The “Delta”
covers 738,000 acres in a maze of islands, rivers and sloughs at the confluence
of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, and several tributaries. The 58
islands are framed by 1,000 miles of rivers and sloughs and the Delta receives
its water from over 40% of the state’s land area. As noted in the newly released Bay-Delta Conservation Plan,
produced by the...
Competition for ocean resources continues to expand, with wind and tidal energy, aquaculture, fishing, recreational boating, utility construction, mining and conservation of ecosystem services the subject of increasing controversy in New England and nationally. While there is growing interest in ecosystem-based management and stakeholder participation in the science and policy dimensions of these issues, real on-the ground policies that effectively balance competing interests, sustains resources and protects important ecological values has...
Once again it was thrilling exciting and fun to meet the new 2012 Switzer Fellows, and share leadership lessons, current topics and engage in a deep learning experience about communicating clear messages to different audiences. We are fortunate to have engaged COMPASS to lead our trainings at the east and west coast retreats. While the training builds on work they do for scientists to help them become more adept in reaching out to the press and lay audiences, they have adapted that work to support our fellows in all disciplines. Based on feedback, we are already in discusion with them about offering an...
I have just returned from another jam-packed Switzer Fellows retreat held in southern California the weekend of March 23-25, 2012. Over the last few years, as part of our ongoing outreach to Fellows and colleagues in the region, and our interest in showcasing leaders who are addressing the depth and complexity of interconnected environmental and social issues, this annual spring retreat is a perennial favorite of mine because it offers an opportunity to delve into a set of urgent environmental issues in southern California. In fact, how can we examine the environmental issues of California without including the social justice dimensions, the pressures on rare and threatened natural...
