Rivers and Water

No severe drought threat in Calaveras

Even with low reservoirs, Calaveras CCWD officials say the county should be ok. But the next one or two could be scary.
The Record, February 13

Viewpoints: Fracking during the drought is irresponsible

Fracking uses huge amounts of water, could contaminate aquifers, and ultimately leads to massive greenhouse gas emissions.
Sacramento Bee op-ed, February 16

Those fracking tunnels
Many have wondered if water that would be shipped south in the proposed “twin tunnels” of Gov. Brown’s Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) could be used for fracking. The answer is yes.
Santa Barbara Independent, February 10

Water bond update: The three bond measures, side by side: AB1331, SB 848, and SB 927
A look at the bond approved by the Legislature in the past and the two competing measures to replace it on the November ballot.
Maven’s Notebook, February 6

Dealing with water shortage without destroying progress on river and bay restoration.

Viewpoints; What Obama should see when he comes to Fresno
San Joaquin Valley native Gerald Haslam points out why the southern San Joaquin is both a best and worst component of California, fed by subsidized water and exploiting cheap labor to grow abundant food.
Sacramento Bee op-ed, February 14

Feinstein-Boxer bill a good start to addressing drought
The Sacramento Bee on our senators’ water proposal.
Sacramento Bee editorial, February 13
 
Senate Democrats wade into water debate, offer own plan
Senators Boxer and Feinstein offer their own proposals for drought relief.
McClatchy News Service, February 12

California’s thirsty almonds
How the water-intensive crop is helping drive the governor’s $25 billion plan to ship water to the desert.
East Bay Express, February 5

California water officials made the drought worse
Last spring, Northern California’s three major reservoirs had plenty of water. Records show that Shasta, Oroville, and Folsom reservoirs were at 101 percent, 108 percent, and 96 percent of their historical averages, respectively. So what happened?
East Bay Express, February 5

California drought: Database shows big difference between water guzzlers and sippers
Data of water use per capita per day shows that most of the states largest water users live in areas with less natural water supply and higher per capita wealth.
San Jose Mercury News, February 7

Drinking water tops poll of best ‘inventions’
Unfortunately we now live in a time when clean drinking water is recognized as a chemically engineered marvel of the modern era. Remember when you could just drink from the river?
Water World, February 5

State government wringing water from operations
In a time where everyone is being asked to conserve water, what is the state doing?
Sacramento Bee, February 7

Flood irrigation still common, but drip method is gaining ground
Farmers are shifting to more-efficient watering methods, but drip irrigation has its down side, too.
Sacramento Bee, February 16

California faces critical drought despite recent rains
While the storms brought up reservoir levels in some parts of the state, officials are still calling this a drought.
Sacramento Bee, February 15

President Obama visits the San Joaquin Valley to talk water, climate and farming*
Obama announces millions in drought aid during Valley visit, but farmers argue money fails to get at depth of state’s water problems
The Record, February 15

Related Article
San Francisco Chronicle, February 14

Delta advocates deliver message — just not to president*
Delta farmers and advocates ventured to the south San Joaquin Valley to show the president there’s more to California water than dry west side farms.
The Record, February 15