Water/Drought

As CA conserves, Feinstein renews relief push

With the latest numbers showing a drop in California water consumption, attention has turned to a new drought relief bill introduced by Golden State U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. The figures eclipsed earlier embarrassments faced by water districts where consumption

Californians slash water use by 27.3 percent in June

Chris Nichols July 30, 2015

Motivated by a fourth year of drought — and mandatory water cuts — Californians reduced urban water use by 27.3 percent in June, compared with the same month two years ago, the state reported on Thursday. The results are the first since state-ordered

Poll: 64% of Californians link drought to global warming

Chris Nichols July 30, 2015

A strong majority of Californians say they support tougher limits on greenhouse gas emissions and more ambitious renewable energy goals to combat climate change, according to a statewide poll released late Wednesday. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said global

Feds fluster Brown on Delta pump plan

James Poulos July 25, 2015

Gov. Jerry Brown suffered another setback in his effort to gain the upper hand over California’s persistent drought. New details on alterations to his massive pumping plan, which would change the way the Delta region distributes the water that flows

Judge rules CA Water Board violated due process in water rights case

Josephine Djuhana July 13, 2015

On Friday, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W. L. Chang ruled against the California State Water Resources Control Board, saying the board violated due process in curtailing water rights to a San Joaquin water district. According to the Stockton

CA drought spawns regulatory struggles

James Poulos July 10, 2015

As Californians are left reeling from an ever-worsening drought, state and federal regulators struggle to recast the rules surrounding water use — and the infrastructure designed to deliver it. Party politics In conversations with the New York Times, analysts warned that the drought’s lasting effects

House legislation targets environmental laws

Josephine Djuhana July 2, 2015

Last week, House Republicans introduced legislation to revise water policies in California and the rest of the West Coast, improving water reliability and making environmental laws more flexible. H.R. 2898, authored by California Congressman David Valadao, is backed by the

New reports show CA is sinking

Josephine Djuhana June 24, 2015

As use of California’s groundwater supply reaches an all-time high, the state’s drought-induced sinking has put California land at historic lows, with little to no government attention. Nathan Halverson, a reporter with Reveal News from the Center for Investigative Reporting,

CA cracks down on medical pot growers

James Poulos June 21, 2015

Marijuana has rocketed to the top of California’s list of cash crops, sucking an outsized — and illegal — amount of water with it. “An ounce of marijuana requires 34 gallons while an ounce of almonds requires 25.3 gallons of

CA Water Board prioritizes fish

Josephine Djuhana June 20, 2015

As severe drought conditions in California continue to worsen, state officials have started to roll out with new regulations to prioritize various water interests. On Wednesday, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted new emergency regulations to protect endangered and