drought management
California report puts drought losses in the billions
Losses to California’s ag industry this year have topped $1 billion as the state’s drought stretched into a third straight year, according to a report from the University of California-Merced’s School of Engineering and the Public Policy Institute... more »
Data a key factor in addressing the West’s water shortage
Like many other researchers, University of California-Merced environmental engineering professors Erin Hestir and Joshua Viers are trying to quantify water use in California’s Central Valley. The difference is, they are doing it from the sky. Through NASA's applied sciences program, their... more »
Drought hits Northern California hard
As California toils through a third consecutive drought year, many Sacramento Valley farmers, well known for supporting waterfowl that stop along the Pacific Flyway, are being left high and dry. The farmers are facing water-supply... more »
Estimates released of irrigated cropland idled due to California drought
On August 15, a team from UC Davis, ERA Economics and the UC Agricultural Issues Center released an economic impact report related to the California drought of 2016. Several commentaries have indicated that land fallowing... more »
Drought spurs disaster declaration in 24 New York counties
The federal government has declared 24 counties across upstate New York as a natural disaster area as a result of this summer's drought. These designations mean that farmers in those areas may be eligible for assistance,... more »
Lower Michigan step above drought status
Lower Michigan has been receiving less rain and now parts of the state are close to being in drought status, reports MLive. A recent USDA drought status report shows parts of Michigan in “abnormally dry”... more »
California delegation visiting climate-smart Israel
Israel is regarded as perhaps the most climate-smart agricultural region in the world. It has to be, with annual rainfall of about 17 inches (source: World Bank). By comparison, portions of the Sierra Nevada, the... more »
California governor issues order to continue water savings
Moving to bolster California’s climate and drought resilience, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an executive order that builds on temporary statewide emergency water restrictions to establish longer-term water conservation measures, including permanent monthly... more »
California extends water conservation mandates
The California State Water Resources Control Board announced the extension of water conservation mandates through the end of October. Urban Californians will have to reduce their water usage by about 23.4 percent, the Sacramento Bee... more »
USDA to host drought management workshop
Drought management experts from Israel and Australia will join U.S. scientists in California for a workshop in Modesto on Jan. 12 and 13. The two-day event, "Proven Solutions to Drought Stress: Water Management Strategies for Perennial Crops... more »