Despite California’s drought, a proposed statewide November ballot measure to speed up the construction of new dams and other large water projects — and provide billions of dollars to fund them — has fallen short in its fundraising goals and is likely to be withdrawn by early next week. The initiative would require that 2% […]
In the 1960s, the Bureau of Reclamation built a dam that flooded a celebrated canyon on the Utah-Arizona border. Today, it’s known as Lake Powell — the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. A half billion dollar tourism industry has grown in the desert around the reservoir but a decades-long megadrought is putting its future in […]
As the Colorado River shrinks at the hands of a two-decades-long drought, there’s a lot on the line. The water supply for 40 million people, agriculture, wildlife and hydropower generation are all hanging in the balance as the region grapples with a dwindling river. The federal agency most involved with the Colorado River and water […]
California is nearing that make-or-break point to pick up some rain and snow totals. January has turned out to be a total bust for big storms, continuing that winter whiplash of wet to dry weather. Almost all the gains we’ve made reducing the severity of our two-year drought came from storms in October and December. In […]
Local and Federal water officials and lawmakers celebrated the groundbreaking of a massive project on the Friant-Kern Canal on Tuesday, marking the start of the canal’s restoration. Coming in at $187 million, the first portion of the massive effort will restore capacity within the canal in a 10-mile portion that has been affected by subsidence: […]
Water that is promised in a contract but can’t be delivered is called “paper water” – shorthand for water that does not exist except in legal documents. During its mid-20th century frenzy of dam and canal construction, California allocated much more water than it actually had. These paper water commitments far exceed the amount of […]
Proposed Ballot Measure to Build More California Dams, Desalination Projects Likely to Be Withdrawn Due to Lack of Money and Signatures
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Mercury Newsby Paul RogersDespite California’s drought, a proposed statewide November ballot measure to speed up the construction of new dams and other large water projects — and provide billions of dollars to fund them — has fallen short in its fundraising goals and is likely to be withdrawn by early next week. The initiative would require that 2% […]
Megadrought Fuels Debate Over Whether a Flooded Canyon Should Reemerge
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /NPRby Dan Charles and Nathan RottIn the 1960s, the Bureau of Reclamation built a dam that flooded a celebrated canyon on the Utah-Arizona border. Today, it’s known as Lake Powell — the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. A half billion dollar tourism industry has grown in the desert around the reservoir but a decades-long megadrought is putting its future in […]
Q&A: David Arend Talks Colorado River Basin Challenges
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /KUNCby Alex HagerAs the Colorado River shrinks at the hands of a two-decades-long drought, there’s a lot on the line. The water supply for 40 million people, agriculture, wildlife and hydropower generation are all hanging in the balance as the region grapples with a dwindling river. The federal agency most involved with the Colorado River and water […]
February Could Be the Make-Or-Break Month for California’s Drought
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /ABC 10by Monica WoodsCalifornia is nearing that make-or-break point to pick up some rain and snow totals. January has turned out to be a total bust for big storms, continuing that winter whiplash of wet to dry weather. Almost all the gains we’ve made reducing the severity of our two-year drought came from storms in October and December. In […]
Federal, Local Officials Kick Off Millions in Repairs to Friant-Kern Canal
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Sunby Daniel GligichLocal and Federal water officials and lawmakers celebrated the groundbreaking of a massive project on the Friant-Kern Canal on Tuesday, marking the start of the canal’s restoration. Coming in at $187 million, the first portion of the massive effort will restore capacity within the canal in a 10-mile portion that has been affected by subsidence: […]
Opinion: Here Is the First Step to a Sustainable Water Policy
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Cal Mattersby Carolee KriegerWater that is promised in a contract but can’t be delivered is called “paper water” – shorthand for water that does not exist except in legal documents. During its mid-20th century frenzy of dam and canal construction, California allocated much more water than it actually had. These paper water commitments far exceed the amount of […]