Forest Service Seeks Controlled Burns and Tree Thinning Across 235,000 Acres Source of this article: The Santa Barbara Independent, August 10, 2022 If the past is anything to go by, out-of-control wildfires are a legacy Santa Barbara and the American West are facing as climate changes dry out the landscape Read more…
California has reached a settlement with the federal government to halt new oil and gas leases on public lands in Central California. Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, August 3, 2022 California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced Monday that the state has reached a settlement with the federal Read more…
The migratory monarch butterfly has been added to the endangered species ‘Red List’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in mid-July 2022. This colorful butterfly is known for its spectacular migration of up to 2,500 miles from Mexico to Canada, taking several generations to complete the route. Read more…
Forest thinning is now being conducted at Yosemite National Park. Environmentalists want it to stop, saying the work was never fully vetted. Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, June 14, 2022. For more than a century, Yosemite National Park was viewed as a refuge where nature prevails unmolested Read more…
Federal officials have proposed a massive forest thinning project north of Big Bear Lake, citing drought and the threat of wildfire. Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2022. For decades, thousands of acres of undeveloped public forest on the northern side of Big Bear Lake have Read more…
Stanford researchers examined how land is sinking in the San Joaquin Valley, finding that slowing or halting subsidence requires rising water levels. Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2022. As pumps hum on wells and send vast quantities of water flowing to farms in the San Read more…
Thorough Environmental Review Required Before Fracking or Acidizing of Offshore Oil Wells Source of this article: The Santa Barbara Independent, June 3, 2022 In a long series of court proceedings, permits allowing the fracking and acidizing of oil wells in federal waters off the coast of California were prohibited by Read more…
Federal plan to thin forest draws lawsuits from Patagonia, Ojai and others Source of this article, the Los Angeles Times, May 3, 2022 The popular Ventura-based clothing brand Patagonia, the city of Ojai, Ventura County and several environmental groups are suing the U.S. Forest Service in an attempt to stop Read more…
Officials toured the beach Thursday and cleared it to reopen July 17 Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, July 11, 2015 Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County will reopen to the public next week, two months after a pipeline ruptured and fouled the coast with thousands of gallons of thick Read more…
Plains Pipeline, whose oil pipe ruptured in Santa Barbara County, has high rate of safety infractions Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, May 21, 2015 Plains Pipeline, the large Texas-based company responsible for the pipe that ruptured in Santa Barbara County, has accumulated 175 safety and maintenance infractions Read more…