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

Congress sends major California water policy to President Obama, despite Sen. Barbara Boxer’s objections

“Over Sen. Barbara Boxer’s objections, the Senate voted 78 to 21 Friday evening to pass sweeping water infrastructure legislation that changes how much water is pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to San Joaquin Valley farmers and Southern California. The bill — co-authored by Boxer — authorizes hundreds of water projects across the country, including new infrastructure to fix lead issues in Flint, Mich., and and millions of dollars... Read More

Feinstein’s “Poison Pill” for Salmon and Smelt

Senator Feinstein has added a rider to the Drought Water Bill that has been referred to as a “poison pill” for endangered salmon and smelt. Senator Boxer has vowed to fight passage of the Water Bill because of Feinstein’s “poison pill” rider. Senator Feinstein has claimed that the rider is a compromise to get support for the overall water bill that includes provisions to enhance California’s water supply infrastructure. Read Entire Article... Read More

Watershed Protection is theme for sanitary district’s 2017 calendar

Students fill calendar with art, learn science of water treatment Students from the fourth, fifth and sixth grades at San Andreas Elementary School provided calendar art and participated in water treatment science in mid-November as part of a second yearly watershed protection calendar project supported by the San Andreas Sanitary District. Read Entire Article Here   Read More