Geology
300: Physical Geology
Geology
301: Physical Geology Lab
Geology
305: Earth Science
Geology
306: Earth Science Lab
Instructor: Arthur Reed
April 2019 Earth Sciences topics/events making news…
...with emphasis on California news
Remember
the principles of the scientific method when evaluating news stories!
·
(link to 2018
news articles)
·
(link to 2017
news articles)
·
(link to 2016
news articles)
·
(link to 2015
news articles)
·
(link to 2014
news articles)
·
(link to 2013
news articles)
·
(link to 2012
news articles)
·
(link to 2011
news articles)
·
(link to 2010
news articles)
·
(link to 2009
& older news articles)
GEOLOGY
Every
three minutes, an earthquake strikes in California
A
comprehensive new catalog that factors in "hidden" quakes is helping
scientists better understand the planet's tectonic activity.
National Geographic, 4-18-19
Tiny
earthquakes shake Southern California every 3 minutes
Southern
California is a lot shakier than ever before realized. According to a new
study, a tiny earthquake rumbles through the southern portion of the Golden
State every 3 minutes.
Live Science, 4-18-19
A
quake every 3 minutes: California shaken by 10 times more temblors than
previously known
California
has experienced 10 times more earthquakes than previously known, according to
groundbreaking new research that has helped scientists better understand the
region’s seismology.
Los Angeles Times, 4-18-19
Tiny
earthquakes happen every few minutes in Southern California, study finds
Detecting
very small earthquakes is notoriously difficult. That's a problem for scientists who
rely on data about all the earthquakes in a region to study what triggers the
biggest, most destructive ones. Now, a team of scientists says it has found a
way to accurately detect tiny earthquakes, and it has published a new, more
comprehensive list of quakes that occurred over a recent 10-year period in
Southern California.
NPR, 4-18-19
The
10 biggest earthquakes in California history
Understanding
long-term earthquake behavior and recurrence has important applications for
modern risk analysis. Here
are the state’s 10 biggest earthquakes — by magnitude — since
1800, according to the USGS and GEOLOGY.
San Francisco Chronicle, 4-18-19
At
age 80, Lake Gregory Dam is finally ready for an earthquake
Work
to protect Lake Gregory from a disastrous earthquake is done. Crews recently
finished retrofitting the 80-year-old seismically unsound dam that protects the
lake, at the heart of Crestline, bringing an end to years of traffic, noise and
other impacts — current and potential — on the unincorporated
mountain community.
Riverside Press-Enterprise, 4-18-19
MINING
Cupertino
quarry seeks to expand by digging second mining pit
A
longstanding quarry in the Cupertino hills, which has been vilified for years
by nearby residents who oppose its impact on the environment and their homes,
wants to significantly expand its operation.
Bay Area News Group, 4-19-2019
FORESTS & WATERSHEDS
Forest
management research to help fight effects of climate change
Leading
a team of scientists and forest managers, Sarah Bisbing,
a forest ecology assistant professor and researcher from the University of
Nevada, Reno, is building a Sierra Nevada-wide study, the Sierra Nevada
Adaptive Management Experiment, known as AMEX, to identify alternative forest
management treatments that will improve conifer forest resistance and resilience
to climate change.
Nevada Today, 4-18-19
WATER
Will
San Joaquin Valley farmers ever see a full CVP allocation
Westlands Water District wants to know if not now,
when. In a season that will see California reservoirs fill and water flow
freely to places like San Francisco and Los Angeles, and where skiers enjoyed
over 50 feet of snow at Mammoth Mountain, what will it take for south-of-Delta
farmers to receive a 100 percent allocation of Central Valley Project water?
Western Farm Press, 4-17-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Colorado’s
oil and gas regulators now consider public health and safety
After
years of tension over expanded oil and gas drilling, including a deadly
explosion that galvanized critics, Colorado is moving to tighten regulations on
the booming industry. In a sweeping overhaul the governor is expected to sign,
regulators will now have to consider public health, safety and the environment
in decisions about permitting and local land use.
NPR, 4-16-19
Tribes
sue Feds over geothermal leases on sacred land
Energy
giant Calpine Corporation won a U.S. government contract in 1982 to explore geothermal
energy on 2,560 acres of national forest in the Medicine Lake Highlands of
Siskiyou County. Now
some 37 years later, members of the Pit River Tribe claim the U.S. Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) has allowed Calpine to squat on their sacred land for
decades, even as the company fails to meet lease renewal requirements by making
“diligent efforts” to produce geothermal power.
Courthouse News Service, 4-15-19
L.A.
County OKs $5.2 million from Aliso Canyon gas leak deal for Exide plant cleanup
The
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted today to use $5.2 million from
the Aliso Canyon gas leak settlement with Southern California Gas Co. to clean
up lead-based paint in homes around the now-shuttered Exide battery recycling
plan in Vernon.
