El Dorado County Sustainability Digest

Sixty years ago, I was a reporter for the Klamath Falls (Oregon) Herald and News and with my family lived in a small house on the Link River, which flows out of Upper Klamath Lake, draining a large portion of the Cascade mountain range.

Low counts of spawning salmon could mean another year without fishing. Experts say the outlook still has time to turn around.

Growers support a federal and state proposal for operating California’s massive systems that send river water south. But it could harm more salmon and other endangered fish.

Most of us operate on the calendar year — the 12 months that begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

Capturing and storing carbon underground is a big part of California’s efforts to tackle climate change but community members and environmentalists say it prolongs the life of fossil fuels.

How to apply rebate as part of the recent $80 million state program to electrify homes.

Congress has reauthorized the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act through 2034, appropriating $300 million for the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.

Answers to questions about the rollout of new blue and green recycling barrels underway in South Lake Tahoe and other areas of the county.

The California state goal to conserve 30% of its land and coastal waters has advanced, with conserved lands reaching 25% and coastal waters 16%.

American Beverage has awarded a grant of $300,000 to South Tahoe Refuse to help fund the rollout of new recycling carts to over 19,000 residents of South Lake Tahoe.

To comply with state law, the City of South Lake Tahoe is moving to a three-cart curbside refuse and recycling program.

The El Dorado Irrigation District investments in alternative energy projects is paying off.

Legislators and Gov. Newsom are working behind the scenes to draft energy legislation before the end-of-the-month deadline.

Public chargers must be built at an unprecedented pace to meet the target in less than 7 years, and then doubled to 2 million in 2035. The high cost — $120,000 or more for one fast charger— is just one obstacle.

Harnessing clean energy is a venture of unprecedented scope in California, bringing big changes to Humboldt and the Central Coast, and requiring 26 ports along the coast.

An astonishing 229 tons of mattresses, furniture, appliances, electronics and other refuse was dropped off by residents and collected by volunteers during the annual "$5 dollar dump day" held on June 8 in South Lake Tahoe.

Legal rights to use water — particularly those obtained prior to 1914 — lie at the heart of California’s perpetual wrangling over the allocation of increasingly limited water supplies.

The El Dorado Irrigation District water treatment plant is 63 years old and plans are underway for renovations and upgrades.

Tens of thousands of California homeowners, especially those who live in areas at risk of wildfires, have lost their insurance or have to pay more to keep coverage. One after another, major companies have pulled out of the state, many citing the cost of claims.

Aiming to store more water and protect the public, legislators are negotiating with the governor to restore $50 million to help repair 42 aging dams throughout the state.

The two-day CalMatters Ideas Festival wrapped on June 6 with more than a dozen events examining critical policy issues impacting the lives of millions of Californians.

These community projects can give renters and low-income homeowners a chance to go solar, but the PUC’s action is unlikely to give them the option.

California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, flew more 6,000 miles to Rome this month to deliver a brief speech on climate change at a Vatican-sponsored conference.

It’s been almost a half-century since I first heard the term “peripheral canal” uttered by William Gianelli, who was then-Gov. Ronald Reagan’s top water official. The project, in one form or another, had already been kicking around for decades.

The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals recognized the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan with the Project Excellence Award during the National Outdoor Recreation Conference held May 4 - 9 in Stateline.

The month-long event will highlight 21 titles, with proceeds benefitting local nonprofit Clean Up the Lake.

The California Tahoe Conservancy announced public comment and feedback is open for their 2024-2029 draft strategic plan.

A bill to rein in a proposed monthly fee on California electric bills would let California’s largest for-profit utility companies charge customers $24 per month — with fees as low as $6 for lower-income customers — as a kind of membership fee for the power grid.

Citing limited staff resources and budget, El Dorado County Supervisors put a halt to staff work to amend the cannabis ordinance.

Grizzly Flat residents speak out against a proposed biomass facility proposed by District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo.

The Lake Tahoe Unified School District has begun operating an initial 5 electric school buses and charging stations, with 15 more expected to be funded through an upcoming grant.

An Earth Day celebration is taking place at Lake Tahoe Community College on Saturday, April 27 10AM - to 3PM.