In response to prolonged drought across the West and ahead of the scorching summer months, California is asking its urban water suppliers to voluntarily report water consumption data sooner — so the state can better assess whether its water conservation goals are being met. Years of low rainfall and snowpack coupled with more intense heat waves have […]
Dangerous and potentially deadly heat will settle over the Southwestern United States for the next several days, with temperatures in some locations expected to break records and exceed 110 degrees. More than 22 million people in California, Nevada and Arizona are under some sort of heat-related alert through at least part of the weekend, the […]
As California continues to implement policies that are negatively impacting the agriculture and energy sectors, we must ask ourselves…who is looking out for California’s minority and disadvantaged communities? The latest example is California’s Central Valley, particularly Kern County. Kern is a dynamic county that has a long history of welcoming people from other parts of […]
In late April 1996, Lake Powell sat at an elevation of 3,673 feet — just 27 feet below its maximum capacity. At that time of plenty, Arizona lawmakers worried that the state wasn’t using its full share of Colorado River water. Instead of potentially ceding those flows to California, the state opened a kind of […]
The State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday approved a groundbreaking agreement that allows “senior” water rights holders in the upper Russian River watershed to share their supply with junior rights holders whose claims might otherwise be suspended due to drought. The collaborative, community-first approach, negotiated over many months by agricultural, municipal, tribal and other stakeholders in […]
A proposal to use up to $1.5 billion to purchase farmer’s senior water rights has made its way into the budget negotiations between lawmakers and Governor Gavin Newsom, the Associated Press reports. It comes at a time when 98 percent of the state is experiencing a severe drought and is part of the larger $7.5 billion Water and Drought Package “to […]
California Seeks to Rein in Water Usage by Closing a Nearly 2-Month Gap in Getting Data From Suppliers
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /CBS SacramentoIn response to prolonged drought across the West and ahead of the scorching summer months, California is asking its urban water suppliers to voluntarily report water consumption data sooner — so the state can better assess whether its water conservation goals are being met. Years of low rainfall and snowpack coupled with more intense heat waves have […]
More Than 22 Million in Southwest Brace for Dangerous Heat
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The New York Timesby Derrick Bryson TaylorDangerous and potentially deadly heat will settle over the Southwestern United States for the next several days, with temperatures in some locations expected to break records and exceed 110 degrees. More than 22 million people in California, Nevada and Arizona are under some sort of heat-related alert through at least part of the weekend, the […]
Opinion: From Water to Energy, Calif. Policies Disproportionately Harm Minority Communities
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Sunby Julian CaneteAs California continues to implement policies that are negatively impacting the agriculture and energy sectors, we must ask ourselves…who is looking out for California’s minority and disadvantaged communities? The latest example is California’s Central Valley, particularly Kern County. Kern is a dynamic county that has a long history of welcoming people from other parts of […]
Arizona Prepares to Break Open Its Water Bank
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /E&E Newsby Jennifer YachninIn late April 1996, Lake Powell sat at an elevation of 3,673 feet — just 27 feet below its maximum capacity. At that time of plenty, Arizona lawmakers worried that the state wasn’t using its full share of Colorado River water. Instead of potentially ceding those flows to California, the state opened a kind of […]
State Water Board Approves Historic Russian River Water Sharing Agreement
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /North Bay Business Journalby Mary CallahanThe State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday approved a groundbreaking agreement that allows “senior” water rights holders in the upper Russian River watershed to share their supply with junior rights holders whose claims might otherwise be suspended due to drought. The collaborative, community-first approach, negotiated over many months by agricultural, municipal, tribal and other stakeholders in […]
As Drought Lingers, CA Considers $1.5 Billion to Buy Farm Water Rights
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Magazineby Laurenz BuschA proposal to use up to $1.5 billion to purchase farmer’s senior water rights has made its way into the budget negotiations between lawmakers and Governor Gavin Newsom, the Associated Press reports. It comes at a time when 98 percent of the state is experiencing a severe drought and is part of the larger $7.5 billion Water and Drought Package “to […]