A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck northeast Afghanistan on Wednesday, shaking large parts of the region and killing a child and injuring several people in neighboring Pakistan, officials said.

Reuters, 1-30-18

3.2 quake strikes near Teakettle Junction in Death Valley

A shallow magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Tuesday morning 12 miles from Teakettle Junction in Death Valley National Park, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 11:39 a.m. PST at a depth of 0 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 1-30-18

Expect Landslides, Water Shortage in the Event of an Earthquake

Last Tuesday, after a magnitude 7.9 quake occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, tsunami warnings for Alaska, as well as the West Coast from Canada to California, were issued for four hours before being cancelled. The next day, it was reported that a newly discovered earthquake fault that runs through Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is capable of producing a magnitude 7.0 earthquake.

Malibu Times, 1-31-18

Shaking up real estate values with the new fault maps - Part 1

I recall going on a run at Alston Park in Napa after the earthquake to find a 6-inch crevice that opened up across several trails. Previously living in Browns Valley in Napa, I pinpointed the location of my former home on the new Alquist-Priolo earthquake fault zone map to find the house is now within the yellow block signifying it lies within the earthquake fault zone. I am thankful I sold when I did.

Napa Valley Register column, 1-29-18

Tsunami watch shows we can still be left in the dark

Early on the morning of Jan. 23, while California slept, the Gulf of Alaska rumbled over a slip in the earth’s plates. The next few hours could have been critical. Thankfully, our worst fears did not materialize.

Half Moon Bay Review commentary, 1-31-18

Water Main Break Caused By Movement On The Hayward Fault

We now know what caused a big water main break in Hayward. The USGS says the water main break was caused by what’s called a creep – a constant or periodic movement – on the Hayward Fault. The pipe suddenly snapped, causing a flood along Highland Boulevard.

KPIX-TV (San Francisco), 1-31-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

California taxpayers could foot the bill to shutter old oil rigs in the Pacific

It’s been nearly three years since an oil pipeline ruptured in Santa Barbara County, coating seven miles of beaches with crude oil and killing dolphins, birds and sea lions.

CalMatters, 1-31-18

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

US officials consider new tool to combat mine spills: Robots

Crumbling mine tunnels awash with polluted waters perforate the Colorado mountains, and scientists may one day send robots creeping through the pitch-black passages to study the mysterious currents that sometimes burst to the surface with devastating effects.

Phys.org, 1-31-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

How A Skeptical Rancher In Rural California Embraced Green-Friendly Farming — With Help From A Popular Outdoors Brand

Lani Estill’s family ranches on thousands of acres in Modoc County on the border of Nevada and California. Her operation, Bare Ranch, sits in a place called Surprise Valley. It’s a beautiful almost forgotten place “Where the West still lives” — that’s the county’s motto.

Capital Public Radio, 1-31-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Why banning gas-powered cars could hurt Californians

A bill by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, to ban the sale of new passenger vehicles that run on gasoline or diesel fuel by 2040 and thereafter restrict Californians from purchasing anything other than “zero-emission vehicles” is misguided and should be rejected.

San Diego Union Tribune commentary, 1-31-18

EPA chief Scott Pruitt won't rule out repealing the foundation of Obama-era climate change rules

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt on Tuesday refused to rule out an effort to repeal an EPA finding that empowers the agency to create rules to fight climate change.

CSNBC, 1-30-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Giant earthquakes: not as random as thought

By analyzing sediment cores from Chilean lakes, an international team of scientists discovered that giant earthquakes reoccur with relatively regular intervals. When also taking into account smaller earthquakes, the repeat interval becomes increasingly more irregular to a level where earthquakes happen randomly in time.

Phys.org, 1-30-18

The class disparity in Montecito’s disaster recovery

It takes two hours to drive along the coast from Los Angeles to Montecito, California. On a sunny day (of which there are, on average, 284 a year, according to the National Climatic Data Center), the Pacific Ocean glistens to your left as you head north, away from the city’s hubbub, past fields and picturesque beach towns until you reach the secluded hills of eastern Santa Barbara County.

High Country News, 1-29-18

FEMA officials visit Montecito disaster area to talk about increased flood risks after fires

Officials with FEMA and California's Insurance Commissioner toured flood devastated areas in Montecito on Monday. They got a firsthand look at the destruction at the Bonneymede condominium complex and a historic home on Olive Mill Road built during the Civil War.

KEYT-TV (Santa Barbara), 1-29-18

Exploration Company Eyeing Mariposa County Gold Faces An Uphill Battle

This month marks the 170th anniversary of the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill. The legacy of the gold rush is ever-present in northern California, particularly in Mariposa County. It’s visible in mining museums, at roadside historical sites, and in county buildings on Bullion Street.

Valley Public Radio, 1-30-18

Which fault line do I live on? A guide to the major Bay Area faults

Last week, Bay Area residents experienced seven earthquakes and even a brief tsunami warning following a 7.9 earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska. In 2014, the USGS warned that there is a 72-percent chance that "the big one," or an earthquake of a magnitude of at least 6.7 strikes California within the next 30 years.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-30-18

California overdue for a major earthquake

California earthquakes are a geologic inevitability. The state straddles the North American and Pacific tectonic plates and is crisscrossed by the San Andreas and other active fault systems. The magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck off Alaska's Kodiak Island on Jan. 23, 2018 was just the latest reminder of major seismic activity along the Pacific Rim.

The Conversation, 1-30-18

Ordinance to Clean-up Creeks on Private Property OK’d by Santa Barbara County Supervisors

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved an urgency ordinance on Tuesday to clear debris from creek channels that run down the hillsides above Montecito to the ocean, and some of those creeks are on private property.

Santa Barbara Noozhawk, 1-30-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Fracking accounts for most new oil and gas production in U.S., agency says

Hydraulically fractured horizontal wells accounted for 69 percent of all oil and natural gas wells drilled in the United States, and 83 percent of the total linear footage drilled, in 2016, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Tuesday.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 1-30-18

Conservation groups ask judge to block approval of oil well project near Santa Paula Creek

Conservation groups appeared in court Monday to ask a judge to block the approval of an oil well project near Santa Paula Creek and order an intensive environmental review.

Ventura County Star, 1-29-18

WATER

California drought returning? Sierra Nevada snowpack at 30 percent as forecast calls for two more weeks of warm, dry weather

Hampered by hot weather and a stubborn high-pressure ridge that has blocked winter storms, California’s Sierra Nevada snowpack — a key source of the state’s water supply — on Tuesday was a paltry 30 percent of normal.

Bay Area News Group, 1-30-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Insurers should be on the hook for Montecito mudslide damage, commissioner says

Montecito residents who are hoping that insurance will cover damage to their homes from recent mudslides received a word of support from an important ally on Monday.

Southern California Public Radio, 1-29-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

A new development near Aliso Canyon is moving forward — despite outcry from Valley communities

A housing development not far from the source of a massive gas leak in 2015 is under new scrutiny after its backers said health risks to future residents there are minimal. Residents of neighboring communities are raising concerns about the Hidden Creeks Estatesproject above Porter Ranch, which seeks to bring new residents and extend urban development in the Santa Susana mountains.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 1-29-18

Oil Boom Gives the U.S. a New Edge in Energy and Diplomacy

A substantial rise in oil prices in recent months has led to a resurgence in American oil production, enabling the country to challenge the dominance of Saudi Arabia and dampen price pressures at the pump.

New York Times, 1-28-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

San Rafael selected as study city for sea-level rise

San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood has been selected as one of 10 Bay Area sites to get attention from a phalanx of architects, urban planners and environmentalists as part of a competition to battle sea-level rise.

Marin Independent Journal, 1-26-18

2017 Was the Hottest Year Yet In the World's Ocean

Oceans aren't likely to cool any time soon, a new study finds. In fact, 2017 was the warmest year on record in the ocean, according to researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

National Geographic, 1-28-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The Day An Earthquake In America Caused A Tsunami In Japan

Long ago Earthquake and Thunder decided to travel south, but they found only a desolate and dry land there. Earthquake was unhappy

Forbes, 1-26-18

Small earthquake shakes Palm Springs

An earthquake centered in the High Desert shook portions of the Coachella Valley on Thursday evening

Palm Springs Desert Sun, 1-25-18

Another earthquake strikes Southern California

A 3.4-magnitude earthquake struck an area on Saturday, Jan. 27 near one that straddled Riverside and Orange Counties earlier this week, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Southern California Newspaper Group, 1-27-18

Second earthquake in recent days strikes near Temescal

A 3.4-magnitude earthquake struck near Temescal in Riverside County on Saturday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Los Angeles City News Service, 1-27-18

County monitoring Dana Point landslide site where 18 tons of rock, including 2-ton boulder, smashed into public restroom

Orange County parks officials say they will monitor a cliff area under Cannons Restaurant after about 18 tons of rocks, including a two-ton boulder, dropped Jan. 13, smashing into a public restroom below.

Orange County Register, 1-18-18

Long Beach confirms Community Medical Center seismic studies, still looking for ways to save eastside hospital

City government has not given up on the idea of saving the emergency room at Community Medical Center Long Beach, but a peer review of geologic studies examining the hospital site backs up earlier findings that may lead to the facility’s closure.

Long Beach Press Telegram, 1-28-18

Quake sensors aid Golden Gate Bridge damage mitigation

When a 4.5-magnitude earthquake shifted the Hayward Fault earlier this month, Golden Gate Bridge managers jumped into action to determine if there was any damage to the span, part of a “Bridge Earthquake Response Plan.”

Marin Independent Journal, 1-27-18

Montecito mudslide had first responder second-guessing

For Evan Skei, the La Conchita landslide of January 2005 was about as clear as mud gets. The disaster hit in daylight; the slide was visible from its head to its toe.

Ventura County Star commentary, 1-27-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

A natural gas crisis has put California at an energy crossroads

For a few days earlier this winter, it looked like Los Angeles County might run out of natural gas. Even though the country is swimming in natural gas reserves, half the gas pipelines serving the county were shut down (one has since reopened).

Los Angeles Times editorial, 1-27-18

Three City Council Members Oppose Plan To Decrease Reliance On Aliso Canyon Gas Storage Facility

Three Los Angeles City Council members Friday opposed a plan by the California Public Utilities Commission to issue a moratorium on new commercial and industrial natural-gas connections in areas relying on the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility for service.

LAWest Media blog, 1-26-17

WATER

How Trump’s pumping plan is dividing California over water – again

They gathered this week at Sacramento’s federal building on Capitol Mall, carrying protest signs and vowing to resist the Trump administration’s plan to pump more of Northern California’s water through the Delta to the southern half of the state.

Sacramento Bee, 1-26-18

Options for Gov. Brown’s delta tunnel project look to be drying up

Gov. Jerry Brown’s $17 billion plan for two massive tunnels to move water under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta could be on the rocks.

Orange County Register editorial, 1-26-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

California's new goal: 5 million zero-emission cars by 2030

California Governor Jerry Brown wants the state to have 5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2030. He set the goal in an executive order, signed Friday, that echoes his final State of the State address presented the day before.

CNN, 1-2-18

The U.S. Is About to Get Real Cold Again. Blame It on Global Warming

Because the world is getting warmer, it’s getting colder, too. Crazy as that sounds, there’s an explanation in the northernmost corner of the planet, where temperatures are rising twice as fast as anywhere else. That affects the jet streams churning through the upper atmosphere, and results in more weird winter cold snaps.

Bloomberg News, 1-26-18

GENERAL

Commentary: Jerry Brown’s two big public-works projects are foundering

During his second governorship, Jerry Brown has frequently touted big public-works projects as the mark of a great society—a marked change from his first stint four decades ago, when “small is beautiful” and “lower your expectations” were his oft-voiced themes.

CALmatters, 1-29-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

New legislation aims to compel insurance coverage for fire-caused mudslides

Besides having to rebuild their homes and community, survivors of the January 9 Montecito debris flows are now wrangling with their insurance companies.

KCBX, Central Coast Public Radio, 1-24-18

U.S. Pacific Northwest under-prepared for tsunamis, experts say

The U.S. region most vulnerable to tsunamis - the massive waves of water unleashed by undersea earthquakes - is dangerously under-prepared, experts and officials in Oregon and Washington state said after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake this week.

Reuters, 1-25-18

Emotional residents return to California mudslide area

Taking stock of their lives and remembering those who were lost, emotional residents on Thursday trickled back to the California coastal town that was devastated two weeks ago by mudslides that killed at least 21 people and destroyed more than a hundred homes.

