For eight glorious weeks, from March 23 to May 18, 2014, the Colorado River flowed all the way to the Gulf of California, something it hasn’t done regularly since the 1930s. Minute 319, a 2012 amendment to the 1944 water treaty between Mexico and the United States, allowed water from the Morelos Dam to […]
Imagine you are sitting on the cusp of an historic event – one that is unfolding slowly but with mighty force, and one that will last well past your lifetime. Imagine you have people in your communities who are desperately trying to tell you about these changes, and what they have to say is numbing, […]
California’s drought-ridden cities are on track to collectively meet Gov. Jerry Brown ’s call for a 25% reduction in water usage. But there is a notable laggard: the state’s desert resort areas. Many desert water agencies continue to miss their targets, even after some have been slapped with fines. Officials in desert communities—which as […]
Recent El Niño storms have increased the Sierra Nevada snowpack to 115 percent of normal, more than drought-stricken California has had in five years, officials said Tuesday. The electronic reading by the State Department of Water Resources was the highest since it reached 129 percent in 2011. The Sierra snowpack contributes nearly one-third of […]
The farmers and cities that rely on the California State Water Project got some slightly encouraging news Tuesday – the state is raising their water allocation to 15 percent of what they requested. Reflecting the stormy weather California has seen so far this winter, the Department of Water Resources said it was increasing […]
The heavens have opened up this winter and are dumping gobs of snow on the Sierra Nevada. The snowpack in the Sierra contains more water than any year since 2011 on this date, according to the California Department of Water Resources. It’s a good sign, but no guarantee that the four-year drought that has […]
The Deal That Brought the Colorado River Back to the Sea
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Yes! Magazine (Bainbridge Island, Wash.)by By Diondra PowersFor eight glorious weeks, from March 23 to May 18, 2014, the Colorado River flowed all the way to the Gulf of California, something it hasn’t done regularly since the 1930s. Minute 319, a 2012 amendment to the 1944 water treaty between Mexico and the United States, allowed water from the Morelos Dam to […]
Psychological Effects of California’s Long-Term Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /PublicCEO (Sacramento)by By Robin K. RobertsImagine you are sitting on the cusp of an historic event – one that is unfolding slowly but with mighty force, and one that will last well past your lifetime. Imagine you have people in your communities who are desperately trying to tell you about these changes, and what they have to say is numbing, […]
California’s Desert Towns Struggle with Water Reduction Targets
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Wall Street Journalby By Jim CarltonCalifornia’s drought-ridden cities are on track to collectively meet Gov. Jerry Brown ’s call for a 25% reduction in water usage. But there is a notable laggard: the state’s desert resort areas. Many desert water agencies continue to miss their targets, even after some have been slapped with fines. Officials in desert communities—which as […]
California: Storms Increase Snowpack, But Reservoirs’ Levels Remain Low
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Associated Press (As published by: The New York Times)Recent El Niño storms have increased the Sierra Nevada snowpack to 115 percent of normal, more than drought-stricken California has had in five years, officials said Tuesday. The electronic reading by the State Department of Water Resources was the highest since it reached 129 percent in 2011. The Sierra snowpack contributes nearly one-third of […]
California Raises 2016 Water Allocation To 15 Percent
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby By Dale KaslerThe farmers and cities that rely on the California State Water Project got some slightly encouraging news Tuesday – the state is raising their water allocation to 15 percent of what they requested. Reflecting the stormy weather California has seen so far this winter, the Department of Water Resources said it was increasing […]
Good News for Dry Times — Sierra Snowpack Highest In 4 Years
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /SFGateby By Peter FimritThe heavens have opened up this winter and are dumping gobs of snow on the Sierra Nevada. The snowpack in the Sierra contains more water than any year since 2011 on this date, according to the California Department of Water Resources. It’s a good sign, but no guarantee that the four-year drought that has […]