Los Angeles Daily News, 4-16-19
GEOLOGY
Mild
quake rattles area south of Anza, La Quinta, according to USGS
A
small earthquake jolted an area about 14 miles east-southeast of Anza and 15
miles south-southwest of La Quinta, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Palm Springs Desert Sun, 4-15-19
These
houses will not burn: Epic 1906 earthquake story is lost in time
The
story has been lost in time. But the houses are still here. The three San
Francisco homes, on the south side of Green Street between Leavenworth and
Jones, become easier to miss with each passing decade. But 113 years ago, they
were all that was left on the top of this hill.
San Francisco Chronicle, 4-16-19
LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
Ag
Census: Don’t panic over numbers, expert says
A
leading agricultural economist cautions growers and others not to get too
worked up about Census of Agriculture figures that suggest a sharp decline in
farms but an increase in the number of farmers.
Western Farm Press, 4-12-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
Natural
Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot on challenges of new climate reality
The
California Natural Resources Agency doesn’t really touch on economic
issues, but environmental sustainability has to be
interwoven with economic and social equity. We used to think about climate action just
in terms of reducing our GHGs while expanding our economy, and that’s really important. But I’d like to expand the
definition of environmental leadership to include leading the world by
protecting our people and nature against the inevitable changes that are
already happening as a result of climate change.
The Planning Report, 4-15-19
The
most effect way to tackle climate change? Plant 1
trillion trees
What's
low-tech, sustainable and possibly the most effective thing we can do to fight
climate change? Planting trees. A trillion of them.
CNN, 4-17-19
New
climate models predict a warming surge
For
nearly 40 years, the massive computer models used to simulate global climate
have delivered a fairly consistent picture of how fast
human carbon emissions might warm the world. But a host of global climate
models developed for the United Nations’s next
major assessment of global warming, due in 2021, are now showing a puzzling but
undeniable trend. They are running hotter than they have in the past.
Soon the world could be, too.
Science, 4-16-19
GENERAL
California
Bullet-Train Agency Eyes Central Valley-Only Service, for Now
The
California High-Speed Rail Authority indicated Tuesday it is likely to
recommend approval of interim rail service connecting Central Valley cities
before expanding the service to Los Angeles and San Francisco as funding
becomes available.
Courthouse News Service, 4-16-19
Trump’s
New Regulations Chief to Oversee Major Rule Rollbacks
President
Donald Trump, heading into what may be his most consequential year for rolling
back restrictions on companies, is counting on Paul Ray, a lawyer with a
history of representing oil and gas interests among others, to lead his
regulatory affairs office.
Bloomberg News, 4-15-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
ERG
trying to gain county support for its oil-drilling expansion near Santa Maria
ERG
Resources, a firm seeking permission to add 187 new wells through its West Cat
Canyon Revitalization Plan. The matter is going through the Santa Barbara
County Planning Commission review process, with the next meeting planned for
May 29 in Santa Maria.
Santa Barbara Noozhawk, 4-15-19
LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
As
bullet train project moves ahead in Valley, many residents still reluctant to
get on board
When
it comes to high-speed rail, some of the most disillusioned and skeptical
Californians are Central Valley residents. While some dream of the
opportunities a bullet train could bring, others see it as a misuse of funds
and believe that it will never be built — or that if it ever is, no one
will ride it.
KQED (San Francisco TV-radio), 4-15-19
GEOLOGY
Earthquake:
3.6 quake strikes near Black Oaks, Calif.
A
shallow magnitude 3.6 earthquake was reported Monday morning two miles from
Black Oaks, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
San Diego Union-Tribune, 4-15-19
California
Earthquake Authority Board Voters to sponsor Resilient Homes Initiative
The
California Earthquake Authority’s governing board has voted to sponsor
and support the Resilient Homes Initiative, a bill aimed at helping
Californians prepare for earthquakes by restructuring the CEA to strengthen its
long-term financial sustainability and increase the number and types of
seismic-retrofit grants the authority can offer.
Insurance Journal, 4-15-19
MINING
Of
all the potential threats our community has faced in our more than three
decades of cityhood, none would have been as detrimental to our way of life as
the CEMEX mine in Soledad Canyon. There are no options to get their contracts
extended and no options for new contracts to be issued, and the City is calling
it a win on the battle against CEMEX. This is the outcome that many, many
people spent many, many years working towards.
Santa Clarita Signal, 4-14-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
North
Bay’s Highway 37 is going to be a serious climate mess
Every day, 46,000 people drive Highway 37, the
scenic route that connects Marin County with Vallejo, Napa and just about
everywhere east. This thread, though essential, is also tenuous in that it's
strung atop a berm barely above sea level. The 21-mile stretch is emerging as an
early challenge to planners confronting California's changing climate.
