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Monterey County Sustainability Overview



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One of California's last great coastal wetlands, Elkhorn Slough provides rich habitat for birds, marine mammals, fish, and other native animals. Elkhorn Slough Foundation works to conserve Elkhorn Slough wetland through ongoing restoration, maintenance and management.

California Local Pin Marker Local Sustainability Digest

Pico Blanco Property Conveyed to Esselen Tribe of Monterey County

01/15/2025

Read on to learn more about the 327-acre Pico Blanco property on the Little Sur River and the agreement by which the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County is to conserve and steward it moving forward.

CA Abandons Clean-Air Rules on Diesel Trucks

01/14/2025

In a striking setback to reduce California’s air pollution but a win for trucking companies, state regulators have walked away from their ambitious plan to phase out diesel trucks less than a week before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.

California Local Pin Marker Recent Articles

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Monterey One Water Is Upgrading Its Infrastructure So It Can Sell Renewable Natural Gas.

As the Monterey Peninsula becomes increasingly dependent on recycled water, the cost of water is going to rise, and already has. Although recycling water is cheaper than desalinating it, it’s still energy intensive. Add to that, energy from the grid…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
A Company That Uses Tech to Absorb Carbon Lands Its First Commercial Project.

For more than a year, Soledad-based Sitos Group has operated a pilot program at ReGen Monterey’s waste management facility in Marina, transforming wood waste and other organic materials into a usable product while removing carbon that would otherwise end up…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Elected Officials Are Watching Idly as Seawater Intrusion Continues Advancing Down the Salinas Valley. If Only Someone Could Do Something.

David Schmalz here, wrestling with a conundrum: Seawater intrusion is advancing in the northern Salinas Valley—heading toward Salinas from the coast—which has forced growers to drill deeper wells, but that’s only made the problem worse.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
A Small-but-Mighty Can That’s Helping a Carmel Restaurant Save Time, Money and the Planet.

There are an increasing number of ways that food waste is being diverted from the landfill. Some people compost at home, while others (less) bring scraps directly to farms. Many now use services created under SB 1383, a 2016 law…

Tahoe Daily Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Sierra Nevada May Hold Key to Meet California’s Ambitious 30×30 Goal

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – California's 30×30 goal was a topic at the Sierra Nevada Alliance Conservation Conference held at Lake Tahoe Community College, Nov. 7-8. In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom committed the state to conserving 30% of lands …

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
The Peninsula’s Water Usage Dips to Its Lowest Level in Nearly 50 Years.

David Schmalz here, with some notable news to report. This past water year—a calendar built around the wet season, from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024—just 8,972 acre-feet of water were pumped into Cal Am’s system to meet customer…

Salinas Valley Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Community Input Sought for Flood-Prone Areas to Support Future Groundwater Recharge Efforts in Salinas Valley

SALINAS VALLEY — In an effort to increase groundwater recharge and storage while reducing flooding, four local agencies and nonprofits collaborating on the Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Program are seeking public input about known areas of flooding and recharge.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Housing Shortfall Impedes Monterey County’s Economic Growth, New Report Shows

MONTEREY COUNTY — The imbalance between housing supply and demand is a key challenge to economic growth in Monterey County, according to a new report that makes clear the need for increasing housing supply.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
A Coalition of Big Sur Leaders Are Working to Get Funding for Internet Access in Tough-to-Reach Places.

As the pandemic spotlighted, access to the internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. From health care and online banking to education and disaster communication, much of everyday life requires being online.

King City Rustler logo LOCAL NEWS
Fort Hunter Liggett Pioneers Army’s Renewable-Only Microgrid

JOLON — Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) continues to lead the way in the Army’s energy resilience as the first-ever military installation with a microgrid implementation using only renewable sources, such as photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery storage.

Featured

Water is a human right under California law, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Agriculture and Water Shortages in the State’s Breadbasket, Explained
There are many causes contributing to this crisis. And as you may already know, this situation really is nuts.
RCDs look after the land, whether it’s used for grazing, growing, or getting out into nature.
California Dirt
RCDs were created to avoid a repeat of the Dust Bowl. Now they work with landowners to preserve the air, water and natural habitats that sustain us all.
Moss Landing in Monterey Bay is the world’s largest battery storage facility for solar and other renewable energy.
Solar Power and California’s Clean Energy Goals
How the sun is helping push the state toward 100 percent renewable energy.
Dairy products are California’s top agricultural commodity, but the industry is often criticized for its impact on the environment.
Sustainable Sustenance
Greener ways to feed the world’s growing population
How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland
From its earliest days as a state, California has been trying to turn marshes into productive land.
Long-duration energy storage, such as this thermal energy storage facility, allows renewable energy sources to operate at full capacity without overloading the power grid.
How California Leads the Race For Long Duration Energy Storage
For renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to be viable, ways to store the power they create are essential.
California has a goal of 6 million heat pumps cooling and heating buildings by 2030.
6 Million New Heat Pumps: Essential to California's Climate Future
Installing 6 million heat pumps by 2030 is essential if California is to reach its goal of net zero carbon emissions.
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