Ten million acres of public land in California deserts are under a new management blueprint with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s approval of the Record of Decision for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) in September. The new landscape-level plan being implemented includes designation of use zones and management directives for renewable energy,
In 2016, several laws that concern the environment have come into effect in California. Do you know which ones may impact you? Air Quality The state Air Resources Board will gain two members—by legislative appointment—who will represent communities suffering from air pollution. Drought Cities and counties are no longer able to ban residents from removing
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analyses could become more involved under the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) proposed changes to its existing regulations protecting the nests of birds of prey and California native birds. Changes to the California Fish and Game Code (FGC) regulations would formalize the interpretations that the CDFW has traditionally
Volunteer habitat rehabilitation efforts in drought-stricken Southern California have proven helpful in recovering butterfly populations threatened by weeds, which have crowded out butterfly host plants. Host plant re-establishment represents just one aspect of full habitat restoration, but without preservation efforts on the Palos Verdes Peninsula (Peninsula), extinction of two rare subspecies of blue butterflies—the El
Urban forests are the backbone of regional landscapes and represent a substantial natural resource investment. The 177 million trees in California’s urban forests are at risk as water cuts significantly reduce irrigation that is vital to mostly non-native, ornamental trees. Tens of millions of native trees in California’s wildlands have already died due to the
Water agencies seeking funding for California groundwater projects, including recharge and banking projects can be encouraged by the history of the SMARTWater program’s past awards supporting California groundwater projects. Funded projects included: Recharge and banking differ only by whose water is being recharged. Recharge is generally any surface water supply stored as groundwater for later
While California’s oak trees are well adapted to survive the state’s drought, the right approach to supplemental irrigation is critical to prevent pests from taking advantage of drought-stressed oaks. Oaks will reallocate resources to conserve water to sustain basic physiological functions. But that can lower the trees’ defenses against disease and insects, including borer colonization.
“Project owners with pending permitting and habitat mitigation programs need to plan for potential setbacks if California’s extended dry weather continues,” said Michael Sweesy, Dudek senior habitat restoration expert. “California had its worst drought conditions in 90 years between January and May last year, and the first seasonal snow survey in early January of this
Soitec’s proposed utility-scale solar facilities in San Diego County are the third project in California to be certified by Governor Brown for fast-tracked judicial and legislative review under the terms of the Jobs and Economic Improvement Act of 2011, commonly known as AB 900. Apple’s new Cupertino campus and the McCoy solar project in Riverside
Although requiring more space than conventional concrete-lined open channels, habitat-friendly bioswales are now a common substitute for impervious channels in California urban and suburban areas. Bioswales are an ecological method to meet stormwater treatment regulations for pollutant removal while maintaining stormwater management efficiency. Designed with drought-tolerant, native habitat vegetation, bioswales remove stormwater pollutants by filtration,
