The West is far from the only region experiencing remarkably dry weather so far this year. According to Thursday’s report from the US Drought Monitor, more than 61% of the contiguous US is in some classification of drought. It is the largest portion of the country in a state of drought since 2012, the year […]
The optimism spurred by heavy snowstorms in December has melted away, and the 2022 water year is now looking bleak. After facing the driest recorded January and February in state history, California Department of Water Resources reported that statewide, the snowpack stood at 63% of average for the date last week after conducting the agency’s […]
On the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, we should celebrate its successes. San Francisco has stopped the dumping of raw sewage into the Bay. Rivers no longer catch on fire due to flammable contaminants. Wildlife has returned to once abandoned estuaries and wetlands. California has made great strides in protecting our waters for […]
Lake Powell’s water levels are on the cusp of dropping below a critical benchmark and federal officials don’t expect the reservoir’s supply to be replenished until May. As of Thursday, the lake’s levels were hovering inches above 3,525 feet, which is the threshold local officials set as the “target elevation” while drafting the 2019 Drought […]
The State Water Resources Control Board has given an early forecast of fee increases for the next fiscal year based on current state budget projections. While spending is expected to change little, staff are hoping to reach a 5% fund reserve for water quality programs, which could translate to a 5% increase in Irrigated Lands fees and […]
February total precipitation was record low at over 200 Snow Telemetry sites, leading to continued expansion of snow drought conditions across the West. Fifty percent of the SNOTEL sites now have snow water equivalent that is less than one-third of historical conditions, up from 22% in early February. In California, the driest January and February in […]
Size of Drought in US Increased by the Area of California in the Past Month
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /CBS Sacramento 13The West is far from the only region experiencing remarkably dry weather so far this year. According to Thursday’s report from the US Drought Monitor, more than 61% of the contiguous US is in some classification of drought. It is the largest portion of the country in a state of drought since 2012, the year […]
2022 Water Year Looks Dismal as Snowpack Melts
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Imperial Valley Pressby Christine Souza (California Farm Bureau Federation)The optimism spurred by heavy snowstorms in December has melted away, and the 2022 water year is now looking bleak. After facing the driest recorded January and February in state history, California Department of Water Resources reported that statewide, the snowpack stood at 63% of average for the date last week after conducting the agency’s […]
Opinion: California Has Work to Do to Provide Clean Water for All
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /The Mercury Newsby Robert Rivas and Cristina GarciaOn the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, we should celebrate its successes. San Francisco has stopped the dumping of raw sewage into the Bay. Rivers no longer catch on fire due to flammable contaminants. Wildlife has returned to once abandoned estuaries and wetlands. California has made great strides in protecting our waters for […]
Lake Powell’s Levels Projected to Drop Below Critical Threshold
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /12 NewsLake Powell’s water levels are on the cusp of dropping below a critical benchmark and federal officials don’t expect the reservoir’s supply to be replenished until May. As of Thursday, the lake’s levels were hovering inches above 3,525 feet, which is the threshold local officials set as the “target elevation” while drafting the 2019 Drought […]
Water Board Looks to Raise Fees Again
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /Agri-Pulseby Brad HookerThe State Water Resources Control Board has given an early forecast of fee increases for the next fiscal year based on current state budget projections. While spending is expected to change little, staff are hoping to reach a 5% fund reserve for water quality programs, which could translate to a 5% increase in Irrigated Lands fees and […]
Snow Drought Expands as Western U.S. is Running Out of Time to Replenish Water Supplies
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)February total precipitation was record low at over 200 Snow Telemetry sites, leading to continued expansion of snow drought conditions across the West. Fifty percent of the SNOTEL sites now have snow water equivalent that is less than one-third of historical conditions, up from 22% in early February. In California, the driest January and February in […]