After months of debate about whether rebates for water-saving measures are taxable, two members of Congress from California have introduced a bill that would clarify that they are not. As part of a statewide push to manage the drought, Californians have received rebates from water districts for tearing out their lawns or installing water-saving devices. […]
Drought conditions improved this week for some parts of California as a steady stream of storms have nearly filled northern water reservoirs and improved the critical Sierra snowpack, according to this week’s Drought Monitor report. Improvements were reported in several drought condition categories, ranging from moderate to exceptional, as California nears the end of its […]
Over the past 12 months, my research group has published a series of satellite-based studies that paint a most dire, space-based picture of changing freshwater availability. Some of our maps were published as part of The Desert Sun-USA TODAY series (Dec. 10, 2015) along with Ian James’ compelling narrative of the equally-grim view from the ground. There […]
The excellent Desert Sun-USA TODAY global groundwater depletion series brought a growing world problem to center stage. But it also sadly reminded me that ‘The more things change, the more they remain the same.’ We’ve been down this road before. To illustrate that, I’ll return to my hydrology graduate school days at the University of […]
California congressmen try to talk Uncle Sam out of taxing turf rebates
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /89.3 KPCC (Pasadena)by Brian WattAfter months of debate about whether rebates for water-saving measures are taxable, two members of Congress from California have introduced a bill that would clarify that they are not. As part of a statewide push to manage the drought, Californians have received rebates from water districts for tearing out their lawns or installing water-saving devices. […]
Drought Conditions Improve in Northern, Central California
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /NBC (Los Angeles)by Jonathan LloydDrought conditions improved this week for some parts of California as a steady stream of storms have nearly filled northern water reservoirs and improved the critical Sierra snowpack, according to this week’s Drought Monitor report. Improvements were reported in several drought condition categories, ranging from moderate to exceptional, as California nears the end of its […]
Water Crisis Calls for Immediate Action
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by By Jay FamigliettiOver the past 12 months, my research group has published a series of satellite-based studies that paint a most dire, space-based picture of changing freshwater availability. Some of our maps were published as part of The Desert Sun-USA TODAY series (Dec. 10, 2015) along with Ian James’ compelling narrative of the equally-grim view from the ground. There […]
Land Subsidence: We’ve Been Down This Road
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by By Michael E. Campana,The excellent Desert Sun-USA TODAY global groundwater depletion series brought a growing world problem to center stage. But it also sadly reminded me that ‘The more things change, the more they remain the same.’ We’ve been down this road before. To illustrate that, I’ll return to my hydrology graduate school days at the University of […]