Environment / Natural Resources

Flooding on Jackson Ranch Road in Arcata during last year's King Tide event.

Coastal Flood Advisory: The Tides are High This Week

By Kimberly Wear on December 3, 2021 at 8:55AM

A 50% Coupon for One Tool? Gardeners Call California’s Subsidy Inadequate

By Jesse Bedayn/CalMatters on November 30, 2021 at 6:16AM

Though Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill banning the sale of most new gas powered tools by 2024, gardeners and landscapers say a $30 million state subsidy isn’t nearly enough to help small operators make the switch to electric. The state agency responsible for administering the subsidy estimates it has only enough to give each self-employed gardener a 50 percent coupon for one tool, far from the truckload of leaf blowers, lawn mowers, small chainsaws, brushcutters and trimmers most haul around.

The Humboldt Bay Nuclear Plant operated at King Salmon from 1963 to 1976 and has taken $1.1 billion to decommission.

PG&E Reactor Officially Decommissioned, Nuclear Waste Not

By J.A. Savage on November 18, 2021 at 2:01PM

Environmental security is another story, however. When asked about responsibility to keep the site secure from the threat of a radioactive release due to a tsunami, sea level rise or some other environmental event, McIntyre said he would check and then got back to the Journal with an update.

Migrating geese take to the sky early Sunday morning from the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Winged Warning: Migrating Birds Hit Hard by California’s Drought

By Julie Cart, CalMatters on November 10, 2021 at 3:10PM

As UN Tackles Twin Climate Threats, California Struggles with Them, Too

By Julie Cart and Rachel Becker/CalMatters on November 9, 2021 at 5:18AM

Nations around the globe this month have pledged to tackle two thorny and critical threats to Earth’s climate: methane, which is the most potent planet-warming pollutant, and widespread destruction of forests. Both of these are major contributors to climate change that California has tried — yet struggled — to address.

Existing view westbound at Indianola Road.

CalTrans Considers Alternatives to 'Armoring' 101 Against Sea Level Rise

By J.A. Savage on October 28, 2021 at 11:51AM

As it faces flooding from sea level rise along the U.S. Highway 101 Arcata-Eureka, CalTrans is seriously considering a “living shoreline” instead of throwing riprap up against the tides. In a workshop yesterday, it also seemed clear the agency is going to keep the current road alignment at the edge of Humboldt Bay.