KQED (San Francisco TV-radio), 4-15-19
Marin
supervisors receive harrowing report on climate change, sea-level rise
Climate
change is already negatively affecting the health of Marin residents and within
15 years attendant sea-level rise could threaten the county’s shoreline
buildings, roads and original utility systems. This was the sobering message
Marin supervisors received after Supervisor Kate Sears requested an update on
the local health impacts of climate change and efforts to prepare for sea-
level rise.
Marin Independent Journal, 4-15-19
Central
American farmers head to the U.S., fleeing climate change
Central
America is among the most vulnerable to climate change, scientists say. And
because agriculture employs much of the labor force — about 28 percent in
Honduras alone, according to the World Bank — the livelihoods of millions
of people are at stake.
New
York Times, 4-13-19
GEOLOGY
Earthquake-induced
hazards mapped for San Mateo County
New
Seismic Hazard Zone maps released by the California Department of Conservation
last week are ushering in new requirements for those hoping to build structures
in San Mateo County zones deemed to be at risk for such damage.
San Mateo Daily Journal, 4-13-19
What
a major earthquake would do to San Francisco
A
repeat of the most powerful earthquake in San Francisco’s history would
knock out phone communications, leave swaths of the city in the dark, cut off
water to neighborhoods and kill up to 7,800 people, according to state and
federal projections.
San Francisco Chronicle, 4-13-19
Magnitude
4.1 earthquake strikes near The Geysers, CA
The
United States Geological Survey reports a preliminary magnitude 4.1 earthquake
struck near The Geysers, CA on Monday.
San Francisco Chronicle Gate, 4-15-19
Earthquake:
3.2 quake strikes near Black Oaks, Calif.
A
shallow magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Friday afternoon one mile from
Black Oaks, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Los Angeles Times, 4-12-19
Magnitude
4.6 earthquake strikes off Northern California coast
A
magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck off the Northern California coast Friday
morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 4-12-19
UC
Berkeley scientists developing early warning earthquake system
An
early-warning earthquake system is slowly being rolled out across the Bay Area
thanks to scientists at the University of California, Berkeley.
NBC Bay Area News, 4-11-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Chevron
to expand in Permian Basin, acquiring Anadarko Petroleum for $33 Billion
Multinational
oil giant Chevron will buy the American oil and gas production and exploration
company Anadarko Petroleum in a $33 billion cash-and-stock deal that
strengthens Chevron's position in the booming Permian Basin.
NPR, 4-12-19
Oil
industry contaminants found in Kern County water wells
Water-supply
wells in Kern County have oil-industry pollutants according to a new report
released Thursday by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Bakersfield Now, 4-11-19
After
a decade of research, here’s what scientists know about the health
impacts of fracking
Fracking
has been linked to preterm births, high-risk pregnancies, asthma, migraine
headaches, fatigue, nasal and sinus symptoms, and skin disorders over the last
10 years, according to a new study.
Environmental Health News, 4-15-19
LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
Opinion:
Make Coyote Valley a gift to future generations
Coyote
Valley can provide that natural infrastructure, and more. With careful planning
and parcel aggregation, our grandchildren can enjoy thousands of acres of open
space for trails and recreation — linked to nearby protected hillsides,
parks, and natural reserves.
San Jose Mercury News, 4-12-19
MINING
Our
View: Don’t dig yourself into a hole on Idaho Maryland Mine
It’ll
be a long haul to bring mining back to Nevada County. That’s what Rise
Gold Corporation likely would attempt if it determines there’s enough
gold in the ground to make the venture profitable. There’s time to dig
into the history of the mine and study what our community could gain from its
reopening, as well as what problems — noise among them — would
arise.
Grass Valley Union, 4-12-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
Open
Forum: San Francisco should look to nature to respond to sea-level rise
With
crumbling sea walls, rising seas and effective federal action still up in the
air, it’s no wonder that climate change is a growing topic of concern for
San Franciscans. Nature-focused efforts are growing in popularity in other
cities around the world, and San Franciscans can be an inspiration to others to
adopt this affordable, adaptable and long-term mediation strategy while the
option is still open.
San
Francisco Chronicle, 4-11-19
Coachella
Valley smog has gotten worse, and climate change could be to blame
Air
quality officials will miss a 2019 federal deadline to clean smog in the
Coachella Valley, saying the challenges of “hotter summer weather and the
threat of climate change” are hampering efforts to slash health-damaging
ozone.
Los Angeles Times, 4-12-19
WATER
The
Central Valley is sinking as farmers drill for water. But it can be saved,
study says
A
team of Stanford University researchers believe they have identified the best
way to replenish the shrinking aquifers beneath California’s Central
Valley.
Sacramento Bee, 4-15-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Activists
want California to ban fracking. What does Gov. Newsom want?
These
days California is flush with laws, regulations and goals that will likely
cause the state to eventually sever its long relationship with fossil fuels.
Should the governor want to do away with fracking, he could issue an emergency
order placing a moratorium on it. But the public hasn’t heard from Newsom
on the issue as he has laid out his initial priorities.
