California has approved a comprehensive plan to protect the western Joshua Tree, which is increasingly threatened by climate change and development pressures. The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan, announced on August 16, 2025, marks the first time the state has adopted a species-specific strategy under its new biodiversity law. This plan, developed by the California
endangered under CESA and will make a final listing decision within 1-2 years. There are three key questions to consider when determining how to proceed with your project: Is my project located in an area where burrowing owls may occur? Is my project located in an area where an existing habitat conservation plan (HCP)
What are PFAS? Produced by industrial/commercial facilities and present in consumer goods, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals used in products that resist oil and water, control temperature, and prevent material degradation. Examples include non-stick cookware, pizza boxes and other paper-based food containers, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, fire-resistant clothing and
What is the current listing status for California bumble bees? On May 31, 2022, the Third Appellate Court District in California ruled that “…a terrestrial invertebrate, like each of the four bumble bee species, may be listed as an endangered or threatened species under the [California Endangered Species Act],” under the definition of ‘fish.’ This
In 2014, in the middle of one of the worst droughts in recorded history, the California legislature passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to safeguard the long-term sustainability of the state’s groundwater supply. Under SGMA, local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) are tasked with developing groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs), which identify the sustainable management criteria
Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems. One of the primary sources of lead exposure is from drinking water that has been contaminated by lead pipes or fittings. Water utilities are responsible for identifying and mapping the locations of lead pipes and service lines as well as communicating this information to
On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS) issued a ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case, stating only wetlands with a continuous surface connection to large rivers, lakes, and streams are eligible for federal protection. On August 29, 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended the 2023 Clean Water Rule
The operation of wind energy facilities can potentially harm bats, but the true extent of this danger is not fully understood. In some US regions, a significant challenge to developing wind energy is finding ways to lower the number of bats that collide with wind turbines while maintaining high power production levels. When developing or
Noticing is sometimes seen as the easy part of CEQA, but the CEQA public noticing process is an alphabet soup of categories and acronyms that isn’t clearly laid out in a single resource. In addition, it’s helpful to be familiar with case law that provides guidance on legally defensible notification, as well as with other
What are the current ALTA survey requirements? The Minimum Standard Detail Requirements (ALTA Standards) for American Land Title Association (ALTA)/National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Land Title Surveys (ALTA survey requirements) were last updated in February of 2021. Often referred to simply as ALTA surveys, these boundary surveys are created according to a set of minimum standards
