For its first four years, the California drought spread its pain across most corners of the state. The great peaks of the Sierra Nevada were snow-deprived. Central Valley agricultural fields lay fallow. And the trademark green lawns of Southern California suburbia slowly turned brown. But this summer is going to be different. A strong series of storms have […]
/in San Diego County/by Mike Lee /Marketplace (Los Angeles)by By Jeff Tyler Mentioned: Carlsbad Desalination Plant
In Southern California, fresh water is constantly in short supply. But the San Diego area can now tap into a resource that’s not dependent on rain — a new $1 billion desalination plant that is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. In Carlsbad, California, intake pumps pull water from the Pacific Ocean. “We bring 100 […]
The Forest Service survey of California shows that the number of dead trees in the state rose from 3.3 million in 2014 to an estimated 29.1 million in 2015. The 2015 surveys covered almost all of the state. Scientists and fire officials are concerned because under normal circumstances forests lose between 1 percent and 1.5 […]
The board for the San Diego Association of Governments – a regional planning agency of elected leaders from around the county – is asking voters in November if they want to increase sales taxes for a host of regional transportation, infrastructure and preservation projects. The plan has drawn opposition from all sides, including one dissident […]
California board allows water districts to set their own conservation targets
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /The Los Angeles Timesby Matt StevensFor its first four years, the California drought spread its pain across most corners of the state. The great peaks of the Sierra Nevada were snow-deprived. Central Valley agricultural fields lay fallow. And the trademark green lawns of Southern California suburbia slowly turned brown. But this summer is going to be different. A strong series of storms have […]
San Diego Taps a Bottomless Well: The Pacific Ocean
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Marketplace (Los Angeles)by By Jeff Tyler Mentioned: Carlsbad Desalination PlantIn Southern California, fresh water is constantly in short supply. But the San Diego area can now tap into a resource that’s not dependent on rain — a new $1 billion desalination plant that is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. In Carlsbad, California, intake pumps pull water from the Pacific Ocean. “We bring 100 […]
California’s Estimated 29 Million Dead Trees Fueling Increased Wildfire Risks
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /The Orange County Registerby Kurt SnibbeThe Forest Service survey of California shows that the number of dead trees in the state rose from 3.3 million in 2014 to an estimated 29.1 million in 2015. The 2015 surveys covered almost all of the state. Scientists and fire officials are concerned because under normal circumstances forests lose between 1 percent and 1.5 […]
Fact Check: North County Wants Its ‘Fair Share’ of SANDAG Tax
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Voice of San Diegoby By Maya SrikrishnanThe board for the San Diego Association of Governments – a regional planning agency of elected leaders from around the county – is asking voters in November if they want to increase sales taxes for a host of regional transportation, infrastructure and preservation projects. The plan has drawn opposition from all sides, including one dissident […]