CalMatters, 4-11-19
Pouring
more than 2,000 cubic yards of cement over a span of nearly three months, work
crews have finished sealing off the abandoned oil well that sent mud and gas
spewing in the air near Via Marina and Tahiti Way on Jan. 11.
Culver City Argonaut, 4-10-19
Santa
Barbara battles over Cat Canyon oil drilling proposal
The
ERG proposal — one of three massive
onshore-oil-production proposals now hovering on the county’s
horizon — is being gnawed upon by the
county’s Planning Commission, a critical but often-overlooked
governmental body. If built, those three projects combined could generate
760,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year.
Santa Barbara Independent, 4-10-19
GEOLOGY
3.5-magnitued
earthquake rattles San Bernardino area
A
3.5-magnitude earthquake struck the San Bernardino area at 6:05 a.m. Thursday,
according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
San Bernardino Sun, 4-11-19
Small
earthquake hits near Gilroy
The
earth rattled Thursday afternoon as a magnitude 3.1 earthquake shook up the
South Bay.
Bay Area News Group, 4-11-19
South
Bay dam sits on earthquake faults, new project aims to reduce risk
At
235 feet high, the Anderson Dam, which looms large above hundreds of homes on
the east side of Morgan Hill, sits more or less on top
of the Calaveras and Coyote earthquake faults. Studies have concluded that in a
magnitude seven or larger earthquake nearby, the dam could slump and fail,
putting tens of thousands of people downstream at risk, according to Valley
Water.
KRON (San Francisco television), 4-10-19
New
seismic hazard maps include coast
The
GEOLOGY has released five official hazard zone maps covering parts of San Mateo
County, including large swaths of the Coastside. The
maps may influence the region’s development for years to come.
Half Moon Bay Review, 4-10-19
LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
AG
Census: Despite many challenges, the U.S. has more young farmers than it did
five years ago
According
to the newly released 2017 Census of Agriculture from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), there were over 321,000 young farmers (under the age of 35)
in the U.S. That count is up from 2012, when there were 208,000. The average
age of the American farmer is now 57.5, and as agriculture increasingly demands
a commitment to carbon sequestration, soil health, and regenerative techniques,
the future of young, ecologically-minded farmers is essential to the future of
food.
Civil Eats, 4-12-19
City
of Clovis adding 1,035 acres; thousands of new jobs forecast
The
Fresno County Local Agency Formation Commission has approved plans to add 1,035
acres to the City of Clovis’ sphere of influence. That designation is
given to land that may be urbanized and possibly annexed in the future. In this
case, city officials believe the land south of Highway 168 and Shepherd Avenue,
just northeast of Clovis, will eventually be developed for commercial and
residential uses, generating thousands of jobs for the region.
Fresno
Business Journal, 4-10-19
Betteravia Farms easement clears way for agriculture,
protects salamander habitat
Betteravia Farms entered into
a conservation easement on a property located west of Orcutt that preserves
several hundred acres of habitat for the California tiger salamander while
clearing the way for agriculture operations along Highway 1.
Santa Maria Times, 4-9-19
Conserving
water for people, industry, and ecosystems
One
of the greatest resource challenges for California will be the management of
water for people, industry, and ecosystems. California's RCDs are tackling this
challenge with on-the-ground community led efforts.
California Association of Resources Conservation Districts, 4-4-19
FORESTS & WATERSHEDS
Clearing
forests: No simple solution to California wildfires
With
nearly 40 million people living in California and development spreading into
once-wild regions, some of the state's best tools toward preventing wildfires
can't be widely used. Still, there is growing agreement that the state must
step up its use of forest management through prescribed burns and vegetation
removal in an attempt to lessen the impact of
wildfires.
San Francisco Chronicle, 4-11-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
Senators
introduce bipartisan carbon capture bill
A
bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill Thursday to increase federal
funding toward developing carbon capture technology while also committing to
fossil fuel use.
The Hill, 4-11-19
Ice
Ages occur when tropical islands and continents collide
Researchers
have now amassed evidence that these cold snaps occurred when tectonic activity
propelled continents headlong into volcanic island arcs in the tropics,
uplifting ophiolites that rapidly absorbed carbon dioxide, cooling Earth. Once
collisions stopped, CO2 again built up from volcanic eruptions and a runaway
greenhouse effect warmed the planet.
Science Daily, 4-11-19
Sea
level rise report warns rising waters will inundate Marin coastal areas
A
report on the threat of sea level rise (SLR) presented to Marin County
supervisors on Tuesday stressed there is no one-size-fits all solution to what
has been called “a slow moving disaster.”
KPIX (San Francisco TV-radio), 4-9-19
Carbon
lurking in deep ocean threw ancient climate switch, say researchers
A
million years ago, a longtime pattern of alternating glaciations and warm
periods dramatically changed, when ice ages suddenly became longer and more
intense. A new study of sediments from the Atlantic bottom directly links this
slowdown with a massive buildup of carbon dragged from the air into the abyss.
