The Latest Breaking News from Ellen Hanak

California snowpack lowest in decade despite hope with December storms

First survey of season shows snow at 25% of historical average, with brown patches of vegetation across Sierra Nevada

The Guardian - US · Jan 4, 2024

3 reasons why California's drought isn't really over, despite all the rain

California has been deluged by storms this winter, but fixing the state's severe drought will take more than rain. The state had deeper problems in how it uses water.

WEKU · Mar 23, 2023

‘A foundation of racism’: California’s antiquated water rights system faces new scrutiny

It’s an arcane system of water law that dates back to the birth of California — an era when 49ers used sluice boxes and water cannons to scour gold from Sierra Nevada foothills and when the state government promoted the extermination of Native people to make way for white settlers.

Los Angeles Times · Mar 7, 2023