HOME

Many causes for dramatic bee disappearance

Seth Borenstein – AP Science Writer, THE MERCED SUN-STAR

WASHINGTON — A new federal report blames a combination of problems for a mysterious and dramatic disappearance of U.S. honeybees since 2006.

The intertwined factors cited include a parasitic mite, multiple viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and pesticides.

The multiple causes make it harder to do something about what’s called colony collapse disorder, experts say. The disorder has caused as much as one-third of the nation’s bees to just disappear each winter since 2006.

http://www.usda.gov/documents/ReportHoneyBeeHealth.pdf

via Feds: Many causes for dramatic bee disappearance – State & Region – MercedSun-Star.com.

Wildlife

Cloverdale puts off public power decision

Clark Mason, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The Cloverdale City Council has said it’s premature to join a public power agency intended to supplant PG&E as the city’s primary source of electricity.

Citing the need for more information, Council members Wednesday night declined tocommit to the proposed Sonoma Clean Power Authority, but left the door open to doing so in the future.

via Cloverdale says no, for now, to county power agency | Watch Sonoma County.

Climate Change & Energy

Sebastopol listens to public power agency pitch

Guy Kovner, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sonoma County officials made their first pitch for a public power agency on Tuesday night to the Sebastopol City Council, with seven more stops to go in a campaign to enroll eight cities in a plan to challenge PG&E’s monopoly as a power provider.

Sebastopol officials indicated at the start of the county’s presentation that it would not commit on Tuesday to joining the proposed Sonoma Clean Power, which expects to begin delivering power in January.

via Sebastopol listens to public power agency pitch | PressDemocrat.com.

Climate Change & Energy,

Marin Energy Authority moving ahead with plan to build its own solar projects

Richard Halstead, MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

The Marin Energy Authority decided this week to begin setting aside money to develop its own renewable energy generation projects within its jurisdictional boundaries, which include all of Marin County and the city of Richmond.

The authority’s board Thursday gave its unanimous approval to the creation of a "local renewable development fund." The fund will be fed by half of the revenue generated each year from the authority’s "Deep Green" program. The authority has set a goal of creating 14 megawatts of new solar capacity within its jurisdiction by 2019.

via Marin Energy Authority moving ahead with plan to build its own solar projects – Marin Independent Journal.

Climate Change & Energy,

Round Two: Irrigated Wastewater Legislation

Brenda Adelman, SONOMA COUNTY GAZETTE

Last year’s controversial legislation, AB 2398, proposed loosening State requirements for wastewater irrigation in order to greatly expand reuse. Now it’s returned as AB 803, and still maximizes opportunities for over-irrigating wastewater that can pollute our waterways with concentrated nutrients, toxic pesticides, and other endocrine disrupting chemicals during low stream flows when pollutants are least likely to be assimilated. This is also the time when recreational use is highest and the potential for human contact is great.

The person who helped write both pieces of legislation, Dr. Dave Smith, is head of California WateReuse, and also the prime wastewater consultant for the City of Santa Rosa for the last 27 years.  During that time, and with Santa Rosa’s support, Dr. Smith advocated greater discharges into the Russian River, argued vociferously for mixing zones (areas allowing pollutant discharges), assisted in lawsuits against the State Water Board to avoid regulation of nutrient discharges into the severely impaired Laguna, and much more.  For years he advocated significant capacity increases in the City’s discharge permit over what was needed for projected growth, and is currently lobbying to minimize regulatory oversight in the City’s revised discharge permit.

via Round Two: Irrigated Wastewater Legislation.

Water

State's Coastal Conservancy runs low on cash after local deals

Guy Kovner, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A little-known state agency that has poured $68 million into Sonoma County conservation projects is running low on cash and planning to scale back its mission of protecting and enhancing vast forests and coastal lands.

Down to its last $150 million, the State Coastal Conservancy has spent most of a nearly $1 billion pot of bond funds approved by California voters and is preparing to get by with no new bond measures for the next 10 years.

The conservancy, which has helped purchase about 40,000 acres in Sonoma County, is no longer likely to help swing big deals like the $24.5 million Preservation Ranch purchase it supported with a $10 million grant earlier this month.

via State's Coastal Conservancy runs low on cash after local deals | PressDemocrat.com.

Land Use, Sonoma Coast
Scroll to Top