Climate Watch

California's Water Archive

A collection of reports about California's water by KQED Radio productions, including KQED Radio News, The California Report and Forum. Reports are listed in reverse chronological order.

Archive

 

KQED Radio News | Mon, Nov 9 2009, 5:30 PM

Pork in the Water Bond?

Governor Schwarzenegger was in Fresno County today to sign and praise an $11 billion water bond which will appear on the ballot next November. But the bond package has left a bad taste in the mouths of some lawmakers, both Republican and Democratic. Many think the bill was too full of special projects paid for by state residents, but benefitting only private or local interests.



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The California Report | Fri, Nov 6 2009, 8:50 AM

Uncertain Future for Lake Mead and the Colorado River

The bundle of water bills passed this week in Sacramento was designed to attack some of California's long-term worries over water supply. Mostly, the legislation addresses the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and groundwater issues. But there's another big question mark in the state's water mix: the Colorado River. It's a crucial source of water for Southern Californians and it's in trouble, too.


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Slideshow

Water levels in Lake Mead are dangerously low and dropping, a condition that may render the Hoover Dam inoperable, threatening California's water and power supplies.
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KQED Radio News | Wed, Nov 4 2009, 5:30 PM

Lawmakers Pass Water Policy Overhaul

As the sun rose this morning, California lawmakers passed a package of bills overhauling state water policy. Supporters say it does the best job ever of balancing two competing goals: protecting the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta and providing a reliable water supply for the state. But the bills come with a high price tag -- an $11 billion bond that voters will have to approve next year.



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KQED Radio News | Mon, Sep 21 2009, 5:30 PM

What's Behind Water Delivery Cutbacks?

Who, or what, is to blame for the cutback on water deliveries to farms in the San Joaquin Valley? Many farmers, especially west of Fresno, blame court orders protecting smelt and salmon in the delta. But the Department of Interior says the real culprit is three years of below average rainfall -- and the danger of environmental collapse in the delta.



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The California Report | Mon, Jun 8 2009, 8:50 AM

Farmers in a World with Less Water

California produces most of the nation's fruit, nuts and vegetables. But the state is facing a third year of drought, and most climate scientists agree that California's future looks like less water when and where we need it. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has warned that it might mean the "end of agriculture" in California. But as part of our ongoing Climate Watch series, we find out how some forward-looking farmers are already adapting to a world with less water.


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Audio Slideshow

More about one farm's water saving techniques
Audio Slideshow


The California Report Magazine | Fri, May 29 2009, 4:30 PM

Stepping Up to Conserve

In February, Governor Schwarzenegger declared a drought emergency in California and urged everyone to cut their water use by 20 percent. Most households in the state use more than half of their water outdoors, making the lawn and garden easy places to cut back. But for urban apartment-dwellers like reporter Gretchen Weber, it's not so simple. She decided to take the plunge for our ongoing series, Climate Watch.


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The California Report | Mon, May 18 2009, 8:50 AM

Making Meters Mandatory

As California heads into what looks to be a long, dry summer, water agencies are urging residents to fix those leaky pipes and cut back on watering their lawns. But how can you tell how much water you're wasting if you don't know how much you're using the first place? Water meters may be a key to conservation, but not every California city uses them -- yet.


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The California Report | Thu, May 7 2009, 8:50 AM

Wave Power

Two years ago, there was a rush to stake claims for a new wave of ocean energy -- power generated by waves and tides. Now, fewer heads remain above water. Investors have given up on about a third of the wave projects first proposed along the West Coast. Oregon seemed to have a head-start in wave power, but now that may be ebbing away. Tom Banse reports for our ongoing series, Climate Watch.


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The California Report | Wed, May 6 2009, 8:50 AM

Fire Season Outlook

May has opened with a highly unusual series of late-season storms in Northern California. Some spots in the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada have gotten more than half a foot of rain in the last few days. Could all the wet weather give us a cushion against this year's fire season? Craig Miller reports for Climate Watch.


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