California

California set for another year of brown lawns, tight water restrictions

Published

2 years ago

December 1, 2022

California set for another year of brown lawns, tight water restrictions

Californians ought to brace for an additional 12 months of brown lawns, tight water restrictions and elevated requires conservation as state water managers Thursday warned that severely decreased allocations are as soon as once more probably in 2023.

The Division of Water Sources introduced an preliminary allocation of simply 5% of requested provides from the State Water Mission — a posh system of reservoirs, canals and dams that acts as a serious element of California’s water system, feeding 29 water companies that collectively present water for about 27 million residents.

Water managers will monitor how the moist season develops and reassess the allocation every month by spring, officers stated. However California usually receives the majority of its moisture — each rain and snow — throughout the winter, and present forecasts are leaning towards a fourth consecutive 12 months of dryness regardless of the latest storms.

“California and a lot of the Western U.S. states do stay in excessive drought circumstances pushed by local weather change, and as water managers, we’re adjusting to those hotter and drier circumstances,” stated Molly White, water operations supervisor for the State Water Mission. “We’re taking a really cautious strategy with respect to planning for subsequent 12 months, ought to subsequent 12 months be a fourth drought 12 months in a row.”

Certainly, local weather change pushed warmth and dryness are rapidly sapping the state’s provides. Lake Oroville, the most important reservoir on the State Water Mission, is at simply 55% of its common capability for this time of 12 months, White stated.

“We’re seeing these extremes, particularly over these previous couple of years of very heat circumstances, low rainfall and so forth,” she stated. “So actually, we’re adjusting to planning and managing with the uncertainty of what we’re seeing.”

Officers stated they’ll proceed to evaluate requests from water suppliers for important well being and security wants, resembling water for hearth suppression and sanitation functions. They’re additionally working with senior water rights holders on the Feather River downstream of Lake Oroville to observe circumstances and assess water provide availability ought to dry circumstances persist.

Mike Anderson, state climatologist with the DWR, famous that California is rounding out its driest-ever three-year stretch on report.

“We’re discovering new extremes in every drought, after which discovering that it may be much more excessive because the world continues to heat,” he stated.

Although the preliminary 5% allocation is tight, it marks a minor enchancment over final December, when it was at its lowest ever, zero %. The ultimate allocation for 2022 ended up being 5%.

Ought to 2023 once more find yourself at 5%, it might mark the third consecutive 12 months at that quantity, in line with state knowledge.

Officers stated they’re contemplating different actions to assist stretch provides, together with a short lived urgency change petition and reinstallation of an emergency drought salinity barrier within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The transfer would enable the State Water Sources Management Board to change sure outflow and salinity necessities within the delta, giving water managers the flexibility to preserve extra provides upstream, White stated.

The state can also be working to make use of new applied sciences resembling aerial snow surveys to assist enhance forecasts.

However state provides are just one piece of California’s water pie, and circumstances are equally regarding on the federal degree, the place drought has sapped the Colorado River so severely that it’s susceptible to reaching “useless pool,” or the purpose at which water drops beneath the bottom consumption valve. The river has lengthy been a lifeline for the West, however officers there have additionally warned the area to arrange for painful cuts as they push for scaled-back use.

In a press release, DWR director Karla Nemeth underscored that adaptation and conservation will likely be important as California faces new challenges — noting that “we’re within the daybreak of a brand new period of State Water Mission administration as altering local weather disrupts the timing of California’s hydrology, and warmer and drier circumstances take in extra water into the environment and floor.”

Ought to storage ranges enhance because the moist season progresses, the DWR will think about growing the allocation, Nemeth stated.

“This early in California’s conventional moist season, water allocations are usually low because of uncertainty in hydrologic forecasting,” she stated. “However the diploma to which hotter and drier circumstances are lowering runoff into rivers, streams and reservoirs means we’ve got to be ready for all attainable outcomes.”

The ultimate allocation will likely be decided in Could or June, officers stated.

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California

Democrat Derek Tran ousts Republican rival in key California House seat

Published

57 mins ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

Democrat Derek Tran ousts Republican rival in key California House seat

Democrat Derek Tran ousted Republican Michelle Steel in a southern California House district Wednesday that was specifically drawn to give Asian Americans a stronger voice on Capitol Hill.

Steel said in a statement: “Like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin.” When she captured the seat in 2020, Steel joined Washington state Democrat Marilyn Strickland and California Republican Young Kim as the first Korean American women elected to Congress.

Tran, a lawyer and worker rights advocate and the son of Vietnamese refugees, declared victory earlier this week. He said his win “is a testament to the spirit and resilience of our community. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, I understand firsthand the journey and sacrifices many families in our district have made for a better life.”

The contest is one of the last to be decided this year, with Republicans now holding 220 seats in the House, with Democrats at 214. The Associated Press has not declared a winner in California’s 13th district, where Democrat Adam Gray was leading Republican John Duarte by a couple of hundred votes.

Steel held an early edge after election day, but late-counted ballots pushed Tran over the top.

Steel filed a statement of candidacy on Monday with federal regulators, which would allow her to continue raising funds. It wasn’t immediately clear if she planned to seek a return to Congress.

In the campaign, Tran warned of Republican threats to abortion rights. Steel opposes abortion with exceptions for rape, incest or to save the life of the pregnant woman, while not going so far as to support a federal ban. Tran also warned that Donald Trump’s return to the White House would put democracy at risk.

On Capitol Hill, Steel has been outspoken in resisting tax increases and says she stands strongly with Israel in its war with Hamas. “As our greatest ally in the Middle East, the United States must always stand with Israel,” she said. She advocates for more police funding and has spotlighted her efforts on domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The largest demographic in the district, which is anchored in Orange county, south-east of Los Angeles, is Asian Americans, and it includes the nation’s biggest Vietnamese community. Democrats hold a four-point registration edge.

Incomplete returns showed that Steel was winning in Orange county, the bulk of the district. Tran’s winning margin came from a small slice of the district in Los Angeles county, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly two to one.

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California

Dickies to say goodbye to Texas, hello to Southern California

Published

9 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

Dickies to say goodbye to Texas, hello to Southern California

FORT WORTH, Texas — Dickies is leaving Cowtown for the California coast, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

The 102-year-old Texas workwear brand, which is owned by VF Corp., is making the move from Fort Worth to Costa Mesa in order to be closer to its sister brand, Vans.

What You Need To Know

Dickies headquarters will be relocated from Texas to California, according to a Los Angeles Times report

The workwear brand has operated in Fort Worth since 1922

The report says the movie will occur in May 2025 and affect about 120 employees

Dickies headquarters is being moved by owner VF Corp. so that it can be closer to its sister brand, Vans

Dickies was founded in Fort Worth in 1922 by E.E. “Colonel” Dickie. Today, Dickies Arena is the entertainment hub of the city and home of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

The company is expected to make the move by May. Approximately 120 employees will be affected, the report said.

By moving one of its offices closer to the other, VF Corp. says it can “consolidate its real estate portfolio,” as well as “create an even more vibrant campus,” Ashley McCormack, director of external communications at VF Corp. said in the report.

Dickies isn’t the only rugged brand owned by VF Corp. The company also has ownership of Timberland, The North Face and JanSport.

VF Corp. acquired Dickies in 2017 for $820 million.

“Their contributions to our city’s culture, economy and identity are immeasurable,” District 9 City Council member Elizabeth Beck, who represents the area of downtown Fort Worth where Dickies headquarters is currently located, said in a statement to the Fort Worth Report. “While we understand their business decision, it is bittersweet to see a company that started right here in Fort Worth take this next step. We are committed to supporting the employees who remain here and will work to honor the lasting imprint Dickies has left on our community.”

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California

Caitlyn Jenner says she'd 'destroy' Kamala Harris in hypothetical race to be CA gov

Published

16 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

Caitlyn Jenner says she'd 'destroy' Kamala Harris in hypothetical race to be CA gov

Caitlyn Jenner considers another run to become California governor

Caitlyn Jenner, the gold-medal Olympian-turned reality TV personality, is considering another run for Governor of California. This time, she says, if she were to go up against Vice President Kamala Harris, she would “destroy her.”

SAN FRANCISCO – Caitlyn Jenner, the gold-medal Olympian-turned reality TV personality, is considering another run for Governor of California. This time, she says, if she were to go up against Vice President Kamala Harris, she would “destroy her.”

Jenner, who publicly came out as transgender nearly 10 years ago, made a foray into politics when she ran as a Republican during the recall election that attempted to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021. Jenner only received one percent of the vote and was not considered a serious candidate.

Jenner posted this week on social media that she’s having conversations with “many people” and hopes to have an announcement soon about whether she will run.

Caitlyn Jenner speaks at the 4th annual Womens March LA: Women Rising at Pershing Square on January 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)

She has also posted in Trumpian-style all caps: “MAKE CA GREAT AGAIN!”

As for VP Harris, she has not indicated any future plans for when she leaves office. However, a recent poll suggests Harris would have a sizable advantage should she decide to run in 2026. At that point, Newsom cannot run again because of term limits.

If Jenner decides to run and wins, it would mark the nation and state’s first transgender governor.

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