The Obama administration underscored the threat of climate change to Western water supplies Tuesday, releasing a report that projects less snowpack in the mountains and reduced flows in major rivers — all of which spells a much drier future for places such as California. The report estimates that diminished runoff from the Sierra Nevada will […]
“Lake Oroville is currently at elevation 854 feet, which is 46 feet from the top,” says Kevin Dossey, Senior Engineer with the Department of Water Resources, “It’s come up more than 204 feet since the low point in December…so it’s really been coming up fast.” Engineers could begin releasing water from the Lake Oroville Dam […]
A potentially major new fight has erupted over Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to build two huge tunnels beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and this time the protests are coming from a group of farmers that wants the tunnels built. The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, a powerful San Joaquin Valley farm water agency, demanded […]
The White House on Tuesday unveiled several billion dollars’ worth of corporate commitments to water research and development during a high-level summit. Pegged to World Water Day, the summit was intended to draw attention to specific state and corporate pledges as well as new Obama administration initiatives prompted in part by Western states’ drought and […]
Years of drought followed by the recent pounding storms to hit the Bay Area and Northern California has turned water watching into a spectator sport. It has been a spectacular show this month. The formula is different for every watershed and every lake.Lakes in the foothills of the Bay Area are fed 100 percent by […]
California’s rice farmers pride themselves on environmental stewardship, saying their flooded fields provide habitat for millions of ducks and geese in an era when traditional marshlands have largely disappeared. Now a giant Yolo County farm controlled by the family of Sacramento land baron Angelo K. Tsakopoulos will test whether it can grow rice with water […]
Feds Warn of New Threats to Water Supplies with Climate Change
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /SFGateby By Kurtis AlexanderThe Obama administration underscored the threat of climate change to Western water supplies Tuesday, releasing a report that projects less snowpack in the mountains and reduced flows in major rivers — all of which spells a much drier future for places such as California. The report estimates that diminished runoff from the Sierra Nevada will […]
Engineers consider releasing water from Lake Oroville Dam
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Action News Now (Chico)by By Cecile Juliette“Lake Oroville is currently at elevation 854 feet, which is 46 feet from the top,” says Kevin Dossey, Senior Engineer with the Department of Water Resources, “It’s come up more than 204 feet since the low point in December…so it’s really been coming up fast.” Engineers could begin releasing water from the Lake Oroville Dam […]
New Dispute Erupts Over Sacramento Delta tunnels Project
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby By Dale Kasler and Ryan SabalowA potentially major new fight has erupted over Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to build two huge tunnels beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and this time the protests are coming from a group of farmers that wants the tunnels built. The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, a powerful San Joaquin Valley farm water agency, demanded […]
In First -of-a- kind Summit, White House Rallies Corporate Investment in Water Supplies
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Fresno Beeby By Michael DoyleThe White House on Tuesday unveiled several billion dollars’ worth of corporate commitments to water research and development during a high-level summit. Pegged to World Water Day, the summit was intended to draw attention to specific state and corporate pledges as well as new Obama administration initiatives prompted in part by Western states’ drought and […]
Why Some Reservoirs Don’t Fill as Quickly
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /SFGateby By Tom StienstraYears of drought followed by the recent pounding storms to hit the Bay Area and Northern California has turned water watching into a spectator sport. It has been a spectacular show this month. The formula is different for every watershed and every lake.Lakes in the foothills of the Bay Area are fed 100 percent by […]
Rice-Growing Experiment Will Cut Water Use but Subtract From Habitat
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby By Dale Kasler and Ryan SabalowCalifornia’s rice farmers pride themselves on environmental stewardship, saying their flooded fields provide habitat for millions of ducks and geese in an era when traditional marshlands have largely disappeared. Now a giant Yolo County farm controlled by the family of Sacramento land baron Angelo K. Tsakopoulos will test whether it can grow rice with water […]