They see the purchase as part of a water grab to send more water to Los Angeles through Gov. Jerry Brown’s $15.5 billion twin tunnels plan, at the expense of fish and wildlife. Either way, some 20,000 acres of island is moving toward a change of ownership that is stirring up waves in California’s water […]
Federal forecasters have downgraded their projections for the Colorado River after an unusually hot, dry February that has increased the likelihood of a first-ever shortage declaration at Lake Mead. Forecasters are now predicting the arrival of shortage conditions at the nation’s largest man-made reservoir in January 2018. Just a month ago, forecasters expected Lake Mead […]
Water from the rain-swollen Sacramento River is spilling over a 33.5-foot-high concrete wall and into a bypass built to divert flood water. NOAA hydrologist Robert Hartman said Sunday the overflow is expected to reach a depth of three feet on Tuesday then start receding. It’s the first time water has spilled over the so-called Fremont […]
Flying over the boundary of Yosemite National Park, the view from 10,500 feet spanned east across 30 miles of snow, ice and rock to the Sierra Crest. The west-facing flank was side-loaded with massive slabs of snow up as far as you could see. Frozen lakes looked like giant skating rinks. As the plane banked […]
Sunday’s storms brought more rain to Northern California, but they also helped the state hit a key milestone in its efforts to recover from the historic four-year drought. Shasta Lake, the largest reservoir in California and a critical source of water for Central Valley farms and cities from the Bay Area to Bakersfield, reached 100 […]
Ripping a page out of the playbook the Los Angeles Water & Power Department used to desecrate the Owens Valley to try and quench its insatiable thirst for water, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is buying up land in San Joaquin County. The deal for five Delta islands — Webb Tract, Bacon Island, […]
Delta Islands Sale to Southern California Company Roils State Water Politics
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Daily Democrat (Woodland)by By Dale Kasler and Ryan SabalowThey see the purchase as part of a water grab to send more water to Los Angeles through Gov. Jerry Brown’s $15.5 billion twin tunnels plan, at the expense of fish and wildlife. Either way, some 20,000 acres of island is moving toward a change of ownership that is stirring up waves in California’s water […]
“Historically Dry” February Could Lead to First-Ever Shortage Declaration at Lake Mead
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Las Vegas Review-Journalby By Henry BreanFederal forecasters have downgraded their projections for the Colorado River after an unusually hot, dry February that has increased the likelihood of a first-ever shortage declaration at Lake Mead. Forecasters are now predicting the arrival of shortage conditions at the nation’s largest man-made reservoir in January 2018. Just a month ago, forecasters expected Lake Mead […]
The Latest: Rain-Swollen Sacramento River Flows Over Barrier
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Associated Press (As Published by CBS Sacramento)Water from the rain-swollen Sacramento River is spilling over a 33.5-foot-high concrete wall and into a bypass built to divert flood water. NOAA hydrologist Robert Hartman said Sunday the overflow is expected to reach a depth of three feet on Tuesday then start receding. It’s the first time water has spilled over the so-called Fremont […]
Sky-High View of the Not-Too-Distant Future of Outdoor Recreation
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /SFGateby By Tom StienstraFlying over the boundary of Yosemite National Park, the view from 10,500 feet spanned east across 30 miles of snow, ice and rock to the Sierra Crest. The west-facing flank was side-loaded with massive slabs of snow up as far as you could see. Frozen lakes looked like giant skating rinks. As the plane banked […]
California’s Biggest Reservoir, Shasta, Rises to Key Milestone
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Jose Mercury Newsby By Paul RogersSunday’s storms brought more rain to Northern California, but they also helped the state hit a key milestone in its efforts to recover from the historic four-year drought. Shasta Lake, the largest reservoir in California and a critical source of water for Central Valley farms and cities from the Bay Area to Bakersfield, reached 100 […]
OPINION: How To Destroy The Delta: First You Buy 5 Islands
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Manteca Bulletinby By Dennis WyattRipping a page out of the playbook the Los Angeles Water & Power Department used to desecrate the Owens Valley to try and quench its insatiable thirst for water, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is buying up land in San Joaquin County. The deal for five Delta islands — Webb Tract, Bacon Island, […]