California’s historic drought may leave the state with the largest amount of empty farmland in recent memory as farmers face unprecedented cuts to crucial water supplies. The size of fields intended for almonds, rice, wine grapes and other crops left unworked could be around 800,000 acres, double the size of last year and the most in at […]
As the world transitions away from fossil fuels, electric vehicles are becoming more ubiquitous. But despite their environmental benefits, they still have a price. The batteries that power them rely on a limited resource: lithium. But some say California’s so-called “Lithium Valley” could be a vast powerhouse for the next century’s battery needs. A team of […]
The Marin Municipal Water District took a deeper look at some of the more complex and expensive options on the table for new supply: desalination plants and recycled water. The district board and consultants with the Jacobs Engineering firm held discussion Tuesday on the preliminary cost estimates, water yields and challenges of building desalination plants […]
All Californians play a role in preserving and enhancing our water supplies for a drought-resilient future. California again is in a familiar state of drought, although not all communities are affected equally. Some regions are in extreme water shortage; others are not. We must address these differences. That starts with all Californians understanding where their […]
Climate scientists with the National Weather Service delivered disappointing news Thursday for anyone hoping for drought relief this fall or early winter. According to the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center, there’s a 62% to 66% chance that La Niña conditions will prevail in the Northern hemisphere until at least the end of 2022, marking the […]
Cape May, New Jersey has a long history as a resort town with seafood, ballrooms, and Victorian-era mansions, dating back to the 18th century. The idyllic, seaside town is surrounded by ocean on three sides. But in the 1950s, the city started to have a problem with its water supply, which comes from groundwater. Saltwater was […]
California’s Idle Crop Land May Double as Water Crisis Deepens
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Bloombergby Kim ChipmanCalifornia’s historic drought may leave the state with the largest amount of empty farmland in recent memory as farmers face unprecedented cuts to crucial water supplies. The size of fields intended for almonds, rice, wine grapes and other crops left unworked could be around 800,000 acres, double the size of last year and the most in at […]
Is the Salton Sea Hiding Enough Lithium to Power America?
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Big Thinkby Teresa CareyAs the world transitions away from fossil fuels, electric vehicles are becoming more ubiquitous. But despite their environmental benefits, they still have a price. The batteries that power them rely on a limited resource: lithium. But some say California’s so-called “Lithium Valley” could be a vast powerhouse for the next century’s battery needs. A team of […]
Marin Water District Vets Desalination, Recycled Water Cost
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Marin Independent Journalby Will HoustonThe Marin Municipal Water District took a deeper look at some of the more complex and expensive options on the table for new supply: desalination plants and recycled water. The district board and consultants with the Jacobs Engineering firm held discussion Tuesday on the preliminary cost estimates, water yields and challenges of building desalination plants […]
Opinion: Every Californian Holds the Key to Drought Response
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /CalMattersby Sandy Kerl and Steve Welch Quoted: San Diego County Water AuthorityAll Californians play a role in preserving and enhancing our water supplies for a drought-resilient future. California again is in a familiar state of drought, although not all communities are affected equally. Some regions are in extreme water shortage; others are not. We must address these differences. That starts with all Californians understanding where their […]
Third Year of La Niña Could Deepen California Drought
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /San Francisco Chronicleby Michael CabanatuanClimate scientists with the National Weather Service delivered disappointing news Thursday for anyone hoping for drought relief this fall or early winter. According to the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center, there’s a 62% to 66% chance that La Niña conditions will prevail in the Northern hemisphere until at least the end of 2022, marking the […]
Climate Change Means Some Coastal Groundwater May Soon Be Too Salty to Drink. What Can Cities Do?
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /WHYYby Alan YuCape May, New Jersey has a long history as a resort town with seafood, ballrooms, and Victorian-era mansions, dating back to the 18th century. The idyllic, seaside town is surrounded by ocean on three sides. But in the 1950s, the city started to have a problem with its water supply, which comes from groundwater. Saltwater was […]