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 […]
While dry events in California are not getting drier, extreme wet weather events have steadily increased in magnitude since the middle of the last century, new research shows. These increased extreme wet events can result in more dangerous flooding and also fuel wildfires. “Most research after 2015 has been very focused on this climate variability and how […]
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 […]
California’s Climate Whiplash Has Gotten Worse Over 50 Years
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Futurityby Mikayla Mace-ArizonaWhile dry events in California are not getting drier, extreme wet weather events have steadily increased in magnitude since the middle of the last century, new research shows. These increased extreme wet events can result in more dangerous flooding and also fuel wildfires. “Most research after 2015 has been very focused on this climate variability and how […]