In the western US, old dams have hindered the natural migration of salmon and steelhead, making it harder for them to reproduce successfully. This is evidenced by the case study in California where a small dam was removed from Cedar Creek. In 2022, California Trout (CalTrout), in partnership, pulled down a concrete dam measuring 8 … Read more
Some people leave behind money. Others leave behind a ridge. When poet Jane Mead died in 2019 at 61, her estate donated her family ranch to a trust. According to the Land Trust of Napa County, the 1,318-acre Mead Ranch sits near Atlas Peak, above Yountville, in California’s Napa Valley. The group announced the gift … Read more
Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna is back in the headlines as he seeks re-election to represent California’s 17th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, he will be competing against another Indian American, Ritesh Tandon. Khanna secured 62.3% of the vote in the primary elections and advanced to … Read more
Rivers need room to spread during heavy rainfall, when rising water can threaten nearby properties. Along California’s Carmel River, a planned restoration project seeks to reconnect the river with its southern floodplain to improve flood management and restore wildlife habitat. In 2016, Clint and Maggie Eastwood donated 79 acres at the former Odello East Fields … Read more
Billionaire real-estate developer Donald Bren helped turn a significant portion of California’s historic Irvine Ranch into a vast network of protected public lands, with 57,500 acres now preserved as open space and parklands. The scale of the conservation effort has been documented by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, the City of Irvine and the National Park … Read more
Two wildlife crossings are planned over State Route 62 near Joshua Tree National Park. (Photo: KTLA) Wildlife crossings are increasingly being used across the United States to help animals safely navigate roads and highways, while reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions. Now, two new crossings are being planned in California’s Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree National Park, in … Read more
California state officials have completed the purchase of 640 acres of desert land near Pioneertown, securing a large area that researchers say is highly likely to remain suitable for western Joshua trees as the climate changes. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) completed the purchase on August 24, 2026. The land is northwest … Read more
The largest remaining intact part of an 1843 Mexican land grant in California’s Cuyama Valley has been permanently protected from future commercial development after a successful grassroots conservation campaign. The 5,650-acre Spanish Ranch, managed by the Doiron family, is now protected by a permanent agricultural conservation easement through a partnership with the California Rangeland Trust. … Read more
Millions of California households are receiving automatic credits on their electricity bills this summer, with the state saying the payments will provide an average of about $75 in relief as power use rises during the hottest months. California households are receiving automatic summer utility credits. (Representational photo) (Unsplash) California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the $886 … Read more
The helicopter was assisting crews battling the Dome Fire. Two members of a helicopter crew were killed Sunday after their aircraft crashed while taking part in firefighting operations at Yosemite National Park in California, according to the US Forest Service. The helicopter was assisting crews battling the Dome Fire, which has burned more than 3,000 … Read more