The drenching rains and heavy snow from El Niño that forecasters predicted would put a dent in California’s lengthy drought are taking a hiatus this month. A rather welcome, soggy January turned into a hot and dry February, raising doubts the climate pattern can deliver a much-needed respite to California’s now 5-year-old drought. The Department […]
Farm groups are offering guarded praise for a new drought-response bill by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein that would provide funding for water storage and encourage more capturing of storm waters during wet winters. The San Francisco Democrat proposes devoting $1.3 billion to long-term projects, including $600,000 in federal funds to augment potential Proposition 1 projects […]
California’s rainy season wasn’t supposed to play out like this. With one of the strongest El Niño events ever observed peaking in the tropical Pacific Ocean, this was supposed to be an unusually stormy — possibly even destructive — winter, with a parade of storms rolling into central and southern California, one after the other. […]
The State Water Resources Control Board has released its Proposition 1 Groundwater Grant Program Draft Guidelines and scheduled a series of public meetings throughout the state to accept public comment on the draft. Proposition 1 includes $900 million for grants and loans for project that prevent or cleanup the contamination of groundwater that serves or […]
California’s soggy start to winter had many predicting the end of the state’s record drought. Myths and overstatements popped up like weeds after winter rain. Some said El Niño’s powerful storms could wash away the drought by spring. Others said the state couldn’t officially declare an end to the drought until reservoirs filled up. And […]
Temperatures have again broken records in California, where a lingering heat wave is on the verge of finally easing. The National Weather Service says the high in downtown Los Angeles hit 90 degrees on Tuesday, breaking the old record of 88 for the day that was set in 1977. San Diego’s high of 89 was […]
El Niño’s Drenching Rains, Heavy Snow Take February Hiatus in California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /USA Todayby Doyle RiceThe drenching rains and heavy snow from El Niño that forecasters predicted would put a dent in California’s lengthy drought are taking a hiatus this month. A rather welcome, soggy January turned into a hot and dry February, raising doubts the climate pattern can deliver a much-needed respite to California’s now 5-year-old drought. The Department […]
Farm Groups Mostly Praise Latest Feinstein Water Bill
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Capital Press (Salem, Ore.)by Tim HeardenFarm groups are offering guarded praise for a new drought-response bill by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein that would provide funding for water storage and encourage more capturing of storm waters during wet winters. The San Francisco Democrat proposes devoting $1.3 billion to long-term projects, including $600,000 in federal funds to augment potential Proposition 1 projects […]
BLOG: El Niño Was Supposed to Bail Out Parched California, so What Happened?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Mashable (New York, NY)by Andrew FreedmanCalifornia’s rainy season wasn’t supposed to play out like this. With one of the strongest El Niño events ever observed peaking in the tropical Pacific Ocean, this was supposed to be an unusually stormy — possibly even destructive — winter, with a parade of storms rolling into central and southern California, one after the other. […]
BLOG: Calif. Water Board Releases Groundwater Grant Program Draft Guidelines, Meetings
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water WorldThe State Water Resources Control Board has released its Proposition 1 Groundwater Grant Program Draft Guidelines and scheduled a series of public meetings throughout the state to accept public comment on the draft. Proposition 1 includes $900 million for grants and loans for project that prevent or cleanup the contamination of groundwater that serves or […]
Fact & Fiction: Ending California’s Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Politifactby By Chris NicholsCalifornia’s soggy start to winter had many predicting the end of the state’s record drought. Myths and overstatements popped up like weeds after winter rain. Some said El Niño’s powerful storms could wash away the drought by spring. Others said the state couldn’t officially declare an end to the drought until reservoirs filled up. And […]
The Latest: More Record Highs in Heat-Scorched California
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Associated PressTemperatures have again broken records in California, where a lingering heat wave is on the verge of finally easing. The National Weather Service says the high in downtown Los Angeles hit 90 degrees on Tuesday, breaking the old record of 88 for the day that was set in 1977. San Diego’s high of 89 was […]