You are now in California and the U.S. Home Headline Media Coverage category.

Opinion: California Can Lead the World to a More Sustainable Agriculture Industry

/in , , /by /Cal Mattersby Steve Shimek

As a biologist and environmental advocate, even before the pandemic, I was scared by the headlines about our planet:  A 75% decline in insect biomass with a 40% loss of insect species predicted; a United Nations warning of the imminent extinction of 1 million species worldwide; a 3 billion loss of birds in United States and Canada over the past half-century; the growth of dead zones on our coasts and the decline in the oxygen held by the world’s oceans.  Climate change will only worsen these environmental problems.

Full Story

U.S. House Democrats Unveil $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Plan

/in , , /by /Reutersby Richard Cowan

U.S. House of Representatives Democrats on Thursday unveiled a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill that they will seek to pass in coming weeks, arguing it has been made more urgent by the coronavirus pandemic.

The legislation would spur construction or improvements f roads, bridges, ports, clean energy, schools and other projects that experts say have long been neglected. It comes at a time when the United States is in desperate need of new jobs amid an economic downturn sparked by the coronavirus.

Full Story

California and EPA Tussle Over Water-Quality Protections

/in , , /by /Courthouse News Serviceby Matthew Renda

Attorneys for 18 states and two major cities were in federal court Thursday asking a judge to grant a preliminary injunction that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from removing protections from temporary streams, wetlands and other minor water bodies.

Full Story

Filling Trump Void, California Steps in to Protect Birds, Wetlands

/in , , /by /Cal Mattersby Julie Cart

The Trump administration has rolled back dozens of long-standing environmental protections. Now California is trying a new tack: Writing its own rules.

Full Story

San Francisco Awarded $513M for Wastewater Upgrades

/in , , /by /Water World

EPA announced the second WIFIA Loan supporting San Francisco’s Southeast Treatment Plant, which treats 80 percent of the city’s wastewater.

Full Story

Sustainability in Desalination

/in , /by /Water Worldby Alanna Maya

Desalination can be expensive and time consuming due to the complexity of the treatment process, which is why sustainable, energy-efficient desalination is at the forefront of research into developing clean water technologies.

Full Story

Under New Groundwater Plans, Report Estimates 12,000 Domestic Wells Could Run Dry

/in , , /by /Valley Public Radio (Fresno, Calif.)by Kerry Klein

The goal of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, is to better regulate the state’s water reserves. But as the law rolls out, a new study predicts tens of thousands of people could lose their drinking water.

Full Story

Senate Approves $2.8B Plan to Boost Conservation, Parks

/in , , /by /AP Newsby Matthew Daly

The Senate has approved a bipartisan bill that would spend nearly $3 billion on conservation projects, outdoor recreation and maintenance of national parks and other public lands, a measure supporters say would be the most significant conservation legislation enacted in nearly half a century.

Full Story

Democrats’ New Rescue Bill Seeks Water Assistance, Shutoff Moratorium

/in , , /by /Politicoby Annie Snider, Anthony Adragna, Eric Wolff

House Democrats’ new economic rescue plan includes $1.5 billion to help low-income households cover their water bills and a moratorium on utility service shutoffs for any entity receiving federal relief funds, but they omitted any measures to address climate change or boost clean energy that had been sought by green groups.

Full Story

City Council Decides to Move Forward With Surface Water Treatment Plant Project

/in , /by /Turlock Journalby Kristina Hacker

As the City of Turlock enters the third year in a five-year water rate increase schedule, the City Council held a special meeting to review the plans made — and potential options — when it comes to securing a reliable source of drinking water.

Full Story