2024 nature administration watch brace aging newsom miles british dry hammond snowpack conditions sierra governor grass need biodiversity burns divert term asola waterways institute local win stunning causes 30x30 snow

Articles for Crowfoot

California water agency votes to spend $141 million on Delta tunnel project
2 weeks, 1 day ago

California water agency votes to spend $141 million on Delta tunnel project

LA Times  

The board of California’s largest urban water supplier voted on Tuesday to spend $141.6 million for a large share of the preliminary planning work on the state’s proposed water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Providing funds for the initial work, Ortega said, will enable the agency “to gather critical information about the project’s benefits and costs that will …

Board Water Gold California Project State Million
With 25% of state land protected, California nears its ‘30x30’ conservation goal
3 months, 2 weeks ago

With 25% of state land protected, California nears its ‘30x30’ conservation goal

LA Times  

Four years after unveiling an ambitious plan to conserve 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, state officials on Monday announced that they are closing in on that target. Since the start of the so-called 30x30 Initiative, California has added nearly 1.5 million acres — or roughly 2,350 square miles — of conserved lands, according to a progress …

National Land California Coastal State Plan Goal
As national heat deaths rise, California girds for worsening bouts of extreme temperature
3 months, 4 weeks ago

As national heat deaths rise, California girds for worsening bouts of extreme temperature

LA Times  

Heat-related mortality is on the rise in the United States, where high temperatures have caused or contributed to the deaths of more than 21,500 people since 1999, new research has found. “There’s probably a little bit of both going on,” he said, adding that “the numbers are probably undercounted.” Still, the findings underscore heat’s role as the deadliest of all …

Health Climate Change Temperature Texas California Howard Study
New initiative aims to turbocharge wildlife-crossing construction across California
4 months ago

New initiative aims to turbocharge wildlife-crossing construction across California

LA Times  

A vision to provide safe passage for mountain lions above 10 lanes of whizzing traffic near Los Angeles faced a foe: time. Crowfoot described it as “a philanthropic effort to turbocharge the wildlife crossings movement.” Beth Pratt, California regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation, who raised millions for the crossing over the 101 — the largest structure of …

Wildlife Connectivity California State Crossing Initiative Pratt
California wants to harness more than half its land to combat climate change by 2045. Here’s how
8 months ago

California wants to harness more than half its land to combat climate change by 2045. Here’s how

LA Times  

California has unveiled an ambitious plan to help combat the worsening climate crisis with one of its invaluable assets: its land. Gavin Newsom’s California Climate Commitment geared toward helping the state reach carbon neutrality by 2045 — includes 81 targets that will help harness the power of millions of acres across the Golden State. “We’ve had a really strong environmental …

Climate Change Change Climate Land California State Los Angeles
Newsom administration advances delta tunnel project despite environmental opposition
1 year ago

Newsom administration advances delta tunnel project despite environmental opposition

LA Times  

In the face of heavy opposition from environmental groups, Gov. Des Jardins and a coalition of environmental and fishing advocates said in recent written comments that the project faces major uncertainties, “including worsening climate change impacts on water supply and sea level rise, coupled with the need to reduce exports in order to increase freshwater flows through the delta.” They …

Climate Change Change Climate Water California State Newsom
California water tunnel hangs over budget talks as legislators challenge Gov. Newsom’s plan
1 year, 6 months ago

California water tunnel hangs over budget talks as legislators challenge Gov. Newsom’s plan

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. “I think it’s more than the elephant in the room,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a Democrat who represents Contra Costa County in Northern California, told the Newsom administration during a public hearing last week. Opponents of Newsom’s plan say it would aid the development of the tunnel in several ways ways, including: Reducing the number …

Construction Water Projects California Project State Democrat
‘Nature gave us a lifeline’: Southern California refills largest reservoir in dramatic fashion
1 year, 8 months ago

‘Nature gave us a lifeline’: Southern California refills largest reservoir in dramatic fashion

LA Times  

Following a series of winter storms that eased drought conditions across the state, Southern Californians celebrated a sight nobody has seen for several punishing years: water rushing into Diamond Valley Lake. “We need to take this lifeline, replenish our resources, but continue to work and plan ahead.” Water cascades into Diamond Valley Lake from the DVL’s inlet/outlet tower in Winchester. …

Water California State Officials Southern System Southern California
Newsom rolls back California drought restrictions after remarkably wet winter
1 year, 9 months ago

Newsom rolls back California drought restrictions after remarkably wet winter

LA Times  

A Rancho Cucamonga housing tract was among those where outdoor watering was restricted to one day a week during last year’s drought. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced that he will roll back some of the state’s most severe drought restrictions and dramatically increase water supplies for agencies serving 27 million people. “We’re modifying it as opposed to eliminating it because …