Associated Press, 1-25-18

WATER

One possible delta tunnels deal would give cheap water to farmers — and more expensive water to cities

Months of behind the scenes talks have failed to drum up enough money to pay the full costs of replumbing the center of California's sprawling waterworks with two giant water tunnels.

Los Angeles Times, 1-25-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

West Marin agricultural easement will protect Bianchini Ranch

The future of Bianchini Ranch in Point Reyes Station, a 705-acre ranch overlooking Tomales Bay, was protected Tuesday as county supervisors allocated about $1.8 million in Measure A funds to help pay for a Marin Agricultural Land Trust easement.

Marin Independent Journal, 1-26-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Nearly Half of California’s Vegetation at Risk From Climate Stress

Current levels of greenhouse gas emissions are putting nearly half of California’s natural vegetation at risk from climate stress, with transformative implications for the state’s landscape and the people and animals that depend on it, according to a study led by the University of California, Davis.

UC Davis News Service, 1-25-18

Drought and Climate Change Could Hamper the Return of Plants and Animals Displaced by California's Biggest Wildfire

When Sean Anderson and his students first went to check on how California's largest recorded wildfire was affecting animals, the fire was still burning. It gave the air an unsettling orange glow.

Pacific Standard, 1-24-18

World ‘at immediate and genuine risk,’ Jerry Brown warns in final state address

Gov. Jerry Brown warned about the risk of nuclear ruin, environmental catastrophe and political poison, declaring in a sweeping speech Thursday that existential threats to the planet would require more engagement from U.S. and global leaders.

Sacramento Bee, 1-25-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Earthquake Strikes Near Lake Elsinore

A 4.0-magnitude earthquake shook part of Southern California Thursday according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

KNSD-TV (San Diego), 1-25-18

New earthquake hazard maps show fault lines under Beverly Hills

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills hosts some of the priciest retail real estate in the country, built for the movers and shakers of the world. But now the city is learning it's built on a mover and shaker.

KABC-TV (Los Angeles), 1-24-18

4.0-magnitude earthquake hits Trabuco Canyon area

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.0 hit the Trabuco Canyon overnight Thursday, followed by a series of small aftershocks.

KABC-TV (Los Angeles), 1-25-18

Fault That Could Cause 7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Runs Under Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, Scientists Find

Scientists in California have discovered a fault line that with the potential to cause a massive earthquake directly below one of the world’s most famous shopping destinations.

KCBS-TV (Los Angeles, 1-24-18)

Geologists Discover Earthquake Fault Below Beverly Hills’ Shopping District

New data from state geologists show that an earthquake fault runs below Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills’ shopping district, heightening the known seismic risk in an area famous for Cartier, Gucci, Prada and other luxury brands.

KTLA-TV, 1-24-18

City Study Confirms Earthquake Fault Data At Community Hospital

A geotechnical study has confirmed that there is an active earthquake fault beneath Community Hospital that makes much of the campus unusable as a hospital in the future.

Long Beach Grunion Gazette, 1-24-18

Another quake rattles the West Coast. What’s going on with the Ring of Fire?

A light earthquake shook Southern California early Thursday, marking the latest in a burst of seismic and volcanic activity along the Ring of Fire.

Sacramento Bee, 1-25-18

4.0 quake in Santa Ana Mountains felt in L.A.

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck in the Santa Ana Mountains on Thursday morning was felt throughout much of Southern California, from northern L.A. County to San Diego.

Los Angeles Times, 1-25-18

2 quakes Tuesday night send tremors through Santa Cruz County

Two earthquakes that struck near Watsonville in Santa Cruz County late Tuesday night rattled Bay Area residents but didn’t cause any damage to the area.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-24-18

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

Santa Clarita reports more than $12M in costs for Cemex fight

The city of Santa Clarita has spent approximately $12.15 million in fighting Cemex, the company hoping to excavate millions of tons of sand and gravel from an area just outside the city’s eastern border in Soledad Canyon.

Santa Clarita Signal, 1-23-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Underground Natural Gas Storage is 'Manageable' Risk, California Study Concludes

A green light was flashed for continued use of underground natural gas storage in California Thursday with the release of a two-year study by the nonprofit California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) that was mandated by state lawmakers in the wake of a massive methane leak from the state's largest storage facility at Aliso Canyon.

NGI Shale Gas Daily, 1-23-18

California sues Trump administration for repeal of fracking rule

California on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over its repeal of Obama-era rules meant to address public safety concerns on hydraulic fracturing, the process known as fracking that is used to extract oil and natural gas, on federal lands.

Reuters, 1-24-18

California Sues Trump Administration Over Fracking Rule

California's attorney general sued the Trump administration yet again Wednesday, this time for rolling back a fracking rule that the state says is designed to protect public health and the environment.

Associated Press, 1-24-18

New lawsuit in California vs. Trump seeks to tighten rules on frack

California, the third-largest oil producing state in the nation, on Wednesday sued the Trump administration to reinstate an Obama-era rule governing hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking.

Sacramento Bee, 1-24-18

California Sues Feds to Re-Tighten Fracking Rules

California will fight to reinstate environmental protections recently nixed by the Trump administration at the behest of the oil industry, according to a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Courthouse News Service, 1-24-18

The Dark Side of America’s Rise to Oil Superpower

The last time U.S. drillers pumped 10 million barrels of crude a day, Richard Nixon was in the White House.

Bloomberg News, 1-25-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Backcountry ballot initiative launched that could limit housing

Supporters of a ballot initiative that would require countywide voter approval of large housing developments in the unincorporated areas plan to start gathering signatures as soon as Monday, it was announced at a news conference Wednesday morning.

San Diego Union Tribune, 1-24-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

No one seems to want to run Trump's EPA in California

Perhaps it is unsurprising that the White House still hasn't filled this job: San Francisco is not an inviting place for the Make America Great Again administration.

Los Angeles Times, 1-25-18

California faces a cascade of catastrophes as sea level rises

The first thing to go will be California's calling card: its beaches. Between a third and two-thirds⁠ of Southern California beaches will succumb to sea-level rise by the end of this century unless global fossil fuel emissions are dramatically reined in, according to a 2017 U.S. Geological Survey report⁠.

Los Angeles Times commentary, 1-24-18

Wind To Blow Past Hydropower As Top Clean Electricity Source In Major Milestone

Wind power is forecast to surpass hydroelectricity for the first time as the nation’s top source of renewable electricity sometime in the next year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.

Huffington Post, 1-24-18

Survey: Mayors view climate change as pressing urban issue

U.S. mayors increasingly view climate change as a pressing urban issue, so much so that many advocate policies that could inconvenience residents or even hurt their cities financially.

Associated Press, 1-23-18

Dryer, Warmer Golden State: Stanford Professor Provides Look Into California’s Climate Future

From record rainfall and flooding in winter to record heat and major wildfires burning into winter, 2017 hit a new benchmark for weather extremes in California.

KNTV (San Jose), 1-23-18

Farmland could be used to sustainably offset America’s entire carbon footprint—if the will exists

Amid the roaring debate on how to curb climate change in Bonn last year, an impasse was finally broken on agriculture. Both a cause and casualty of climate change, our food system accounts for up to 24% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Quartz commentary, 1-24-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Earthquake fault runs through Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills' shopping district, California geologists say

Los Angeles Times, 1-24-18

How California lawmakers are preparing for more natural disasters

Dozens of Californians lost their lives in wildfires and other natural disasters in recent months. In response to the widespread emergencies, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislators want to change insurance rules, emergency alert systems and debris removal policies and spend more money on fire protection.

Los Angeles Times, 1-23-18

Bill would require insurers to pay for mudslides

A state senator from Santa Barbara is introducing legislation that seeks to ensure that insurance companies cover damage from devastating mudslides.

Associated Press, 1-23-18

The hidden earthquake danger lurking in single-family homes

In the dead of night, the earthquake shuddered through this decades-old home, coming from an epicenter just a mile away. It was a scary moment, even though the earthquake ended up being just a magnitude 4.4 and caused no major damage.

Los Angeles Times, 1-23-18

Why California’s tsunami watch didn’t trigger sirens or phone alerts

Aside from the night owls, most Californians awoke Tuesday morning to the surprising discovery that the state’s coastline had been under a tsunami watch after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit the Gulf of Alaska around 1:32 a.m.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-23-18

Oakland officials want mandatory soft-story seismic retrofits

In the aftermath of a powerful 4.4-magnitude earthquake that shook the area Jan. 4, city officials want mandatory seismic retrofitting of soft-story buildings, which are especially prone to quake damage.

Bay Area News Group, 1-23-18

3.5 magnitude earthquake near Salinas

A 3.5 magnitude earthquake has rattled Central California. The light quake hit just after 1 p.m. and was centered near Soledad which is just south of Salinas.

KRON-TV (San Francisco), 1-23-18

Alaska quake shows complexity of tsunami warnings

The powerful earthquake that struck beneath the Gulf of Alaska early Tuesday generated a tsunami, but before gauges could show that it was very small, warnings went out to a vast swath of the state and British Columbia, while a lower-level alert targeted the rest of the West Coast.

Associated Press, 1-23-18

Seismologist: Tsunami chance reduced with quake type

The Alaska earthquake was a type that usually produces less vertical motion, which means less chance for waves to build for a tsunami. That's according to Paul Earle, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Associated Press, 1-23-18

Magnitude 3.6 earthquake centered near Gilroy felt in San Francisco

A magnitude 3.6 earthquake that struck near Gilroy was felt throughout the San Francisco Bay Area Tuesday night.

Los Angeles Times, 1-23-18

The day in 1964 when a tsunami ravaged Crescent City

At 5:36 p.m. March 27, 1964, the largest earthquake ever recorded in North America, a 9.2-magnitude on the Richter scale, shook south-central Alaska, sending buildings toppling in Anchorage

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-23-18

Why we're fortunate Tuesday's Alaska quake didn't happen 100 miles north

A magnitude-7.9 earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska triggered minimal tsunami activity Tuesday morning, but if the event occurred 100 miles to the north, it might have unleashed a monster tidal wave.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-23-18

California’s tsunami watch was a false alarm, but what if one actually hit SLO County?

It was half past midnight on Tuesday when an earthquake — magnitude 7.9 — struck in the Gulf of Alaska, jolting many Alaskans from their beds and sending them scrambling for higher ground as tsunami alerts were sent out across the state and down the West Coast.

San Luis Obispo Tribune, 1-23-18

Could another massive debris flow hit Montecito?

As Montecito residents cope with the mudslide devastation, a key question remains -- Could this happen again when the rains return?

KEYT-TV (Santa Barbara), 1-23-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Oklahoma rig explosion leaves 5 missing, emergency official says

Five people were missing Monday after an explosion at an Oklahoma drilling rig sent plumes of black smoke into the sky, emergency officials said.

Fox News, 1-21-18

Report: Uncontrolled gas release led to rig fire

An initial report into a deadly natural gas rig explosion in Oklahoma indicates there was an uncontrolled release of gas that caught fire and that a worker at the scene tried unsuccessfully to shut down the well.

Associated Press, 1-23-18

Trump Would Open Nearly All U.S. Waters to Drilling. But Will They Drill?

The Trump administration’s move to open nearly all of America’s coastal waters to offshore oil and gas drilling would give energy companies access to more than a billion acres off the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic coasts.

New York Times, 1-23-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

San Diego OKs landmark environmental deal that could spur development

The San Diego City Council approved this week a long-awaited compromise between environmentalists and developers that is expected to accelerate construction of housing tracts and shopping plazas.

San Diego Union Tribune, 1-23-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Another East Bay city sues oil companies over climate change

Accusing the oil industry of concealing that it knew long ago that gasoline and oil use was warming up the planet, Richmond has joined the ranks of cities and counties suing oil companies to cover the cost of shoring up shorelines from rising sea levels.

Bay Area News Group, 1-22-18

In California’s Sierra Nevada, putting the trees to work

This is going to be a big year for one of the state’s smallest agencies. As California redoubles its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, officials are rooting around for new ways to meet the state’s goals. Included in their plan: recruiting billions of redwood, oak and pine trees to help diminish planet-warming gases by pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

CalMatters, 1-23-18

How Engineering Earth’s Climate Could Seriously Imperil Life

Travel with me to the year 2100. Despite our best efforts, climate change continues to threaten humanity. Drought, superstorms, flooded coastal cities.

