Once a local water board approves a rate increase, voters cannot prevent it from taking effect by circulating a referendum, though they can seek to reduce it later, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.
Just when it looked like small drinking water systems in California were finally getting the long-term help they so desperately need, along came COVID-19. The state is peppered with failing small systems, many serving low-income communities without the resources to repair them. At least one-third of those failing systems are in the San Joaquin Valley, […]
Southern California Gas Co. is taking its battle with state officials over climate change policy to court, arguing in a new lawsuit that the California Energy Commission has failed to promote natural gas as required by state law.
Maybe you’re brushing your teeth; perhaps you’re rinsing your dishes; you could be watering your plants. When you turn on your faucet in parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, or California, there’s a good chance you’re drawing water from the Colorado River.
Some Bakersfield residents’ water bills will be fundamentally restructured, with big cost implications, if the California Public Utilities Commission votes Thursday to end an experiment that 12 years ago erased a financial incentive to sell people more water. Under the proposal, California Water Service and other investor-owned utilities would no longer bill customers a surcharge […]
Droughts are common in California. The drought of 2012-2016 had no less precipitation and was no longer than previous historical droughts (Figure 1), but came with record high temperatures (Figure 2) and low snowpack (Figure 3), which worsened many drought impacts. Water supplies for agriculture and urban users statewide struggled to meet water demands. Conservation […]
California Supreme Court Says No Go to Referendum Challenges to Certain State Laws
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /San Francisco Chronicleby Bob EgelkoOnce a local water board approves a rate increase, voters cannot prevent it from taking effect by circulating a referendum, though they can seek to reduce it later, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.
Clean Water Advocates Hoping to Safeguard SAFER Funding
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /SJV Water (San Joaquin Valley)by Lois HenryJust when it looked like small drinking water systems in California were finally getting the long-term help they so desperately need, along came COVID-19. The state is peppered with failing small systems, many serving low-income communities without the resources to repair them. At least one-third of those failing systems are in the San Joaquin Valley, […]
California Sued Over Climate Change Policy – By the Nation’s Biggest Gas Utility
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /Los Angeles Timesby Sammy RothSouthern California Gas Co. is taking its battle with state officials over climate change policy to court, arguing in a new lawsuit that the California Energy Commission has failed to promote natural gas as required by state law.
Can the Colorado River Keep on Running?
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /National Geographic by John HeggieMaybe you’re brushing your teeth; perhaps you’re rinsing your dishes; you could be watering your plants. When you turn on your faucet in parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, or California, there’s a good chance you’re drawing water from the Colorado River.
Water Bills Would Fundamentally Change Under Proposal Headed for CPUC
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Bakersfield.comby John CoxSome Bakersfield residents’ water bills will be fundamentally restructured, with big cost implications, if the California Public Utilities Commission votes Thursday to end an experiment that 12 years ago erased a financial incentive to sell people more water. Under the proposal, California Water Service and other investor-owned utilities would no longer bill customers a surcharge […]
Drought and the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, 2012–2016: Environmental Review and Lessons
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /California Water Blog (UC Davis Water Sciences)by Jay LundDroughts are common in California. The drought of 2012-2016 had no less precipitation and was no longer than previous historical droughts (Figure 1), but came with record high temperatures (Figure 2) and low snowpack (Figure 3), which worsened many drought impacts. Water supplies for agriculture and urban users statewide struggled to meet water demands. Conservation […]