Land in Conflict: How Planners Can Better Manage an Increasingly Contentious Public Process

Land use disputes are increasingly taking up our time and producing unsatisfying results. A new approach to resolving conflict based on mutual gains may provide a better way to manage the most challenging situations. Netizen, June 19    Read More

State slow to fix water injustices

Poor drinking water quality in disadvantaged California communities in California is an issue of concern for The Community Action Project and participating members. This piece explains what is happening with the $455 million in Federal dollars California received to help these communities, but has not yet spent. Sacramento Bee  Read More

Work begins on largest dam removal project in California history

Work has started to remove the obsolete and hazardous 10-story San Clemente dam from the Carmel River. Mercury News, June 21 KQED  Read More

Our Built and Natural Environments

Decisions about how and where we build our communities have significant impacts on the natural environment and on human health. Cities, regions, states, and the private sector need information about the environmental effects of their land use and transportation decisions to mitigate growth-related environmental impacts and to improve community quality of life and human health. In 2001, EPA published Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical... Read More

City council seats two new planning commissioners

The Angels Camp City Council elected two new members to the Planning Commission Tuesday night, dismissing nine-year commissioner and chair Gary Croletto and three-year commissioner Kristi Reeseman. “I think it’s time for new blood,” said Councilmember Stuart Raggio before nominating two freshman applicants, Scott Behiel and Patsy Gonzalez. “I look forward to working with them,” said Planning Director David Hanham after the meeting. “Based... Read More

Headwaters Economics

Featured Research: The Rising Cost of Wildfire Protection:  Wildfires are becoming more severe and expensive.  This report describes how the protection of homes in the Wildland-Urban Interface has added to these costs and concludes with a brief discussion of solutions that may help control escalating costs. – Protected Federal Lands in Non-Metro West Increase Per Capita Income:  Headwaters Economics has created an interactive map that shows... Read More

Fire restrictions go into effect Saturday

Because of high fire danger, the U.S. Forest Service announced a forest order enacting temporary fire restrictions that will go into effect Saturday. The fire restrictions prohibit campfires and briquette barbecue use outside developed campgrounds in designated high hazard areas of the forest, and smoking is severely restricted. Welding and blasting also are prohibited, except by special permit. “A low snowpack, drying winds and recent hot temperatures... Read More

CalFire cancels burning, Eldorado NF imposes burning restrictions

The dry early summer has caused state and federal agencies to restrict open burning earlier than usual. Sacramento Bee, June 13. Related story for Calaveras County, The Record*, June 13  Read More

Is Mother Lode’s appeal dwindling?*

Population in our area continues to drop, in part because the death rate is higher than the birth rate. Read story in Stockton Record    Read More

Environmental legislation news

The Planning and Conservation League staff works closely with State Legislators to promote environmental legislation that protects and improves the California environment. For a list of current legislation (CEQA, Land Use and Transportation, Water) to making California a better place see: PCL  Read More