Phys.org, 4-8-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Trump
to announce new executive orders to speed up pipeline construction
President
Trump will travel to Texas Wednesday to announce two new executive orders that
aim to make it easier for the oil and gas industry to get permits for pipeline
construction, among other infrastructure needs.
The Hill, 4-8-19
Critics
of proposed oil wells in Santa Maria want next meeting moved
Local
environmental and community leaders are asking the County of Santa Barbara to move
back an upcoming planning commission meeting on a proposal that would add new
oil wells outside Santa Maria.
KSBY (San Luis Obispo television), 4-9-19
Increased
seismic activity is only one of many inevitable dangers from the expansion of
oil drilling in the Santa Maria Valley. ERG tempts us to say yes to their
project by boasting of the number of jobs they will create; but it is those
very workers and the community who will suffer – not the CEO of ERG.
Lompoc Record, 4-10-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
How
climate research can adapt to the imminent threat of global warming
Climate
change is a chronic challenge—it is here now, and
will be with us throughout this century and beyond. This
reality means society needs to think about climate change in different ways
than the past, by focusing on reducing the risk of negative effects. Now it's time for
the climate science research enterprise to adopt an expanded approach, one that
focuses heavily on integrating fundamental science inquiry with risk
management.
Pacific Standard, 4-8-19
Why
this winter wasn’t as wet as we think
Now
that spring is here and the sun is finally out, Bay Area residents are already
reminiscing over what a rainy winter it was, one of the wettest in recent
memory, with many more downpours than normal. But, the 2018-2019 rainy season
has been very close to the historical average for Northern California.
San Jose Mercury News, 4-10-19
GEOLOGY
Updated
quake map tells you if you live in a liquefaction zone
Prospective
Bay Area home buyers might want to consider their target home's chances of
survival in the event of a major earthquake. An online map application from the
GEOLOGY (CGS) can help.
San Francisco Chronicle, 4-8-19
New
'earthquake map' shows Bay Area homes in liquefaction, landslide zones
Just
days ago we told you that California is in an
"earthquake drought," long overdue for a major quake along any of its
three most historically active faults. The San Andreas, San Jacinto, and
Hayward Faults have been in a hiatus for the past 100 years.
KRON (San Francisco television), 4-9-19
There
hasn’t been a huge earthquake on California’s major fault lines in
100 years
Major
ground-rupturing quakes have not taken place along the faults since 1918, but
that may mean the next century will be on shaky ground
Smithsonian, 4-8-19
New
quake map shows seismic hazard zones in San Mateo and Contra Costa Counties
A
new map released by the California Department of Conservation shows seismic
hazard zones for certain areas of San Mateo and Contra Costa counties,
specifically liquefaction and landslide zones.
NBC Los Angeles, 4-9-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Controversial
Long Beach wetlands deal approved, more drilling
expected
A
controversial land swap that could eventually restore a 150-acre Long Beach oil
field to its natural state as part of the Los Cerritos Wetlands was approved by
the California Coastal Commission on Thursday, a key step for the project to move
forward.
Long Beach Press-Telegram, 12-13-19
LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
Finer
points of California-Sonoma agreement on SDC’s future
A
week after the announcement that the state was funding a local, Sonoma
County-based process to decide the fate of the 945-acre Sonoma Developmental
Center property, details are emerging on how that agreement was reached, and
what it could mean for open space and affordable housing in Sonoma Valley.
Sonoma Index Tribune, 4-8-19
A
year into Trump’s trade turmoil, an iconic California industry struggles
to resist
The
old joke about the California lieutenant governor’s office has been that
its occupant’s main duty is to wake up in the morning, see whether the
governor is still alive and, if so, go back to bed. Now,
California’s lieutenant governor is among the busier officeholders in Sacramento—hustling
to meet with members of Congress, federal agencies and trade organizations and
deploying whatever influence she can to protect California’s place in the
world market.
Palm Springs Desert Sun, 4-8-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
From
ruined bridged to dirty air, EPA scientists price out the cost of climate
change
By
the end of the century, the manifold consequences of unchecked climate change
will cost the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars per year, according to a new
study by scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Los Angeles Times, 4-8-19
Cool
U.S. cities prepare as future ‘havens’ for climate migrants
As
climate change brings more stifling summers, worse flooding from storms and
rising sea level, crueler droughts and ever-longer allergy seasons, what
Americans consider a nice place to live may shift, along with Americans
themselves.
Yahoo News, 4-6-19
A
how-to guide for climate-proof cities
Nancy
Grimm is the co-director of the UREx Sustainability
Research Network. UREx aims to climate-proof urban
municipalities without sacrificing environmental stability. To do so, UREx has partnered with several cities across the United
States and Latin America. Together, these participants design different
"futures" addressing their cities' most pressing concerns.
