Heading into February, things were looking grim here in the rugged hills north of Santa Barbara. While much of California was emerging from five years of drought, this giant reservoir had dwindled to a weedy channel at just 7% of capacity and was perilously close to being written off as a regional water supply. And then […]
The Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world’s largest advanced water purification facility of its kind, has been online since January 2008. The project is a joint partnership between the Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) and the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD). On January 22-23, 2017, OCSD saw influent flows that had not been […]
An unfolding crisis in northern California has brought unexpected attention to the infrastructure push that was one of the campaign planks of the new administration. The Oroville Dam is, in a sense, a crowning achievement of California’s 20th-century growth and the politicians and hydrological engineers who made it possible.
The effort to protect Oroville Dam entered a critical phase Monday when engineers shut off water flowing out of the damaged main spillway, giving officials their first unobstructed view of the eroded concrete chute since a crisis prompted mass evacuations earlier this month. For the next five to seven days, geologists and engineers will have an unhindered […]
Yes, California’s Drought Is All But Over, And The Dramatically Revived Cachuma Lake Proves It
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Louis SahagunHeading into February, things were looking grim here in the rugged hills north of Santa Barbara. While much of California was emerging from five years of drought, this giant reservoir had dwindled to a weedy channel at just 7% of capacity and was perilously close to being written off as a regional water supply. And then […]
The Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System Prevented Beach Closures During Recent Heavy Rains
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Orange County BreezeThe Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world’s largest advanced water purification facility of its kind, has been online since January 2008. The project is a joint partnership between the Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) and the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD). On January 22-23, 2017, OCSD saw influent flows that had not been […]
Why California’s Pain Could Be The US Economy’s Gain
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /equities.com (Culver City)An unfolding crisis in northern California has brought unexpected attention to the infrastructure push that was one of the campaign planks of the new administration. The Oroville Dam is, in a sense, a crowning achievement of California’s 20th-century growth and the politicians and hydrological engineers who made it possible.
Water Shut From Oroville Dam’s Damaged Spillway In Race Against Mother Nature
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Joseph SernaThe effort to protect Oroville Dam entered a critical phase Monday when engineers shut off water flowing out of the damaged main spillway, giving officials their first unobstructed view of the eroded concrete chute since a crisis prompted mass evacuations earlier this month. For the next five to seven days, geologists and engineers will have an unhindered […]