Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 13, 2023

Eastern Sierra Driving Cautions

SINKHOLE PRESENT ON BALD MOUNTAIN ROAD
*Do not drive on this road on the east side of HWY 395*
On Friday June 9, Forest Service employees discovered a 20-inch sinkhole approximately 2 miles northeast up Bald Mountain Road from Highway 395. This sinkhole expands out beneath the surface appoximately 10-12 feet wide and 6 feet deep.
The road is closed in partnership with the County of Mono as they work to repair the sinkhole. Please avoid this area as it has the potential to expand even larger before it can get fixed.
 from Mono County Tourism
It’s deer migration season in the Eastern Sierra! ⚠️ Please be aware and reduce your speed while traveling

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 13, 2023

Geology Fire Update 6/13/23

This morning the Geology Fire remains at 1,088 acres and 60% containment thanks to the excellent work of firefighters. Today crews will continue strengthening containment lines and start removing equipment.
Geology Tour Road and Berdoo Canyon Road remain closed to the public. Pinkham Canyon and Fried Liver Wash areas are closed to hiking. Backcountry wilderness camping is closed in the Lost Horse, Pleasant Valley, Twin Tanks, and Hexie Mountain zones. All other areas of the park remain open for visitor use, with the exception of seasonal closures listed on our website.

Read More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 13, 2023

East Bay Regional Parks Special Juneteenth Activities: June 18-19

The Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with naturalist-led programs on Sunday (Free Park Day) and Monday (state and federal holiday).

Juneteenth Celebration Hike  Sunday, June 18 from 10-11:30 am at Coyote Hills, Fremont

Juneteenth Walk   Monday, June 19 from 8-9 am at Big Break, Oakley

Juneteenth Celebration Walk  Monday, June 19 from 10 am to 1 pm at Thurgood Marshall, Concord (south of Bailey Road)

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 13, 2023

Indigenous science key to adapting to climate change

From the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

UC Berkeley and Karuk Tribe use Indigenous and western science to cultivate resilient food systems under changing climate conditions.To adapt to climate change, Karuk Tribe members identified the importance of monitoring climate stress on plant species and actively managing and restoring healthy ecosystem processes to increase the consistency and quality of their food harvests, according to a new report. The Karuk Tribe’s Aboriginal Territory encompasses over a million acres in the Klamath Basin in Northern California and Southern Oregon.

Read more at  Indigenous science key to adapting to climate change – Food Blog – ANR Blogs

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 12, 2023

Photos from my Garden 6/11/23

Photos taken in my garden in North Berkeley on June 11, 2023. The garden is a mix of California native and non-native plants.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 12, 2023

Lawsuit Launched to Speed Endangered Species Protection for Ghost Orchid

Center for Biological Diversity News Release

Rare Flower Threatened by Poaching, Habitat Destruction, Climate Change

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— The Institute for Regional Conservation, the Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today of their intent to sue the agency for delaying critically needed Endangered Species Act protection for the ghost orchid.

The Service missed the mandatory deadline to make a decision on whether to protect the ghost orchid in January. The agency’s recently released workplan reveals that the rare flower is not slated to receive a protection decision until as late as fall 2026.

Read more at Lawsuit Launched to Speed Endangered Species Protection for Ghost Orchid

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 12, 2023

How the Unnecessary Bleeding of Horseshoe Crabs is Devastating Red Knots

NPR reports how the necessary bleeding of Horseshoe Crabs is destroying the Red Knot population. Here are a few excerpts:

Horseshoe crabs used to be everywhere. Millions of years before dinosaurs roamed the planet, each spring, the hard-shelled creatures gathered to mate in massive mounds along the beaches of the Atlantic coast. Later, migratory shorebirds like the robin-sized red knot learned to fly up from South America to join them for a feast. The crabs’ eggs gave the birds the energy they needed to keep flying north to breed in the Arctic.

A synthetic alternative was later invented and has since been approved in Europe as an equivalent to the ingredient that requires horseshoe crabs.

