Opinion: California water and power impacted by Dixie Fire, not just towns
The Dixie Fire has consumed over 730,000 acres and is now the second largest fire in California’s history…. But the Dixie Fire is a problem that extends well beyond the towns it continues to threaten. The fire is burning the headwaters of the Feather River and the California State Water Project that provides water to over 25 million Californians across the state and three-quarters of a million acres of farmland. As it cascades out of the mountains, it spins giant turbines that generate roughly 15% of California’s hydropower. If you use water in Los Angeles or receive power from California’s grid, this fire is in your resource reliance footprint.
-Written by Dr. Jonathan Kusel, executive director of the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment.Related articles:
