A Gray Tsunami

This month, I found myself on a stakeholder panel for a series of three workshops on the Climate Resiliency Sub Element of the Comprehensive Plan, required by the State Department of Commerce as part of the county’s comprehensive plan update. The first workshop was on sea level rise. For a primer on the sea level rise issues our island is facing, you can read An Imperfect Storm. Continue reading A Gray Tsunami

California farming area placed on probation over declining groundwater and sinking land

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-04-16/california-tulare-lake-groundwater-probation SACRAMENTO — California water regulators took the unprecedented step of cracking down on one of the state’s major farming regions for failing to take steps to curb growers’ excessive pumping of groundwater, which has sent water levels into rapid decline and is causing the land to sink.The State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously Tuesday to place the Tulare Lake basin on “probationary” status for failing to adopt sufficient measures to address chronic overpumping. Continue reading California farming area placed on probation over declining groundwater and sinking land

Arizona limits new construction in Phoenix area, citing shrinking water supply

Arizona has determined that there is not enough groundwater for all of the future housing construction that has already been approved in the Phoenix area, and will stop developers from building some new subdivisions, a sign of looming trouble in the West and other places where overuse, drought and climate change are straining water supplies.

The decision by state officials marks the beginning of the end to the explosive development that has made the Phoenix metropolitan region the fastest growing in the country. Continue reading Arizona limits new construction in Phoenix area, citing shrinking water supply

Skipped showers, paper plates: An Arizona suburb’s water is cut off

RIO VERDE, Ariz. — Joe McCue thought he had found a desert paradise when he bought one of the new stucco houses sprouting in the granite foothills of Rio Verde, Arizona. There were good schools, mountain views and cactus-spangled hiking trails out the back door.

Then the water got cut off. Continue reading Skipped showers, paper plates: An Arizona suburb’s water is cut off