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 […]
It looks like California will have to be extra resilient in the coming years, as a new study revealed that the recent droughts threatening the Golden State will become more common and will possibly bring more extreme dry spells in the future. This is due to a blocking ridge, dubbed the “Ridiculously Resilient Ridge,” that deflects […]
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, […]
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 […]
California Drought Patterns Are Recurring… And ‘Triple R’ May Be To Blame
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Nature World News by By Jhay Are SeeIt looks like California will have to be extra resilient in the coming years, as a new study revealed that the recent droughts threatening the Golden State will become more common and will possibly bring more extreme dry spells in the future. This is due to a blocking ridge, dubbed the “Ridiculously Resilient Ridge,” that deflects […]
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, […]