What will Trump’s impact be on California’s environment?*

Trump has said he wants to throw open public lands to oil and coal extraction. He wants to end clean air rules meant to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. And he wants to throw out the “Waters of the U.S.” rule, adopted by the Obama administration to clarify which water bodies are shielded from development under the Clean Water Act. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article121179503.html#storylink=cpy  Read More

RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for December 26, 2016

About Reservoir and Water Conditions: This post is a collection of graphic representations of current reservoir and hydrologic conditions drawn primarily from the Department of Water Resources website, as well as a few others. Reservoir and Water Conditions are posted every Monday. Read Here  Read More

Do holiday storms offer glimmer of hope for the end of the drought?

A cold winter storm swept into the region on Friday and early Saturday, bringing low snow levels and slippery roads on one of the busiest holiday travel periods of the year. While the storm made for dangerous road travel and plenty of airport delays, the wet, snowy weather, following a succession of storms to start the rainy season, was more welcome news as California concludes its fifth consecutive year of drought. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article122753654.html#storylink=cpy  Read More

Pot a growing barrier to spawning California salmon

“Pot grows and salmon don’t mix, biologist and author Peter Moyle told a small but generally rapt audience Tuesday in Auburn.  Moyle, associate director of the Center for Watershed Studies at UC Davis, has been working on the ecology of California fish since 1969, culminating with his 2002 book “Inland Fishes of California.”  Tuesday’s message to about 15 people at the monthly meeting of the Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead non-profit... Read More

Long-awaited removal of East Panther Creek Dam completed by Foothill Conservancy and local contractors

The Foothill Conservancy has worked for restoration and protection of the Mokelumne River and its watershed since 1989. On November 3, 2016, that work took a great blast forward with the long-awaited removal of East Panther Creek Dam in Amador County east of Pioneer, as Copperopolis contractor California Drilling and Blasting dynamited the main body of the dam. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Foothill Conservancy Vice-President Pete Bell,... Read More

The next big step for California on climate change*

State takes on long-lasting pollutants, including methane. Sacramento Bee op-ed, December 6  Read More

Placer could focus development in north shore towns to avoid growth elsewhere*

County looks to smart-growth principles to guide land use planning at Lake Tahoe. Sacramento Bee, December 5  Read More

Fighting over water seems easier than making peace

California finally embraces its rivers, but huge conflicts remain. San Francisco Chronicle column, December 2  Read More

Fighting over water seems easier than making peace

California finally embraces its rivers, but huge conflicts remain. San Francisco Chronicle column, December 2  Read More

Drought-weakened trees could pose hazard this winter:

After four years of drought, California has a huge number of dead and dying trees.  After a U.S. Forest Service aerial survey last spring, researchers estimated there were 12.5 million dead trees on national forest lands alone.  That doesn’t count dead and dying trees in open spaces and urban parks, or on private property like your backyard or your neighbor’s. … ”  Read more from KQED here:  Drought-weakened trees could pose hazard this... Read More