Wired, 1-22-18

WATER

New research holds promise of predicting snowpack even before the snow falls

As farmers in the American West decide what, when and where to plant, and urban water managers plan for water needs in the next year, they want to know how much water their community will get from melting snow in the mountains.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1-23-18

California’s Proposed Budget Reveals Water, Climate Priorities

For California governor Jerry Brown and his administration, 2017 was a water year to remember, and one that would figure into the drafting of the state’s 2018-19 budget, which was released early this month. The $190 billion proposed spending plan names California’s drought and the “extreme natural events of 2017” as determining factors in how the cash was divvied up.

Water Deeply, 1-23-18

Editorial: California must not miss rare chance to increase water storage

When Californians overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1 in 2014, voters made clear their desire for additional water storage in anticipation of future droughts. Opportunities to build significant storage occur only once or twice in a century. The state must not let this one slip away.

Bay Area News Group, 1-23-18

We must fix the broken water cycle before it dooms civilization—again

Managing water—making sure there’s enough while keeping inundation at bay—is a central function of civilization. History is littered with impressive cultures that didn’t get it right, sealing their doom—from the Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia to the Hohokam of the American Southwest.

Quartz, 1-23-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Alaska hit by 7.9 earthquake; tsunami warning canceled

A powerful earthquake struck off an island in the Gulf of Alaska early Tuesday, prompting a tsunami threat that sent people living along the state’s southern coast and western Canada fleeing for higher ground.

Associated Press, 1-23-18

Tsunami Advisories Lifted After Alaska Earthquake

Within four hours of a major earthquake striking off the Alaskan coast early Tuesday, the authorities lifted all tsunami advisories, after initial concerns prompted guidance for coastal areas as far south as the American border with Mexico.

New York Times, 1-23-18

Tsunami Alert Is Downgraded Along Alaska's Coast After Powerful Quake

A powerful magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska late Monday night, initially prompting a tsunami warning for a large section of the state's coast and parts of Canada.

NPR, 1-23-18

Are more deadly mudslides inevitable? Experts say yes

Experts analyzing the catastrophic mudslide that claimed 20 lives here say there's no doubt it will happen again. The big question: Will the state and local governments act to reduce the risks created by development in mudslide-prone areas?

Energy & Environment Publishing, 1-23-18

County issued conflicting evacuation warnings before deadly Montecito mudslides

In the days before deadly mudslides devastated Montecito, Santa Barbara County officials released conflicting evacuation orders that left some hard-hit neighborhoods out of the warning zone.

Los Angeles Times, 1-23-18

Philippine volcano spews lava fountains, 56,000 people flee

The Philippines' most active volcano spewed fountains of red-hot lava and massive ash plumes anew Tuesday in a dazzling but increasingly dangerous eruption that has sent more than 56,000 villagers fleeing to evacuation centers.

Associated Press, 1-22-18

Volcanic eruption kills 1, injures 17 near Japanese ski resort

The sudden eruption of a volcano near a ski resort in Japan killed one person and injured 17 others on Tuesday.

ABC News, 1-23-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Schwarzenegger to Trump: 'Don’t touch California. If you want to drill, do it off Mar-a-Lago'

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday blasted President Trump’s move to allow increased offshore drilling, saying he ought to drill in the waters off his Palm Beach, Fla., resort rather than California.

Los Angeles Times, 1-22-18

Five missing in Oklahoma gas well explosion

Five oil rig workers were missing after an explosion Monday in an Oklahoma gas well, Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris said in a press conference.

CNN, 1-22-18

Update on MCWD request for environmental review

Armed with what he sees as a flaw in the impermeable barrier between Mammoth’s town water supplies and Ormat Technologies’ expanded geothermal facility, district general manager Patrick Hayes asked the Mammoth Town Council last Wednesday to put the item on a future agenda.

Sierra Wave Media, 1-22-18

WATER

Preparing for California's unpredictable water future

If we had a crystal ball that showed our water future, it would be cloudy at best. In fact, downright unpredictable.

Palm Springs Desert Sun commentary, 1-21-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Ocean waters prevent release of ancient methane

Ocean sediments are a massive storehouse for the potent greenhouse gas methane.

University of Rochester, 1-17-18

We’re doing a great job of creating renewable energy—but we don’t have the infrastructure to actually use it

Last week, some rare positive environmental news reached the public eye: Nearly half of all the new, large-scale electric power generation installed last year use renewable energy sources, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Popular Science, 1-18-18

Trump’s solar tariff could hit California hard

No state uses as much solar power as California, or boasts as many solar jobs. So President Trump’s decision Monday to slap a 30 percent tariff on imported solar panels could have an outsize effect on the Golden State.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-22-18

Will Trump tariffs cost California solar industry jobs?

The Trump administration on Monday announced it would slap costly tariffs on imported solar technology, drawing ire from Bay Area solar companies that rely on the parts for solar panels, and frustration from homeowners who worry the costs of converting to green energy will spiral.

Bay Area News Group, 1-22-18

Sea Change: Detailing Warming, Rising Impacts on California

Current climate trends are showing the rate of temperature increase over the last 50 years has been faster than similar periods in the last 28,000 years.

KNBC-TV (Los Angeles), 1-22-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

6.3 magnitude earthquake hits off Mexico coast

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck offshore Friday in Mexico's Gulf of California, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the Friday morning quake was centered about 48 miles (78 kilometers) north-northeast of Loreto, in the waters between the states of Baja California Sur and Sonora.

Associated Press, 1-19-18

California Earthquake Authority Chief Talks About 1 Million Policies

Glenn Pomeroy, CEO of the California Earthquake Authority, is as enthusiastic of an earthquake policy salesman as you’ll find anywhere. Pomeroy has headed the state’s privately funded, publicly managed seller of earthquake policies for the past 10 years.

Insurance Journal, 1-18-18

Search teams find 21st victim of Montecito mudslide

A recovery team searching through debris from the Montecito mudslide recovered the body of 28-year-old Faviola Benitez Calderon on Saturday morning, bringing the number of known fatalities to 21.

Los Angeles Times, 1-21-18

At least six people killed in Montecito mudslides were in voluntary evacuation zones; 11 others on border

At least six of the 21 people killed in the devastating mudslides in Montecito nearly two weeks ago were in voluntary evacuation zones, while 11 others were along the border of the voluntary and mandatory evacuation areas, authorities said Sunday.

Los Angeles Times, 1-21-18

Officials Estimate It Will Be Another 10 Days Before Montecito Evacuees Can Go Home

It likely will be another 10 days before authorities start allowing thousands of evacuees to return to their homes in Montecito, which was devastated by massive flooding and mud flows nearly two weeks ago, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.

Santa Barbara Noozhawk, 1-21-18

Before & after: Caltrans removes 12 feet of mud, water from Highway 101

On Jan. 9, 2018, Highway 101 through Montecito was covered in 12 feet of mud, water and debris. See Caltrans crews work to clear the highway, which reopened on Jan. 21.

San Luis Obispo Tribune, 1-18-18

California regulators approve long-awaited fire risk map

California utility regulators on Friday finally approved a statewide map, years in development, designed to help prevent power lines from starting wildfires.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-19-18

Toxic Pollutants in California Mudslide Present Cleanup Challenges

A potential environmental emergency is looming as cleanup continues from California’s deadly mudslide: pollution from toxic mud and sludge, some of which is being dumped on local beaches.

Bloomberg News, 1-18-18

Devastated by mudslides, Montecito has nowhere for debris and more rain is on the way

More than a week after mudslides killed 20 people in Montecito, California, three people are still missing. More than 100 homes were destroyed when torrential rain washed out hillsides that were scorched bare last month by a massive wildfire.

CBS News, 1-18-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Finding California's Climate Past and Future Inside of Its Trees

The wildfires that torched California last fall came right on the heels of another calamity, a five-year drought that was finally washed away in early 2017. Much ink has been spilled trying to pin these extreme weather patterns on human-caused climate change, but such debates raise an even more basic question: How "extreme" are these events?

Pacific Standard, 1-18-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

‘Orphaned’ oil and gas wells are on the rise

In March 2015, Joe MacLaren, a state oil and gas inspector in Colorado, drove out to the Taylor 3 oil well near the tiny town of Hesperus, in the southwestern corner of the state. He found an entire checklist of violations.

High Country News, 1-16-18

Natural gas is energy's new king — but how long will it reign? California may offer some clues

King Coal has been kicked off the throne. Natural gas is now the nation's leading source of electricity. It is abundant and cheap, which has not only crippled the coal industry but has also affected virtually every other source of power that makes up the energy grid.

Los Angeles Times, 1-22-18

Trump is tearing up fracking rules on federal lands. Be alarmed.

THE TRUMP administration announced late last month that it was tearing up rules on hydraulic fracturing — better known as fracking — on federal lands. The change satisfies drillers who have long opposed federal regulations on the controversial oil and gas extraction process. But it should alarm everyone else.

Washington Post editorial, 1-21-18

WATER

Study: Farmer input critical in creating water plans

A pair of scientists assert California officials and researchers should get more input from farmers as they develop sustainability plans for troubled groundwater basins.

Capital Press, 1-18-18

Key Delta tunnels hearing delayed

A lengthy Delta tunnels hearing that was set to begin Thursday instead has been delayed for two weeks as state officials consider claims that illegal meetings took place between tunnels proponents and the agency that is supposed to independently judge the project.

Stockton Record, 1-17-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Proposed Napa County watershed measure qualifies for June ballot

County Registrar of Voters John Tuteur said on Thursday that a proposed “Watershed and Oak Woodland Protection Initiative” has enough petition signatures to qualify for the June 5 ballot.

Napa Valley Register, 1-18-18

Cannabis will be the focus of supervisors, planners this week (Williamson Act related)

Cannabis will be the burning issue facing Santa Barbara County officials in two meetings this week, with the Board of Supervisors assessing the options for taxing the industry and a related ballot measure, and the Planning Commission weighing in on proposed land-use and zoning ordinance amendments to regulate cannabis operations.

Santa Ynez Valley News, 1-21-18

Oroville farmer named California Farm Bureau president

As darkness begins to flood the horizon, Jamie Johansson can often be found driving his three children around the family’s orchard. They grab flashlights and search for wildlife—raccoons, skunks, deer—appreciating what surrounds them.

Chico News and Review, 1-18-18

HIGH SPEED RAIL

Massive cost overruns threaten to derail the bullet train. Here's what has to change

Only two years ago, the California rail authority unveiled an ambitious plan to begin operating a segment of bullet train service between San Jose and the Central Valley by 2025. It would take nearly every penny in its checkbook, but the rail authority assured the public it would work.

Los Angeles Times, 1-21-18

Gov. Jerry Brown is in danger of becoming remembered for his 'boondoggle bullet train to nowhere'

Time is running out for Gov. Jerry Brown to fix two big legacy projects. If he doesn't, his successor might just dump them in the trash. Brown has only until the end of the year to clean up and repair his bullet train and water tunnel ventures. He's trying.

Los Angeles Times column, 1-22-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Earthquakes, fires and isolation point to need for microgrids

The earthquake that struck the Bay Area on Jan. 4 served as a reminder that we who live in California do so with risk. While the 4.4-magnitude earthquake centered near Berkeley did little damage—other than wake folks like yours truly up from a deep slumber—it could perhaps foreshadow a much larger and more damaging quake in the near future.

Point Reyes Light, 1-18-18

Almost 250 earthquakes shake Reno area in past week

Reno's southern neighborhoods have been shaking, ever so gently, for seven days now.

Reno Gazette-Journal, 1-18-18

Fox Creek earthquakes linked to completion volume and location of hydraulic fracturing

The volume of hydraulic fracturing fluid and the location of well pads control the frequency and occurrence of measurable earthquakes, new Alberta Geological Survey and UAlberta research has found.

University of Alberta, 1-18-18

Analysis And Simulation Of Earthquake Ground Motion Records

Earthquakes occur every day, everywhere since the earth has existed. The main reason for earthquakes is the main tectonic borders of convergent or divergent plate’s movements.

Science Trends, 1-18-18

California Geological Survey releases seismic hazard zone map

The California Geological Survey has released the first regulatory seismic hazard zone maps for Contra Costa County. The maps cover portions of the cities of Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley.

The (Brentwood) Press, 1-18-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Huffman letter protests Trump’s offshore oil drilling plan

Rep. Jared Huffman and two other members of Congress have taken the lead in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke protesting the Trump administration’s offshore oil drilling plan.

