News Archive

Environment

Study Blames Low 2015 Western Snowpack On High Temperatures

October 31, 2016

(AP) - The far western United States set records for low snowpack levels in 2015, and a new report blames high temperatures rather than low precipitation levels.

Environment

Did California's $350 Million Social Experiment Over Lawns Pay Off?

October 31, 2016

(AP) - California water agencies that spent more than $350 million in the last two years to pay property owners to rip out lawns are now trying to answer whether the nation's biggest lawn removal experiment was all worth the cost.

Environment

Reservoir Levels Rise In California With Record October Rainfall

October 31, 2016 | Amy Quinton

October was one of the wettest on record in Northern California. But the state needs much more to replenish major reservoirs.

Environment

California Voters Will Decide Fate Of Plastic Bags

October 28, 2016 | Amy Quinton

Plastic bag manufacturers have placed Propositions 67 and 65 on November's ballot in hopes of keeping their product in the nation's largest market.

Environment

California Regulators Examine Safety Of Food Irrigated With Oil Wastewater

October 27, 2016 | Amy Quinton

California regulators are taking a closer look at the safety of food irrigated with wastewater from oil and gas operations.

Environment

More Pacific Coast Hatchery Salmon Could Receive Protections

October 26, 2016

(AP) - Federal authorities want to add more hatchery-raised fish to the 28 Pacific Coast salmon and steelhead stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Water Use In The Sacramento Region Up In September

October 26, 2016 | Steve Milne

People in the Sacramento region are not conserving as much water as they did last year, when state-mandated reductions were still in place. The latest figures show water use fell by 15 percent in September, compared to 27 percent in September 2015.

Environment

California Rainy Season Begins; Wildfires Increase Risk of Flash Flooding

October 24, 2016 | Amy Quinton

Five years of drought exacerbated wildfires across California. Fire and flood agencies say those burned areas now have an increased risk of flash flooding.

Environment

California Considers More Water For Fish In Sacramento River

October 19, 2016 | Amy Quinton

California regulators are considering a plan that could allow more water to flow to protect fish in the Sacramento River.

Food and Sustainability

Creating Poly-Culture Fields Could Ward Off Pests, Study Finds

October 17, 2016 | Julia Mitric

Crop-eating insects thrive in fields planted with one crop variety. Scientists at UC Davis led a study to look at the diets of 53 pest species to find out why.