California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Monday to safeguard his state’s water supplies from the effects of extreme weather. The order will help expand California’s capacity to capture storm runoff during wet years by accelerating groundwater recharge projects, according to the governor’s office.
Push is coming to shove on the West’s most important river. The seven states that share water from the Colorado River are as close to open conflict over dwindling supplies as they’ve ever been. Six of them ganged up on California last week, arguing that it should bear the brunt of supply cuts because a […]
It may feel like California is flush with water at the moment, after a winter of historic storms that replenished drought-starved lakes and left the Sierra Nevada snowpack at the deepest it’s been in 28 years. But follow the Colorado River, which supplies 15% of California’s water, back to bottomed-out reservoirs like Nevada’s Lake Mead, and it becomes […]
Lake Oroville, a key component of California’s water supply, looks noticeably fuller after a series of January storms. The atmospheric rivers dumped trillions of gallons of moisture on the state, spurring widespread flooding and destruction but also providing a healthy boost to snowpack and drought-sapped reservoirs.
Deep underneath the sodden soils and the berms of snow that now coat California, fuels for fire are waiting to sprout. Grasses and other quick-growing vegetation, spurred by the downpours that saturated the state at the start of the year, quickly turn to kindling as the weather warms. “When that rain comes – and it […]
Forty percent or more of all water use in western US cities goes to outdoor watering of lawns, gardens, pools, and golf courses. One of the most effective urban water conservation strategies is to reduce the area of irrigated landscaping, or switching to less water-intensive vegetation. My research group spent three years collecting water data […]
Newsom Signs Order to Protect California’s Water Supply From Extreme Weather
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Hillby Sharon UdasinCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Monday to safeguard his state’s water supplies from the effects of extreme weather. The order will help expand California’s capacity to capture storm runoff during wet years by accelerating groundwater recharge projects, according to the governor’s office.
The Colorado River Hits a Boiling Point
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Politicoby Debra Kahn and Ry Rivard Quoted: San Diego County Water AuthorityPush is coming to shove on the West’s most important river. The seven states that share water from the Colorado River are as close to open conflict over dwindling supplies as they’ve ever been. Six of them ganged up on California last week, arguing that it should bear the brunt of supply cuts because a […]
Understanding California’s Relationship With the Colorado River
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /SFGATEby Amy GraffIt may feel like California is flush with water at the moment, after a winter of historic storms that replenished drought-starved lakes and left the Sierra Nevada snowpack at the deepest it’s been in 28 years. But follow the Colorado River, which supplies 15% of California’s water, back to bottomed-out reservoirs like Nevada’s Lake Mead, and it becomes […]
Dramatic Photos Show Lake Oroville’s Rise After Epic Storms
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Hayley Smith and Brian Van Der BrugLake Oroville, a key component of California’s water supply, looks noticeably fuller after a series of January storms. The atmospheric rivers dumped trillions of gallons of moisture on the state, spurring widespread flooding and destruction but also providing a healthy boost to snowpack and drought-sapped reservoirs.
‘Double-Edged Sword’: Why the Badly Needed Rains in California Could Fuel Catastrophic Fires
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Guardianby Gabrielle CanonDeep underneath the sodden soils and the berms of snow that now coat California, fuels for fire are waiting to sprout. Grasses and other quick-growing vegetation, spurred by the downpours that saturated the state at the start of the year, quickly turn to kindling as the weather warms. “When that rain comes – and it […]
Big Cities Are Downsizing Their Water Footprints
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Sustainable Watersby Brian RichterForty percent or more of all water use in western US cities goes to outdoor watering of lawns, gardens, pools, and golf courses. One of the most effective urban water conservation strategies is to reduce the area of irrigated landscaping, or switching to less water-intensive vegetation. My research group spent three years collecting water data […]