Most recent 40 articles: Union of Concerned Scientists - Water
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Water in an Uncertain Future: Planning the New Normal - Union of Concerned Scientists - Water  (May 26, 2021) |
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May 26, 2021 · Northern California breathed a sigh of relief this weekend as rain and cooler temperatures finally arrived in force after the devastating fires in October. Now the question is, what kind of a winter will we have, and in particular, how much snow and rain will we or will we not get? After a four-year drought from 2013 to 2016 and an unprecedented rainy winter in 2017, I’m hoping for a normal winter and not another year of water rationing, land subsidence, dead or dying forests, flooding, infrastructure failures, or transportation disruptions. But with climate change upon us, nothing is normal anymore. (UCS has discussed the issue of the changing paradigm for water ... Read more ... |
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Groundwater Sustainability is a Necessity More Than Ever - Union of Concerned Scientists - Water  (Jul 30, 2020) |
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Jul 30, 2020 · The immediate emergency of COVID-19 has been a powerful reminder that the most valuable things in our lives are our families, friends, and the welfare of our communities. The current pandemic is a threat to those closest to us today in a way that presages what we will experience on an accelerating basis due to the climate emergency. In a place like California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV), Latinos account for 70 percent of COVID-19 cases, even though they represent 42 percent of the population. Improving access to clean and affordable water even as the pandemic grows more urgent, is critical to reducing the types of burdens worsened by the COVID-19 crisis. Continuing the hard ... Read more ... |
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10 Ways Andrew Wheeler Has Decimated EPA Protections in Just One Year - Union of Concerned Scientists - Water  (Jul 15, 2019) |
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Jul 15, 2019 · On July 8, President Trump hosted a White House event to unabashedly tout his truly abysmal environmental record. The next day, coincidentally, marked the one-year anniversary of Andrew Wheeler at the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), first as acting administrator and then as administrator after the Senate confirmed him in late February. The good news, if there is any, is that Wheeler is an Eagle Scout compared to his ethically challenged predecessor, Scott Pruitt. The bad news is, as predicted, Wheeler has been more effective than Pruitt in rolling back and eliminating EPA safeguards. My organization, the Union of Concerned Scientists, has compiled a ... Read more ... |
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What Climate Change Could Mean for the Future of California’s Springtime Snowpack - Union of Concerned Scientists - Water  (Mar 29, 2019) |
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Mar 29, 2019 · Everyone coming from or heading to spring break ski trips in the Sierra Nevada this year knows that California’s snowpack is having a great year. The Squaw Valley Alpine Ski Resort broke its record for the snowiest month this February at more than 300 inches. When the Department of Water Resources does its April snow survey next week they’re sure to get a stellar reading on the state’s water supply. If you remember the bone-dry April snow survey of four years ago, when Governor Jerry Brown declared a water emergency and historic statewide mandatory restrictions, it seems almost like we’re in a different state. Despite the abundant water year we’ve had, though, over the long ... Read more ... |
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What to Watch for in Michigan’s State of the State Speech - Union of Concerned Scientists - Water  (Feb 07, 2019) |
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Feb 07, 2019 · Next Tuesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer will give her first State of the State address as Michigan’s chief executive officer. It is a key opportunity for her to address climate change, infrastructure needs, and clean energy and water - all priorities Governor Whitmer emphasized during last year’s campaign. Here’s what to look for. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer The U.S. Climate Alliance is a group of states committed to upholding the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. Look for Governor Whitmer to highlight this week’s executive directive adding Michigan to the Alliance and the growing number of states in this coalition, which ... Read more ... |
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Agroecology to the Rescue: 7 Ways Ecologists are Working Toward Healthier Food Systems - Union of Concerned Scientists - Water  (Aug 02, 2017) |
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Aug 02, 2017 · A lot has been written about agroecology, and a new special issue of the journal Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems takes it to the next level. The new issue, entitled Agroecology: building an ecological knowledge-base for food system sustainability, expands the conversation by outlining recent progress in ecology relevant for tackling food system challenges ranging from disappearing diversity to water woes to climate catastrophes. Together, the eight included articles demonstrate a range of emerging science-based opportunities that can help farmers and ranchers achieve the triple bottom line: social, environmental, and financial sustainability. Here are just the ... Read more ... |
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California’s Water Well Bill Will Tell Us Who’s Tapping Depleted Groundwater Basins - Union of Concerned Scientists - Water  (May 30, 2017) |
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May 30, 2017 · Groundwater is a shared resource between communities and landowners, much like a joint bank account is a shared resource between individuals. Except in one key way: groundwater users often don’t know who they are sharing water with or how much others are saving or spending. This might not be a problem when there is plenty of water, but such loose accounting can become very problematic when water is scarce. A new report shows that California’s Central Valley farmers created a groundwater deficit large enough to fill an empty Shasta Lake seven times over during California’s epic five-year drought. This report follows a Sacramento Bee investigation last year that found San ... Read more ... |
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