The federal government designated one of the migratory shorebird species that depends on horseshoe crab eggs, the red knot, as threatened. About 94% of red knots have disappeared over the past 40 years

Read full to listen to the full article and see photos at How the Unnecessary Bleeding of Horseshoe Crabs is Devastating Red Knots

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 11, 2023

Geology Fire Update

Geology Fire Morning Update
Firefighters from multiple agencies continue working to contain the Geology Fire in Joshua Tree National Park, working toward full suppression. The Geology Fire has burned 1,088 acres and is 30% contained.

Read More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 11, 2023

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Admission Fee Increase On June 21

The Garden relies on fees from admission, memberships, classes, venue rentals, donations and shop sales to fund approximately 2/3 of our operating expenses. Due to increased costs associated with maintaining the Garden’s priceless plant collections we are raising admission fees on June 21 for the first time in many years. You can learn more about the new fees on the website here.

Or, become a member today and enjoy the benefit of free admission, year-round

Join Today

The new Garden admission fees will change on June 21 as follows: Adult, $18; Seniors & Students, $12; Youth (5-17), $8. Children 4 and under: free.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 11, 2023

Monterey Wildflower Show Today

  • Location: Garland Ranch Regional Park, 700 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley, CA
  • Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Price: Free
  • Description:
    Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) annual Summer Wildflower Show.

    The public is invited to Garland Ranch Regional Park on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 from 10am – 4pm to explore a variety of species of flowers, trees, and ferns from Garland Ranch Regional Park, Frog Pond Wetland Preserve, Marina Dunes Preserve, and Palo Corona Regional Park.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 11, 2023

White Mt. visitor Center Opens June14

The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association announced the Schulman Grove Visitor Center at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is scheduled to open next week, June 14th!

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 11, 2023

Droughts are associated with increase in suicides in the U.S. 

The American Geophysical Union reports

Droughts may increase the rate of suicide in the United States, according to new research being presented at AGU’s Fall Meeting on 13 December in Chicago and online.

The health impacts of drought are less understood than impacts from other types of natural disasters due to their slower nature compared to hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes. And most of the research that has been conducted on drought is related to physical health impacts, such as the increased incidence of strokes in the hot, dry weather.

Read more Droughts are associated with increase in suicides in the U.S. – YubaNet

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 10, 2023

Geology Fire Ignites at Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park News Release

Firefighters are responding to a fire in the Geology Tour Road area of Joshua Tree National Park that ignited around 4 PM on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

As of this evening, the Geology Fire has burned 300 acres, is moving northeast, and is 0% contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters from multiple agencies are attacking the fire, working toward full suppression. Equipment assigned to the fire include 3 helicopters, 2 heavy air tanks, and 2 fire engines. Ten additional fire engines and other resources have been requested.

Drone use is prohibited inside the park. Drones operated outside the park are not allowed near the Geology Fire. Any drone in the sky risks the safety and effectiveness of incident air operations.

Geology Tour Road and Berdoo Canyon Road are closed to the public. Park visitors should maintain situational awareness, recreate cautiously, and expect smoke during their visit. All other areas of the park are open for normal visitor use.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 10, 2023

Birds With a Taste for Flesh Threaten Whale Calves

The York Times reports

In Argentina, kelp gulls are attacking the backs of southern right whales, imperiling the recovery of an endangered species.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2023/06/06/science/whales-gulls-argentina.html

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 10, 2023

Photos from the Regional Parks Botanic Garden 6/9/23

Photos from 6/9/23 at the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 10, 2023

When One Almond Gulps 3.2 Gallons of Water

The New York Times has an opinion piece by Nicholas Kristof on the water crises in the Western U.S. and some of the major contributors. Here are a few excerpts:

This is a crisis across the West, for the West was built on cheap water that is now running out from underpricing and overuse just as climate change is amplifying droughts.

One study found that 88 percent of water in 17 Western states was used by agriculture. Only 7 percent was consumed by homes. Alfalfa fields single-handedly drank up almost three times as much as all households.

California produces a bounty of almonds, which gulp about 3.2 gallons of water for each almond, according to a 2019 study.

