Santa Cruz County Local Environment News Articles and Digest

Public Safety Environment Transportation

Snow Shortage Followed by Potential Whiteout in Sierras

01/05/2024
Heavy snow is projected in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Previously, warmer storms had been bringing precipitation mainly to higher elevations in the Sierras.

From Los Angeles Times...

Public Safety Environment Water

WWII-Era Dump Site Found Off LA Coast

01/05/2024
Munition boxes, depth charges and smoke floats have been found 3,000 feet underwater off the coast of Los Angeles. More than 100 square miles of ocean might be contaminated.

From KQED...

Environment Water

Climate Change Might Lessen Bay Area Fog

01/05/2024
The Bay Area’s fog is iconic. But the latest episode of KQED podcast “Bay Curious” looks at how climate change could reduce the number of foggy days in the area.

From YubaNet...

Environment Animals

The Chickadee in the Snowbank

01/04/2024
Research shows that a mountain chickadee facing deep snow is like a canary in a coal mine—its survivability tells us about the challenges ahead.

From LAist...

Environment Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening

Bright Blue Waves Return to Southern California

01/03/2024
Bright blue waves have been spotted in Long Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach. The bioluminescence is caused by organisms known as dinoflagellates and can impact fish populations.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment History Sustainability City of Santa Cruz

Fundraiser to Protect Iconic Redwood Set for Saturday

01/03/2024
With the fate of the twin-trunked redwood tree on Walnut Avenue to be decided by the Santa Cruz City Council, the appellant of the heritage tree's removal will hold a fundraiser Jan. 6 to help protect it.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Water

Sierra Snowpack at 25% of Usual Levels

01/02/2024
The California Department of Water Resources has found that the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains is at just 25% of normal levels for this time of year. This could potentially impact water supply and wildfire protection.

From The Mercury News...

Environment Animals Sustainability

Collisions With Buildings Are Killing Millions of Birds Nationwide

12/26/2023
A dark-sky movement to save birds from window strikes is sweeping the San Francisco Bay Area. Several cities have passed or are drafting laws restricting light pollution while making windows easier for birds to see.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Education Environment

Watsonville’s New LEED Nature Center Seeks Support

12/23/2023
For more than 16 years, Watsonville’s Nature Center operated out of a small trailer at Ramsay Park—the only free, bilingual environmental conservation center in the Monterey Bay region.

From Monterey Herald...

Environment Animals

How Gruesome Seal Deaths on the California Coast Revealed a Surprise Predator

12/22/2023
Sarah Grimes investigates reports of dead marine mammals up and down the coast. So when she began finding the decapitated bodies of harbor seal pups just a few miles north of Fort Bragg in 2016, she was on the case. Grimes wasn’t able to pin down the culprit until last year, with the help of a UCSC student.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Water Government

Single Delta Tunnel Wins Approval from State

12/21/2023
The California Department of Water Resources has approved building a tunnel between the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The approval could signal a new wave of legal challenges to the long-running and controversial project.

From SFGate...

Environment Land Use & Development Water History

Tribe Acquires Vast Land in Northern California, Will Remove Dams

12/21/2023
The Hoopa Valley Tribe announced it is acquiring about 10,000 acres of land in Northern California for $14.1 million. As part of this, the tribe will remove dams along the Klamath River and restore salmon runs.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Health Government

How California Dumps Hazardous Waste on a Mexican Town

12/20/2023
Image for display with article titled How California Industry Dodges Environmental Laws by Dumping Waste On a Small Mexican Town

Both private industry and state government have sent toxic waste to a plant across the border from San Diego.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Land Use & Development Parks & Recreation

Sempervirens Fund Hires First Government Relations Director

12/20/2023
The land trust Sempervirens Fund has tapped Rachel Dann for its newly established director of government relations position. “Rachel is a highly esteemed political strategist, renowned for her extensive connections with regional policymakers,” said Executive Director Sarah Barth.

From Good Times...

Environment

Dark Sky Santa Cruz Wants to Help Us See More Stars

12/19/2023
Image for display with article titled Dark Sky Santa Cruz Wants to Help Us See More Stars

Scientists, environmentalists and night sky photographers are making headway with the daunting task of waking the rest of us up to our need for darkness.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Elections & Politics Government

Big Oil Is Still a Big Winner Even in 'Green' California

12/19/2023
Image for display with article titled Big Oil is Still a Big Winner in 'Green' California: Here's How the Industry Dominates the Legislature

Image for display with article titled Big Oil is Still a Big Winner in 'Green' California: Here's How the Industry Dominates the Legislature

The oil and gas industry donated almost a half-million dollars to California legislators in 2023.

From Los Angeles Times...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Agriculture, Food & Gardening

Kern County Is Poised to Become Warehousing’s Next Frontier

12/19/2023
Farmland is being rezoned for industrial use, and massive warehouses are being built on spec near communities like Buttonwillow and Shafter, so goods coming through the Southern California ports can be shipped quickly throughout the western United States.

From CalMatters...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Water Animals Agriculture, Food & Gardening State of California

Ranchers, Tribes Clash Over Water, Salmon Ahead of Sweeping New Irrigation Regulations

12/17/2023
Salmon populations in the Scott and Shasta rivers have crashed, so state officials are about to restrict irrigation again. And the controversial rules may even become permanent.

From Monterey Herald...

Environment Animals

Butterfly Numbers Down, But Not Out

12/15/2023
Seasonal counts are showing there are, as expected, fewer butterflies overwintering in Pacific Grove than last year, but not the record lows of 2018-20.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Government

EV Transition Threatens Roads With Drastic Gas Tax Revenue Cut

12/14/2023
Image for display with article titled California's Electric Vehicle Transition Means Drastic Cut in Gas Tax Revenue, Endangering Roads

Image for display with article titled California's Electric Vehicle Transition Means Drastic Cut in Gas Tax Revenue, Endangering Roads

As consumers require less gas for their cars, they'll also be paying out less in gas tax to the state.

Santa Cruz County Local News: Environment