Evolution works over millennia. Climate change is moving far faster. That mismatch is killing some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems, including California’s towering redwoods and the seagrass meadows along its coast, both of which store vast amounts of carbon and support complex webs of life. Marine heat waves, record wildfires and coastal development are […]
From the Rockies to the Cascades to the Sierra Nevada, mountainsides across the West are sparsely covered by the snow that usually blankets the high country well into the summer. That snowpack is like a savings account that the West draws on when the hot, dry months arrive. It moistens the landscape as it melts, […]
The 2026 Pacific hurricane season is just around the corner — and the latest numbers suggest a volatile year ahead. In the latest outlook from AccuWeather, forecasters are warning of an active season that could increase flood risks for parts of the Southwest U.S., including Southern California, even without direct landfalls.
For the first time, golden mussels, an invasive species of tiny mollusks that can rapidly reproduce and cause millions of dollars in damage to pipes, drinking water plants, irrigation systems and dams — sparking growing concerns across California — have been found in Santa Clara County. Last month, a juvenile golden mussel was discovered in […]
Lake Shasta, the largest reservoir in California, has continued to make headlines. The lake’s water levels are nearing capacity again, thanks to additional storms since January 2026 saturation, which created a steady level increase not seen since 2011. Right now, the reservoir is at a mere 14 feet from full. While the arid summer months […]
It has been widely reported that March was a disaster for California’s snowpack. Summer seemed to arrive three months early, with record-shattering heat and dryness and a mere pittance of precipitation. Did a relatively cool, rainy, and even snowy April make up for it? The short answer is no—but it helped. It’s important to remember that snowpack […]
Looking to DNA for Answers As Climate Change Outpaces California Wildlife’s Ability To Evolve
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Los Angeles Timesby Annika HammerschlagEvolution works over millennia. Climate change is moving far faster. That mismatch is killing some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems, including California’s towering redwoods and the seagrass meadows along its coast, both of which store vast amounts of carbon and support complex webs of life. Marine heat waves, record wildfires and coastal development are […]
As Drought Worsens, Western States Brace for Wildfires, Water Shortages
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Times of San Diegoby Alex BrownFrom the Rockies to the Cascades to the Sierra Nevada, mountainsides across the West are sparsely covered by the snow that usually blankets the high country well into the summer. That snowpack is like a savings account that the West draws on when the hot, dry months arrive. It moistens the landscape as it melts, […]
Pacific Hurricane Season Is Next Week — and California Faces Higher Risk
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Desert Sunby Brandi D. AddisonThe 2026 Pacific hurricane season is just around the corner — and the latest numbers suggest a volatile year ahead. In the latest outlook from AccuWeather, forecasters are warning of an active season that could increase flood risks for parts of the Southwest U.S., including Southern California, even without direct landfalls.
Invasive Species Discovered at Drinking Water Treatment Plants in San Jose
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /The Mercury Newsby Paul RogersFor the first time, golden mussels, an invasive species of tiny mollusks that can rapidly reproduce and cause millions of dollars in damage to pipes, drinking water plants, irrigation systems and dams — sparking growing concerns across California — have been found in Santa Clara County. Last month, a juvenile golden mussel was discovered in […]
Before and After: California’s Lake Shasta Water Level on the Rise
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Yahoo Newsby Barry Werner, List WireLake Shasta, the largest reservoir in California, has continued to make headlines. The lake’s water levels are nearing capacity again, thanks to additional storms since January 2026 saturation, which created a steady level increase not seen since 2011. Right now, the reservoir is at a mere 14 feet from full. While the arid summer months […]
A Whiplash Spring and California’s Water Supply
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage, Uncategorized /by Sierra Stewart /Public Policy Institute of Californiaby Jeffrey MountIt has been widely reported that March was a disaster for California’s snowpack. Summer seemed to arrive three months early, with record-shattering heat and dryness and a mere pittance of precipitation. Did a relatively cool, rainy, and even snowy April make up for it? The short answer is no—but it helped. It’s important to remember that snowpack […]