Poised to ease California’s mandatory drought rules after rebounding rain and snow levels this winter, state water officials on Monday made it clear that — even where reservoirs are 100 percent full — no community is likely to get an entirely free pass from conservation targets this summer. “One average year does not mean that […]
/in California and the U.S./by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby By Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow Mentioned: Carlsbad Desalination Plant
El Niño has been little more than a cruel joke in Southern California this winter. The torrential rains haven’t materialized. Groundwater aquifers have been pumped to near-historic lows. A sizable reservoir two hours east of Los Angeles, built for $2 billion as drought insurance, is two-thirds empty, its boat launch closed. “It’s actually been a shockingly […]
March 2016 has been unusually wet, and quite a contrast to February. The “Godzilla” El Nino this year has been a bit “Gonzo”, but overall has brought a welcome above average precipitation for northern California, after four solid drought years. The unevenness of the precipitation is some concern, and the depth of remaining surface and […]
Folsom Lake is 10 feet higher Sunday as compared to a month ago. “I have seen it go from Desert Folsom to Lake Folsom,” said Stacey Nieporte, who was visiting the lake Sunday from El Dorado Hills. Folsom Lake now stands at 439 feet deep — that’s 110 percent of the historical average for this date, […]
Atmospheric scientists have found that California’s highest temperatures are almost always associated with blocking ridges, regions of high atmospheric pressure than can disrupt wind patterns – including one known as the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge. The Triple R, as it’s called, is also linked with California’s drought. In new research published online this week in the […]
Sen. Dianne Feinstein visited The Sacramento Bee’s editorial board last week to talk about her drought relief bill and other topics. Here are edited excerpts: Q: What makes it different this year that this water bill might happen? A: I think it’s an accumulation of things. First is the population of the state. Today we […]
California Water-Saving Rules to Ease, but Nobody’s Off the Hook
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Jose Mercury News by By Paul RogersPoised to ease California’s mandatory drought rules after rebounding rain and snow levels this winter, state water officials on Monday made it clear that — even where reservoirs are 100 percent full — no community is likely to get an entirely free pass from conservation targets this summer. “One average year does not mean that […]
Drought Still Grips Southern California, Keeping Pressure on State Water Supplies
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby By Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow Mentioned: Carlsbad Desalination PlantEl Niño has been little more than a cruel joke in Southern California this winter. The torrential rains haven’t materialized. Groundwater aquifers have been pumped to near-historic lows. A sizable reservoir two hours east of Los Angeles, built for $2 billion as drought insurance, is two-thirds empty, its boat launch closed. “It’s actually been a shockingly […]
BLOG: ENSO the Wet Season Ends (Almost)
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /California WaterBlog (UC Davis)by By Jay LundMarch 2016 has been unusually wet, and quite a contrast to February. The “Godzilla” El Nino this year has been a bit “Gonzo”, but overall has brought a welcome above average precipitation for northern California, after four solid drought years. The unevenness of the precipitation is some concern, and the depth of remaining surface and […]
Experts: Folsom Lake levels 10 feet higher than Last Month
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KCRA (Sacramento)by By Mike LueryFolsom Lake is 10 feet higher Sunday as compared to a month ago. “I have seen it go from Desert Folsom to Lake Folsom,” said Stacey Nieporte, who was visiting the lake Sunday from El Dorado Hills. Folsom Lake now stands at 439 feet deep — that’s 110 percent of the historical average for this date, […]
California Drought Patterns Becoming More Common
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Science 2.0 (Reno, Nev.)Atmospheric scientists have found that California’s highest temperatures are almost always associated with blocking ridges, regions of high atmospheric pressure than can disrupt wind patterns – including one known as the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge. The Triple R, as it’s called, is also linked with California’s drought. In new research published online this week in the […]
OPINION: Feinstein on Water, Supreme Court Nominee and Donald Trump
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento BeeSen. Dianne Feinstein visited The Sacramento Bee’s editorial board last week to talk about her drought relief bill and other topics. Here are edited excerpts: Q: What makes it different this year that this water bill might happen? A: I think it’s an accumulation of things. First is the population of the state. Today we […]