The head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is stepping down to become chief executive of an electric company in her native Puerto Rico. Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement Wednesday that Janisse Quiñones, the DWP’s top executive since 2024, brought “steady leadership and engineering expertise” to the utility. In her new job, […]
Arizona water leaders had some harsh words about a draft of federal plans for managing the Colorado River. Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project, wrote in a statement that those plans would “disproportionately harm Arizona and are unacceptable.” The Colorado River is managed according to agreements between the seven states that use […]
Despite the recent onslaught of winter storms in California, the state’s snowpack is still below average, according to state officials. During the third snow survey of the season, Department of Water Resources officials “recorded 28 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 11 inches, which is 47% of average for this location,” the agency said […]
California water officials issued a formal warning to the federal government Monday, asserting that current draft plans for managing the Colorado River after 2026 lack a sound legal basis and unfairly shift the burden of drought onto Lower Basin states. In a detailed comment letter submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, JB Hamby, California’s […]
Farmers in Mexicali are protesting again, arguing they haven’t been paid in full for pulling land out of production to save water for the imperiled Colorado River. The farmers argue they’ve only been paid half for the amount of land they’ve left out of production. Earlier this month those farmers staged a days-long sit-in at […]
California water officials are calling on the federal government to strengthen its legal and environmental analysis of proposed new operating rules for the Colorado River, warning that the current draft plan fails to adequately address interstate obligations, infrastructure limitations, and impacts to communities, including the Imperial Valley, according to a recent Colorado River Board of […]
Head of L.A.’s Department of Water and Power Resigns
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Los Angeles Timesby Noah Goldberg and David ZahniserThe head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is stepping down to become chief executive of an electric company in her native Puerto Rico. Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement Wednesday that Janisse Quiñones, the DWP’s top executive since 2024, brought “steady leadership and engineering expertise” to the utility. In her new job, […]
Arizona Water Leaders Push Back on ‘Unacceptable’ Draft Colorado River Plans
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /KJZZ Phoenixby Alex HagerArizona water leaders had some harsh words about a draft of federal plans for managing the Colorado River. Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project, wrote in a statement that those plans would “disproportionately harm Arizona and are unacceptable.” The Colorado River is managed according to agreements between the seven states that use […]
California Snowpack Still Below Average Despite Winter Storms
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Desert Sunby Daniella SeguraDespite the recent onslaught of winter storms in California, the state’s snowpack is still below average, according to state officials. During the third snow survey of the season, Department of Water Resources officials “recorded 28 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 11 inches, which is 47% of average for this location,” the agency said […]
California Warns Federal Government: Proposed Colorado River Plans May Violate Century-Old Water Compact
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Imperial Valley PressCalifornia water officials issued a formal warning to the federal government Monday, asserting that current draft plans for managing the Colorado River after 2026 lack a sound legal basis and unfairly shift the burden of drought onto Lower Basin states. In a detailed comment letter submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, JB Hamby, California’s […]
Mexican Farmers Gave Up Water to Protect the Colorado River. They Claim Payment Is Still Due
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Voice of San Diegoby MacKenzie ElmerFarmers in Mexicali are protesting again, arguing they haven’t been paid in full for pulling land out of production to save water for the imperiled Colorado River. The farmers argue they’ve only been paid half for the amount of land they’ve left out of production. Earlier this month those farmers staged a days-long sit-in at […]
California Water Officials Urge Stronger Legal Review in Post-2026 Colorado River Plan
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /The Desert ReviewCalifornia water officials are calling on the federal government to strengthen its legal and environmental analysis of proposed new operating rules for the Colorado River, warning that the current draft plan fails to adequately address interstate obligations, infrastructure limitations, and impacts to communities, including the Imperial Valley, according to a recent Colorado River Board of […]