T. Boone Pickens: Largest private U.S. water owner

Texas - Businessman T. Boone Pickens is buying water and lots of it. The 80 year-old king of the cooperate takeover, has set his sights on the twenty-first century’s new oil.

He plans to sell some 65 billion gallons of water a year to the Texas counties and municipalities lying south of his Mesa Vista ranch, where he’s secured the water-rights and become the largest private owner of water in the U.S.

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Source : BusinessWeek

Popularity: 5%

Despite promises, Sacramento tops U.S. daily average for water use

Sacramento, CA - Even after promising to reduce water consumption significantly in 2000, the majority Sacramento’s water regions failed to meet the 16 conservation goals set-up. Only one region met all the goals and collectively they failed meet even half the goals. Instead, water consumption in Sacramento actually increased in the last eight years, topping the U.S. national average for water use. Read more

Popularity: 5%

California drought forces farmers to take extreme action

CALIFORNIA - In the midst of the worst drought in 15 years, California farmers are taking drastic measures to save their crops and their livelihoods, Bloomberg reports. Read more

Popularity: 5%

Nevada rancher awarded $4.2M for ‘taken’ water rights

Reno, NEVADA - The U.S. Court of Federal Claims court has ruled in favor of a late Nevada rancher whose water rights were violated by the U.S. Government, the AP reports. Read more

Popularity: 3%

Lake levels won’t be fixed soon

STURGEON BAY, Wisconsin - Any possible large-scale engineering project that might help raise water levels on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is decades away, a representative of an international study group says. Read more

Popularity: 3%

Mississippi Surges Over Nearly a Dozen Levees

Flooding along the Mississippi Rivers continues to wreck havoc across the Midwest this week. With nearly a dozen levees overflowing near St. Louis, Missouri was being hit hard on Thursday, the New York Times reports.

Damage to farmland has been severe in the state, with an estimated 2-5 million acres of crops damaged, pushing corn to $8 dollars a barrel late last week.

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Source : New York Times

Popularity: 10%

Opinion: Clock’s ticking on a state water deal

With California in its first official drought since the early ’90s, state legislatures are being called upon to act in order to solve the state’s water crisis. Read more

Popularity: 9%

California struggles to provide enough water to farms

With California’s water resources drying up, struggling farmers are being hit hardest by drought. In a move to ameliorate the conditions, Governor Schwarzenegger called for more water aid in the afflicted areas.

“We recognize the specific impacts that will accrue to farmers, farmworkers, industries and local economies; and that can affect the state and national economy,” Lester Snow, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said in a conference call with the San Fransisco Chronicle. Read more

Popularity: 18%

Water-starved California slows development

PERRIS, California - Building in Southern California is being halted for lack of water. Citing a 2001 law that requires at least a 20 year supply of fresh water for new developments, officials have begun denying, slowing, and challenging new housing tracks just east of Los Angeles. Read more

Popularity: 19%

The city of Los Angeles proposes new water restrictions

LOS ANGELES - In response to growing concerns over drought in Southern California, the city of L.A. has proposed new water restrictions for city residents. If passed, the new bill would supersede the 1990 provisions. Read more

Popularity: 11%

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