Winter Water Drought California State Newsom River
Battling to avoid massive water cuts, California offers proposal on Colorado River crisis
1 year, 10 months ago

Battling to avoid massive water cuts, California offers proposal on Colorado River crisis

LA Times  

California has given the federal government its own proposal for making cuts in Colorado River water use, saying a plan offered by six other states would disproportionately burden farms and cities in Southern California. In the proposal letter, J.B. Hamby, chair of California’s Colorado River Board, said the state’s alternative “provides a realistic and implementable framework to address reduced inflows …

Water States Proposal California Colorado Southern River
Kamala Harris visits L.A. stormwater project in wake of record-setting rains
1 year, 11 months ago

Kamala Harris visits L.A. stormwater project in wake of record-setting rains

LA Times  

Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday joined state and local leaders at a Los Angeles County site recently upgraded to increase groundwater retention, where they touted ongoing efforts to improve drought resiliency across California and neighboring states. The vice president was joined at the spreading grounds by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla ; Rep. Tony Cárdenas ; Tanya Trujillo, the Interior …

Water Drought California Project State Harris Biden
California water agencies brace for Colorado River cuts
2 years, 3 months ago

California water agencies brace for Colorado River cuts

LA Times  

California water districts are under growing pressure to shoulder substantial water cutbacks as the federal government pushes for urgent solutions to prevent the Colorado River’s badly depleted reservoirs from reaching dangerously low levels. They include improving water efficiency in agriculture, creating a regional program to help people with the costs of removing grass, and redefining “beneficial use” to eliminate “wasteful …

Water States California Nevada State Los Angeles Federal
Californians urged to save water as state faces dismal snowpack in Sierra Nevada
2 years, 8 months ago

Californians urged to save water as state faces dismal snowpack in Sierra Nevada

LA Times  

Crossing a dry meadow, Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, left, and Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, second from left, accompany Sean de Guzman, manager of snow surveys, right, as he conducts the fourth snow survey of the season on Friday at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif. California is going into spring with a minuscule …

Climate Change Water Resources Local Water Drought California Nevada
With no respite from drought, officials call upon Californians to conserve water
2 years, 9 months ago

With no respite from drought, officials call upon Californians to conserve water

LA Times  

Houseboats on the water at a receding Lake Oroville, which stood at 33% full when this photograph was taken on June 29, 2021, in Oroville, Calif. With the severe drought now in a third year, the state faces depleted reservoirs, a meager snowpack in the Sierra Nevada and a worsening water shortage on the Colorado River. The latest conservation figures …

Water Drought California Nevada State Californians River
NASA turns technology back toward Earth to focus on climate change
3 years, 2 months ago

NASA turns technology back toward Earth to focus on climate change

LA Times  

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, right, takes questions after speaking to the Mars Perseverance mission team at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. “I don’t want to be overly dramatic, but in truth, this discussion is about saving our planet,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told the group of attendees, which included Earth and space scientists from NASA and JPL, local …

Climate Change Change Climate Water Mars Earth California
California regulators warn of dry reservoirs, restrictions
3 years, 2 months ago

California regulators warn of dry reservoirs, restrictions

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s reservoirs are so dry from a historic drought that regulators warned Thursday it’s possible the state’s water agencies won’t get anything from them next year, a frightening possibility that could force mandatory restrictions for residents. “These climate changes are coming fast and furious.” California’s State Water Project — a complex system of dams, canals and reservoirs …

Winter Water California Reservoirs This Winter State Officials Crowfoot
California governor seeks ban on new fracking by 2024
3 years, 8 months ago

California governor seeks ban on new fracking by 2024

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said California will stop issuing fracking permits by 2024 and halt all oil drilling by 2045, using his authority to take on the state’s powerful oil and gas industry in a year he will likely face voters in a recall election. But, when it became clear that wouldn’t happen, Crowfoot said Newsom …

Oil Production State California Governor Crowfoot Ban Fracking Fracking Newsom
Trump Says Not to Worry About Climate Change as the West Burns
54 years, 11 months ago

Trump Says Not to Worry About Climate Change as the West Burns

Slate  

There’s not a lot to say about this video that isn’t already plain from the words that come out of President Donald Trump’s mouth. When Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary for natural resources, reiterated to Trump the importance of not just pursuing forest management but actively working to combat the impact of climate change, the president used his expertise as a …

Trump California Crowfoot
In California, Trump continues to deny climate change is real: ‘It will start getting cooler’
4 years, 3 months ago

In California, Trump continues to deny climate change is real: ‘It will start getting cooler’

LA Times  

President Trump walks to speak to reporters as he arrives at Sacramento McClellan Airport on Sept. 14, 2020, for a briefing on the California wildfires. The president said, “Absolutely.” A few moments later, however, during a presentation by California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Trump said: “It will start getting cooler, you just watch.” When Crowfoot said that science disagreed, …

Climate Change Change Climate Trump West California State