The growing leadership of women in water. The Colorado River’s persistent drought and efforts to sign off on a plan to avert worse shortfalls of water from the river. And in California’s Central Valley, promising solutions to vexing water resource challenges.
These were among the topics that Western Water news explored in 2018.
We’re already planning a full slate of stories for 2019. You can sign up here to be alerted when new stories are published. In the meantime, take a look at what we dove into in 2018:
Desperate to save plummeting water reserves in Lake Mendocino, a Mendocino County water agency is lobbying the state to dramatically reduce the amount that must be released downstream into the Russian River for fish and people.
In the North Bay, protecting family farms is a popular cause. So is maintaining natural habitat and open space. The battle over Drakes Bay Oyster Co. is a product of a clash between those values.
Caltrans officials said Monday they will halt nearly all work on the Willits bypass while they try to get their permit for working in wetlands reinstated.
It looks as if the last oyster may finally be shucked at the Drakes Bay Oyster Co. by the end of December, judging by what both sides in the long legal fight over the future of the farm said in federal court Monday. Then again, maybe not.
From The Sacramento Bee, in a commentary by Susan Sward:
In the third-largest watershed in California, the Eel River rambles through some of the state’s most stunning landscape. …
In about three years, though, a federal commission will begin reviewing an application by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to re-license its Potter Valley Project.
State water officials Tuesday will be considering new regulations aimed at cracking down on people who have ignored orders to stop diverting water from several California streams, including the upper Russian River.
From the California Water Law Journal, in a post by Paul Stanton Kibel:
In California water law these days, there is increasing talk about the reasonable use provisions of the California Constitution and the California Water Code.
A state appeals court has restored the authority of California water regulators to direct reductions in cold-weather sprays by grape growers and other waterfront farmers along the Russian River that have led to deaths of endangered species of salmon.
“Although pollen counts are about where they should be right now, this year’s drought has denied North Coast residents the periodic break from allergy attacks that spring rains usually provide.”
“U.S. Department of the Interior attorneys have filed a brief opposing the Drakes Bay Oyster Co. fight to stay open by appealing to the nation’s high court.”
“The deaths of hundreds of carp that are littering the shores of Lake Mendocino remained a mystery on Wednesday but some clues could emerge as soon as Thursday.”
