A billboard in St. George urges residents to use less water — “Utah is in a drought.” Other nearby billboards in Washington County advertise one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the world and a soon-to-arrive luxury surfing community with three artificial lakes. It certainly doesn’t feel like this arid city – hosting the […]
As the drought drags on, there is surging demand in Santa Clara County for rebates that pay you back for removing a water-thirsty lawn. “I have so much more appreciation for the California native plants now,” said Julie Garrett, who re-landscaped her front yard in San Jose. She used drought tolerant plants, and a patch […]
The Western U.S. saw wildfire season kick into high gear last week. As firefighting crews made progress toward containing a blaze in Yosemite National Park in California, another fire erupted near the Oregon border and quickly became the largest California wildfire of the year. Flames also tore through tens of thousands of acres in northern Montana and eastern Idaho. On the […]
The state Supreme Court allowed local governments and conservation groups Monday to ask the state for further safety measures and environmental safeguards at the Oroville Dam despite federal authority to license the facility, where a breach and spill forced 188,000 people to evacuate their homes in 2017. The ruling will not interrupt operations at the […]
Advanced purified water first flowed from Pure Water Oceanside on Dec. 30, 2021, making the site the first operational indirect potable reuse facility in San Diego County, Calif. The project treats the City of Oceanside’s wastewater flows and, after additional residence time in the ground and further treatment, will distribute the finished purified drinking water […]
Leasing for new oil and gas drilling on federal land in central California is temporarily blocked under a settlement announced Monday between the state and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The deal, which still needs court approval, centers on more than 2,500 square miles (6,475 square kilometers) of land and subsurface mineral rights owned by the […]
Opinion: A Water Crisis is Here, the West Must Act Aggressively, Collectively
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Denver PostA billboard in St. George urges residents to use less water — “Utah is in a drought.” Other nearby billboards in Washington County advertise one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the world and a soon-to-arrive luxury surfing community with three artificial lakes. It certainly doesn’t feel like this arid city – hosting the […]
Drought-Friendly Lawn Makeovers Take Root Among Santa Clara County Homeowners
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /CBS Bay Areaby Len RamirezAs the drought drags on, there is surging demand in Santa Clara County for rebates that pay you back for removing a water-thirsty lawn. “I have so much more appreciation for the California native plants now,” said Julie Garrett, who re-landscaped her front yard in San Jose. She used drought tolerant plants, and a patch […]
As West Burns, House Passes Major Drought and Wildfire Resilience Package
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Gristby Emily PontecorvoThe Western U.S. saw wildfire season kick into high gear last week. As firefighting crews made progress toward containing a blaze in Yosemite National Park in California, another fire erupted near the Oregon border and quickly became the largest California wildfire of the year. Flames also tore through tens of thousands of acres in northern Montana and eastern Idaho. On the […]
State Can Seek Environmental Safeguards for Oroville Dam Beyond Federal Regulations, California Supreme Court Rules
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /San Francisco Chronicleby Bob EgelkoThe state Supreme Court allowed local governments and conservation groups Monday to ask the state for further safety measures and environmental safeguards at the Oroville Dam despite federal authority to license the facility, where a breach and spill forced 188,000 people to evacuate their homes in 2017. The ruling will not interrupt operations at the […]
Practical, Pure, Potable
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /WaterWorldby Cari DaleAdvanced purified water first flowed from Pure Water Oceanside on Dec. 30, 2021, making the site the first operational indirect potable reuse facility in San Diego County, Calif. The project treats the City of Oceanside’s wastewater flows and, after additional residence time in the ground and further treatment, will distribute the finished purified drinking water […]
Settlement Blocks New Federal Fracking Leases in California
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AP Newsby Kathleen RonayneLeasing for new oil and gas drilling on federal land in central California is temporarily blocked under a settlement announced Monday between the state and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The deal, which still needs court approval, centers on more than 2,500 square miles (6,475 square kilometers) of land and subsurface mineral rights owned by the […]