Calif. Town to Cut H2O to Water Hogs

Why do we devote so much water to a superficial end?

(NEWSER) - Matthew Fleischer has always hated lawns as wasteful and useless. But his hate is at a fevered pitch after reading about how the desire for lush green grass in literally draining states dry. America’s lawns and golf courses require about 200 gallons of water per citizen per day. We could curb drought if we switched to warm-season varieties of grass—but that would mean lawns would go brown in the winter. More»

Statewide water shortage means LA may impose first water limits since 1991

(NEWSER) - Los Angeles is taking steps toward rationing water for the first time since 1991, reports Reuters. The LA Department of Water and Power has approved a plan to charge a penalty rate for water use over a set monthly limit that will take effect in May unless it is vetoed by the City Council. Recent storms have done little to alleviate the statewide water shortages caused by a drought now in its third year. More»

Lack of snow not a problem, water manager says

(NEWSER) - The snow that provides around a third of California's water has largely gone AWOL this year, and with rain also noticeably scant, experts believe the state may be about to experience its driest year since records began. The temperature pattern known as La Niña, combined with a strong atmospheric barrier keeping Arctic air away, is likely to keep the state warm and dry in the months to come, a Pasadena climatologist tells MSNBC . More»

(NEWSER) - California’s jobless rate soared to 10.1% in January, the highest in more than 26 years, the Los Angeles Times reports. Some 1,863,000 are unemployed in the state after 79,300 lost their jobs last month. On top of the usual culprits such as manufacturing and retail, a slump in the film business also is taking a toll. Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a statewide drought emergency. More»

Weekend brings annual rainfall level closer to normal

(NEWSER) - California saw steady rain this weekend, but it’s still too early to know if the state’s water woes are over, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The recent rains brought the state’s total rainfall up to 90% of normal levels for the year; 2 weeks ago only 60% of normal levels had fallen. But officials caution that years of below-normal rainfall mean the state could face drought even after a solid year. More»