Santa Cruz County Local Environment News Articles and Digest

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Water Environment

Is California’s Drought Over? Water Providers Predict Shortages

12/14/2022
Image for display with article titled Is California’s Drought Over? Water Providers Still Predict Shortages Next Year

Despite December storms, water supplies remain low in many areas. Some managers expect to impose severe restrictions on their customers.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Animals

Study Finds ‘Community Scientists’ Useful at Elkhorn Slough

12/08/2022
Scientists studying otter behavior at the Elkhorn Slough near Moss Landing find that volunteers are as effective as professionals in collecting data.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Public Safety Environment

By the Numbers: California’s Mild 2022 Wildfire Season

11/30/2022
Moderate weather and well-timed rainstorms in much of California combined to curb the acreage and structures burned.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment History

A Look Back at California’s Most Recent Volcanic Eruption

11/29/2022
Californians are accustomed to being battered by many of nature's whims. Less familiar are volcanic eruptions like the one currently taking place at Hawaii's Mauna Loa. But California's own volcanoes are capable of violent fury.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Animals

The Re-Beavering of the Bay Area

11/27/2022
After being hunted to extinction in the 1800s, the North American beaver is returning to the creeks of the San Francisco Bay Area.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Water Animals Agriculture & Gardening Sustainability

Ecosystems and Rural Communities Will Bear the Brunt of Intensifying Drought

11/24/2022
Drought, human-caused climate change, invasive species and a “legacy” of environmental issues are permanently altering California’s landscape and placing some communities and ecosystems at increasing risk.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Agriculture & Gardening Sustainability

The Race to Save Precious Wild Seeds and Sprouts

11/16/2022
A modern-day Noah’s ark, California Plant Rescue collects seeds from rare plants and fights the permanent loss of irreplaceable species.

From The Sacramento Bee...

State of California Environment Health

California AG Bonta Says State Will Sue 3M, Dupont

11/13/2022
Attorney General Rob Bonta sues manufacturers of PFAs, nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they never biodegrade. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl are present in the bloodstream of nearly all Californians, and are present in a number of household objects; they’ve been linked to birth defects and numerous cancers.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Resilience

How Common Are Tornadoes in California?

11/09/2022
On Election Day, a tornado with wind gusts of up to 70 mph touched down in a rural area of Sacramento County near Galt. The Bee looks at how common tornadoes are in California, what causes them and how dangerous they can be.

From Good Times...

Art & Culture Environment Water

Frans Lanting’s ‘Bay of Life’ Project Showcases Local Ecosystem

11/08/2022
Image for display with article titled Frans Lanting’s ‘Bay of Life’ Project Showcases Local Ecosystem

Lanting and partner Chris Eckstrom turn their sights on showcasing the Monterey Bay in photographs and stories

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Animals Sustainability

Crow Population Swells in Santa Cruz

11/02/2022
The crow population “is hundreds of times larger than it was historically” because the birds have discovered an endless feast of trash and food scraps to feast on.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Parks & Recreation

Cotoni-Coast Dairies Project Open to Public Input

11/01/2022
According to the BLM website, the property is currently accessible to the public only through guided hikes; however, the bureau has developed a recreation plan that includes 27 miles of multi-use trails for bicycling, horseback riding and dog walking with connections to San Vicente Redwoods and the North Coast Rail Trail.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Water Sustainability

Climate Change Is Accelerating in California, State Report Says

10/31/2022
Wildfires, drought, extreme heat and other effects of climate change are compounding in California, according to a report from state scientists.

From The Sacramento Bee...

Environment State of California Sustainability

PG&E: Keep Diablo Canyon Open 8 More Years

10/31/2022
PG& E has formally asked the state to postpone closure of Diablo Canyon until 2030; California’s last nuclear plant provides 9 percent of the state’s electricity.

From Good Times...

History Environment Water

Lighthouse Point Rocked by Erosion

10/28/2022
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One of Santa Cruz's iconic natural spots was transformed forever in one night.

From The Sacramento Bee...

COVID-19 Environment

Quarantine Ends—Now Higher Carbon Emissions Are Back

10/25/2022
2020 carbon emissions fell because of the COVID-19 pandemic–but now emissions are on the rise again.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Water

Latest Winter Forecast Suggests No Relief From Drought

10/20/2022
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a warm, dry winter is in store for much of California as La Niña conditions are expected to persist through at least January.

From YubaNet...

Animals Environment

Bird Population Shrinking...Except in Wetlands

10/20/2022
2022 State of the Birds Report shows decline in more than half of the bird population, with grassland bird species shrinking the fastest. On the bright side, waterfowl are thriving in the nation’s wetlands.

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Environment Government History Economy & Jobs

Why California Uses Less Coal Than Most Other States

10/18/2022
Image for display with article titled California and Coal: State Uses Little of Dirtiest Fossil Fuel. Can the Country Kick the Habit?

This is part of California Local's series on the energy sources that power the state, and what our energy future could be.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Water Sustainability

Composting Waste Pilot Project Gets Nod From Santa Cruz County Supervisors

10/17/2022
The system essentially captures toilet waste in sealable containers without need for water or connective sewer networks. Blanketed by sawdust to reduce odor, the waste is collected in biodegradable bags and transported to centralized composting facilities.

Santa Cruz County Local News: Environment