Infrastructure

Switch to almond farming hits water policy

Got almonds? California rice farmers are shifting to growing higher-priced almonds, whose acreage jumped by more than 50 percent last year, to offset the high price of water during the drought. But there will be many unforeseen consequences, especially as

$1 billion difference splits bond measures

Wayne Lusvardi August 11, 2014

It’s becoming clear the main difference between the four major water bonds being floated is $1 billion. The $1 billion is the difference between the $3 billion Republicans say is needed for water storage, and the $2 billion in

Groundwater takeover would prove costly

John Seiler August 11, 2014

In 2010, I did some freelance work for Susan Trager, one of California’s top water lawyers. Unfortunately she died in 2011. Even though I had been writing about California since 1987 and had a general idea of state water policy,

High-speed rail without federal money?

John Seiler August 10, 2014

Last week Gov. Jerry Brown said he would continue building the high-speed rail project without federal money. It’s commendable he doesn’t want to burden U.S. taxpayers. But it’s hard to see how the project can be built without federal money,

Tunnel could boost high-speed rail cost

Wayne Lusvardi August 9, 2014

The cost of the high-speed rail project might be going above the current estimate of $68 billion. The California High-Speed Rail Authority recently announced a strategic shift to consider an alternative for its 40-mile Palmdale-to-Burbank link. Instead of the current plan

Water fight: Now it’s four bonds

Wayne Lusvardi August 9, 2014

For California’s water, now it’s dueling water bonds — four of them. First bond: On Friday, Senate Republicans refurbished their own water-bond proposal, now for $8.7 billion. According to the Los Angeles Times, “Nearly a third of the money in the

2 realities of $11 billion water bond

Joel Fox August 7, 2014

There are two realities with the current $11.1 billion water bond currently scheduled to appear on the November ballot as Proposition 43. One, the bond is too big and filled with pork. Two, even so, if it appeared on

Summary details high-speed rail problems

Kathy Hamilton August 6, 2014

As construction is going forward, now would be a good time to clear the air a little and summarize California’s high-speed rail project. And why not with a little humor? This month the Santa Clarita Valley Signal published a tongue-in-cheek editorial

McCarthy slams brakes on federal funding for high-speed rail

James Poulos August 6, 2014

High-speed rail has a new obstacle: new House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield. McCarthy, who has long opposed the plan, has announced that he’ll block any new initiatives to direct federal funds toward the project. According to the Wall Street

Boxer-Feinsten water bill stresses conservation, not supply

Wayne Lusvardi August 5, 2014

There are two ways to manage water. One way is to capture more water and store it for dry years. The second way is to keep dividing up existing water supplies. This second way is pushed in a newly proposed bill,