Phys.org, 4-8-19
WATER
Commentary:
Finally, a new path toward managing water, rivers and the Delta
Embracing
an adaptive way of managing our water does not mean renouncing one’s
beliefs that the water for the environment is vitally important. Or that the
water to grow our food or sustain our communities is important. Rather, we
share in a victory that comes from managing our precious water supply by
structuring how we share and learn together.
Napa Valley Register, 4-7-19
Some
high-demand crops are causing droughts
Water
shortage is a global problem that happens when the demand for water is higher
than the area's supply. The problem is that these areas supply the crops that
the rest of the world consumes. Most likely, consumers are not aware that some
of their favorite food needs so much water to grow.
Science Times, 4-8-19
GENERAL
Protect
the state’s environmental legacy from Trump’s onslaughts
The
state has laws that safeguard threatened wildlife and regulate water quality.
But they are muscles and sinews that function only because they are attached to
the bones of strong federal environmental laws adopted by forward-looking
Congresses and presidents since the 1970s. Now those federal bones are
beginning to dissolve.
Los Angeles Times, 4-8-19
GEOLOGY
Earthquake
maps for San Mateo, Contra Costa counties show vulnerable areas
The
GEOLOGY released a series of new seismic hazard zones for parts of San Mateo
and Contra Costa counties this week, showing specific areas where landslides or
liquefaction could result from earthquakes with magnitudes in the range of 5.5
or greater.
Bay Area News Group, 4-5-19
New
earthquake map tool shows if bay area homes are on solid ground
A
new map online can tell you if your house is standing on solid ground in the
event of a strong earthquake.
KPIX (San Francisco television-radio), 4-7-19
In
Berkeley Hills Watershed Coalition v. City of Berkeley (19) 31 Cal.App.5th 880 [certified for partial publication], the
Court of the Appeal for the First District affirmed that the construction of
three new single-family homes on adjacent parcels in the Berkeley Hills was
exempt under CEQA’s Class 3 exemption for single-family residences in
urbanized areas.
JD Supra, 4-3-19
The
California earthquake drought is an opportunity. Will we take it?
Research
published this week confirmed that California has been in a century-long
earthquake drought. What happens to our communities then will depend on how
well we have prepared. Granted, if the drought ends next month, we won’t
be in any better shape than we are today. But maybe we have two years. Or five.
Even 10. How will we use that time?
Los Angeles Times
commentary, 4-4-19
Yes,
California has had a weird earthquake hiatus. What does it mean?
A
compelling new report authored by two U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers
found that three powerful California faults have been strangely — almost
impossibly — quiet for the last 100 years. This study, published in
Seismological Research Letters, is valuable to consider, not just for what it
says about the region's past, but what it could mean for California's shaky
future.
Mashable, 4-6-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL
RESOURCES
Not
again: Protect Santa Barbara from Cat Canyon oil development
UC Santa Barbara is a paradise surrounded by its strong tides
and unique landscape. However, the beauty and environmental safety of our community is
currently under the threat of attack by the Cat Canyon proposal.
UC
Santa Barbara Daily Nexus, 4-6-19
MP
Report: Concerning figures about oil and gas wells
The B.C. Oil and Gas
Commission recently revealed some concerning figures about abandoned oil and gas
wells in B.C. There are over 122,000 inactive wells across western Canada, and
most have absolutely no prospect of ever operating again.
We need to have regulatory
systems at both the provincial and federal levels that uphold the polluter-pay
principle so that we all benefit from the sale of our natural resources.
Penticton Western
News, 4-6-19
Current
methods may inadequately measure health impacts from oil, natural gas extraction
Measurements
of hazardous air pollutant concentrations near oil and natural gas extraction
sites have generally failed to capture levels above standard health benchmarks;
yet, the majority of studies continue to find poor
health outcomes increasing as distance from these operations decreases.
Science Daily, 4-8-19
LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
American
homes week 19: lots to consider when buying
undeveloped property
You
really have three issues that you want to keep in the forefront of your mind as
you go through what will undoubtedly be a lengthy process when purchasing raw
land and building a home. Sounds easy if you have the money, but it’s
not. Every step along the way you’re going to have to ask yourself if the
answers you’re getting will allow you to accomplish all three goals.
Fairfield Daily Republic, 4-6-19
San
Jose: New bill aims to preserve Coyote Valley for future generations
Decades after it first began, the push to preserve Coyote Valley
is gaining new momentum. State Assemblyman Ash Kalra,
D-San Jose, on Friday held a gathering with environmental groups and others to
outline a new bill that would create a state-recognized Coyote Valley
Conservation Program aimed at preserving the region’s open space.
San Jose Mercury News, 4-6-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
Think
beef cattle are bad for the environment? Think again
All
we hear about today in the news is the impact of greenhouse gases from beef
cattle, yet beef cattle contribute less than 2 percent of total greenhouse
gases — far less impact than the 26 percent of emissions that comes from
transportation. Also, nobody is talking about what we are doing to sequester
carbon.