Marin Independent Journal, 1-18-18

Independent report says California needs to store gas underground

A state-commissioned report, released Thursday, has concluded that California must rely on natural gas stored underground for decades to come to meet the state's energy needs.

Southern California Public Radio, 1-19-18

Muratsuchi bill to ban offshore oil pipelines

State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi has proposed a bill that would deflate federal government plans for offshore oil drilling by ensuring that pipelines and other infrastructure could not be built in California state waters.

Hermosa Beach Easy Reader News, 1-18-18

Long Beach OKs plan to add up to 120 new oil wells in exchange for wetlands restoration

The City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to allow up to 120 new oil wells in southeast Long Beach in exchange for the eventual restoration of 154 acres of coastal wetlands that have been home to oil extraction operations for decades.

Long Beach Press Telegram, 1-17-18

Obscure agency state’s best defense against new offshore oil

Florida escaped from President Trump’s plan to sell new offshore oil drilling leases because it has a Republican governor who called in a favor. There was also the fact that Trump owns ocean-view property there. But not to worry, California. This state has the California Lands Commission. This usually obscure agency rescued California almost 11 years ago, the last time part of California’s coast was as seriously threatened as some areas now feel.

Orange County Register column, 1-18-18

ALISO CANYON

Legislators Introduce Measure to Ban Moratorium on New Natural Gas Hookups

A pair of state legislators introduced a measure on Jan. 17 to ban any moratoriums on new natural gas hookups.

Los Angeles Business Journal, 1-18-18

CCST Report Assesses the Long-Term Viability of Underground Natural Gas Storage in California

The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) has issued the report, "Long-Term Viability of Underground Natural Gas Storage in California: An Independent Review of Scientific and Technical Information," along with an executive summary and a summary report. All are available for download at this link.

California Council on Science and Technology, 1-18-18

Aliso Canyon, other California natural gas storage facilities are safer, but still pose risks, scientists say

New regulations for California’s 14 natural-gas storage fields will improve safety, but facilities in the San Fernando Valley, Playa del Rey and Valencia pose higher health and security risks because they are located near large communities, a panel of scientists concluded in a report released Thursday.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 1-18-18

WATER

A single tunnel might make sense for California

Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to drill two enormous tunnels to divert water to the Central Valley and Southern California should have been buried a long time ago.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial, 1-19-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Earthquakes, fires and isolation point to need for microgrids

Point Reyes Light, 1-18-18

Almost 250 earthquakes shake Reno area in past week

Reno's southern neighborhoods have been shaking, ever so gently, for seven days now.

Reno Gazette-Journal, 1-18-18

Fox Creek earthquakes linked to completion volume and location of hydraulic fracturing

The volume of hydraulic fracturing fluid and the location of well pads control the frequency and occurrence of measurable earthquakes, new Alberta Geological Survey and UAlberta research has found.

University of Alberta, 1-18-18

Analysis And Simulation Of Earthquake Ground Motion Records

Earthquakes occur every day, everywhere since the earth has existed. The main reason for earthquakes is the main tectonic borders of convergent or divergent plate’s movements.

Science Trends, 1-18-18

California Geological Survey releases seismic hazard zone map

The California Geological Survey has released the first regulatory seismic hazard zone maps for Contra Costa County. The maps cover portions of the cities of Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley.

The (Brentwood) Press, 1-18-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Huffman letter protests Trump’s offshore oil drilling plan

Rep. Jared Huffman and two other members of Congress have taken the lead in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke protesting the Trump administration’s offshore oil drilling plan.

Marin Independent Journal, 1-18-18

Independent report says California needs to store gas underground

A state-commissioned report, released Thursday, has concluded that California must rely on natural gas stored underground for decades to come to meet the state's energy needs.

Southern California Public Radio, 1-19-18

Muratsuchi bill to ban offshore oil pipelines

Hermosa Beach Easy Reader News, 1-18-18

Long Beach OKs plan to add up to 120 new oil wells in exchange for wetlands restoration

Long Beach Press Telegram, 1-17-18

Obscure agency state’s best defense against new offshore oil

Orange County Register column, 1-18-18

ALISO CANYON

Legislators Introduce Measure to Ban Moratorium on New Natural Gas Hookups

A pair of state legislators introduced a measure on Jan. 17 to ban any moratoriums on new natural gas hookups.

Los Angeles Business Journal, 1-18-18

CCST Report Assesses the Long-Term Viability of Underground Natural Gas Storage in California

California Council on Science and Technology, 1-18-18

Aliso Canyon, other California natural gas storage facilities are safer, but still pose risks, scientists say

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 1-18-18

WATER

A single tunnel might make sense for California

Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to drill two enormous tunnels to divert water to the Central Valley and Southern California should have been buried a long time ago.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial, 1-19-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Here's what it was like to live through the terror of the Northridge earthquake, which hit 24 years ago

The last major, destructive earthquake to strike Los Angeles occurred 24 years ago today.

Los Angeles Times, 1-17-18

The mudslide closure of the 101 is hurting Santa Barbara businesses

The mudslides that hit Santa Barbara County last week continue to clog a main artery for cars and trucks trying to get through the area. Some local business owners say the prolonged shut down of the 101 freeway has led to missed shipments and lost revenues.

89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio, 1-17-18

4.2-magnitude quake reported in south Lake County late Wednesday

A Wednesday night quake centered in southern Lake County rattled parts of Northern California and resulted in hundreds of shake reports to the US Geological Survey.

Lake County News, 1-17-18

Deadly California mudslides show the need for maps and zoning that better reflect landslide risk

Scenic hill slopes can be inspiring – or deadly, as we are seeing after the disastrous debris flows that have ravaged the community of Montecito, California in the wake of heavy rains on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. At least 20 people are dead, and four remain missing. More than a hundred buildings have been destroyed or damaged by moving walls of mud and boulders that rumbled down creeks and canyons into houses and roads.

The Conversation, 1-16-18

Magnitude 3.0 earthquake strikes near Morgan Hill, CA

The United States Geological Survey reports a preliminary magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck near Morgan Hill, CA on Wednesday.

SFGate, 1-18-18

Eagle Eye: Finding the faults in American Canyon

State geologists have released new maps for Napa County that shows the location of the West Napa Fault — the culprit of the 2014 earthquake — and where it travels beneath the cities of Napa and American Canyon.

Napa Valley Register, 1-17-18

Caltech scientists working on early detection warning system after Montecito mudslide

Caltech is weighing in on the scope of the Montecito mudslide after geologists confirmed the massive runoff of boulders had such an impact that it set of motion sensors like an earthquake.

ABC Channel 7 Los Angeles, 1-17-18

Dr. Lucy Jones, other scientists examine preparedness on anniversary of 1994 Northridge quake

The deadly Northridge earthquake ripped through the Southland while most people were fast asleep in January 1994, flatting highways, bursting gas lines and squashing buildings.

ABC Channel 7 Los Angeles, 1-17-18

Ground crumbles around Malibu home amid active landslide

An active landslide threatened a three-story home in Malibu on Wednesday, according to fire officials.

ABC Channel 7 Los Angeles, 1-18-18

Earthquake hits near Lake County town

A 4.2 magnitude earthquake hit near the border of Lake and Sonoma counties Wednesday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

KCRA, 1-17-18

Crumbling Hillside Leaves Malibu Home Uninhabitable

A muddy hillside began giving way Wednesday in the back of a lavish three-story home in Malibu, rendering the building uninhabitable but causing no injuries.

City News Service, 1-17-18

Landslide threatens three-story hillside home in Malibu

An active landslide was threatening a three-story hillside home in Malibu on Wednesday, authorities said.

Los Angeles Times, 1-17-18

Earthquake rumbles through The Geysers

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake was reported Wednesday night 10 miles from Hidden Valley Lake.

Press Democrat, 1-17-18

Crews making progress on Montecito cleanup as threat of rain fades

Teams on Wednesday continued searching for three people missing in the mud and debris flows that struck Montecito in the early morning hours of Jan. 9 as crews continued working around the clock to remove debris blocking Highway 101 as well as drainage channels and debris basins.

Lompoc Record, 1-17-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Trump's offshore oil plan will struggle to lure rigs from Guyana

The world's hottest offshore prospect for oil companies is off the coast of Guyana, where a series of major discoveries has drawn hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Tribune, 1-18-18

California's hidden weapon against offshore oil

Florida escaped President Trump’s plan to sell new offshore oil leases because it has a Republican governor who called in a favor. There was also the fact that Trump owns ocean-view property there.

Ventura County Star, 1-16-18

California vs. the feds over offshore drilling

The rubber is hitting the road, the gloves are coming off and California leaders are suiting up for battle. At least, figuratively.

Capitol Weekly, 1-17-18

FRACKING

Author Examines Both Sides Of The Fracking Debate In New Book

Author Daniel Raimi began his journey studying natural gas and oil development in Durham. While interning at a state agency, he wrote a report about the potential for shale gas development in North Carolina. Since then, he has visited every major oil and gas producing region of the country to examine the local impacts of shale production.

North Carolina Public Radio, 1-17-18

(OPINION) Kassie Siegel: Fracking decision empowers communities to fight

David beat Goliath last year when Monterey County voters passed a ballot initiative that bans fracking and new oil and gas wells, and phases out wastewater injection. Despite a $5.4 million oil-industry campaign against it, ballot initiative Measure Z won with over 56 percent of the vote.

Monterey Herald, 1-17-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Oceanside crowd blasts North River Farms housing project

Residents of a mostly rural corner of Oceanside renewed their objections this week to a plan to build hundreds of homes, apartments, neighborhood parks, gardens and a boutique hotel in a farm-themed development straddling North River Road.

San Diego Tribune, 1-17-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Deadly California mudslides show the need for maps and zoning that better reflect landslide risk

The Conversation, 1-13-18

Identifying the Causes of the California Mudslides

As the boulders, rocks and cement-thick mud began tumbling down the mountains near Montecito, Calif., last week, residents were shocked at the ferocity. By the time the storm had passed, at least 20 people had died and hundreds of homes had been destroyed.

New York Times, 1-16-18

Do moon phases produce big earthquakes? Study debunks that idea

Huge earthquakes are not significantly influenced by the moon, a new study says. The study, conducted by U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Susan Hough, looked at earthquakes of magnitude 8 or greater over the past four centuries. And a review of more than 200 earthquakes demonstrated that there is no connection between the phase of the moon and the time when huge seismic events of magnitude 8 and greater strike.

Los Angeles Times, 1-16-18

3.1 quake strikes near South Landing

A shallow magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported Tuesday afternoon eight miles from South Landing, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 12:17 p.m. PST at a depth of 5.6 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 1-16-18

Suit targets California utilities over deadly mudslides

Two utilities were sued Tuesday for the widespread destruction from last week's deadly mudslides that were caused when hillsides ravaged by California's largest-ever wildfire let loose in heavy rain.

Associated Press, 1-16-18

Deadly Montecito Debris Flow Was Rare Event, But Could Happen Again

The surging river of mud and boulders that engulfed swaths of Montecito from the mountains to the sea last week, killing 20, was a rare disaster – so rare, geologists say, that it may happen only once in a few hundred to a thousand years at that location.

The Independent, 1-16-18

Earthquake Expert Addresses Natural Disaster Preparedness in Malibu

Drop, cover and hold on. Earthquake expert Lucy Jones warns Malibu’s water supply may be at risk if an earthquake were to happen nearby.

Pepperdine University Graphic, 1-16-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

The Many Sides of the Fracking Debate

In his recent Columbia University Press book The Fracking Debate: The Risks, Benefits and Uncertainties of the Shale Revolution, Daniel Raimi examines various perspectives on the U.S. shale revolution. The debate has pitted proponents of who point to fracking as providing for the transformation of the American energy industry against opponents who highlight potential impact on the environment and public health.

Natural Gas World, 1-17-18

‘We Are Slowly Being Killed’: Porter Ranch Residents Beg Gubernatorial Candidates To Shut Down Gas Plant

A leak at the Southern California Gas Co. storage facility has resulted in negative health consequences for the residents who live near the plant, advocates say.

California HealthLine, 1-16-18

WATER

California governor considers one-tunnel water plan

Gov. Jerry Brown's administration is proposing scaling back his troubled plans to redo California's water system, releasing a new plan that would build only one tunnel to ship water from Northern California instead of two, and put Southern and central California water agencies directly in charge of designing and building it.

