The Monterey Plus Amendments to State Contracts: “Paper Water” and the Kern Water Bank Giveaway: A C-WIN Policy Brief

California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) | January 1st, 2012

Changes secretly made to the State Water Project by water contractors and the California Department of Water Resources in the 1990s, known as the Monterey Plus Amendments

Changes secretly made to the State Water Project by water contractors and the California Department of Water Resources in the 1990s, known as the Monterey Plus Amendments, caused ecological destruction in the Delta and made water supplies for State Water Project customers much more expensive and less reliable.

The Monterey Plus Amendments to State Water Contracts: It’s Chinatown, Jake

California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) | February 1st, 2014

In the 1990s, ,ive of the extant 29 State Water Project contractors secretly colluded with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to change SWP policy, a move

In the 1990s, ,ive of the extant 29 State Water Project contractors secretly colluded with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to change SWP policy, a move subsequently known as the Monterey Plus Amendments. These changes caused major disruptions in Delta ecosystems and made water less accessible and much more expensive for most State Water Project customers, especially during droughts. Urban ratepayers bore the brunt of the burden, as they found out to their profound dismay in the drought that beleaguered the state from 2007 to 2009. The Monterey Plus Amendments were concluded 17 years ago, but they are not established law, and are under current court challenge.

The most important issue about water is not supply, but how it is used

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | December 14th, 2023

The National Significance of California’s Ocean Economy

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | December 17th, 2015

The purpose of this report is to present empirical evidence that illustrates the inland significance of California’s marine transportation and ocean tourism sec

The purpose of this report is to present empirical evidence that illustrates the inland significance of California’s marine transportation and ocean tourism sectors. This report begins with a discussion of California’s economy and then takes a closer look at six economic sectors that depend on ocean resources. Finally, we take an even closer look at two of these sectors—marine transportation and coastal tourism and recreation—and the way these ocean-based activities support local economies across the country.

The Natural Flow Regime

Oxford University Press (OUP) | December 1st, 1997

Humans have long been fascinated by the dynamism of free-flowing waters. Yet we have expended great effort to tame rivers for transportation, water supply, flood con

Humans have long been fascinated by the dynamism of free-flowing waters. Yet we have expended great effort to tame rivers for transportation, water supply, flood control, agriculture, and power generation. It is now recognized that harnessing of streams and rivers comes at great cost: Many rivers no longer support socially valued native species or sustain healthy ecosystems that provide important goods and services.

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water

Pacific Institute | February 1st, 2002

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water is the most comprehensive examination of the issue of water privatiz

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water is the most comprehensive examination of the issue of water privatization to date. The report looks at the dangers and benefits of water privatization, offers case studies from around the world, and sets forth principles designed to help guide privatization deals. “Our assessment shows that rigorous, independent review of water privatization efforts are necessary to protect the public,” said Dr. Peter H. Gleick, the report’s lead author. “Governments must establish clear guidelines that ensure fair access to water regardless of income, protect the environment, ensure transparency, and include affected parties in decision-making efforts. Water is far too important to human health and the health of our natural world to be placed entirely in the private sector.”

The New Inland Sea

Scientific American | April 13th, 1907

The deep channel in the Alamo River, which passed Holtville in August, was gradually approaching Sharp's Heading, and it was recognized that when this cataract reached

The deep channel in the Alamo River, which passed Holtville in August, was gradually approaching Sharp's Heading, and it was recognized that when this cataract reached the heading it would be very difficult and expensive, and perhaps impossible, to maintain that heading. This, however, was not the only peril to the water supply of the valley. The channel of New River had eroded to such an extent that where the two streams separated it was estimated that four-fifths of the water was running down New River and only one fifth down the Alamo. While this proportion was favorable to the regimen of the Alamo and the safety of Sharp's Heading, it was very threatening in an other respect. It accelerated the cutting of the New River channel, in which was a great cataract four or five miles below the separation of the two streams, and this was, of course, advancing upstream. It was well recognized that when this cataract reached the Alamo the channel would be so deep that all of the water would run down New River and leave Sharp's Heading on dry land, without any water for the irrigation of the Imperial Valley. Threatened first with inundation, and next with the destruction of their entire water supply, the inhabitants of the Imperial Valley have naturally been almost in a state of panic for several months.

The Newest Plan of Los Angeles Engineers to Provide More Water for that Enterprising Metropolis

Scientific American | February 1st, 1925

The NOAA NCEI marine microplastics database

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | October 20th, 2023

Microplastics (<5 mm) pollution is a growing problem affecting coastal communities, marine ecosystems, aquatic life, and human health. The widespread occurrence of m

Microplastics (<5 mm) pollution is a growing problem affecting coastal communities, marine ecosystems, aquatic life, and human health. The widespread occurrence of marine microplastics, and the need to curb its threats, require expansive, and continuous monitoring. While microplastic research has increased in recent years and generated significant volumes of data, there is a lack of a robust, open access, and long-term aggregation of this data. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) now provides a global open access to marine microplastics data on an easily discoverable and accessible GIS web map and data portal. The objective of this data portal is to develop a repository where microplastics data are aggregated, archived, and served in a user friendly, consistent, and reliable manner. This work contributes to NCEI’s efforts towards data standardization, integration, harmonization, and interoperability among national and international collaborators for monitoring global marine microplastics. This paper describes the NOAA NCEI global marine microplastics database, its creation, quality control procedures, and future directions.

The Northern California 2018 Extreme Fire Season

American Meteorological Society (AMS) | February 19th, 2020

The fire season of 2018 was the most extreme on record in Northern California in terms of the number of fatalities (95), over 22,000 structures destroyed, and over 600,00

The fire season of 2018 was the most extreme on record in Northern California in terms of the number of fatalities (95), over 22,000 structures destroyed, and over 600,000 ha burned. The most deadly and destructive fire in California history, the Camp Fire, occurred in Butte County in the Sierra Nevada foothills in early November, and caused 85 fatalities and destroyed nearly 19,000 structures. The largest fire complex in state history, the Mendocino Complex, which included the Ranch fire, the largest single fire in state history, burned nearly 186,000 ha. It occurred in July and August, killing one firefighter. In western Shasta County nearly 138,000 ha burned from July through September in the Carr, Hirz, and Delta Fires. These fires caused multiple closures of Interstate 5 and exhibited some of the most extreme fire behavior ever observed in California. The Carr Fire caused eight fatalities, including two firefighters and two workers supporting firefighting efforts, burned over 1,100 homes in west Redding, caused the evacuation of one-third of the city, and produced an extreme fire vortex with an Enhanced Fujita scale rating between 136 to 165 mph, making it arguably the strongest tornado type event in state history, and one of the strongest documented cases in the world (Lareau et al. 2018).