San Luis Obispo Tribune commentary, 4-5-19
As
states push toward 100% clean energy, hurdles loom
States
are ramping up their mandates for clean and renewable energy in the face of
federal climate inaction, declining renewable costs and demands from
electricity customers, but new policies and yet-to-exist technology will be
needed for states to meet ambitious 100% clean energy goals.
Platts, 4-5-19
Blamed
for climate change, oil companies invest in carbon removal
Chevron,
Occidental Petroleum and the Australian mining giant BHP this year have
invested in Carbon Engineering, a small Canadian company that claims to be on
the verge of a breakthrough in solving a critical climate change puzzle:
removing carbon already in the atmosphere.
New
York Times, 4-7-19
GEOLOGY
California
is in an earthquake drought, new research says
California
might be Earthquake Country, but in the last century the state hasn't lived up
to its name. The ground has been relatively quiet in the past 100 years, and
the state may even be experiencing an earthquake drought, according to a new
study published by U.S. Geological Survey researchers this month in the journal
Seismological Research Letters.
San Francisco Chronicle, 4-4-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Damaging
Sichuan earthquakes linked to fracking operations
Two
moderate-sized earthquakes that struck the southern Sichuan Province of China
last December and January were probably caused by nearby fracking operations,
according to a new study published in Seismological Research Letters.
Phys.Org, 4-5-19
MINING
Billions
in the ground: the race to harvest North Korea’s rare earth reserves
Recent
studies suggest that North Korea could have the world’s largest deposit
of rare earth elements.
The National Interest, 4-1-19
WATER
Why
Harder, other valley reps are asking EPA for close review of delta water plan
Political
leaders from the valley are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to
closely scrutinize new water quality standards proposed for the San
Joaquin-Sacramento Delta.
Modesto Bee, 4-3-19
This
year’s Sierra Nevada snowpack is gargantuan: these numbers prove it
A
nonstop parade of storms barreled across the Sierra Nevada mountain range in
2019, and on Tuesday California state officials trudged through the snow for an
annual survey at Echo Summit to assess the snowpack. The result marked the
fifth-highest snow water content ever recorded at that location since 1941.
San Francisco Chronicle, 4-3-19
Cal
Water Fix: Metropolitan Board workshop compares one-tunnel options to Cal Water
Fix
A
workshop for Metropolitan Water District board members compared a single tunnel
project (at both 3000 cfs and 6000 cfs) to the California Water Fix project, looking at water
delivery capability, the ability to divert stormwater flows, water quality
benefits, reverse flows, seismic events, and project costs.
Maven’s Notebook, 4-5-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
CA
energy shortage looms amid shift to renewables
In
much of the country a powerful energy boom is providing a serious stimulus to
economic growth. But in California, where fossil fuels are considered about as
toxic as tobacco, we are lurching toward an anticipated energy shortage that
will further exacerbate the state’s already deep geographic and class divisions.
Capitol Weekly, 4-3-19
What
Cape Town’s drought can teach other cities about climate adaptation
Cities,
particularly those with extensive informal settlements in the developing world,
are being hit hard by new climatic realities and need to build their capacity
to adapt to a range of impacts. One of the best ways to do this is to learn
from other cities' experiences. One very recent case that cities around the
world are watching is Cape Town's severe drought and the threat of "Day
Zero" – when the city's taps were due to run dry.
Phys.Org, 4-3-19
Gathering
storm: what California must learn from the Midwest floods
A
bomb cyclone formed in the sky above Nebraska not long ago, and warm rain
melted an above-normal snowpack, causing catastrophic flooding across six
states. The Missouri River is long way away. But this emergency offers
California critical lessons about how we must prepare for severe storms in a
changing climate.
Visalia Times Delta, 4-4-19
GEOLOGY
Earthquake,
magnitude 3.5, wakes up Orange County with light shaking
An
earthquake of magnitude 3.5 produced light shaking from its epicenter in Orange
County on Wednesday morning.
Los Angeles Times, 4-3-19
Early
morning magnitude-3.5 earthquake shakes parts of SoCal
A
magnitude-3.5 earthquake rattled parts of Southern California, including
communities in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, early Wednesday
morning.
NBC Los Angeles, 4-3-19
3.5-magnitude
earthquake near Yorba Linda shakes parts of Orange, Riverside County
A
3.5-magnitude earthquake rattled parts of north Orange County and southern
Riverside County Wednesday morning, kicking off a few house alarms but leaving
no known damage in its wake.
Orange County Register, 4-3-9
Crowdsourced
reports could save lives when the next earthquake hits
When
it comes to earthquakes, every minute counts. Knowing that one has
hit—and where—can make the difference between staying inside a
building and getting crushed, and running out and
staying alive. However,
the speed of early warning systems varies from country to country. A cheap,
effective way to help close this gap between countries might be to crowdsource
earthquake reports and combine them with traditional detection data from
seismic monitoring stations.