Associated Press, 1-16-18

GENERAL

California is sitting on a surplus, but don't expect a refund

It should be said that California’s resistance began before there was a resistance.

CalMatters, 1-16-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

New Napa County quake maps show more exact locations of faults

New state maps show the locations of the West Napa Fault and associated faults in greater detail than ever before in such places as western city of Napa neighborhoods.

Napa Valley Register, 1-14-18

Thousands gather to mourn Montecito mudslide victims as death toll climbs to 20

Soon after the sun set over Santa Barbara, Ann Hagan grabbed a marker and wrote a short message to the 20 strangers who died in the devastating Montecito mudslides.

Los Angeles Times, 1-14-18

Mud, darkness and destruction turned Montecito into death trap

The realization that houses might simply vanish didn't start to set in until a 30-foot tree trunk barreled by.

Los Angeles Times, 1-14-18

Buried in mud, Montecito faces a daunting cleanup with no end in sight

The cobbled parking lots outside boutiques are empty. The Italian trattoria known as Oprah Winfrey's favorite haunt is shuttered, as is the Four Seasons resort owned by Ty Warner, the Beanie Babies tycoon.

Los Angeles Times, 1-15-18

101 Freeway is expected to reopen in a week as search for mudslide victims continues

As the search continued for more victims of the Montecito mudslides, officials said they hoped to have the 101 Freeway opened by next Monday.

Los Angeles Times, 1-15-18

Scrutiny Grows Over Mandatory vs. Voluntary Evacuation Orders

Three days after a violent rainstorm dislodged entire hillsides of Montecito’s fire-wracked front country, killing 18 people and triggering searches for five more, all available rescue resources, including more than 1,500 boots on the ground, 10 helicopters in the air, and an army of support personnel, remain entirely and justifiably devoted to search efforts while hope remains more survivors could be found.

Santa Barbara Independent, 1-12-18

In Montecito, Enclave of Wealth and Fame, Unimagined Tragedy

A green, military-style Humvee drove along the shore here, the beach on one side, the shuttered Four Seasons Hotel on the other. Up in the hillsides, a no-go zone for civilians, multimillion-dollar mansions are flooded with mud, and cars, tossed about like playthings, are now just hunks of twisted metal, jammed against trees.

New York Times, 1-14-18

Future floods will be in mind as California town rebuilds

After power and drinking water return, and cleanup crews haul away the last of the boulders and muck that splintered homes like a battering ram, the wealthy seaside hideaway of Montecito, California, will start rebuilding with the possibility of another catastrophic flood in mind.

Associated Press, 1-15-18

Why Have More People Died in the Mudslides Than in the Thomas Fire?

Gretchen Horn was at her home on Santa Elena Lane in Montecito at 2:47 am on Tuesday when the text messages started coming in. They were flash flood warnings from the county, and then from a friend telling her to get out. She woke up her kids and her mother-in-law and ran outside to start throwing things into her car – things she still hadn’t unpacked from their evacuation during the Thomas Fire just weeks earlier.

Southern California Public Radio, 1-14-18

Nevada Seismological Lab reports swarm of 90 earthquakes in south Reno

The University of Nevada, Reno's Seismological Laboratory reports an ongoing swarm of earthquakes near south Reno, in the area of the Mt. Rose highway and I-580. Since last night, more than 90 events have been located. The largest recorded are four magnitude 2 quakes. There have been no reports of damage, and about 38 people have reported feeling the small earthquakes.

Nevada Today, 1-12-18

Montecito braced for fire, but mud was a more stealthy, deadly threat

When the Thomas fire swept down from the Los Padres National Forest and took aim at this coastal town in December, the looming disaster was impossible to miss.

Los Angeles Times, 1-12-18

3.8 quake strikes near Ash Hill in San Bernardino County

A shallow magnitude 3.8 earthquake was reported Sunday morning seven miles from Ash Hill in San Bernardino County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 11:56 a.m. Pacific time at a depth of 2.5 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 1-14-18

The same elements that made the Thomas fire such a monster also created deadly debris flows

Santa Barbara County crews worked through the holidays to defend coastal communities from the second half of Southern California's familiar cycle of fire and flood. They cleaned out the 11 debris basins that dot the Santa Barbara front country, making room for the dirt and ash and rocks that winter rains would inevitably send tumbling down mountain slopes laid bare by the massive Thomas Fire.

Los Angeles Times, 1-12-18

Peru earthquake: Two dead, 65 injured after 7.3-magnitude rocks South American nation, tsunami threat ruled out

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake shook southern Peru on Sunday, killing at least two people and injuring 65 others, the South American country's civil defence agency said. Local authorities said homes made of adobe collapsed in coastal areas most directly affected by the quake, which struck in the Pacific, 31 kilometers (19 miles) from the seaside town of Acari in the region of Arequipa, according to the US Geological Survey.

Agency France Presse, 1-14-18

Peru Earthquake, Philippines Volcano Eruption And California Mudslides: A Week In Review

This past week has seen several significant natural disasters: from evacuations due to a rumbling Philippine volcano eruption to a deadly earthquake in Peru to wildfires and mudslides in California. Here we recap Earth's major natural disasters for the past week.

Forbes, 1-15-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Residents call on candidates for governor to shut down Aliso Canyon gas facility

A mysterious disease is spreading through Kyoko Hibino's neighborhood, but you'd never know it by glancing at her sunny, tree-lined Southern California community, she says. The Porter Ranch resident has suffered bronchitis, heart palpitations, headaches and nosebleeds, none of which amount to a diagnosis by doctors. Hibino said her cat also started getting nosebleeds, and now has cancer.

Los Angeles Times, 1-13-18

A proposal that’s bad for business

Few will forget the dramatic impact that the Aliso Canyon gas leak had in the region. The clear skies above Porter Ranch became permeated and the nation’s second largest natural gas storage facility released what was widely reported to be the worst natural gas leak in U.S. history.

Santa Clarita Signal editorial, 1-12-18

California Regulators Direct PG&E to Prioritize Storage for Peak Demand

California, the state that helped birth the global boom in battery-toting electric vehicles, is trying to spark a similar transformation for utilities. And that spells trouble for power plants all across the U.S. that run on natural gas.

Bloomberg News, 1-12-18

Trump raises the thermostat for geothermal energy

The Trump administration is looking to carve out a place for geothermal energy in its energy abundance agenda, starting several initiatives to help the undervalued renewable resource expand beyond the volcanic Pacific region.

Washington Examiner, 1-16-18

President Trump’s offshore oil drilling plan revives longtime battle over California coast

Reviving a half-century battle over offshore oil drilling in California, the Trump administration’s blanket approach to a bedrock environmental issue has put a bulwark against oil wells off the North Coast in jeopardy.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 1-13-18

A new lease on Nevada oil and gas?

A yellow-brown oil sample from the Elko Formation near Jiggs congeals in a quart-sized canning jar in the office of Thomas Schmidt, Bureau of Land Management geologist for the Tuscarora field office.

Elko (Nev.) Daily Free Press, 1-14-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

L.A. lawmakers look to sue big oil companies over climate change — and the costs that stem from it

Two members of the Los Angeles City Council called Friday for legal action against an array of petroleum companies, saying fossil fuel emissions have contributed to natural disasters and "abnormally intense weather patterns" that are proving costly for taxpayers

Los Angeles Times, 1-13-18

WATER

Brown administration working to scale down $17 billion Delta tunnels project

Faced with a shortage of money and political support after seven years of work, Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration is working on a plan to scale back one of his key legacy projects — a $17 billion proposal to build two massive tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to make it easier to move water from Northern California to the south.

Bay Area News Group, 1-12-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Spotty coverage: Climate models underestimate cooling effect of daily cloud cycle

Princeton University researchers have found that the climate models scientists use to project future conditions on our planet underestimate the cooling effect that clouds have on a daily—and even hourly—basis, particularly over land.
Phys.org, 1-9-18

Sea Level Rise Is Unlocking Decades-Old Pollution

In 2015, Kate Tully visited farms near the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. She was investigating whether sea level rise had caused brackish water to move upland, a process called saltwater intrusion—evidence of which she found in the form of increased salinity in the fields and surrounding ditches.

Hakai Magazine, 1-10-11

GENERAL

After Oroville disclosures, embattled California water agency names new director

The California Department of Water Resources underwent a management shakeup Wednesday, less than a week after investigators released a scathing report on last February’s crisis at Oroville Dam and how the department handled it.

Sacramento Bee, 1-10-18

ALISO CANYON

Legislators, healthcare and business groups decry gas moratorium

The Northeast Valley Health Corp. is facing an unexpected hurdle in opening their Newhall clinic next month: no natural gas.

Santa Clarita Valley Signal, 1-10-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Vallejo, American Canyon, added to earthquake fault maps

Vallejo and American Canyon are closer to earthquake fault lines than anyone knew until the 2014 South Napa Earthquake shook loose information scientists didn’t have before. The California Geological Society has released a new and revised Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone map covering the area, agency officials announced Thursday.

Vallejo Times Herald, 1-11-18

New Maps Show Fault Line At Site Of 2014 Napa Earthquake

The California Geological Survey released official maps today pinpointing new, and revising older fault & seismic hazard zones. Four fault zone maps were released along with 10 seismic hazard zones.

KOVR-TV (Sacramento), 1-11-18

Number of missing people drops to 5 in Montecito; evacuations still in place

The number of missing people has dropped to 5, according to a morning incident update. Officials said that number will continue to “fluctuate significantly,” as the Sheriff’s Office investigates each report.

San Luis Obispo Tribune, 1-12-18

How a Mudslide Becomes a Deadly Tsunami of Rocks and Sludge

The mudslides earlier this week that killed 17 people—eight more remain missing—came as a terrifying surprise in the early morning to the enclaves of Montecito and Summerland, nestled into the California coastline just southeast of Santa Barbara. But in most respects, they were also entirely predictable—and predicted.

Wired, 1-11-18

How fire, wind and rain combined to create the deadly mudslide in California

A perfect storm of land development, fire, wind and then rain conspired to create the deadly avalanche of mud and debris that leveled homes in Southern California this week.

USA Today, 1-10-18

How it Happens-The Science of Mudslides (video)

New York Times, 1-11-18

3.3 quake strikes near Coalinga, Calif.

A shallow magnitude 3.3 earthquake was reported Wednesday afternoon one mile from Turk, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 4:15 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 6.2 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 1-10-18

As California Awaits The ‘Big One,’ Anxieties Loom Over Funding The Earthquake Warning System

Last week, millions of San Francisco Bay Area residents were startled awake around 2:30 in the morning by a powerful shaking that lasted several seconds. A mere eight miles beneath them, the dreaded Hayward Fault was rupturing.

Huffington Post, 1-11-18

Up to 43 people still missing in Montecito; dead include four children

Rescue crews continued to search Thursday for survivors amid the mud and wreckage of Montecito's massive debris field, but acknowledged that the window to save lives is rapidly closing.

Los Angeles Times, 1-12-18

How fire, wind and rain combined to create the deadly mudslide in California

A perfect storm of land development, fire, wind and then rain conspired to create the deadly avalanche of mud and debris that leveled homes in Southern California this week.

USA Today, 1-10-18

Mudslides, Wildfires, and Drought—California's Deadly Weather Explained

First came the drought. Then came the fire, and then the flood.

National Geographic, 1-10-18

A way to break the terrifying pattern of fire and flood

In Southern California, water and fire can be a lethal combination. Just ask anyone who fled before December's Thomas inferno only to evacuate again when rains slammed down on the burn areas, triggering deadly mudslides.

Los Angeles Times commentary, 1-11-18

Deadly 'debris flows' carved destructive California slides

Torrents like the ones that carved deadly and destructive paths through Montecito, California, during a powerful storm early are commonly described as mudslides, but geologists and emergency workers call them debris flows.

