A group of scientists offered a new, intriguing theory: The quakes are triggered in part by the pumping of groundwater in the Central Valley, which produces crops that feed the nation. "These results suggest that human activity may give rise to a gradual increase in the rate of earthquake occurrence," said the study published in
Enemies of fracking have a new argument: drought. Fracking a single oil well in California last year took 87 percent of the water consumed in a year by a family of four, according to the Western States Petroleum Association, an industry lobbying group. That amount — a modest one by national standards, the oil industry
Legions of business leaders, economists, and think-tankers are coming to reclassify water as a kind of buried treasure: "blue gold." Willem Buiter, Citigroup's chief economist, sums up the thinking of many these days: "Water as an asset class, in my view, will eventually become the single most important physical commodity -- dwarfing oil, copper, agricultural
A near-record dry winter has put California in the grip of its worst drought in decades. While many parts of the state have yet to feel any real impact - no cutbacks, no stiff rationing - that's not the case in the farm towns of the San Joaquin Valley where water is the touchstone of
As Northern California braces for probable groundwater pumping curtailment orders from the State Water Resources Control Board next week, the latest drought monitor released by the National Climatic Data Center this week shows that the entire state for the first time in 15 years is under moderate drought conditions, but within that map, 76.6% of the
The effects of California's drought could soon hit the state's food banks, which serve 2 million of its poorest residents. http://www.sfgate.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/California-drought-Food-banks-drying-up-too-5416846.php
The State Water Resources Control Board approved the deal granting Merced County farmers more water, said Mike Jensen, Merced Irrigation District spokesman. MID board President Tim Pellissier and Vice President Dave Long said the deal was the best news Merced County farmers have had in the last two years. “I think it’s a really big
For the first time in three years, Republicans in the Legislature are a significant factor in a critical issue — Gov. Brown's quest for a rainy day reserve fund. Bargaining began Thursday, and how it plays out may impact legislative progress on other major problems, like groundwater management. http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-special-session-20140425,0,1784354.story?track=rss#axzz2zq9o4PJw
Dorene “DeeDee” D’Adamo, one of five members of the State Water Resources Control Board, will participate in Tuesday’s “Groundwater Challenges” forum at California State University, Stanislaus. D’Adamo has lived in the San Joaquin Valley for more than 20 years. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her to the water board last year, after she had served 14
“We could be looking at future,” he said, “where California is no longer bread basket for the country.” Grocery shoppers may soon need more green in their wallets to afford their next salad. The cost of fresh produce is poised to jump in the coming months as a three-year drought in California shows few signs