Snowfall forecasts for the West’s mountains are critically important this winter after last year’s unusually heavy snow helped improve the region’s long-simmering water crisis, including conditions at Lake Powell and downstream Lake Mead outside Las Vegas. Another heavy snow year could help reduce the need for water restrictions and help farmers continue producing irrigated crops such […]
The cost to bring Anderson Dam, which holds back the largest reservoir in California’s Santa Clara County, up to modern earthquake standards has increased to $2.3 billion, water officials said Monday. That’s double what was estimated a year ago, triple the price tag from two years ago, and nearly certain to drive water rates higher […]
As the Colorado River snakes through the deserts of the Southwest United States, its water is diverted to cities, states, tribes and farmers along its course. Agriculture has always been the largest use of the Colorado River, and California’s Imperial Irrigation District, established in 1911, has among the earliest claims and by far the largest […]
California’s agricultural industry – the nation’s largest food producer — is fighting for its political future. First came the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a staunch Democratic ally who was unafraid of prioritizing farms over endangered fish in the state’s long-running water wars. Then House Republicans kicked Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a native of the Central Valley’s […]
Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would allocate $7.25 million to help protect water agency infrastructure in California’s 3rd Congressional District against fire. If the legislation is also supported by a Senate majority, the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District would get $1.25 million to construct a 2-million-gallon fire resilient water storage tank to […]
Craig Elmore’s family history is the stuff of Westerns. His grandfather, John Elmore, a poor son of a Missouri preacher, arrived in California’s Imperial Valley in 1908 and dug ditches to deliver water to homesteaders.
The West Is Running Out Of Water. A Heavy Snow Could Help, But Will It Come This Winter?
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /USA Todayby Trevor HughesSnowfall forecasts for the West’s mountains are critically important this winter after last year’s unusually heavy snow helped improve the region’s long-simmering water crisis, including conditions at Lake Powell and downstream Lake Mead outside Las Vegas. Another heavy snow year could help reduce the need for water restrictions and help farmers continue producing irrigated crops such […]
Cost To Rebuild Major California Reservoir Rises To $2.3 Billion, Tripling From Two Years Ago
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /Star Beaconby Paul RogersThe cost to bring Anderson Dam, which holds back the largest reservoir in California’s Santa Clara County, up to modern earthquake standards has increased to $2.3 billion, water officials said Monday. That’s double what was estimated a year ago, triple the price tag from two years ago, and nearly certain to drive water rates higher […]
The 20 Farming Families Who Use More Water From the Colorado River Than Some Western States
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /ProPublicaby Nat Lash, ProPublica, and Janet Wilson, The Desert SunAs the Colorado River snakes through the deserts of the Southwest United States, its water is diverted to cities, states, tribes and farmers along its course. Agriculture has always been the largest use of the Colorado River, and California’s Imperial Irrigation District, established in 1911, has among the earliest claims and by far the largest […]
California Farmers are Reeling From Loss of Powerful Congressional Allies
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /Politicoby Camille Von KaenelCalifornia’s agricultural industry – the nation’s largest food producer — is fighting for its political future. First came the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a staunch Democratic ally who was unafraid of prioritizing farms over endangered fish in the state’s long-running water wars. Then House Republicans kicked Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a native of the Central Valley’s […]
Federal Funds Would Boost Water Agency Fire Readiness
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /Tahoe Daily Tribuneby The Mountain DemocratLast week the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would allocate $7.25 million to help protect water agency infrastructure in California’s 3rd Congressional District against fire. If the legislation is also supported by a Senate majority, the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District would get $1.25 million to construct a 2-million-gallon fire resilient water storage tank to […]
The Historic Claims That Put a Few California Farming Families First in Line for Colorado River Water
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Andrea Mora /ProPublica by Janet Wilson, Nat LashCraig Elmore’s family history is the stuff of Westerns. His grandfather, John Elmore, a poor son of a Missouri preacher, arrived in California’s Imperial Valley in 1908 and dug ditches to deliver water to homesteaders.