Herald-Whig, 1-9-18

How much do you know about mudslides? Check this out:

Teaching Activities for: ‘Southern California Mudslides: Death Toll Rises to 15, With Dozens More Missing’

Watch the video:

https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000005655037/extreme-rain-causes-deadly-mudslides-in-california.html?contentCollection=U.S.&contentPlacement=0&module=most-popular-videos&action=click&pgType=Multimedia&eventName=most-popular-videos-click

Now, read the article, “Southern California Mudslides: Death Toll Rises to 15, With Dozens More Missing,” and answer the questions:

1. Where are the mudslides located in California, and what is the size of the area affected?

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

The crazy idea to make an artificial gas shortage worse

Imagine a state agency ruled by untouchable elites, accountable to no one and managed by bureaucrats earning six figure salaries and pensions, who have mismanaged their responsibility to the point that they have decided the public needs to stop using their product. Now imagine two state agencies doing that! Meet the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Energy Commission.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 1-8-18

Santa Barbara County Sues Plains Pipeline Over Refugio Oil Spill

The County of Santa Barbara filed a lawsuit against Plains All American Pipeline, charging the company’s oil-line rupture and attendant crude spill along the Refugio coast cost the county $1.3 million in lost property tax revenues it would have otherwise been able to collect from Venoco and ExxonMobil oil companies.

Santa Barbara Independent, 1-11-18

WATER

Amid rains and mudslides, drought concern remains

Despite the fierce rains and deadly mudslides that have struck California, water officials are concerned about the possibility of a renewed drought. But they caution that is too early to tell.

Capitol Weekly, 1-11-18

As seawater intrusion advances, new farmland puts Marina’s water supply in peril.

Along Highway 1 just north of Marina, what has been grassland for decades is turning into row crops. A look at satellite images on Google, stretching back to 1984, shows that farming on the property, known as Armstrong Ranch, started in 2014 just south of the Marina landfill.

Monterey County Now, 1-11-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

California’s climate fight gets harder soon, and the big culprit is cars

By most measures, California has earned the right to brag about how much it has cleaned up its environmental act. The air in much of smog-shrouded Southern California has been scrubbed. A passenger car for sale here today is 99 percent cleaner than one on offer in the early 1970s.

CalMatters, 1-10-18

GENERAL

Brown’s final California budget stashes billions in reserve

In his 16th and final year as governor, Jerry Brown is using a surplus to stash away billions of dollars in reserves that would help his successor weather a recession while boosting some of his signature programs.

Sacramento Bee, 1-10-18

California lawmakers have a $190.3-billion state budget plan to consider. Here's some of what it would pay for

Insisting that California lawmakers continue to restrain government spending growth in preparation for a recession he believes is just around the corner, Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday unveiled a state budget for 2018 that proposes banking most of a $6.1-billion tax revenue windfall expected to show up in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Los Angeles Times, 1-11-18

In his final state budget, Gov. Jerry Brown is tying up loose ends for his successor — and protecting his rear

It seemed like Gov. Jerry Brown was tying up loose ends and starting to pack as he unveiled his 16^th and final state budget proposal Wednesday.

Los Angeles Times column, 1-11-18

Commentary: Brown’s final budget reflects cautious approach

Roy Bell, who was Jerry Brown’s first budget director 43 years ago, called it a “dog-and-pony show” and it’s one of the Capitol’s longest-running rituals. Each January, usually on the 10th, journalists who cover the Capitol file into a first-floor room dedicated to news conferences and settle into fiberglass swivel chairs that would command high prices at an auction of mid-century modern furniture.

CalMatters, 1-11-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Trio of experts to share earthquake predictions

The ground's brief 4.4-magnitude jolt on Jan. 4 was a reminder that Bay Area residents are sitting on top of a potential disaster.

Palo Alto Weekly, 1-10-18

Blue Sky Science: Does an earthquake ever form a new tectonic plate?

Most earthquakes occur when a geological fault, a fracture within the Earth’s crust, slips and releases energy. Individual faults, some of which form the tectonic plate boundaries, build up strain over decades and centuries to eventually break in large earthquakes.

Lompoc Record, 1-10-18

Powerful earthquake jolts Caribbean, between Honduras and Cayman Islands

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean region between the coast of Honduras and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday night. There were no early reports of damage on land following one of the strongest quakes to hit the region in modern times.

Fox News, 1-10-17

Earthquake Rocks Honduras, Mexico And Belize—But Miraculously Leaves No Casualties

An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 that struck near remote islands belonging to Honduras on Tuesday was felt across northern Central America, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.

Reuters, 1-10-18

'It was like a bomb went off': First the heavy rain, then the mud, now a disaster on the coast

Standing outside his home on Foothill Road in Carpinteria near Ocean Oaks Road in a white hard hat and thick yellow-and-red rain gear, Peter Lapidus was covered in mud.

Los Angeles Times, 1-9-18

Death toll rises to 17 in Montecito; 100 homes destroyed by mudslides

The death toll from massive debris flows that buried homes and cars under a torrent of mud and boulders rose to 17 in Montecito, where local personnel and the U.S. Coast Guard continued rescue operations Wednesday afternoon.

Los Angeles Times, 1-10-18

Emergency alerts from Santa Barbara County didn't go out until after mudslides began in Montecito

Santa Barbara County officials chose not to send an emergency alert to cellphones warning of mudslides until destructive flooding had already begun in Montecito, officials said Wednesday.

Los Angeles Times, 1-10-18

Residents didn't heed voluntary evacuation before mudslide

Residents of the area hit the hardest by the deadly flash floods in Southern California didn't heed a voluntary evacuation.

Associated Press, 1-11-18

Oprah Wades Through Knee-Deep Mud at Montecito Estate to Document Home 'Devastated' by Mudslide

Oprah Winfrey took to Instagram again on Wednesday to document the extensive damage the mudslides in Southern California caused to her Santa Barbara community.

People, 1-10-18

California mudslides: How it happened, is this the new norm?

Flash floods kill more people in the United States than any other weather phenomenon, at around 100 people per year. The reason they're so deadly is that flooding happens so fast...in a flash.

The Weather Network, 1-10-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Why did Trump grant only one governor's wish on drilling?

Only days into the official comment period on the Trump administration's plan to open nearly all US waters to offshore drilling, the administration has exposed this plan for exactly what it is -- playing politics with our coast.

CNN commentary, 1-10-18

Florida decision puts Trump drilling plan on shaky ground

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke may have put the Trump administration on shaky legal ground by agreeing to remove Florida’s waters from consideration for offshore drilling.

The Hill, 1-10-18

California is preparing to defend its waters from Trump order

In its first act to shield California from the Trump administration’s repeal of regulations, the state’s water board has prepared its own rules protecting wetlands and other waters.

Center for Investigative Reporting, 1-10-18

Jerry Brown to Trump: Give California coasts the same courtesy you gave Florida’s

Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday said California plans to ask for an exemption from the Trump administration’s proposed expansion of off-shore oil-drilling, seeking the same exception that the White House gave to Florida from a controversial plan that upset residents of coastal states.

Sacramento Bee, 1-10-18

Decision to spare Florida from offshore drilling could help California

The outrage among California and most other coastal states over President Trump’s order to allow offshore oil and gas drilling nationwide was only heightened by the administration’s decision this week to exempt Florida, at the behest of its Republican governor.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-10-18

NYC Sues Big Oil Over Climate Impacts, Plans To Divest $5 Billion From Fossil Fuels

Officials in New York City on Wednesday announced a lawsuit against five major oil companies over infrastructure damage caused by climate change and plans to divest roughly $5 billion in fossil fuel investments from the city’s five pension funds.

Huffington Post, 1-10-18

Further reducing injections of oilfield wastewater can prevent larger earthquakes

In a new study, Virginia Tech researchers have found that efforts to curb earthquakes triggered by the injection of oilfield wastewater into the ground in Oklahoma are not targeting the most dangerous tremblers, and that a larger reduction in injection volumes is needed.

EurekAlert, 1-10-18

WATER

Trump Move to Boost Delta Pumping Raises Fears About Fish Impacts

In the final days of 2017, President Donald Trump’s administration announced it would consider sending as much water as possible from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to farmers and cities to the south. The notice comes as a follow-up to a speech Trump made in Fresno during his presidential campaign, when he condemned the downstream flow of river water into the ocean as “insane.”

Water Deeply, 1-10-18

Trump's EPA aims to replace Obama-era climate, water regulations in 2018

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will replace Obama-era carbon and clean water regulations and open up a national debate on climate change in 2018, part of a list of priorities for the year that also includes fighting lead contamination in public drinking water.

Reuters, 1-9-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Wetlands Watch receives grant to plant hundreds of trees

A new plan aims to help Watsonville’s urban forests branch out.

Register-Pajaronian, 1-11-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Interior revokes climate change and mitigation policies

Just before Christmas, the Interior Department quietly rescinded an array of policies designed to elevate climate change and conservation in decisions on managing public lands, waters and wildlife. Order 3360, signed by Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, explains that the policies were rescinded because they were “potential burdens” to energy development.

High Country News, 1-4-18

How climate change is costing Californians

Climate change, if you ask most state experts, has already created a wildfire crisis in California. In the process, it’s causing a fire insurance predicament.

Ventura County Star, 1-9-18

GENERAL

California state budget: Here's why to hold the applause for Brown

Five years ago this month, Gov. Jerry Brown announced his support for what was billed as the biggest change in California public education in decades.

San Diego Union Tribune editorial, 1-9-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Efforts underway to protect older downtown LA buildings from earthquake damage

At 1136 Sixth St., just west of the heart of downtown Los Angeles stands The Mint, a nearly 100-year-old medical building that has been repurposed into luxury apartments. Despite its age it is very likely one of the safest buildings in downtown after a full seismic retrofit in 2016.

KABC-TV (Los Angeles), 1-8-18

What to look for if you’re at risk of a mudslide or other type of landslide in Southern California

Recent rains in Southern California have caused several mudslides. Mudslides are a type of landslide categorized as “debris flow” or “debris slide.” The areas most impacted by mudslides are those that were burned in the recent fires, but many other areas are at risk as well.

Orange County Register, 1-9-14

California cuts red tape for cutting trees after wildfires

A state board announced this morning it will cut regulations to speed removal of dead or dying trees on property damaged by wildfires in three counties.

The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection stated an emergency regulation which takes effect Jan. 22 allows for the cutting or removing of dead and dying trees around damaged or destroyed legally permitted structures.

North Bay Business Journal, 1-8-18

Rescuers Search Montecito for Mudslide Survivors as Death Toll Reaches 15

The authorities in Southern California were working Wednesday to rescue residents trapped in their homes or swept away by a deluge of mud and debris unleashed by hours of heavy rain. At least 15 people were killed and more than two dozen were injured as a vast area northwest of Los Angeles, recently scorched in the state’s largest wildfire on record, became the scene of another disaster on Tuesday.

New York Times, 1-10-18

Southern California mudslides: Hundreds still await rescue; 15 dead

A day after mudslides crushed several Southern California homes and left at least 15 people dead, rescuers faced a difficult task Wednesday as hundreds of people remain cut off by debris in one neighborhood and others are still missing, officials said.

CNN, 1-10-18

Death toll from slides rises to 15 with daybreak air rescues set to begin in Montecito

The death toll from a massive debris flow that buried homes and cars under a torrent of mud and boulders has risen to 15 in Montecito, where local personnel and the U.S. Coast Guard are planning to continue rescue operations Wednesday morning.

Los Angeles Times, 1-10-18

Death toll hits 15, search and rescues underway in California mudslides

Search and rescue efforts intensified Wednesday for hundreds of Montecito residents feared trapped in their homes after a deadly wall of mud and debris roared down hillsides that had been stripped of vegetation by recent, ferocious wildfires.

USA Today, 1-10-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

California’s offshore waters aren’t open to polluters

President Trump’s assault on our coasts and coastal communities continues — and reaches close to home — with a threat to open California’s offshore waters to expanded oil and gas drilling.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group commentary, 1-8-18

ALISO CANYON

The crazy idea to make an artificial gas shortage worse

Press Telegram, 1-8-18

HIGH SPEED RAIL

(OPINION) Brown’s bullet train will bankrupt state: Letters

Re “Put California bullet train audit on the fast track” (Editorial, Dec. 1):

I am incensed that this ridiculous bullet train has been allowed to go forward. Gov. Jerry Brown’s pet project is going to bankrupt our state. Initially the price tag was $40 billion, but estimates now top $98.5 billion as well as being years behind schedule.

Press Telegram, 1-8-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Oil giant ExxonMobil counters climate-change suits by SF, other governments

Oil giant ExxonMobil has launched a counterpunch to the lawsuits filed by San Francisco and other communities that seek damages for climate change, alleging that the California jurisdictions conspired to vilify and taunt the oil industry.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-8-18

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

Center for Biological Diversity Reports U.S. Supreme Court Slams Door on California Suction Dredge Miners

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday rejected a request from recreational gold miners to overturn a California Supreme Court decision upholding a statewide moratorium on recreational suction dredge mining.

