Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are a newly understood phenomenon, officially defined by the American Meteorological Society (AMS; Boston) just 2 years ago. ARs – narrow, fast-moving bands of highly concentrated atmospheric water vapor that commonly stretch hundreds of miles in length – often result in severe rain or snow storms when that vapor makes landfall. On […]
A self-sustaining biofiltration system prevents flooding in San Francisco’s sport stadium and protects the nearby San Francisco Bay and freshwater resources from stormwater pollutants. Mark Lehnerz of Oldcastle Precast explains how. A large construction project such as a major-league sports stadium can include significant expanses of runoff-generating hardscapes. A venue capable of seating nearly 70,000 […]
As natural water sources dwindle, communities across California increasingly rely on imported water. Climate change soon could make water supplies even more scarce. While experts predict droughts in the region to become more common, rainfall also is expected to become heavier and more frequent. A report released by the Pacific Institute (Oakland, Calif.) in June […]
The City of San Jose (Calif.) is demonstrating that when more than one green infrastructure measure comes together, impervious areas responsible for chronic stormwater management problems can become key parts of the solution. On Nov. 4, the City of San Jose Environmental Services Department (ESD) unveiled stormwater-focused retrofits to Park Avenue, a main thoroughfare in […]
Each summer, winter accumulations of snow in California’s various mountain ranges begin to melt. As they do, millions of liters of stormwater flow groundward, refilling aquifers and reservoirs while quenching farmland. When this much water falls from the mountains in an abbreviated period, it can spell disaster for those living below, as was almost the […]
In 2015, California vineyards produced more than 2.4 billion L (638 million gal) of wine, according to the Wine Institute (San Francisco). And now, a California partnership is leading the charge to convert stormwater into wine. The Water Footprint Network (The Hague, Netherlands) estimates that each gallon of wine requires a staggering 3300 L (872 […]
To reduce dependence on water imported from Northern California and the Colorado River, the Orange County Water District (OCWD; Fountain Valley, Calif.) is collaborating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to maximize the area’s stormwater capture capabilities. From July 2016 through January 2017, the height of California’s flood season, Orange County experienced rainfall […]
On Aug. 16, an op-ed penned by Sheila Kuehl, supervisor for Los Angeles County’s third district, appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News. The piece endorses a California Senate bill that would close a loophole in current legislation that excludes stormwater management from existing water conservation programs (S.B. 1298). The editorial constitutes a step in […]
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