Read article at  Opinion | When One Almond Gulps 3.2 Gallons of Water – The New York Times

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 9, 2023

What City Birds Around the World Have in Common

The Revelator reports on

How a study of so-called “trash birds” revealed conservation clues for urban species.
— Read on therevelator.org/urban-birds/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 9, 2023

Upcoming Activities at the East Bay Regional Parks

Upcoming Activities

More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 9, 2023

Fungi stores a third of carbon from fossil fuel emissions & could be essential to reaching net zero

ScienceDaily reports

Researchers are now calling for fungi to be considered more heavily in conservation and biodiversity policies, and are investigating whether we can increase how much carbon the soil underneath us can hold

Read more Fungi stores a third of carbon from fossil fuel emissions and could be essential to reaching net zero, new study reveals: Researchers are now calling for fungi to be considered more heavily in conservation and biodiversity policies, and are investigating whether we can increase how much carbon the soil underneath us can hold — ScienceDaily

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 8, 2023

Eastern Sierra Pollinator Garden Tour 6/10/23

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 8, 2023

Carson Pass Station Update

Carson Pass Station hopes to open June 24.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 8, 2023

Highway 120 East of Yosemite Update

from Mono Lake Tourism

Caltrans District 9 crews are about 1.5 miles from the Yosemite National Park east gate entrance.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 8, 2023

Yosemite Highway 120/Big Oak Flat Road Update

from Yosemite National Park
 Federal Highway Administration contractors are putting the finishing touches on the section of Big Oak Flat Road that failed last month. We will reopen Big Oak Flat Road (continuation of Highway 120 from the west) on Saturday, June 10, at 7 am. Use caution, as brief delays are possible on several sections of road.
There is no estimated opening date for Tioga Road (continuation of Highway 120 through the park over Tioga Pass).

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 8, 2023

‘Extinct’ butterfly species reappears in UK 

The BBC reports on the reappearance of the Black-veined White butterfly in England, which had been declared extinct in Britain in 1925

Small numbers of black-veined whites have been spotted flying in fields and hedgerows in south-east London.

Read more at  ‘Extinct’ butterfly species reappears in UK – BBC News

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 8, 2023

Saving moths may be just as important as saving the bees

ScienceDaily  reports

Night-time pollinators such as moths may visit just as many plants as bees, and should also be the focus of conservation and protection efforts, a new study suggests.

Read more at  Saving moths may be just as important as saving the bees — ScienceDaily

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 7, 2023

New Job Announcements

Two new job announcements from the CNPS job announcement site. Click on each for more information.

Preserve Manager – Coachella Valley (CNLM)

Land Steward – Orange County (Center for Natural Lands Management)

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 7, 2023

“Rapid Expansion” of the Golden Jackal in Greece Documented by Scientists

Greek Reporter reports

Researchers have identified a “rapid and extensive range expansion” of the golden jackal species in Greece, according to a new scientific paper published last month.

Read more: “Rapid Expansion” of the Golden Jackal in Greece Documented by Scientists

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 7, 2023

The Hazards of Balloons to Wildlife

from Channel Islands National Park
What goes up… must come down. Balloons released on accident or on purpose always end up where they aren’t supposed to be. Balloons are among the top ten types of debris found during coastal clean ups.
Balloons have been found deep in island canyons where they are over 40 miles away from the mainland. They are often seen floating in the ocean on the way to the islands.
Balloons pose a huge threat to wildlife in the ocean and on land. They are mistaken for food and can bl…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 6, 2023

Great Pacific Garbage Patch in open ocean hosts coastal life from far away

NPR reports

Scientists studying a giant collection of plastic trash floating in the middle of the open ocean have found some unexpected inhabitants: dozens of marine species that usually stick close to the coast.

Among the plastic debris, the researchers found all kinds of nonnative species, from anemones to worms to little crustaceans.

Read more or listen at  Great Pacific Garbage Patch in open ocean hosts coastal life from far away : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 5, 2023

June Drought Tolerant Plant Sale – S. Cal. – 6/10/23

Saturday, June 10, 2023
June Drought Tolerant Plant Sale
1736 South Lewis Road, Camarillo, CA 93012 [map]
Hours: 10am-2pm | Free

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