Sierra Sun Times, 1-9-18

GENERAL

Jerry Brown’s last budget: 19 billion reasons to smile and two big questions

Gov. Jerry Brown has 19 billion reasons to feel optimistic when he releases his last budget proposal this week.

Sacramento Bee, 1-9-18

2017 was costliest year ever in U.S. for weather, climate disasters

Last year’s devastating floods and fires in California combined with hurricanes and other natural disasters to wreak unprecedented financial damage on the United States, the federal government reported Monday.

SFGate, 1-8-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Worsening rain forecast prompts evacuations, mudslide fears across Southern California

In the days leading up to Southern California’s first major storm in nearly a year, Patricia Beckmann Wells didn’t waste any time.

Los Angeles Times, 1-9-18

Powerful storm soaks Southern California, leading to evacuations and mudslide worries

The Southland is bracing for the worst of a two-day storm that will bring heavy rain and possible flooding to the area during this morning’s rush-hour commute, and could cause dangerous mudslides in areas hit by the recent wildfires.

Los Angeles Daily News, 1-9-18

2 dead, Highway 101 shut down as flooding, mudslides, fire hit Montecito

Two people have been confirmed dead in the flood.

San Luis Obispo Tribune, 1-9-18

Storm Unleashes Downpours, Damaging Mud Flows Across Southern California

The same Californians who had to flee from huge wildfires in recent months now have to deal with hard rains that bring another type of danger. Storms dumping rain on the state have led to flooding and mud flows across a widespread part of Southern California and at least two fatalities.

NBC Channel 7 San Diego, 1-9-18

Fearing flooding and mudslides, thousands evacuated in California as record rain falls

When the worst wildfire on record in California history ravaged Southern California last year, the Claffeys in Carpinteria were one of many forced to load their family car and evacuate their home. On Monday, just as the family was settling back into their home, they were told to evacuate again.

Good Morning America, 1-9-18

At Least 6 Dead as Powerful Storm Moves Into SoCal; 6 Montecito Homes ‘Completely Wiped Away’

Breaking News: Firefighters have rescued at least eight people Tuesday morning in the flood-ravaged California community of Montecito, and the “numbers are expected to go up significantly,” Santa Barbara County fire spokesman Mike Eliason says.

KTLA Channel 5 Los Angeles, 1-9-18

Hwy. 1 update: Get an exclusive look at the new road over Big Sur’s massive landslide

As Caltrans workers and private contractors work seven days a week to rebuild Highway 1 at Mud Creek, they’ve learned to watch for water coming at them from two directions: the surf below and the sky above.

San Luis Obispo Tribune, 1-8-18

Heightened potential for post-fire flash flooding and debris flows

Public officials have put thousands of Sonoma County homeowners on notice that October firestorms have left them at risk of powerful rain-related hazards such as flash floods and mud flows — threats heightened by a scarred landscape expected to absorb less rainfall than usual for the next few years.

Press Democrat, 1-8-18

Heavy rain an uneasy mix with Thomas Fire burn areas, with flooding and debris flow a concern

Heavy rain expected to hit Ventura County starting Monday night has an unsettling bull's-eye: the Thomas Fire burn area. Charred hillsides marking the massive wildfire's path now pose another threat. Flash floods, mudflows and debris flows are possible if expected downpours inundate the burn scar.

Ventura County Star, 1-7-18

O.C. areas vulnerable from Canyon Fire 2 prepare for possible floods, mudslides in upcoming storm

Areas of Orange County left ravaged by the Canyon Fire 2 in October are bracing for possible flooding and mudslides in the first storm of the season, expected to hit Monday.

Orange County Register, 1-6-18

Efforts underway to protect older downtown LA buildings from earthquake damage

At 1136 Sixth St., just west of the heart of downtown Los Angeles stands The Mint, a nearly 100-year-old medical building that has been repurposed into luxury apartments.

ABC Channel 7 Los Angeles, 1-8-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

California is well-equipped to block new drilling

There are two things working against the Trump administration's proposal to open up California coastal waters to new oil and gas drilling: state regulators and simple economics.

Sacramento Bee, 1-8-18

Analysis: Trump has big plans for offshore oil development; but will it ever happen?

With characteristic flamboyance, the Trump administration has set in motion a grand scheme to lure energy companies to explore for oil and gas across virtually all of America's outer continental shelf, a deep marine domain encompassing billions of acres of ocean bottom.

Sacramento Bee, 1-8-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Agricultural Demand For Water Has California’s Central Valley Sinking Fast

In a quiet agricultural community in Fresno County things have been sinking for a long time. California’s Central Valley subsidence problem was discovered decades ago, right around El Nido.

CBS SF Bay Area, 1-8-18

Editorial: Remembering the past and future of agriculture

The present state of agriculture in Ventura County will take center stage Tuesday when county officials release their annual Crop and Livestock Report. But we were pleased to learn in The Star recently that we also have leaders in the community focused on the past and future of farming here.

Ventura County Star, 1-8-18

WATER

Editorial: Block Trump plan to pump Delta water south to the Central Valley

Few things are more important to the future of the Bay Area and Northern California than the quality of our water supply. And here comes the latest threat.

Bay Area News Group, 1-8-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is forcing conservationists to pick winners and losers. How to decide?

For trout in the rivers above Oroville Dam, survival is a slough. They have been navigating around dams in waters sullied by a century of logging, ranching and road building. Now they face streams shared with invasive species hitchhiking around the world at a pace accelerated by climate change.

Sacramento Bee commentary, 1-4-18

Sonoma County’s coastal cliffs no match for rising seas

Sonoma County’s coastal cliffs, softened by rain and pounded by ocean waves, are receding by as much as a foot a year and will surrender an area the size of Sebastopol by the end of the century, experts say, as climate change prompts sea levels to continue rising.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 1-6-18

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

Cemex Files Lawsuit Against City Of Santa Clarita

Cemex is naming the city of Santa Clarita in a lawsuit claiming “numerous and deliberate” contract violations, an issue set to be discussed at a closed session city council meeting next week.

KHTS (Santa Clarita radio), 1-4-18

Stay aware, help fight Cemex

It’s a new year, but a very old issue is still dogging us here in the Santa Clarita Valley. It’s the proposed Cemex mining operation. That company has been wanting to put a sand-and-gravel operation in Soledad Canyon for decades.

Santa Clarita Signal editorial, 1-6-18

ALISO CANYON

Fed up with inaction, Porter Ranch residents take matters into own hands — and it’s ‘empowering’

When Susan Gorman-Chang saw a group of children trick-or-treating in Porter Ranch on Halloween night of 2015, a few days after the biggest gas leak in the U.S. history erupted near her neighborhood, she was stunned.

Daily News, 1-3-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Bay Area dodges (another) bullet when a powerful quake fails to do much damage

After nearly 8 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area were shaken — and some awakened — early Thursday when a magnitude 4.4 earthquake centered 8 miles below Berkeley rocked the region, authorities pointed out that the outcome could have been much more dramatic had the shaking that accompanied it been stronger.

Bay Area News Group, 1-4-18

Largest Hayward Fault earthquake since 1981 raises questions about what could happen next

Last night, at 2:39 a.m. local time, a M=4.4 earthquake struck along the Hayward Fault underneath the city of Berkeley. The quake was felt throughout the entire Bay Area, and by noon today, over 35,000 people had filled out felt reports on the USGS website.

Temblor, 1-4-18

What Is the Hayward Fault? Bay Area Earthquake Hits California at 'Time Bomb' Zone

An earthquake struck the Bay Area early Thursday morning along a fault line that U.S. Geological Survey scientists have called a “tectonic time bomb.”

Newsweek, 1-4-18

Yeah, Now’s Good: It’s Time to Get Ready for a Major Earthquake

In light of last evening’s catastrophic 7.8 earthquake that caused widespread structural collapses and power outages across the Bay Area, with major injuries — just kidding, it was only a 4.4 and yeah, it woke everybody over here up, too.

SF Weekly, 1-4-18

'The fault will have its revenge': Bay Area quake reminder of East Bay fault dangers

The earthquake that rattled the Bay Area on Thursday is another reminder of the power and danger of the Hayward Fault, which runs below the populous East Bay.

Los Angeles Times, 1-4-18

L.A. races to fix vulnerable buildings before next major earthquake

When Los Angeles two years ago approved the nation’s most sweeping earthquake retrofitting regulations, officials knew they were in a race against time.

Los Angeles Times, 1-4-18

Earthquake Resilience of Southern California’s Water Distribution Systems

California is earthquake country, renowned for being one of the most seismically active regions in the world. There are more than 300 faults criss-crossing the state that we know about, and an untold number we know nothing about.

Maven’s Notebook, 1-3-18

Caltrans study looks at coastal erosion

Caltrans has released a Bay Area-focused report that examined future risks to the state highway system, and there is cause for concern right here on the coast. It is the first in a series of 12 reports that will look at expected climate-change related impacts to the entire state.

Half Moon Bay Review, 1-3-18

Ranchers want to sequester more carbon

The lawsuit against the Point Reyes National Seashore has stalled three park ranchers hoping to implement carbon sequestration practices to combat climate change. The practices range from the reduced tilling of grazing lands to the restoration of riparian areas, but a condition in the suit that prohibits new or expanded uses on ranchlands managed by the seashore could prevent the ranchers from adopting them.

Point Reyes Light, 1-4-18

Global Warming Could Cause Dangerous Increases in Humidity

Climate scientists often warn that rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere will cause an increase in the number and intensity of heat waves in many regions of the world. But a new study is cautioning that climate change will also significantly increase humidity, magnifying the effects of these heat waves and making it more difficult for humans to safely work or be outside.

Yale Environment 360 Digest, 1-2-18

Huge snowfall increases over Antarctica could counter sea level rise, scientists say

Scientists have found large increases in snow accumulation in a vast region of eastern Antarctica, a trend that, if it continues or becomes more widespread, could lessen the ice sheet’s contribution to sea level rise and mitigate one of the most feared consequences of climate change.

Washington Post, 1-3-18

Rains finally arrive, bringing new danger in California's vast fire zones

In the mountains above coastal Santa Barbara County, the vegetation is typically so deep and lush that it can soak up a half-inch of rainwater before it flows downhill.

Los Angeles Times,

How You Could Get an Early Warning for the Next Big Earthquake

At 2:39 am Thursday morning, millions of Bay Area residents from Sacramento to San Jose were shaken awake by the rolling tremble of a 4.4 magnitude earthquake.

Wired, 1-4-18

What Happened To Mexico's Earthquake Warning System?

Mexico has an earthquake early warning system that gives people time to take cover. But that system didn't work when a 7.1 magnitude quake struck Mexico City, killing hundreds of people.

NPR, 1-7-18

3.7 quake strikes near Santa Barbara

A shallow magnitude 3.7 earthquake was reported Saturday afternoon in the Santa Barbara area, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 5:31 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 1.2 mile.

Los Angeles Times, 1-6-18

Evacuations ordered below Santa Barbara burn zones as area braces for rainstorm

Ahead of a strong winter storm that could trigger flash flooding and mudslides, authorities have ordered evacuations of Santa Barbara County neighborhoods that sit below areas recently burned by wildfires.

Los Angeles Times, 1-7-18

Earthquake felt in Isla Vista on Saturday evening

People in Goleta and Isla Vista felt an earthquake on Saturday night. It happened at 5:31 p.m. about fifteen kilometers west of Isla Vista.

KEYT (Santa Barbara television), 1-6-18

City Council Pushes Earthquake Preparedness in 2018

Malibu City Council will begin its year-long Earthquake Resiliency Initiative with its meeting next Wednesday, Jan. 10. Dr. Lucy Jones, an expert on earthquakes, will be giving a presentation on Malibu-specific tips to prepare for future earthquake risks.

Malibu Times, 1-5-18

Magnitude-3.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Isla Vista

An earthquake measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale rattled Santa Barbara County’s South Coast on Saturday evening, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Santa Barbara Noozhawk, 1-6-18

Rain prompts evacuations for burn areas in Ventura, Santa Barbara counties

With the first major storm of the season expected to hit Southern California on Monday, evacuations have been ordered for communities below hillsides charred by California's largest-ever wildfire, in anticipation of damaging mudslides.

89.3 KPCC, 1-7-18

‘The whole bay just woke up.’ Quake rattles California – but not its sense of humor

An earthquake early Thursday sent Californians in the Bay Area scrambling – for their phones to post on Twitter.

