Environment - Page 6 of 44 - CalMatters

Cook Martha Garcia preps food in the kitchen at Verde Mexican Rotisserie in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 6, 2021. Domi Chavarria, the owner of Verde Mexican Rotisserie, lost about $10K worth of inventory when they shut down for two weeks due to the Caldor Fire evacuation. Salgu Wissmath for CalMatters

How much do wildfires really cost California’s economy?

by Grace Gedye October 11, 2021October 11, 2021

Booms float in the Talbert Marsh as workers try to limit the spread of oil from a spill from an offshore oil rig in Huntington Beach on October 4, 2021. The U.S Coast Guard is leading the response to the spill, which comprised 126,000 gallons of oil and covered about 5.8 nautical miles between the Huntington Beach Pier and Newport Beach. The spill emanated from a facility operated by Beta Offshore about five miles off the coast, and was likely caused by a pipeline leak. Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG

A rare ecological gem is slicked with spilled oil — again

by Rachel Becker October 5, 2021October 5, 2021

The latest on the oil spill: A ship may have caused the pipeline damage weeks earlier

by Julie Cart and Rachel Becker October 4, 2021January 12, 2022

Lightning strikes, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, as an early morning storm rips across the Santa Rosa plain near Healdsburg. Photo by Kent Porter, The Press Democrat via AP

Lightning could spark more California fires as world warms

by Julie Cart September 24, 2021September 23, 2021

Sprinklers irrigate a North Hollywood park in June, during California's severe drought. Photo by David Crane, The Orange County Register via AP

As California’s drought deepens, water use drops only 1.8%

by Rachel Becker September 21, 2021September 21, 2021

A USDA field manager walA USDA field manager walks along the parched ground in a pomegranate orchard at Wolfskill Experimental Orchards outside of Davis on Aug. 25, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMattersks along the parched ground in a pomegranate orchard at Wolfskill Experimental Farm outside of Davis on Aug. 25, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Can science transform California crops to cope with drought?

by Julie Cart September 13, 2021September 14, 2021

A large housing development overlooks Highway 4 near Pittsburg. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

What one thing do Republican recall candidates blame for California’s housing crisis?

by Manuela Tobias September 6, 2021September 7, 2021

A couple looks out on Lake Tahoe, which is blanketed by smoke from the Caldor Fire, in South Lake Tahoe on Aug. 27, 2021. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

Devastating fires could damage Lake Tahoe’s iconic blue waters

by Rachel Becker August 31, 2021August 30, 2021

Kelly O’Brien listens to her well hum as it fills with cool water after more than a month of living without water, at her home on July 2, 2021. Photo by Rachel Becker, CalMatters

California enacted a groundwater law 7 years ago. But wells are still drying up — and the threat is spreading

by Rachel Becker August 18, 2021August 18, 2021

A recently raided illegal cannabis operation in Lancaster, on July 2, 2021. Water authorities say unlawful pot farms are stealing California water. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Video

California’s desert becoming a hotbed for water bandits: Watch

by Byrhonda Lyons August 6, 2021August 9, 2021