MIT Technology Review, 4-3-19
OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
California’s
oil industry collapses despite shale boom
Not
that long ago, California was the second most vital U.S. oil producing state.
Since peaking in 1985, however, output has plunged almost 60 percent to 460,000
barrels per day (bpd). The shale revolution that has transformed the U.S. oil
and gas industry has completely passed California by.
Rigzone, 4-3-19
Colorado
oil industry gets overhauled by regulators
Colorado’s
legislature passed a sweeping overhaul of the state’s oil and natural gas
laws, giving local governments more power to regulate drilling in one of the
nation’s top crude-producing regions.
World Oil, 4-3-19
LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
Local
nonprofit reaps nearly $230,000 grant for forest health
Sierra
Institute for Community and Environment based in Taylorsville is one of eight organizations
that received a share of the $1.85 million Forest Health Watershed Coordinator
Grant Program grant, the Department of Conservation (DOC) announced March 21.
Sierra Institute for Community and Environment will receive $228,264.
Plumas News,
4-4-19
WATER
CalEPA
Secretary Blumenfeld on Governor Newsom’s water & climate priorities
In
January, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Jared Blumenfeld to the helm of the
California Environmental Protection Agency. As Secretary, Blumenfeld oversees
the state's efforts to fight climate change, protect air and water quality,
regulate pesticides and toxic substances, achieve the state’s recycling
and waste reduction goals, and advance environmental justice. Blumenfeld joined
TPR for an exclusive interview to discuss the administration’s priorities
for funding safe and affordable drinking water, defending California’s
climate policies against the federal government, and addressing our addiction
to plastic.
The Planning Report, 3-31-19
Farmers
welcome federal agencies’ suits on flows plan
Now
that the federal government has filed its own lawsuits against an
unimpaired-flows plan for San Joaquin River tributaries, farmers and other
parties to the lawsuits wait to learn where they will be heard--and prepare for
a lengthy court battle.
Ag Alert, 4-3-19
WATERSHEDS & FORESTS
Napa
County supervisors pass watershed, tree protections
The
long-running debate over how to best protect Napa County’s rural
woodlands and watersheds culminated in an ordinance passed March 26 by the
Board of Supervisors, which sought an ever-elusive balance between those
calling for stricter curbs to protect water and air quality and those wary of
undermining the valley’s economic backbone of wine grapes.
Napa Valley Register, 4-2-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
California
adopts new wetland protection as Trump administration eases them
California
water regulators adopted a far-reaching plan Tuesday to prevent more of the
state’s creeks, ponds and wetlands from being plowed or paved over, a
move that comes as the Trump administration scales back protections under the
federal Clean Water Act.
San Francisco Chronicle, 4-2-19
7
American cities that could disappear by 2100
No
city is immune to the effects of a warming world, but a few are more vulnerable
than the rest. By conservative estimates, cities around the world could witness
more than 6 feet of flooding by the year 2100. Here are the 7 cities in the US
most likely to disappear underwater by 2100.
Business Insider, 4-4-19
Forests
are a low-tech but high-impact way to fight climate change
Recent
research confirms that forests are absolutely essential
in mitigating climate change, thanks to their ability to absorb and sequester
carbon. For this reason, policy makers and business leaders must create and
enforce policies to prevent deforestation; foster reforestation of degraded
land; and promote the sustainable management of standing forests in the fight
against climate change.
Scientific American, 4-1-19
GEOLOGY
California’s
in an exceptional earthquake drought. When will it end?
California
is in an earthquake drought. It has been almost five years since the state
experienced its last earthquake of magnitude 6 or stronger — in Napa.
Southern California felt its last big quake on Easter Sunday 2010, and that
shaker was actually centered across the border,
causing the most damage in Mexicali.
Los Angeles Times, 4-2-19
WATER
How
healthy is California snowpack? Snow survey site has 4th-best start
Already
having soared past average statewide snow-water levels for the calendar year,
Tuesday saw some more good news for California’s water health.
Sacramento Bee, 4-2-19
CLIMATE CHANGE
Pressing
Policy: Councilman Paul Krekorian says LA is ready to
meet the challenges of climate change
In
July 2018, the Trump administration rolled back Obama-era regulations meant to
mitigate the greenhouse gases emitted by coal-burning power plants. Six months
later, Democratic lawmakers introduced their Green New Deal, which – in
spirit – would overhaul transportation and energy infrastructure in an effort to move Americans toward completely renewable
energy sources.
USC Annenberg Media, 4-1-19
Did
climate change cause the flooding in the Midwest and Plains?
From
his home in Hudson, Iowa, Zach Van Stanley watched as the snow-covered
cornfield in his backyard flooded on March 14. “It basically turned into
a river in just that afternoon,” he said.
Yale Climate Connections, 4-2-19
(news updated as time permits…)
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