Modesto Bee, 1-4-18

USGS reports 4.4 quake centered in Berkeley rattles several parts of Bay Area

The United States Geological Survey reports a 4.4 earthquake hit about three miles southeast of Emeryville at about 2:40 a.m.and the shaking was felt across the Bay Area.

San Francisco KGO ABC 7, 1-4-18

What Is the Hayward Fault? Bay Area Earthquake Hits California at 'Time Bomb' Zone

An earthquake struck the Bay Area early Thursday morning along a fault line that U.S. Geological Survey scientists have called a “tectonic time bomb.” The earthquake hit near Berkeley, California, as a magnitude 4.4. The damage is expected to be minimal, but it occurred along the Hayward fault—one of the seven fault zones in the Bay Area, according to the USGS.

Newsweek, 1-4-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Trump administration calls for opening California coast to oil drilling

Nearly all U.S. waters, including the long-protected California coast, would be opened to new offshore oil- and gas-drilling rigs under a sweeping proposal that the Trump administration unveiled Thursday.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-4-18

California officials blast Trump's oil-drilling proposal as dangerous and unneeded

The Trump administration's proposal to expand offshore oil development is being met with unyielding opposition in California, where drilling in coastal waters has been deeply unpopular since a devastating 1969 spill off the coast of Santa Barbara.

Los Angeles Times, 1-4-18

Gov. Jerry Brown: Trump's plan to expand offshore drilling is 'reckless, short-sighted'

California Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday criticized plans by President Trump’s administration to expand offshore oil and gas drilling.

Los Angeles Times, 1-4-18

New offshore oil drilling proposed off California coast by Trump administration

The Trump administration on Thursday proposed the largest expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S. history, releasing a plan to allow new drilling off the coasts of Northern, Central and Southern California, along with most of the East Coast.

Bay Area News Group, 1-4-18

California vows to fight Trump plan for offshore drilling

California Gov. Jerry Brown and other West Coast governors say the Trump administration's opening of federal waters to offshore drilling is "reckless and short-sighted."

Associated Press, 1-4-17

Trump administration to expand drilling off U.S. continental waters

The Trump administration unveiled a controversial proposal Thursday to permit drilling in most U.S. continental shelf waters, including protected areas of the Arctic and the Atlantic, where oil and gas exploration is opposed by governors from New Jersey to Florida, nearly a dozen attorneys general, more than 100 U.S. lawmakers and the Defense Department.

Washington Post, 1-4-18

California energy policies should support Kern County

If you ask anyone who has lived or worked in Kern County, we take great pride in our ability to power and fuel the state. Our diverse energy portfolio should be a global model, and we work tirelessly to make sure Kern County continues to thrive in an ever-changing global market. Under California’s strictest rules and regulations in the country, our energy producers promote best practices wherever they operate.

Bakersfield Californian commentary, 1-5-18

Trump’s Offshore Drilling Plan Will Spark an Environmental Crisis

Laura Wood Habr has lived a block from the beach nearly all her life. She’s the co-owner of Croc’s 19th Street Bistro, a sustainable, climate-friendly business. She sources seafood locally, uses solar panels, hosts environmental events, and works with her neighborhood to adapt to encroaching seas.

Daily Beast, 1-8-18

Trump's plan to open California coastal waters to new oil and gas drilling probably won't go very far

There are two things working against the Trump administration's proposal to open up California coastal waters to new oil and gas drilling: state regulators and simple economics.

Los Angeles Times, 1-6-18

Q&A: Plan to expand offshore drilling draws cheers, jeers

The energy industry is cheering the Trump administration's proposal to open nearly all U.S. coastlines to offshore oil and gas drilling, saying it will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign supplies and create jobs.

Associated Press, 1-5-18

US rig count down by 5 to 924

The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. declined by five this week to 924.

Associated Press, 1-5-18

Trump oil drilling plan: unwise, unnecessary and unwanted

As almost always with Trump administration directives, it’s probably best to take a deep breath before hyperventilating.

Monterey County Herald, 1-7-18

U.S. oilfield service firms dust off IPO plans as crude prices surge

U.S. oilfield service companies are gearing up for initial public offerings, according to regulatory filings and analysts, after several shelved equity sales last year during a weak period for oil prices.

Reuters, 1-7-18

America could become oil king of the world in 2018

The United States is poised to ramp up crude oil production by 10 percent in 2018 to about 11 million barrels per day, according to research firm Rystad Energy.

KESQ, 1-3-18

Appalachia underground natural gas storage clears 1st test

Plans for an underground natural gas liquids storage hub pegged as a major job creator for the chemical industry in struggling Appalachia have cleared their first big hurdle.

Associated Press, 1-3-18

Community Voices: California energy policies should support Kern County

The Californian, 1-5-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

University of California Research Study Shows How to Develop Solar and Save Central Valley Farmland

Plenty of places exist to locate new solar energy facilities without developing them on prime agricultural land, according to a team of University of California researchers who analyzed potential development of solar installations on unconventional sites in the Central Valley.

Ag Alert, 1-7-18

Months after Wine Country fires, damaged vineyards face uncertainty

On top of Moon Mountain, at the Gilfillan Vineyard, Scott Knippelmeir kneels to the ground, pulls off the outer layers of a grape vine’s loose wood, and cuts into its trunk. He’s checking for signs of life. If the trunk is green, that’s good: The vine is still alive. If it’s dry and coffee-brown, that means the vine is dead.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-4-18

Thomas Fire: First estimate of agricultural losses tops $171 million

As firefighters in Southern California worked to achieve full containment on the Thomas Fire, agricultural officials in Ventura County issued their first estimate of damage to crops and farm structures, reporting that losses will exceed $171 million, with more than 70,000 acres of cropland and rangeland affected.

Ag Alert, 1-3-18

Burned by Thomas Fire, Ventura County farmers look toward recovery

Ventura farmer Ellen Brokaw and her six employees were preparing to harvest crops, but now they’ll be spending January sifting through the remnants of their destroyed farm in Santa Paula and calculating how many years it will take to begin working the land again.

Ventura County Star, 1-3-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Morning quake shakes parts of the Bay Area

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 shook parts of the Bay Area early this morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Many in Palo Alto and East Palo Alto who also felt the jolt took to social media with their reactions.

Palo Alto Weekly, 1-4-18

USGS reports 4.4 quake centered in Berkeley rattles several parts of Bay Area

The United States Geological Survey reports a 4.4 earthquake hit about three miles southeast of Emeryville at about 2:40 a.m. and the shaking was felt across the Bay Area.

KGO (San Francisco radio), 1-4-18

No damage reported as 4.4 Berkeley quake rocks Bay Area

An earthquake measuring 4.4 struck near Berkeley early Thursday, shaking hundreds of thousands of people awake throughout the Bay Area and raising concern about possible aftershocks in the coming days.

San Francisco Chronicle, 1-4-18

4.4 earthquake jolts Bay Area

Nearly 10 million people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area were awakened early Thursday when a magnitude 4.4 earthquake eight miles below Berkeley rocked the region.

Bay Area News Group, 1-4-18

More than 9 million people felt magnitude 4.4 earthquake that shook Bay Area

An estimated 9.8 million people felt a magnitude 4.4 earthquake that rumbled across the Bay Area early Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Los Angeles Times, 1-4-18

4.4 magnitude earthquake shakes Bay Area awake

4.4 magnitude earthquake struck early Thursday in Berkeley, California, according to a preliminary report from the US Geological Survey, jolting some residents of the densely populated San Francisco Bay area awake in their beds.

CNN, 1-4-18

Mount St. Helens Is Rumbling Again With 40 Earthquakes Since New Year’s Day

Since New Year’s Day Mount St. Helens has experienced 40 earthquakes within its vicinity as tremors continue every few hours. The most powerful earthquake was a magnitude 3.9 that occurred around midnight west coast time about 5 miles from Mount St. Helens and 23 miles from the town of Morton

Forbes, 1-3-18

WATER

Snow measures just 3 percent of average in first California mountain survey

When the chief of California’s snow measurements conducts his manual surveys, he usually does it in style, skimming the snow in cross-country skis as reporters plod behind him in snowshoes.

Sacramento Bee, 1-3-18

California’s New Water Boss: States Must Set Own Course on Resources

Until California’s latest drought really took hold in around 2012, few residents of the Golden State had ever heard of the State Water Resources Control Board. But it very quickly became a major force in their lives.

Water Deeply, 1-2-18

Three Years on, How California Is Spending Its $7.5 Billion Water Bond

Three years ago, California voters passed Proposition 1, a bond that provided $7.12 billion for water projects and reallocated another $425 million. The funds had to be split among seven categories: safe drinking water, water storage, flood management, water recycling, drought preparedness, ecosystem and watershed protection and groundwater sustainability.

Water Deeply, 12-29-17

More water for Central Valley farmers worth considering

The Trump administration announced Friday that it had begun an 18-month analysis of whether to provide California farmers more water from the Central Valley Project, the largest federal water project in the nation, honoring a promise that Donald Trump made on the campaign trail.

San Diego Union Tribune editorial, 1-2-18

GLOBAL WARMING

Keep global warming under 1.5C or 'quarter of planet could become arid'

More than a quarter of the planet’s surface could become significantly drier if global temperatures rise 2C above pre-industrial levels, scientists predict.

The Guardian, 1-2-18

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Fed up with inaction, Porter Ranch residents take matters into own hands — and it’s ‘empowering’

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 1-3-18

Trump Holds Geothermal Card Up His Sleeve When Pitching “Energy Dominance”

President Trump’s idea of US energy dominance is exclusive to fossil fuels. Nevertheless, his central premise — “innovation and new technology have opened trillions of dollars of energy for development” — can be equally applied to the vast wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal resources at the country’s disposal.

CleanTechnica, 1-1-18

Judge issues ruling on Measure Z

Fracking is banned in Monterey County, but oil drilling can continue. That is the crux of a Monterey County Superior Court judge’s intended decision on legal challenges to Meazure Z.

Salinas Californian, 1-2-18

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

With California’s Largest Wildfire on Record Nearly Contained, Officials Warn of New Danger

Nearly month after the Thomas Fire started in Ventura County, the largest wildfire on record in California is now almost fully contained. As of Tuesday, CalFire reported that 92 percent of the Thomas Fire has been contained

Route Fifty, 1-3-18

MINING

Knight: Cemex mine, infrastructure, among 2018 priorities

Representative Steve Knight, R-Palmdale, said last week he’s had a positive year for legislation, but has already outlined several top priorities for the new year.

Santa Clarita Signal, 1-2-18

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Fresh Run Farm owners sign “super” contract to stay in agriculture

This month, the landowners of Fresh Run Farm in Bolinas, one of the earliest certified organic farms on the West Coast, signed a 20-year contract with the county that offers property tax relief in exchange for the preservation of the 250 acres as working farmland and wildlife habitat.

Point Reyes Light, 1-2-18

WATER

As fish disappear, Trump administration seeks to pump more California water south

The Trump administration, teeing up a fight with California regulators, is trying to pump more water through the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the southern half of the state despite fresh evidence of the estuary’s shrinking fish population.

Sacramento Bee, 1-2-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

On its 100th birthday in 1959, Edward Teller warned the oil industry about global warming

It was a typical November day in New York City. The year: 1959. Robert Dunlop, 50 years old and photographed later as clean-shaven, hair carefully parted, his earnest face donning horn-rimmed glasses, passed under the Ionian columns of Columbia University’s iconic Low Library. He was a guest of honor for a grand occasion: the centennial of the American oil industry.

The Guardian, 1-1-18

Californians, economics and environmental protection

Something that isn’t too surprising for legislators or Gov. Brown as California continues to be on the forefront of environmental policies: A major survey shows strong majority (62 percent) of Californians believe air pollution is a problem in their part of California.

Capitol Weekly, 1-2-18

Mudslide danger replaces fire threat in Southern California

The frightening hiss and crackle of the massive Thomas Fire in Southern California has been replaced by the loud droning of heavy equipment below the burn area.

CNN, 1-2-18

CLIMATE CHANGE

Car culture, high housing costs could stand in way of California’s climate goals

California has become the face of the resistance to President Trump's dismantling of climate change policies — and in many ways that reputation is earned. The Golden State gets nearly half its electricity from climate-friendly sources, including solar, wind, hydro and nuclear.

Palm Springs Desert Sun, 1-1-18

(news updated as time permits…)

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