Author Archive

Even El Niño delivers rain & snow, drought may never release grip

Fresno Bee: Will the drought ever really end? California hopes for a sodden winter of El Niño-spawned storms. If they come, our near-empty reservoirs may fill to the brim. But will the rain and snow be enough to replenish underground basins sinking from years of desperate pumping? Will that be enough to coax wary farmers to plant acres of tomatoes and melons again on fallow land? Will farmworkers find jobs close to home and rural residents see water tables rise to reach their wells? Will the synthetic...

Restoring delta must be part of tunnels plan

Fresno Bee: As Gov. Jerry Brown tries to salvage the $25 billion project to build twin tunnels through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, he should keep in mind that it won’t be acceptable to give up its environmental goals. His new tack is understandable; federal agencies have signaled that they probably won’t issue the 50-year environmental permits that were a key element of the old plan. But if he wants to persuade the public that his approach won’t degenerate into a water grab for Southern California...

Drought, disease wait in Valley for migratory birds

Fresno Bee: Great horned owls hang out at the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. Swift, silent and scary, these winged terminators hunt critters at night. And duck is on the menu. “Imagine if you’re a duck floating next to your pal and suddenly you find yourself alone,” said Jack Sparks, a recreation planner at the refuge. “These owls swoop down and carry off ducks.” Don’t be fooled by the happy honking geese and dancing sandhill cranes. This may seem like a happy winter pit stop for migrating birds, but...