Before the Colorado River was tamed by dams and dikes it was a free flowing, flooding river that often changed course, sometimes dramatically. Though it typically flowed south to the Gulf of California, in years of powerful floods it would flow into the Salton Sea Basin, and fill it up to form what we call […]
As a native of the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs where it hardly ever rains, Joaquin Esquivel has always known that water is precious. His uncle often took him to the Salton Sea, and he had family served by a well. He carries that respect for the resource as chair of California’s State Water Resources […]
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema introduced a new water advisory council at Hoover Dam on Monday to discuss how to spend $4 billion in water and drought aid included in the Inflation Reduction Act. The $4 billion is meant to stave off the worst effects of drought across the Colorado River system, which is suffering from overuse […]
The prospect of being sent to California’s “groundwater cop” strikes dread in the hearts of most water managers. But for John Vidovich, having the Tulare Lake subbasin come under the glare of the State Water Resources Control Board may be the only way to end an irrigation practice by the J.G. Boswell Company that he […]
The megadrought California is enduring right now is the worst in more than a millennium. In the last two decades, we have only sporadically not been in a state of drought, and the first three months of 2022 were the driest on record. Now, nearly every inch of California is experiencing severe or extreme drought, or even worse: A […]
The San Joaquin Valley is California’s largest agricultural region, but it’s facing an uncertain future. A combination of persistent drought and the rollout of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act will increase regional water scarcity in the coming decades. Water scarcity will have a major effect on land use: At least half a million acres are projected to […]
Lake That Predated Salton Sea Came and Went as the Colorado River Changed Course
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /KPBSby Thomas FudgeBefore the Colorado River was tamed by dams and dikes it was a free flowing, flooding river that often changed course, sometimes dramatically. Though it typically flowed south to the Gulf of California, in years of powerful floods it would flow into the Salton Sea Basin, and fill it up to form what we call […]
California’s Water Chief Steps Up to Fight Historic Drought
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Capitol Weeklyby Lisa RennerAs a native of the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs where it hardly ever rains, Joaquin Esquivel has always known that water is precious. His uncle often took him to the Salton Sea, and he had family served by a well. He carries that respect for the resource as chair of California’s State Water Resources […]
Sinema Meets With Regional Water Officials to Talk About $4B in Colorado River Drought Aid
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AZ Centralby Zayna SyedSen. Kyrsten Sinema introduced a new water advisory council at Hoover Dam on Monday to discuss how to spend $4 billion in water and drought aid included in the Inflation Reduction Act. The $4 billion is meant to stave off the worst effects of drought across the Colorado River system, which is suffering from overuse […]
Will Kings County Be the First Region Sent to State’s Groundwater “Cop”?
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /SJV Waterby Lois HenryThe prospect of being sent to California’s “groundwater cop” strikes dread in the hearts of most water managers. But for John Vidovich, having the Tulare Lake subbasin come under the glare of the State Water Resources Control Board may be the only way to end an irrigation practice by the J.G. Boswell Company that he […]
Creating a Drought-Tolerant California Garden: How to Replace Your Thirsty Lawn With Lush Plants and Grasses
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /KQEDby Mina Kim and Katrin SnowThe megadrought California is enduring right now is the worst in more than a millennium. In the last two decades, we have only sporadically not been in a state of drought, and the first three months of 2022 were the driest on record. Now, nearly every inch of California is experiencing severe or extreme drought, or even worse: A […]
Opinion: Drought Requires New Strategies for Managing Cropland
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /CalMattersby Andrew Ayres and Caitlin PetersonThe San Joaquin Valley is California’s largest agricultural region, but it’s facing an uncertain future. A combination of persistent drought and the rollout of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act will increase regional water scarcity in the coming decades. Water scarcity will have a major effect on land use: At least half a million acres are projected to […]