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Capturing stormwater to deal with California's drought is complicated

Jan 13, 2023
The infrastructure to capture California stormwater could be decades away, officials say.
Rain falls as the Los Angeles River flows at a strong rate on Jan. 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

One way out of a drought? Technology that makes water potable.

Jul 18, 2022
The California communities of Santa Monica and Avalon are conserving water but also using desalination to increase the supply.
The touristy beach town of Avalon, on California's Catalina Island, used to have severe drought restrictions. Now it uses desalination to make saltwater into freshwater.
Caleigh Wells/KCRW

What does California's drought mean for the rest of the country?

Oct 20, 2021
For starters, California is the biggest agricultural producer in the U.S.
Dead almond trees lie in a drought-stricken field in Huron, California, in July 2021.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Why governors and Congress members want a drought disaster declaration

Aug 26, 2021
Ranchers are hurting as 98% of the West experiences drought. A declaration could free up funds to help them.
A water crisis sign is seen in California's Kern County, one of the top agriculture-producing counties in the San Joaquin Valley, in April 2021.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Drought has California farms destroying crops, rather than pay for water

Aug 16, 2021
The Woolf ranch in California’s Central Valley is scaling down its almond orchards to focus on less water-intensive crops, like tomatoes.
Stuart Woolf stands near piles of almond tree wood chips that will get spread out on his ranch.
Caroline Champlin

California's drought takes a toll on the state's clothing manufacturers

Aug 5, 2021
Textile manufacturing relies on access to a cheap and plentiful supply of water.
Sean Zahedi stands next to one of his knitting machines at Lafayette Textiles in Vernon, California.
Benjamin Gottlieb

Low pay pushes some federal firefighters to find work elsewhere

Jul 14, 2021
“We all live supermodestly,” a firefighter said. “We’re about being able to do this job that we love, but also sustain life.”
Firefighters battle the Thomas blaze in California in 2017.
Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Insurance companies getting into the firefighting game

Nov 25, 2015
Santa Ana winds in excess of 50 mph can spread fires quicker than ever.

U.S. Forest Service sued over a bottler's water permit

Oct 14, 2015
Nestle pays nearly nothing for the water it bottles as Arrowhead.

A California drought loser: pool contractors

Jun 10, 2015
Water restrictions in some cities ban filling new pools with drinkable water.