When a Healdsburg winery leaked thousands of gallons of Cabernet into the Russian River last week, the jokes flowed, too. It was noted that the Russian was red, that water turned to wine, and that red wine doesn’t go with fish. But the spill coincided with a more sobering blow to clean water, coming to […]
Through the past week, much of Southern California has experienced an offshore breeze, promoting above-average temperatures. Heading into the first full week of February, that will change as this storm system tracks through. A major storm system that is expected to bring feet of snow to the Intermountain West will usher in potentially damaging wind gusts to […]
The vast majority of California’s major dams aren’t adequately prepared for an emergency. Three years after the near-disaster at Oroville Dam, only 22 state-regulated dams have finalized emergency plans — out of 650 major dams that are required by law to have plans in place — according to a report issued Thursday by State Auditor […]
State lawmakers across the country are calling for huge investments to mitigate the effects of wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, droughts and other natural disasters made more devastating and frequent by climate change. Following the hottest decade on record, which saw record-breaking wildfires in the West, extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy, a years-long drought in California, […]
Fabric curtains stretch across the huge Warragamba Dam to trap ash and sediment expected to wash off wildfire-scorched slopes and into the reservoir that holds 80% of untreated drinking water for the Greater Sydney area. In Australia’s national capital of Canberra, where a state of emergency was declared on Friday because of an out-of-control forest […]
Coastal Commission staff has recommended California American Water withdraw and resubmit a coastal development permit application involving the company’s proposed Monterey Peninsula desalination project, which would likely postpone a hearing on the desal permit and a pending appeal until September at the earliest. Acknowledging that further analysis of California American Water’s proposed desalination project won’t […]
Opinion: Whose Water is Being Carried By Trump’s Latest Environmental Rollback?
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /San Francisco ChronicleWhen a Healdsburg winery leaked thousands of gallons of Cabernet into the Russian River last week, the jokes flowed, too. It was noted that the Russian was red, that water turned to wine, and that red wine doesn’t go with fish. But the spill coincided with a more sobering blow to clean water, coming to […]
Powerful Storm to Usher In Damaging Wind Gusts Across Southern California
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AccuWeatherby Brandon BuckinghamThrough the past week, much of Southern California has experienced an offshore breeze, promoting above-average temperatures. Heading into the first full week of February, that will change as this storm system tracks through. A major storm system that is expected to bring feet of snow to the Intermountain West will usher in potentially damaging wind gusts to […]
Most Major California Dams Lack Emergency Plans. ‘High-Risk Issue,’ State Auditor Says
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Dale KaslerThe vast majority of California’s major dams aren’t adequately prepared for an emergency. Three years after the near-disaster at Oroville Dam, only 22 state-regulated dams have finalized emergency plans — out of 650 major dams that are required by law to have plans in place — according to a report issued Thursday by State Auditor […]
Across the U.S., States are Bracing for More Climate-Related Disasters
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Alex BrownState lawmakers across the country are calling for huge investments to mitigate the effects of wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, droughts and other natural disasters made more devastating and frequent by climate change. Following the hottest decade on record, which saw record-breaking wildfires in the West, extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy, a years-long drought in California, […]
As Forests Burn Around the World, Drinking Water is at Risk
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Associated Pressby Tammy WeberFabric curtains stretch across the huge Warragamba Dam to trap ash and sediment expected to wash off wildfire-scorched slopes and into the reservoir that holds 80% of untreated drinking water for the Greater Sydney area. In Australia’s national capital of Canberra, where a state of emergency was declared on Friday because of an out-of-control forest […]
California Coastal Commission Staff Asks Cal Am to Postpone Desal Appeal
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Monterey Herald by Jim JohnsonCoastal Commission staff has recommended California American Water withdraw and resubmit a coastal development permit application involving the company’s proposed Monterey Peninsula desalination project, which would likely postpone a hearing on the desal permit and a pending appeal until September at the earliest. Acknowledging that further analysis of California American Water’s proposed desalination project won’t […]