Thanks in part to El Niño, snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is greater than it has been in years. With the winter snowfall season winding down, California officials said that the pack peaked two weeks ago at 87 percent of the long-term average. That’s far better than last year, when it was just 5 percent […]
A simple and relatively inexpensive way to expand California’s available water is to modify spillways on reservoirs. Congressman Jeff Denham noted experts have estimated it would allow access to a million acre feet of water annually. That’s enough to meet the typical water needs of almost 11 million people a year based on per capital consumption […]
San Francisco intellectuals are noted for attacking Central Valley farmers, Sierra lumbermen and Los Angeles for environmental crimes.The most enduring symbol of hatred for the San Francisco environmental crowd is dams. They represent everything supposedly evil about modern-day California. They contend the huge concrete structures destroy wild rivers, flood pristine canyons and spur urban growth […]
People have long predicted that California could eventually collapse into the ocean following a mega earthquake. Now, an eerily similar true-life scenario is playing out — but it’s thanks to the weather. The Gold Rush State has sunk more than 45 feet since 1935 – something the U.S. government calls the “largest human alteration of […]
Last December, any swimmer attempting to blindly jump into Lake Shasta—the biggest reservoir in California—would tumble, Homer Simpson cliff-jump style, down a barren, bruising drop. Water levels in the lake had fallen to more than 100 feet below their historic averages but, thanks to recent rains, they’re doing remarkably better today. Evidence comes from a […]
A year ago this month, Gov. Jerry Brown called for mandatory water conservation efforts throughout California’s 400-plus urban water agencies. This emergency measure calling for a 25 percent reduction statewide compared with usage in 2013 came during the fourth consecutive year of drought. This week, the state announced that water users had slacked off, missing […]
Sierra Nevada Snow Won’t End California’s Thirst
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The New York Times by By Henry FountainThanks in part to El Niño, snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is greater than it has been in years. With the winter snowfall season winding down, California officials said that the pack peaked two weeks ago at 87 percent of the long-term average. That’s far better than last year, when it was just 5 percent […]
OPINION: Jeff Denham: Bureaucrats Impede Water Development
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Manteca Bulletin by By Dennis WyattA simple and relatively inexpensive way to expand California’s available water is to modify spillways on reservoirs. Congressman Jeff Denham noted experts have estimated it would allow access to a million acre feet of water annually. That’s enough to meet the typical water needs of almost 11 million people a year based on per capital consumption […]
OPNION: Hetch Hetchy: Environmental Hypocrisy, San Francisco-Style
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Manteca Bulletin by By Dennis WyattSan Francisco intellectuals are noted for attacking Central Valley farmers, Sierra lumbermen and Los Angeles for environmental crimes.The most enduring symbol of hatred for the San Francisco environmental crowd is dams. They represent everything supposedly evil about modern-day California. They contend the huge concrete structures destroy wild rivers, flood pristine canyons and spur urban growth […]
Water Woes Divide California into Haves, Have Nots
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /U.S. News (Washington, D.C.)by By Tori RichardsPeople have long predicted that California could eventually collapse into the ocean following a mega earthquake. Now, an eerily similar true-life scenario is playing out — but it’s thanks to the weather. The Gold Rush State has sunk more than 45 feet since 1935 – something the U.S. government calls the “largest human alteration of […]
The Recovery of California’s Biggest Reservoir, as Seen by Satellite
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /CityLabby By John MetcalfeLast December, any swimmer attempting to blindly jump into Lake Shasta—the biggest reservoir in California—would tumble, Homer Simpson cliff-jump style, down a barren, bruising drop. Water levels in the lake had fallen to more than 100 feet below their historic averages but, thanks to recent rains, they’re doing remarkably better today. Evidence comes from a […]
It ain’t over
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Chico News & ReviewsA year ago this month, Gov. Jerry Brown called for mandatory water conservation efforts throughout California’s 400-plus urban water agencies. This emergency measure calling for a 25 percent reduction statewide compared with usage in 2013 came during the fourth consecutive year of drought. This week, the state announced that water users had slacked off, missing […]