Drought /tags/drought Drought en-US Copyright Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:03:37 GMT Californians to face steep fines for violating water orders under new legislation /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-09-02/californians-to-face-steep-fines-for-violating-water-orders-under-new-legislation Siskiyou County ranchers who defied a state water order in 2022 were fined only about $50 each. Under new legislation headed to the governor, some daily fines for water scofflaws can increase 20-fold. Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:03:37 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-09-02/californians-to-face-steep-fines-for-violating-water-orders-under-new-legislation Rachel Becker California now has mandatory water conservation in urban areas: How will the new rules affect your supplier? /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-07-05/california-now-has-mandatory-water-conservation-in-urban-areas-how-will-the-new-rules-affect-your-supplier The measures are substantially weaker than a previous proposal after an onslaught of criticism. But they will still save enough water through 2050 to supply the state’s entire population for a year, at a cost of $4.7 billion. Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:56:22 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-07-05/california-now-has-mandatory-water-conservation-in-urban-areas-how-will-the-new-rules-affect-your-supplier Rachel Becker Douglas fir die-off in Southern Oregon gives a glimpse into the future of West Coast forests /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-05-22/douglas-fir-die-off-in-southern-oregon-gives-a-glimpse-into-the-future-of-west-coast-forests Douglas fir trees around Ashland are dying in the thousands. It’s one example of how our changing climate is affecting forests in the region. Thu, 23 May 2024 00:17:59 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-05-22/douglas-fir-die-off-in-southern-oregon-gives-a-glimpse-into-the-future-of-west-coast-forests Erik Neumann California farmers could save a lot of water — but their profits would suffer /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-03-28/california-farmers-could-save-a-lot-of-water-but-their-profits-would-suffer California farms could use 93% less water but less-thirsty crops, such as grains and hay, are much less lucrative than nuts and fruits. Fallowing a small fraction of the thirstiest crops would save 9%. Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:40:14 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-03-28/california-farmers-could-save-a-lot-of-water-but-their-profits-would-suffer Rachel Becker As the Northwest turns toward Spring, agricultural irrigators, fire managers and water experts watch /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-03-17/as-the-northwest-turns-toward-spring-agricultural-irrigators-fire-managers-and-water-experts-watch Across the Northwest, federal, state and regional officials are in general accord: There isn’t enough snow and with the start of spring just days away, the next couple of weeks will determine just how challenging it could get this summer for agricultural irrigators, fish and wildfires. Sun, 17 Mar 2024 14:32:34 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-03-17/as-the-northwest-turns-toward-spring-agricultural-irrigators-fire-managers-and-water-experts-watch Anna King California weakens plan for mandatory cutbacks in urban water use, yielding to criticism /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-03-13/california-weakens-plan-for-mandatory-cutbacks-in-urban-water-use-yielding-to-criticism The revised proposal grants water providers an extra five years for reducing outdoor irrigation. Cities and water agencies are relieved, while critics say Californians will keep wasting water. Wed, 13 Mar 2024 22:43:55 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2024-03-13/california-weakens-plan-for-mandatory-cutbacks-in-urban-water-use-yielding-to-criticism Rachel Becker Extreme weather has triggered over $3 billion in insurance payouts to California farmers since 2001 /environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-11-03/extreme-weather-has-triggered-over-3-billion-in-insurance-payouts-to-california-farmers-since-2001 The program, funded in large part by taxpayer money, pays farmers when their crop yields decline in an effort to keep the agricultural sector economically stable. Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:37:11 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-11-03/extreme-weather-has-triggered-over-3-billion-in-insurance-payouts-to-california-farmers-since-2001 Manola Secaira 'Miracle' water year in California: Rain, snow put state's reservoirs at 128% of historical average /environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-10-06/miracle-water-year-in-california-rain-snow-put-states-reservoirs-at-128-of-historical-average California ended its “miracle” water year on Saturday with enough rain and snow to fill the state's reservoirs to 128% of their historical average, making it among the wettest years in recorded state history. Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:38:54 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-10-06/miracle-water-year-in-california-rain-snow-put-states-reservoirs-at-128-of-historical-average Adam Beam Record heat boosting wildfire risk in Pacific Northwest /2023-08-17/record-heat-boosting-wildfire-risk-in-pacific-northwest Record high temperatures, strong winds and thunderstorms are prompting warnings for high wildfire danger across the Pacific Northwest. Thu, 17 Aug 2023 19:04:21 GMT /2023-08-17/record-heat-boosting-wildfire-risk-in-pacific-northwest Tilda Wilson, Kirk Siegler More than half of Oregon in drought during wildfires, heat waves /environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-08-14/more-than-half-of-oregon-in-drought-during-wildfires-heat-waves More than half of Oregon is experiencing moderate to severe drought, according to a state report released Monday. Tue, 15 Aug 2023 01:23:53 GMT /environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-08-14/more-than-half-of-oregon-in-drought-during-wildfires-heat-waves April Ehrlich