Tag: drought

  • The Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS)

    Prime:  prime Subtitle:  The Green Builder Coalition’s new tool is ready Images:  The Green Builder Coalition has been working hard on their Water Efficiency Rating Score — the WERS — for homes. The inaugural WERS training happened in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in March. I was in that class, and I learned a lot. The program…

  • California Drought Forces Fisheries to Truck Salmon Smolts to Sea

    Every year between late March and early June, roughly 30 million Chinook salmon make their way from five Central Valley hatcheries to the Pacific Ocean. This year, however, these young salmon—called smolts—face a perilous journey due to California’s enduring drought. [caption id="attachment_328124" align="alignnone" width="500"] Drought conditions in California mean that there isn’t much rainfall or…

  • Organic Standards Lowered for Livestock in Drought-Ridden California

    Due to California’s historic drought, a variance was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in February that enables applicable organic livestock farmers in the Golden State to temporarily disregard the feeding standards that allow them to stamp their product as organic. [caption id="attachment_327875" align="alignnone" width="500"] Organic producers are only allowed to substitute their livestock’s grass diet…

  • Fracking Moratorium Bill Introduced in California

    Yesterday, Senators Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) and Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) introduced Senate Bill 1132 to the California Legislature, which calls for a moratorium on fracking and other types of unconventional well stimulation (like acidizing). Current law (SB4) requires an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) but there are at least two problems with it: Fracking and…

  • Drought Intensifies in Western U.S.

    By Kieran Cooke In recent days California has announced its most severe water restrictions ever as drought continues to hit the state. Scientists say the region’s rainfall has been declining over the years and the consequences are serious. [caption id="attachment_320066" align="alignnone" width="500"] Dry California river bed. Photo credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Wikimedia…