Tag Archives: California

California condors (in Big Sur) still at risk from DDT

Joel Pratt from the Extinction Countdown blog brings up an astonishing fact. More than four decades after DDT was banned, California condors in the Ventana/Big Sur area still struggle (with an unfortunate lack of success) to produce viable eggs. Pratt writes: The Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS), which manages the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) reintroduction programContinue reading “California condors (in Big Sur) still at risk from DDT”

Californians: Not so dumb after all

California's electrical use vs. the rest of the country, per capita: [chart from the US Energy Information Administration] Most analysts credit the state's aggressive push for green energy, insulation, and the other efficiency measures. After all, the state has some of the highest prices in the country. But some wonks disagree.  Don't they always? 

California’s “golden gulag” — prison thru a painter’s eye

Here's a great story on KCET's arts blog, about an exhibition at UC Riverside called Geographies of Detention. Title sounds heavily academic, but the paintings serve what may be art's highest purpose — to tell hard truths with sly beauty, as in this painting of Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, by Sandow Birk.  WritesContinue reading “California’s “golden gulag” — prison thru a painter’s eye”

Fracking: Pro, Con and (possible) Compromise for CA

The Wall Street Journal is excited about the possibilities of fracking for California: California has Saudi Arabia-scale oil resources, notably in its largely untapped Monterey shale field, which stretches northeast for more than 200 miles from Bakersfield in central California. New technologies, especially smart, horizontal drilling and hydrofracturing, aka "fracking," make that oil accessible, andContinue reading “Fracking: Pro, Con and (possible) Compromise for CA”

Ojai Valley News: CA shale oil 3/5ths of Prudhoe Bay

In the Ojai Valley News, friend Marianne Ratliffe digs deep into the story of how fracking is coming to Ventura County in particular and the state of California in general, and uncovers a world of new information on the latest. Terrific story.  Here's the punchline, I think:  California is the fourth-largest oil-producing state in theContinue reading “Ojai Valley News: CA shale oil 3/5ths of Prudhoe Bay”

An emerging environmental/minority climate coalition?

In the Nation, Mark Hertsgaard outlines the possibility of an emerging majority coalition composed of minority and environmental voters: "Just as Latinos overwhelmingly supported Obama over Romney, they also—along with African-Americans, Asian-Americans and youth of all races—demonstrate the highest levels of support for action against climate change and air pollution, according to extensive polling data.  InContinue reading “An emerging environmental/minority climate coalition?”

Atmospheric River press conference at AGU 2012

This press conference at the AGU (American Geophysical Union's fall meeting) this year is brilliantly timed, coming just two years after a series of big AR storms surprised Southern California, and a week or so after one hit Northern California.  Improving forecasts of “Pineapple Expresses”Monday, 3 December1:30 p.m. NOAA scientists and colleagues are installing theContinue reading “Atmospheric River press conference at AGU 2012”

Refiners push up gas prices in CA today: L.A. Times

A sharp letter to the editor this past weekend alerted me to a startlingly good Los Angeles Times story I had missed on California's high gas prices, complete with a graph that almost tells the story itself. Here's the letter, from Jim Cody of North Hollywood:  The graph that accompanied this article, which shows how crudeContinue reading “Refiners push up gas prices in CA today: L.A. Times”

Palm Springs outstrips CA’s water use by 500 gllns a day

Typically detailed, thoughtful John Fleck piece on water consumption in California…and Palm Springs.  A new report compiled by California’s Department of Water Resources (pdf) puts the Desert Water Agency’s consumption at 736 gallons per person per day. Here in Albuquerque, we’re at 150. Compare that to, say, Sydney, Australia, which is down to 83. TheContinue reading “Palm Springs outstrips CA’s water use by 500 gllns a day”