Water
Editorial: Protect Sierra Water from Cattle grazing
Sometimes you wonder if the U.S. Forest Service knows who its employers are. One of those moments came Sunday, with Tom Knudson's report on how cattle poop has contaminated alpine creeks and lakes in portions of the Sierra Nevada where the U.S. Forest Service allows livestock grazing.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/01/2718913/protect-sierra-water-from-cattl...
State to audit Dept of Water Resources
Delta lawmakers win push for audit of how this powerful department has managed water bond funds. The Record, May 7, http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100507/A_NEWS/5070... (Registration required, 10 stories free per month)
Plentiful snowpack boosts water supply
Late snows fill Shasta Lake and increase deliveries to farms. Sacramento Bee, May 5, http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/05/2727848/water-pours-in-cant-quench-all....
To review the local snowpack data, by watershed, see http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/COURSES.05 . The Mokelumne watershed is at 138 percent of the May 1 average.
Great quote
Bill Kier, a fisheries biologist who consults with salmon fishermen, said it is easy for some to complain that freshwater leaving the Delta is "wasted" by flowing to the sea. But these flows help create conditions conducive to food production, he said, which in turn could boost fish populations in future years. "So it's not water wasting to the sea," he said. "It's water doing what nature intended."
Growth and Development
CalPERS and the Mountain House development
"New town" outside Tracy has struggled since the housing bubble burst. Sacramento Bee, May 6, http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/06/2730903/calpers-housing-development-nea...
Valley Springs general plan still in limbo
Supervisors have yet to decide whether to include new community plan in county general plan update. The Record, May 5, http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100505/A_NEWS/5050... (Registration Required, 10 stories per month free.)
Climate Change
Business groups and oil companies seek to suspend state climate change law
Initiative that would suspend AB 32 likely to qualify for the fall ballot. Opponents say it's intended to kill the law, not suspend it. SF Chronicle, May 3, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/03/BA3P1D8EP8.DTL
Sustainability
Green hospital movement moves ahead
Kaiser takes lead in greening hospitals. Sacramento Bee, May 7, http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/05/2727635/kaiser-presses-suppliers-on-gre...
Public Lands
State parks need infusion of funds
Initiative would add $18 a year to car registrations in exchange for free park day use. SF Chronicle, May 2, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/02/SPD01D78KF.DTL
Forestry
Sierra program focuses on forests and jobs
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy's sustainable Sierra initiative was inspired by the local CHIPS project and Amador-Calaveras Consensus group. Fresno Bee, May 2, http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/05/02/1918844/sierra-program-aims-to-nurtu...
Odds and Ends
Oil spill may revive environmentalism
Paul Krugman on how the Gulf Coast oil spill may revive the public's concern about the environment. Sacramento Bee column, May 4, http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/04/2724614/horrifying-gulf-spill-could-hel...
Schwarzenegger drops support for offshore oil drilling
Governor praised by many for revisiting his position. Now if he only cared about the Delta and our rivers as much as he does the coast ... SF Chronicle, May 4, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/05/04/MN1Q1D8SR...
US government puts hold on offshore drilling permits
Permits on hold while agencies study the Gulf oil disaster. SF Chronicle, May 7, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/07/MNUI1DAQGP.DTL
Calaveras chamber angers community
Editorial by Calaveras Enterprise Editor Buzz Eggleston about the Chamber decision to hold its annual dinner at an illegal golf course -- and why land use planning matters. Calaveras Enterprise, April 6, http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/articles/2010/05/05/opinion/columns/b...
Trinitas case moved to federal court
Golf course project controversy now goes to the bankruptcy court. Calaveras Enterprise, May 4, http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/articles/2010/05/04/top_story/top01_t...
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