Water Resources

Fellow Story

Mountjoy on conflict between food production and nature in Salinas Valley

We'd probably like to think that clean, safe food goes hand in hand with pristine nature, with lots of wildlife and clean water. But in the part of California that grows a lot of the country's lettuce and spinach, these two goals have come into conflict. Environmental advocates say a single-minded focus on food safety has forced growers of salad greens to strip vegetation from around their fields, harming wildlife and polluting streams and rivers.
May 23, 2012
Fellow Story

Newberry wrote about the Blue Ledge Mine's facelift

Joe Creek has been a biological desert for decades. This small and unassuming stream flows north out of the Red Buttes Wilderness in Siskiyou County, California, and passes below the abandoned Blue Ledge Mine, after which its otherwise pristine water turns into a toxic brine as acidic as vinegar where only algae survives.
May 22, 2012
Fellow Story

Moir quoted in Boston Globe on low rivers and danger of summer drought in MA

“Given how low the rivers already are in Massachusetts, it would be harmful to permit municipalities to withdraw significantly more water from the ground than they currently are, because the rivers could run dry and fish would die,’’ said Rob Moir, director of the Ocean River Institute, an environmental advocacy group in Cambridge. Read the full story
May 16, 2012
Fellow Story

Hare harvesting methane from the Santa Rosa regional sewer plant's wastewater treatment process

At Santa Rosa's Regional sewer plant, ponds covered with fast-growing aquatic plants are being used to help clean toxics and pollutants out of the water as part of the wastewater treatment process. But there's another, very different benefit those plants can offer as well. While showing off the FAB project at the treatment plant, Caden Hare explained that the effort to develop on site energy generation was driven in part by the needs of the facility itself. Read the story and hear audio clips
April 10, 2012
Fellow Story

Balazs honored for contribution to Central Valley

The awards ceremony was held at the Fresno Art Museum Wednesday morning. Seven women were recognized for their contributions to the 31st district by Assemblyman Henry T Perea, as well as the community water center, which is an organization led by eight women. Among the others recognized, was a member of the Fresno League of Women Voters' Board of Directors. Also honored, an Edison High School student who's very active on campus, while maintaining good grades.
April 5, 2012
Fellow Story

Collins quoted by MSNBC on lawsuits to force EPA to curb overdose of nutrients ending up in waters

Nutrient pollution isn't only a Gulf problem, said Glynnis Collins, the executive director of the Illinois-based Prairie Rivers Network, another group involved in the suits. She said nutrient-rich waters have led to toxic algae blooms in many places. "They can sicken people, pets and livestock," Collins said. "It's a worldwide story. We have to get a handle on it. It's crazy not to." Read the full story
April 3, 2012
Foundation News

Switzer Fellows southern California retreat – Inland Empire: A land of contradictions

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...
April 2, 2012
Fellow Story

Managing Water Runoff for the Greater Good

How can we ensure the water that runs off our driveways and parking lots is safe for the environment? 2009 Switzer Fellow Brenda Zollitsch works with municipalities to address pollution that impacts waterways.
March 1, 2012
Fellow Story

Siegel featured in video about California Delta Region

View the video
February 24, 2012
Fellow Story

Ramirez appointed to California's Central Valley Flood Protection Board

Timothy Ramirez, 45, of Albany, has been appointed to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. Ramirez has served as the natural resources and lands management division manager at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission since 2005. He served as senior advisor for the California Bay-Delta Authority from 2003 to 2005. Ramirez was assistant secretary for water policy and science at the California Resources Agency from 2002 to 2003 and water policy and science advisor from 1999 until 2002.
February 23, 2012