, nearly […]
White House Drought Strategy Will Help Southwest
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, Colo.)Drought has taken a record toll on the western United States. The 16-year drought we are experiencing (with no end in sight) affects millions of Americans and poses a serious threat to local communities. From farmers who need water to irrigate crops to families that rely on healthy waterways for jobs and recreation, to wildlife and […]