By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

May 18, 2017 (San Diego) - Celebrate Military Appreciation Month with two patriotic events at County parks.

Source: Helix Water District

May 12, 2017 (La Mesa) - Helix Water District has named Chandrika “Dusty” Patel-Lynch of La Mesa as this year’s winner of its WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The annual contest recognizes outstanding water-wise residential landscapes which are judged on overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection and maintenance, design and efficient irrigation methods.

By Suzanne Otter, California News Service

May 8, 2017 (Suunyvale, Calif.) - Water systems in California have the nation's ninth-worst record for violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Source:  Center for Biological Diversity

May 3, 2017 (San Diego) -- The Center for Biological Diversity, a national nonprofit conservation organization, today filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking public records on whether planned prototypes for President Trump’s border wall in Southern California comply with laws meant to protect wildlife, people and wild places.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, UCSB collection

April 29, 2017 (San Diego) – The Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969 was the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history at the time.  Three million gallons of crude oil contaminated the ocean and beaches with thick, black goo. Oil bubbled from the blown well and from cracks in the sea bed, killing countless sea birds, seals and other marine life. 

The last remaining oil derrick off California's coast is slated to be decommissioned,  Public News Service reported last week. But now an executive order by President Donald Trump could result in offshore oil wells again pumping in the waters off California.

By Miriam Raftery

April 28,2017 (San Diego) – Seeking to empower women through outdoor activities REI has launched “Forces of Nature,” a series of over 1,000 programs for women from May through September nationwide, including San Diego. Locally the series kicks off with events at Mission Trails Regional Park on May 6^th that include rock climbing, and a free inspirational TED-talk style presentation by outdoor writer Shelby  Stanger. 

“Outdoors is a level playing field,” says Alyson Wright, outdoor programs and outreach market manager from REI in San Diego.  “You don’t have to behave a certain way.”  Nationally, REI is telling stories of women adventurers, makers and rule-breakers, encouraging women, “Let’s make outside the largest level playing field on earth.”

By Miriam Raftery

April 26, 2017 (San Diego) -- Sea levels rising much faster than expected could submerge over two-thirds of the state’s beaches by the end of this century, also forcing damage and relocation of major infrastructure. Those are among the disturbing findings of an updated  state-commissioned report, “Rising Seas in California.”  Sea levels could rise 30 to 40 times faster than in the last century, raising the sea level 10 feet after 2050 under the most severe scenario.

By Miriam Raftery

Chart courtesy of NASA: Temperature data from four international science institutions all show rapid warming in past few decades-- and the last decade has been the warmest on record.

April 24, 2017 (Santee) – Santee’s City Council took a step toward establishing a “Sustainable Santee” climate action plan, but only under pressure from the state to do so. 

By a 4-1 vote on April 12, with Mayor John Minto opposed, the Council voted to hire LSA Associates to complete the city’s climate action plan and an environmental impact report, as required by California law. Council authorized paying up to $133,000 to the consulting company.

By Miriam Raftery

April 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – At the Helix Water Board meeting on Wednesday, the board will discuss funding for Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa, at the request of director Mark Gracyk.  For the past five years, Helix has contributed 35 percent of the park’s operation and maintenance costs. Last year, that amounted to $158,629 donated by Helix.

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  The trail out to and back from Three Sisters Falls is steep and often slippery.

April 19, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - San Diego County’s bountiful rainy season led to a wildflower super bloom in the deserts and cascading waterfalls in our mountains, each drawing a flood of visitors. Some of these hikers have been unprepared for the strenuous activity and became sick or injured. That’s resulted in a slight uptick in rescues or medical assistance, CAL FIRE and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department report.

East County News Service

April 19, 2017 (San Diego) -- Husband and wife musical duo Jon and Sabine Sherman will be presenting the world premiere of their eco-folk musical play “Dryad: an Eco-Folk Musical in One Magical Act” at the beautiful Mission Trails Regional Park Amphitheater on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22 at 3:00 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Oroville Spillway, Calif. Dept. of Water Resources

April 7, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – It’s official:  Governor Jerry Brown today declared an end to California’s statewide drought, thanks to heavy winter precipitation.

But groundwater levels in some areas remain low, so the state will maintain some restrictions on water use to encourage conservation. Brown did not lift the drought order for Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne Counties, where wells went dry and some residents continue to rely on trucked-in emergency water supplies.

Residents are asked to continue avoiding wasting water by hosing off sidewalks or watering lawns during or shortly after a rainstorm.

By Miriam Raftery

April 4, 2017 (San Diego) – A lawsuit filed against the California Coastal Commission (CCC) by Citizens Oversight, a citizens’ watchdog group based in El Cajon, heads to trial beginning Friday, April 14 at 2 p.m. in San Diego Superior Court, Dept. C68 (330 West Broadway, San Diego).

By Miriam Raftery

To hear the full interview, originally aired on February 20, 2017 on KNSJ, click the  audio link , and scroll down for highlights.

March 2, 2017 (San Diego) – Walter Oechel, PhD, is an internationally recognized expert for his pioneering research on ecosystems and global climate change.  Oechel is Director of the Global Change Research Group at San Diego State University, where he is also a distinguished professor of biology.

In a recent  interview on KNSJ,  East County Magazine spoke with Professor Oechel about his pioneering work, which revealed  that the Arctic tundra is now releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, instead of storing  CO2, a major greenhouse gas.