Kathleen Ronayne | Food Manufacturing

Cracked earth that was once under the water of Lake Mead, Jan. 27, 2023, Boulder City, Nev.

Emails Show Tensions in Colorado River Talks

The parched river supplies water to millions — including farms that grow crops for the rest of the nation.

January 30, 2023

Birds take flight in the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, Calipatria, Calif., July 15, 2021.

Drying California Lake to Get $250M in Federal Funding

The lake is largely fed by runoff from farms in the Imperial Valley.

November 29, 2022

Larry Cox walks in a field of Bermudagrass with his dog, Brodie, at his farm near Brawley, Calif., Aug. 15, 2022.

Stressed Colorado River Keeps Desert Farms Alive

But even California may be forced to give something up in the coming years.

September 14, 2022

A saltwater stained rock lies next to a cucumber in the field of farmer Bobby Costa near Tracy, Calif., on Thursday, July 21, 2022. He gets water from rivers in the Delta rivers, delivered by an irrigation district through a ditch on his property. This year, the water’s higher salt content is evident, leaving white stains on the dirt in his fields and hurting his cucumber crop.

In Dry California, Salty Water Creeps into Key Waterways

State water managers, cities and farmers to look for new ways to stabilize their supply of fresh water.

August 9, 2022

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California Bill Would Reduce Single-Use Plastics 25%

Producers of all single-use products — even paper or glass — would need to ensure that 65% are recycled by 2032.

June 20, 2022

A milk carton protects a new planting from herbicide spraying at the Dos Rios Ranch Preserve, Modesto, Calif., Feb. 16, 2022.

Letting Rivers Roam in California's Farm Country

The region accounts for 25% of the nation’s food — and one-fifth of all groundwater pumping.

April 20, 2022

Joy Klineberg tosses an onion peel into container to be used for composting while preparing a family meal at her home in Davis, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. In January 2022, new rules take effect in California requiring people to recycle their food waste to be combusted or turned into energy. Davis already requires residents to recycle their food waste into the yard waste bin instead of the trash.

Food Waste Becomes Newest Climate Change Target

It's being called the biggest change to trash since recycling started in the 1980s.

December 9, 2021

Cali Salmon

Farmers Protest Water Plan to Save Salmon

The battle to change water flow pits farmers versus fishermen.

August 21, 2018