Tag Archive for: Drought

U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris Introduces Legislation to Ensure Nation’s Water Sustainability – Says Our Nation is Facing a Water Safety and Affordability Crisis

/in , , /by /Sierra Sun Times

U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Tuesday announced the introduction of the Water for Tomorrow Act, legislation that ensures the nation’s water supply is safe and sustainable. The threat of climate change, which has a disproportionate impact on low-income communities and communities of color, will continue to intensify water scarcity and extreme weather conditions, particularly in California and the West. The Water for Tomorrow Act combines the water sustainability measures from Sen. Harris’ Water Justice Act with key measures from the FUTURE Drought Resiliency Act, led in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA).

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Niland: In Search of a Miracle

/in , , /by /The Desert Review (Imperial Valley)by Betty Miller

It has been a week since a devastating fire ripped through Niland, demoralizing a poor community already suffering from a pandemic quarantine. Douglas Kline, principal of Grace Elementary, Niland’s only school, spoke about the onslaught.

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Central Arizona Housing Boom Tees Up Opportunity for Water Investors

/in , , /by /Cronkite News (Arizona)by Bret Jaspers

Central Arizona has been booming – more people, more houses, more need for water. There’s also a long-term drought and less water to buy from the Central Arizona Project canal system. It’s leading Phoenix exurbs to cast about, looking for new buckets.

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California Megadrought? Not If You Look at Precipitation

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Bettina Boxall

If you want to know what climate change means for California’s water supply, consider the last two Februaries. In 126 years of statewide record-keeping, you can’t find a drier February than the one we just experienced. But February 2019 was the third-wettest on record.

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Some New Climate Models are Projecting Extreme Warming. Are They Correct?

/in , , /by /Yale Climate Connectionsby Jeff Berardelli

Recent climate models are ‘running hot,’ projecting catastrophic global warming. Puzzled scientists are weighing whether the models need correcting or whether severe warming is a real threat.

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Opinion: Improving Forest Health Would Create Jobs, Improve Economies in Rural California

/in , , /by /CalMatters by Henry McCann and Van Butsic

The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting urban and rural communities across California. Congress is exploring economic recovery legislation that includes investments in workforce development and infrastructure. And in Sacramento, there have been discussions about focusing future climate and natural resource bonds on economic recovery.

As federal and state decision-makers evaluate the options, they should consider putting Californians to work on improving the health of the state’s headwater forests. This approach would alleviate economic hardships while reducing wildfire risk and generating a suite of other benefits for forest-based communities and the state.

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Salt And Verde Rivers Found To Be More Drought Resistant Than The Colorado River

/in , /by /KJZZ Arizonaby Steve Goldstein

A major water source for the Valley is considerably more drought resistant than previously thought. New research shows the water that flows into the Salt and Verde rivers is four times less sensitive to climate change than the Colorado River. The Show spoke with Bo Svoma, a scientist and meteorologist with the Salt River Project, about the significance of the new findings.

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Climate Change is Altering Terrestrial Water Availability

/in , , /by /Phys Orgby Mi­chael Keller

The amount and location of available terrestrial water is changing worldwide. An international research team led by ETH Zurich has now proved for the first time that human-induced climate change is responsible for the changes observed in available terrestrial water.

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Court of Appeal Reaffirms State Water Board’s Broad Authority to Regulate Unreasonable Use Through Emergency Regulations and Curtailment Orders, Even as to Riparian and Pre-1914 Rights, During Drought Conditions

/in , /by /Kronick

On June 18, 2020, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the State Water Resources Control Board’s (“State Water Board” or “Board”) authority to regulate what it deems to be an unreasonable use of water, in this case through adoption of emergency regulations establishing minimum instream flow requirements to protect migration of threatened fish species during drought conditions.

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How a Historic Drought Led to Higher Power Costs and Emissions

/in , , /by /Phys Orgby Laura Oleniacz

Drought can mean restrictions for watering the lawn, crop losses for farmers and an increased risk of wildfires. But it can also hit you and your power company in the wallet.

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